Mr. Cat D8 14a heavy maintenance

Good day everyone. I've been away for a while but still flat out! Got the 14a back to my yard after several years up in the central Yukon. It cleared about 85 acres of land. Needed to give him a good maintenance. I thought about doing a complete engine overhaul but ended up just pulling the heads. All new guides, ground the seats and new exhaust valves. Got off for about $500 doing all the work myself. Next I changed the left side steering clutch. The right side is good but the left was run out. Had a good donor carcass. Next I changed some leaking o-rings down under the hydraulic unit under the rad. Also changed 1 hose that was not so good. I really like those old cat bolt type hydraulic fittings. Dropped the stump pan down on it's hinge and took away about 6 full wheelbarrows of sticks and oily dirt. You better not be cluster phobic if you crawl up under the transmission to clean! Fixed some stripped threads on the punch plate screen mount. Used a 3/4 tap with a nut tacked on for a guide. This cat still earns it keep and is not a yard ornament.

Hi, Pioneernorth.
Looks good to me - - - although I am looking at it from DowNunda.

Just my 0.02.

MY D8 14A has a final drive leak on outer side of sprocket. I understand these old machines have felt seals that probably won't seal if the sprocket nut is tightened up. It is a good running machine with new crankshaft & bearings. Will SAE 250 gear lube in the final drive give this machine extended life.

how bad is the leak. its a fair bit of work and expense to fix. check the free play of the sproket bearings if there loose you could try an adjust ment and it might help with the leak.
yes heavier oil will leak less but it can be too heavy and not lube properly too.