Hi

36 A D8 Series H tractor's were introduced during the 1959 production year. Originally they produced 225 HP, then @ Serial No 36A 01229 HP was increased to 235 HP. Then again @ 36 A 04649 it was increased to 270 HP, during the 1966 production year. These tractors commenced production with Serial No 00122 in 1959 and finished at Serial No 05722 in 1974. Total 36A tractors built = 5,600 machines. Direct electric start as standard was introduced with tractor Serial No 36A 05329 late in the 1970 production year. The engine used was the "D 342 T "

Regards

Alan T. Lewis

Christchurch
NEW ZEALAND

Would it be fair to assume then, the change from 225hp to 235hp was also the change from fuel converters to oil converters?

Hi Wombat,
by my old Rack Setting Chart Book the ( 04-1966) Temporary Page, agrees with your assumption that D8H's went from; 225 hp (Three Stage Fuel T/C) 46A1--46A3043 . 235 hp (Single stage OIL T/C) 46A3044 -- 46A12884. 270 hp 46A12885 -- up. My charts are too early to cover anything above 46A 12885--up.

There are other S/No cuts between 46A 3044 and 46A12884 with at least torque spring and turbo changes and likely other small changes to confuse things but the HP remained the same.

Cheers,
Eddie B.

Hi Eddie,

Thanks for that info, I never had much to do with the 235's, My tractor serial numbers were 46A19605 (U blade, multi shank rippers & pilot motor), 46A21566 (SU blade, multi shank rippers & 24v electric start), after them it was D8K 77V14514 (SU blade, single shank variable pitch, AC ROPS cab) then last was D8L 53Y3593 (SU blade, single shank variable pitch ripper, Ac cab & ROPS bar), also had D9N 1JD 2122 (SU blade, multi shank rippers, AC cab & ROPS bar). The 2nd D8H got me on my feet, was a very good tractor, the D8L by far the most productive as a forestry site preparation machine, incredable engineering advancements in my time from the first to the last tractor that I owned. I dont have my D8H parts book anymore, however I do know that there was continual improvements and changes right through the 46A series, final drives, exhaust systems, fuel pumps just to name a few.

Regards, Neil

Yesterday I whipped off the front head from a D8H 22A tractor fitted with a 250HP motor (D342) the head was not cracked it was just time to swap out the gasket, on the D8K transmission point, I have seen pic's of a constant mesh box with oil clutch in a K as a factory build?

Hi Tony,
by my June 1988 Used Equipment Playback book the D8K DD was a 76V S/no.
Never saw one myself.
As an aside I did do work on an ANARE (Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions) Antarctic Traverse Special D7H fitted with DD trans. The work entailed upgrades and mods for Antarctic conditions.
Cheers,
Eddie B.

hello ,i think there was a ag D8K with manual boxes ,there was a ag high track d8 aswell ,bruce oz

There were D8H 270's with 6 speed D/D trans. and yes the 76V D8K was a 6 speed D/D. In the D8L the D/D was the same 3 speed Powershift transmission as the Torque converter tractors, however in place of the torque converter they were fitted with a 2 speed marine transmission. I had a D8LSA 4FB 00328 fitted this way, also had an aftercooler same as D9N motor and the D8LSA was rated at 400hp, they were also 6" wider track guage. My experience found the torque converter D8L performed equally as well as the D/D tractor, however the wider track guage was an advantage in steep country.