Bulldozer Fat Alice Fires Up After Years in Bush

In the heart of the Australian bush, nestled beneath rust and rat nests, sat a bulldozer with history. Nicknamed “Fat Alice” this forgotten brute hadn’t roared in years. But thanks to Bruce from Bruce In AUS, we got front-row seats to a mechanical revival that felt part workshop tutorial, part adventure flick.

First Look: A Bulldozer with Battle Scars

Bruce identified the machine as a Caterpillar D6-class bulldozer—potentially a D6D or D7—with a naturally aspirated six-cylinder diesel engine. Common in the 1970s and ’80s, these machines were built for work, not comfort. Unlike their modern, computer-controlled cousins, this old dozer runs a mechanical fuel injection system and a 24V electrical setup—simple, robust, and bush-mechanic-friendly.

The first impressions? It wasn’t pretty. Rust flaking off the blade, hydraulic lines cracking, and a rat nest where the throttle once reigned supreme. The hour meter read 7,482—but who knows how many times it had rolled over?

The Basics: Fluids, Filters, Fire Risk

Like any old-school wrenching session, the revival started with fluids:

• Engine Oil: Dark but full—better than dry.
• Transmission Fluid: Critically low.
• Radiator: Bone dry; needed nearly 10L.
• Diesel Tank: Surprisingly not empty, topped up with fresh diesel and additive.

Electricals came next. The original batteries were massive, with terminals on one end—completely incompatible with modern ones. Bruce managed to rig a fit using some ingenuity and jumper leads. The dash lit up. Hope flickered.

But the starter motor didn’t engage. Cue the hammer taps. Still nothing. A few more whacks and a shot of AeroStart—and the old girl finally cranked.