Elevating the drive sprocket allowed for a more absorbent suspension, which provided better traction, reduced component wear and operator fatigue, and isolated the drive sprocket in a flexible section of the machine's tracks. Prior to this, the combined system, which put the drive axle under constant strain of the vehicle's load and terrain beneath it, was prone to frequent failure. It separated the suspension from the tractor's drive train, dramatically reducing stress on both and increasing their durability. The elevated sprocket system was first applied to a 10-machine test run of the D10 in 1977. Best Tractor's 30 Humpback this tractor was discontinued a year later, and the only other tractor to use the concept until the D10's introduction was the Cletrac Model F, built between 19. The concept originated in 1914 with Caterpillar predecessor C. High Drive system ĬAT D10N at work in Rishon LeZion, IsraelĪmong modern tractors, the High Drive (elevated sprocket) design was unique to Caterpillar products. The D10 was large enough to do about 50 percent more production than the D9H. For example, the D9N replaced the D8L, the D10N replaced the D9L and the D11N replaced the D10. With the introduction of the N-Series tractors in 1986-87 their model numbers were pushed up. The D10 had sales of their Fiat-Allis/ Komatsu competitive sized bulldozers combined. Between 19 nearly 1,000 D10s were made at Caterpillar's East Peoria plant.

The D10 was introduced at a dealer meeting by Caterpillar in the fall of 1977. In March 1977, prototypes P-1 through P-10 would appear and be subsequently dispatched to different job sites. The first pilot D10 was D10X1 and was shown in July 1973 at a big Caterpillar corporate meeting. In 1976 Japanese company Komatsu came out with an even larger bulldozer called the D455A at 620 hp (460 kW) and 167,000 lb (76,000 kg). For example, the Fiat-Allis 41-B track-type tractor had 524 hp (391 kW) at the time, while the D9H had 410 hp (310 kW). In 1974 after AC and Fiat merged their construction equipment divisions the 524 hp (391 kW) 41-B was introduced. Allis Chalmers introduced at Conexpo 69 in Chicago a 524 hp (391 kW) HD-41 which was the largest crawler in the world. At this time, competitors were building bulldozers that were more powerful than the D9. The Caterpillar D10 was the result of a need for a tractor larger than the Caterpillar D9. It was the first modern tractor to use the elevated drive sprocket to improve durability, operator comfort, and ease of maintenance. (then called the Caterpillar Tractor Company). The Caterpillar D10 is a track-type tractor manufactured by Caterpillar Inc.

Cat d10 dozer