Which is just the way I like it. I measured and found that if I took the Fops/Rops canopy off it would just barely fit in my equipment shed. I have to scrunch down in the seat, and move the winch brake handle forward, but it fits with inches to spare in height and width. I think the old classic dirt moving look is best anyway. It will stay this way. Sure makes the JD 450C inside look puny!!. Love this tractor.

I like 'em bareback, too.

If someone opens that garage door without knowing what is behind there, they're up for a surprise! Would be fun to leave it open when visitors come. They might take money on whether you could get that tractor out of there, or back in there.

Good look.

Pete.

Looks good, you can always put a Cat umbrella on it. Ha!, you'll have to put a "Beware of Cat" sign on the garage door! lol

Looks mean!! You made the right call!

BP.

"TimT" wrote:

Which is just the way I like it. I measured and found that if I took the Fops/Rops canopy off it would just barely fit in my equipment shed. I have to scrunch down in the seat, and move the winch brake handle forward, but it fits with inches to spare in height and width. I think the old classic dirt moving look is best anyway. It will stay this way. Sure makes the JD 450C inside look puny!!. Love this tractor.

The very first post I read on this forum and I see a dozer from the company I work for...

Glad you saw it. I did not buy directly from Otis, The guy who bought it sold it to me a day or so after he picked it up. Do you know anything good or bad about it. It runs great, I did change transmission oil&fliter/was milky. Everything else was full and looks clean. Very slow final drive seep at first, but it has stopped once I ran it around a little. Winch works. I have to change the oil in it in the spring. Had a pint or two of water in the bottom. I have one bad bottom roller, that I'm about to ask some questions about. Look for the post D8H 36A goes for a spin to see a video or two. Tim.

"TimT" wrote:

Glad you saw it. I did not buy directly from Otis, The guy who bought it sold it to me a day or so after he picked it up. Do you know anything good or bad about it. It runs great, I did change transmission oil&fliter/was milky. Everything else was full and looks clean. Very slow final drive seep at first, but it has stopped once I ran it around a little. Winch works. I have to change the oil in it in the spring. Had a pint or two of water in the bottom. I have one bad bottom roller, that I'm about to ask some questions about. Look for the post D8H 36A goes for a spin to see a video or two. Tim.

It was bought new by Joyce Western in 1960 from Beckwith Machinery in Murrysville Pennsylvania, then Otis bought it. I’ll ask and see what I can find out about it. The original owner’s son gave me that information.
When did you buy it? My dad was a mechanic for them from about 2001-2005 so he probably worked on it at some point if they still had it, but he passed in 2015.

"rfreedii" wrote:

It was bought new by Joyce Western in 1960 from Beckwith Machinery in Murrysville Pennsylvania, then Otis bought it. I’ll ask and see what I can find out about it. The original owner’s son gave me that information.
When did you buy it? My dad was a mechanic for them from about 2001-2005 so he probably worked on it at some point if they still had it, but he passed in 2015.

Rfreedii, Thanks for that info!!, I love to get the history of these old machines... Joyce in a well know name for me. I love big projects and of course they did some BIG ones as far as pipeline work. Nice to hear it spent its life with Joyce/Otis. I grew up on 583's and 8's and 9's with Winters Railroad svc/Winters Rigging..."train wreck work".North Collins NY/Langford in the old days..
You guys are doing a job right now, not 5 minutes from my place for NFG? Rt 39 between Springville and Collins Center NY. Good sized line I think is going to East Eden?.
I bought the machine only a couple three weeks ago. From a man who bought several machines from Otis Wellsville yard, It came out of Wellsville only two days before I bought it. I did speak with the Otis shop foreman about the D8H, He had nothing bad to say for such an old machine. I know the equalizer bar has been beefed up in the past. Very clean machine and straight. I think well taken care of. Of course it was once a dozer, but served later as only a tow/winch tractor. For the money its a great old machine for fun. Any more history/stories about it are more than welcome to me. If your are ever up near Collins/Gowanda area give me a shout on here. Tim. www.acmoc.org/bb/showthread.php?28661-Th...-D8H-goes-for-a-spin

"TimT" wrote:

Rfreedii, Thanks for that info!!, I love to get the history of these old machines... Joyce in a well know name for me. I love big projects and of course they did some BIG ones as far as pipeline work. Nice to hear it spent its life with Joyce/Otis. I grew up on 583's and 8's and 9's with Winters Railroad svc/Winters Rigging..."train wreck work".North Collins NY/Langford in the old days..
You guys are doing a job right now, not 5 minutes from my place for NFG? Rt 39 between Springville and Collins Center NY. Good sized line I think is going to East Eden?.
I bought the machine only a couple three weeks ago. From a man who bought several machines from Otis Wellsville yard, It came out of Wellsville only two days before I bought it. I did speak with the Otis shop foreman about the D8H, He had nothing bad to say for such an old machine. I know the equalizer bar has been beefed up in the past. Very clean machine and straight. I think well taken care of. Of course it was once a dozer, but served later as only a tow/winch tractor. For the money its a great old machine for fun. Any more history/stories about it are more than welcome to me. If your are ever up near Collins/Gowanda area give me a shout on here. Tim. www.acmoc.org/bb/showthread.php?28661-Th...-D8H-goes-for-a-spin

Cool video.
I didn’t see the son of the original owner today but as soon as I do I’ll try to get some more history on it.

Funny you mention train derailment services. My dad’s first cousin was a pipeline contractor back in the 50’s, 60’s and early 70’s. When he got out of the pipeline business some of the equipment he kept were two 583H’s and he did derailment services in West Virginia. As a kid I can remember my dad leaving on a moment’s notice and being gone for several days. I never got to go out on any of those jobs unfortunately.

I have a lot of old pipeline photos showing some of the booms, but unfortunately no photos of any train wreck work.

He kept the 583’s long after he quit the derailment services and finally sold them around 2000 when the first big pipeline boom hit.

"rfreedii" wrote:

Cool video.
I didn’t see the son of the original owner today but as soon as I do I’ll try to get some more history on it.

Funny you mention train derailment services. My dad’s first cousin was a pipeline contractor back in the 50’s, 60’s and early 70’s. When he got out of the pipeline business some of the equipment he kept were two 583H’s and he did derailment services in West Virginia. As a kid I can remember my dad leaving on a moment’s notice and being gone for several days. I never got to go out on any of those jobs unfortunately.

I have a lot of old pipeline photos showing some of the booms, but unfortunately no photos of any train wreck work.

He kept the 583’s long after he quit the derailment services and finally sold them around 2000 when the first big pipeline boom hit.

Great Pics, Love the pipeline work.... I did some when NFG would rent/hire machines and operators from Winters... Did some big valve jobs, and some big lowering in work along Route 219... They had Utility Constructors "Linesville PA" as a main contractor in those days... then bought them, then quit doing any big line work themselves.... I enjoyed the few pipeline jobs I was on. Here is a link to a post I made here about Train wrecking Cats and Jobs....Just scroll down to see more pics
www.acmoc.org/bb/showthread.php?28660-Big-Cats-I-grew-up-with