Medford canopy for D8

Anybody?? I was hoping someone would maybe have some info in their collection of Cat stuff. Or possibly someone worked at a dealership that installed these. I know it's a long shot since they are mostly a Northwest logging addition. They were made in Medford Or. and every beatup logging machine has one. This is the first one I've seen that's certified ROP. Most just bolt to the fenders like D8#1.
Thanks for any help.
As soon as the flood waters go down I'll be mounting it one way or another...
LeRoy

Here is a link to some video's of my 14-a. Scroll down to herb's play day and there are video's of my brother's 14-a.-glen http://www.youtube.com/user/7upuller#p/u/10/Woe3w-j-mUk

Like those videos 7puller. I was checkin out the canopy mounts but not the same. Thought about dragging one of my 14a's down there some time. Looks like a lot of fun and I have family in Petaluma. Gave away one of those pans complete with the double drum CC. A guy came all the way from Iowa or one of those states to get it! Didn't think I'd ever need it. Wrong. Anyway here's a link to my #1 D8 at work. There is three total, but the second one seems the most viewed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naKwGyYYX8g

Nice Cat. I remember seeing those earlier. Nice job, was it a pad for a shop?

Hi, Roydsracing.
As I understand it, there was no specification for a ROPS canopy for the 14A/15A D8's, hence no specifically designed ROPS mounts. ROPS canopies didn't come in until the later model D8H's and D9G's.

When they did come in, there was some fairly extensive bracing under and around the mounting points to carry the loadings required by the ROPS specification. I have attached 3 photos that may give you some idea of the extent of this bracing. If you look carefull under the fender of the D9G with rear cushion push block, you can see a brace made of heavy flat bar bolted to the outside of the main frame and curving up under the fender to support the front ROPS mount. This was a standard Cat part for these machines with bolt holes in the main frame to accomodate it.

The D7G's, D8K's and D9H's were built with heavier fenders and built-in bracing to accomodate the ROPS.

I seem to remember that the early specification for a ROPS canopy was that it had to take weight of the machine dropped on it from 10 feet up and remain substantially intact. THAT would need some solid mounts and mounting points.

That was why anything even vaguely approaching a ceritifed ROPS would have needed some substantial welding to mount on a 14A or any other tractor of that vintage.

Hope this helps.

Hi Deas
Glad you popped in on this one. I've a had lot of discussion about ROPS with different local contractors and friends. I'm hoping to do some work for Cal-Trans this summer and they check the ROPS, seat belts and what ever else. Everyone that has looked at the info label has agreed it is a true ROPS. The tag is hard to read, but it does specify a California approval number. It also is designed for 14a model. I find it interesting it was built in 1974... almost 20 years after the machine was built and it's not like Cat built these for many years like the 46a.
So I'll try to describe the pics.. The rear tank guard has mounts that weld to the frame under the fender, that's the part laying on the track that's painted. A portion of the fender has to be cut out behind the tracks. The center mounts weld to the frame at about the rear of the engine. That's the yellow mount on the ground. The bottom engine side panels came with the canopy and are shaped differently than the originals. (I think I just stumbled onto my starting point for positioning the canopy). The unpainted parts on the tracks are mounts for the sweeps. Check the extra steel on the shots of the underside of the canopy.
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Thanks for the interest and Happy New Year to all! Must be summer in your part of the world Deas and all you Aussies. We've been dealing with floods and cold, but a weekend to work on D8#2 is great even in the cold! Wife thinks I'm nuts.. got a nice shop with a wood stove and I could be working on my Bonny low rider, but no there that bitchin D8 right outside the door. Yellow fever for sure.
LeRoy
Got a pic of the covered bridge I stole off my Moms facebook. Thats the second bridge that normally doesn't flood.

Sorry 7puller..
Ya that was for a large house pad. Cut it once and his wife wanted a bigger house, so made 2x larger and they built the house and put it fight against the bottom of the cut and then she wanted to drive all the way around the house, so I cut the bank back further. Tough to do with the house in the way. Really easy to knock off the eves with the canopy. That D8 don't look big until you put it next to a house!

Hi, Roydsracing.
Before you go any further with that project, I think I would be inclined to contact Cal-Trans with photos of your caopy and ALL the information off the ID plate, INCLUDING the Gross Vehicle Mass if it is there and readable and I'd ask them if the jigger would be suitable if properly mounted.

Why I am suggesting this is that if you compare the canopies in the photos that I posted with your Medford canopy, the canopies in my photos look far more substantial and there is not all that much difference in the weight of your 14A and a D8H.

If that GVM panel does have a readable figure in it, it would need to be up over the 50,000# mark, possibly nearer to 60,000# to be of much benefit. I don't know what Cal-Trans standards are. I am just going on what I understand the specs to be for a certified ROPS. That is why I suggest that you approach Cal-Trans and ask them before fitting it. I think it would be a little disappointing to say the least to fit it, then have them inspect it and knock it back.

I am not trying to dampen your spirits here. I AM trying to help you to make sure that you aren't wasting your time. I think doing a little homework first may be a good investment.

If you think it will help, please feel free to click on my name and send me an e-mail.

Hope this helps.

Looks the same as my set up or close any how. Here is another link. http://www.acmoc.org/bb/showthread.php?11492-Bud-s-Lake&p=68333#post68333