Caterpillar Twenty

[Earl Christensen]

I have a chance to buy a Caterpillar Twenty for $500. Color is yellow, not gray. It is a little rusty but not too bad. The seller says he has all the parts except the magneto, carburetor and piston rings. The engine is in pieces. He says the undercarrieage is good. Two questions: Is this worth $500? And, can I still get the missing parts or am I starting on a major odyssey? And, oh, what is the difference between a "Twenty" and a "small Twenty?" Any input would be most welcome. Thanks.

 

[TomA in CA]

The L or PL 20 was produced from 1927 to 1931. The L series was built in San Leandro and the PL in Peoria.A total of 6,319 were produced. The big 20 was renamed the 25. The small 20 or 8C 20 was produced in 1932 and 1933. It was really the old 15 with new sheet metal and a few other changes. A total of 652 8C 20's were produced.

It is probably worth $500 for scrap. If the tracks are good they will be worth more than that. Carburators come dear for that model. The manifolds are usually shot and hard to find.

 

[Earl Christensen]

Thank you for the very helpful info. I have purchased the machine and will see it in person this Saturday. I have learned a little more: the serial number is PL2024. Also, he says one of the brakes is frozen. How big of a deal is that? I asked about the steering clutches and he says he "thinks" they are OK but he hesitated. Is there a way to test these? My "test plan" was to see if I could steer it back and forth as we towed it out of the garage. What do you think?

 

[Earl Christensen]

Thank you for the very helpful info. I have purchased the machine and will see it in person this Saturday. I have learned a little more: the serial number is PL2024. Also, he says one of the brakes is frozen. How big of a deal is that? I asked about the steering clutches and he says he "thinks" they are OK but he hesitated. Is there a way to test these? My "test plan" was to see if I could steer it back and forth as we towed it out of the garage. What do you think?