D8 Progress

I forgot to post pix of my painting process. I used an epoxy sealer on the casting, 2 coats primer, 2 topcoats. I'm using Imron paint, I like how durable its finish is.

whats the epoxy sealer for?

What model D8 is it? I don't recognize any of your parts. I hope you can get it all put back together again.

Very nice work! I enjoy seeing machines built back up from bare castings, it's a lot of work but you know exactly what you have when you're finished. I see you had all the small holes and threads capped before spraying, that makes it nice when reassembling-no paint in the threads. Imron is a really good paint, with the sealer and primer it should hold up real well. Keep us posted on your progress.😊

Can't remember if that was a 2U or 13A D8 or ?? but you are doing a fine job. From what I can tell in the pictures the transmission parts seem to be in really good shape. Going to be running by next Christmas....right😊 😊

13A it is...I looked up your old posts.

Ahinkle - Wow, that's a serious project, in size and $$ terms! It sure looks very nice, and that will be one fine tractor when you're done. I trust you checked the rear housing for cracks? Those old D8's have nearly all lived a long hard life, and its rare to find one that has cracked somewhere in the rear housing. If you have a late tractor, it would have the heavier and reinforced housing. There's a big heap of service literature dealing with D8 rear housing strengthening and upgrades. Is it still on original 8.00" pitch undercarriage? - or has it been upgraded to 9.00"?

Richard: The sealer is to prevent future rust and to seal up the porosity of the casting, this makes the paint finish very smooth.

8C361: It's a 13a, sn 13A137

Old M: If I get enough overtime at work it will be done sooner. My biggest drawback has been budget. My plan is 2 more years. Yes this transmission is in A + shape. I had to buy 2 gears and replaced all the bearings. She should be trouble free.

OzDozer: I had 2 machines for this project. A 2U15564 and the 13A. One of the housings was broken where the dowel pin is on the right steering clutch fork boss. This housing is perfect and has all the late style reinforcements. It hasn't even been stamped with a serial number yet. I was unable to keep my serial numbers consistent with this project. I'm using the 2U block but the rest of the tractor is 13A I made sure all the engine upgrades are consistent with the 13A but I dont have a 13A block. My 13A had a power unit block in it so I'm making the best with what I have. The track pitch will be original, I got lucky with my 13A, It's rails have less than 50 hours on them and new bottom rollers at the same time. I will have to replace the roller seals and install new pads on the rails but the undercarriage will be like new. I have 2 good rear sprockets but I want to get 2 new ones to match the rest of the machine..

Dear AHINKLE, I am curious to what was the major downfall for your bad transmission bearings all needing replacing. Was it mostly from rust pitting, wear, or all of the above? 😕 Usually on a rebuild, I haven't had to replace all of the transmission bearings. When you are done, you will have a keeper. 😊 Hopefully you will then keep it inside and out of the foul winter weather. I sure do miss my D8 14A, and I wish that I still had it.

Good work there. That's not a small tractor there to be going completely through, everything is big.

Holt brothers Cat used to do a rebuild like that in the 70's and 80's (recertify) when they would strip everything down to the casting and rebuild it. The only problem was that it cost a good chunk of change, but when they were done the tractor was better than factory as the updated everything.