Hello All
I've found a 1950 D8 2U and would like to know what everyones thoughts are on it. Is this a good machine to rebuild and piddle around with building a few ponds, clearing trees, brush and such on 140 acres?
Serial Number is 2u12199 and it seems to be in very good physical condition.
Important.....Can Anyone give me an approximate worth of this machine?
The pony and main engine are supposed to be in good running shape.
Thanks

Could be an excellent candidate for that use. They were an great machine in their day.
Price is very much dependent on condition and they rarely command big money. If it needs undercarriage (and a lot of them do) the cost can be quite expensive ......and cumbersome to work on. Don't really see enough of them selling to tell for sure but seem to range anywhere from $1,500 to a $10k asking. I would consider high to be $5 to $6K. Location has some bearing on prices. A very desirable feature would be the oil clutch as the old dry type was somewhat problematic.
Most important is your knowledge of these old machines and your ability to work on them as they invariable will need attention.

There are a couple of active posts going on the D13000 engines right now, you might want to review these to get some idea of the challenges.

Good luck if you purchase.

Hi Bobcat,
Saw your inquiry about "thermoids" in the for sale section.
The oil clutch does not have thermoids, thats one of the big advantages, along with the lubrication and cooling the circulated oil provides.

"Old wrote:

Hi Bobcat,
Saw your inquiry about "thermoids" in the for sale section.
The oil clutch does not have thermoids, thats one of the big advantages, along with the lubrication and cooling the circulated oil provides.

Thanks so much for the info OM. I'm learning about these old beauties on a daily basis. My brother and I are considering an old D8 as we have work to do and both of us have fond childhood memories of these monsters. Both of us have mechanical backgrounds so I don't think we would have a problem as long as we have the correct information. Guys like yourself are invaluable on sites like this. What was involved in doing a retrofit from non-lubricated to lubricated clutch on a d8 2u?
Thanks again

It's a good sized job involving change out of everything from the engine clear back to and including the input shaft to the transmission......was commonly done back when;) You would most likely have to acquire a candidate parts tractor to obtain all the pieces now. It ain't rocket science......just a lot of grunt work:D

bobcat,
As OM as stated, you most likely would have to acquire a parts tractor, as the parts are more and likely not available. At one time there was three field change over groups, so for a starter you would need the tractors serial number.
Kelly

Gotcha Kelly
I might be better off looking for a Tractor that already has wet clutch installed.

Bobcat,

In your search for one with a oil clutch, I note the oil fly wheel clutch became standard equipment on the D8 2U’s with Sn 21513. As mentioned above there were three different field change over groups for these tractors, so you may find an earlier tractor with the oil clutch meaning it would be one with the change over group.
Kelly