My First Caterpillar

Hi Chris,
Congratulations on getting your "real" Cat😄 😄
My info (sometimes correct) shows your serial number to be 1940 production.
The RD8 designation was dropped at about serial number 1H1500 in 1937.
The first thing you need to do is get yourself some manuals and study them.
You need:
Parts Book for Sr. #2409 to 1H6851 Form # UE12958
Servicemen's Reference Book for the D8 Form # 31271-2
Servicemen's Reference Book for the D13000 engine Form #31226-2
Operators Instructions for the D8 tractor Form #12518-3

The fuel filter elements are in the large bucket shaped housing just in front of your head in picture # 746 (takes 9 elements described as 7B8263 assembly)

Pony carbs are interchangeable and common to all the side winder pony engines.

Try Cat for filter elements.

Before you start anything all manifolds need to be inspected, all lubrication and dry compartments need to be drained and/or refilled.

The D8's were one of the most upgraded and changed units in the Cat line up so pay attention to assemblies and parts for your specific serial number.

Attached parts breakdown of clutch. Sounds like you are missing the clutch links and associated hardware as well as other parts.

Enough for now, good luck with your project, keep us posted.

One more question I missed. One of the down sides to removing the clutch on the early D8's is having to move the upper transmission shaft back to get clearance. (or remove the engine)

OM I think what he described was the holes in the flywheel is where the drive pins screw in to pull the clutch discs around with & the plates have fiber links bolted to them & connected to these pins to pull them around.

Chris,

Congrats on your find of a D8, you'll love the sound of it when you get her fired up. Good Luck, John

Chris!
I have owned D8 1H5854 SP, that is just 14 numbers apart! I find that quite amazing, because this one ended up in France during WW2. The engine was replaced with a unit out of a 2U, and the U/C was completely shot. We put the engine in our 2U with good U/C, scrapped the bad U/C and sold the tranny back to a men in France who needed parts. Still kept the radiator though, it would make a nice ornament.

That diesel engine has a very nice sound! Be sure that the starter pinion is free and well oiled, you can check that easily on a 1H. I say that because when we got the 1H it had the axle where the pinion sits broken because the pinion did not disengage. You can imagine at what a high speed that little pinion will turn against the big flywheel once the diesel takes off!

Also, check the diesel pump plungers, it is likely that they are stuck in the upper position. In that case you can try to gently tapping them down through the side of the pump, there is a cover where you can see what is happening.

Keep us posted on the progress!

Good luck
Marcel

Chris:

Congrats on getting the first of I hope many Cats in your future.

Tom Madden

Wasn't that long ago when you were getting recruited by "Willie" and taking that first Caterpillar drive😊 😊 It didn't take long for the Caterpillar bug to take hold. LOL😄 😄 Coarse there's a few of us that like to spread that yellow disease around

Speaking of Willie, he has been kind of silent as of late. Did the CAT get his tongue?

Thanks for the replies. I don't think I've ever been quite the same since I drove that Thirty, I'm a changed man! Thanks for posting that parts diagram OM. I think I have all of the parts except for the 6 rubber link assembelies and the large nut on the end of the shaft. Does cat still sell those rubber link assemblies? All the friction linings looked good to me, but the teeth on the hub 3B-2347 that engage with the central clutch plate seemed a little worn, probably ok though. The roller bearing in the central plate still turns, so I'm guessing it should be ok if I pump in some fresh grease.

Next time I get up to paso to work on it I'll pull the manifolds off the pony and see how it looks in there. Also, does anyone have any suggestions on how to clean out the cooling system? It was full of water which looked really clean when I drained it out, but the top of the radiator matrix is coated in a layer of rusty sludge. I thought I might be able to use a hose to blast the rust out of the radiator and make sure water can flow freely through the pony and main engines. In the meantime I'll start looking for those manuals.

Thanks for all your help.

Hi Chris,
Those links are actually layers of what looks like tire sections or conveyor belt laminated together. Some guys have actually made their own. I believe they are still available from Cat but pricey as usual. Don't know about the nut availability from Cat but used would be just as good. You need to get acquainted with John Parks at www.tractorparts.com. He has older D8 parts and is great to deal with.
Cat makes a good water side cleaner but you will have to be running to take full benefit, otherwise flush as best you can.