Hi Guys, I bought this 1961?? D8H, The tag on the engine block says 36A-3239 It is a direct drive machine, electric start. We pull started it with a loader, I ran the crawler... It starts easily, seems to run very well. It moves, steers, main clutch works well,reverser is working good, brakes are stiff, but work well. Oil and fuel pressure is good. No visible leaks from the engine after a couple hours of moving it around and idling. It has the large old turbocharger. The engine oil was black, not milky. The dipstick under the seat was up, but it is milky/gray but not thin. The right track was loose, but it does tighten up with grease. All the rollers turn, top and bottom. To me the undercarriage looks very nice. The starter clunks, but with the batteries he had in it, it was only showing about 18 volts at the starter. I think its a 24 volt starter. I am hoping that some good batteries will make her turn. He is including a set of filters and two new bottom rollers he has in his parts trailer. All filters look to be canister elements. . Oh, the machine was sitting in a contractors yard for a number of years at least. Its a large Pipeline contractor, the machine was used as a winch tractor in PA, and West Virgina in the mountains.However it has the mounts for a dozer. The man says the winch works, but I did not try it myself. He just got it delivered yesterday and had promised me first chance on it.

1. IS the transmission dipstick under the seat? If so, ho much oil does it hold?
2. What other filters would this have except engine and transmission,fuel, ???
3. Being direct drive, how do you have to operate the winch.. I have run a winch on a D9D,gear drive "torque converter" that as I recall you had to be sure you did not engage something transmission wise and try to winch. Something could break big time...Winch shaft ?..
4. What do you think of this tractor? looking at the photos.


I put 300.00 down on it and will pick it up next week. paying 14,000 for it.

The D8D winch is an all manual linkage control. Here is all the info....
Looks to be an overall good unit.
www.alliedsystems.com/pdf/Winch/Manuals/599203W.pdf

There is an oil filter for each of the final drives.
Suction strainer on the bevel gear case and oil clutch housing.

Thanks Old Magnet, I have run them, but not owned one. It will be a bit of a learning experience as far as filters, etc. Down the road my plan is to offer the machine for sale. Unless I fall in love with it. Buying two big machines in two weeks is a bit much, but being only a half hour away and having just what I wanted makes it too good to pass up. I am hoping this machine will be fairly simple to keep going. It will never get used hard here.

I guess I will have to dump the transmission oil, as it is milky. I tried on my own here to find out what type of oil is needed for the direct drive tractors, Old Magnet got me the capacity sheet, and I DID order an operators/maint. manuel tonight. What oils are needed in this machines drive train. Thanks for any help. I am thinking of getting a full 55 gallon drum... I hope its a common oil.

Hi, TimT.
Good catch, M8. From 1,000 miles away, it looks pretty straight.

I think that Cat was pretty much into the 1-oil-throughout except for final drives. If I am right, the transmission and the steering clutch case would take normal diesel engine oil - BUTTT, I am open to 'kee wreck-shun' on this.

Just my 0.02.

Back in the day everything was SAE 30 except finals were SAE 90 gear lube. That is for temperatures above 32 degrees F.

After having put nearly 50 gallons of hyd oil and driveline fluid total in the TD-25, I was kind of shell shocked. so many oil opinions, fluids, of every type.

I WILL use regular 30 wt diesel oil in everything then for the D8. That is a good thing!!, I'll buy a drum as we have a bulk dealer right here in town.. he even delivers!!. It does get cold here in winter, But I doudt I play with it when its cold. Tim.

nice little toy you got there did you get a blade with it? or is it just going to be a winch Cat?

"mog5858" wrote:

nice little toy you got there did you get a blade with it? or is it just going to be a winch Cat?

Sad thing is, the week before I bought a good IH TD-25C "1975" with a very good blade from the same guy. I bought this one to just enjoy having a D8H..It will not see a blade here. Maybe then sell someday. However, its nice to have the winch if I bury one of other machines somehow. It's been a while since I did that....hmmmm:smile:

No explanation necessary, there is no cure for yellow fever so reasons or excuses aren't required. Enjoy.