[AT] Best of ATIS? ---The D8 story

[Doug Tallman]

Is Karl still on the list? I haven't seen him post in quite awhile.  Doug T




Mark Sargent wrote:
> Folks
>
> I came across what I consider to be one of the best posts tot the list in my
> saved files on the HD.   I get the list in digest form these days and I
> noticed very little activity- so I though I'd post
> one thread I thought may be one of the best stories - I'd seen on ATIS.
> I'll do it one a day for the five days-unless Karl Olmstead  has objections.
> Karl has a real way with words- and he did/does neat stuff!
>
> Here is the first installment - Karl -Let me know if you want me to stop!
> It was written back in Dec of '99
> ------------------------------
>
>
>
> To: "atis" <antique-tractor at atis.net> 
> Subject: Tractor weekend 
> From: "Karl Olmstead" <olmstead at ridgenet.net> 
> Date: Fri, 17 Dec 1999 17:47:35 -0800 
> Posted-Date: Fri, 17 Dec 1999 17:53:46 -0800 (PST) 
>
> Should be an interesting weekend.  As most of you know, I bought a D8 Cat
> that was advertised on ebay a couple of months ago.  Price was right; less
> than I usually pay for worn-out Cubs.  It's near Modesto, CA, about 320
> miles from me.  Owner says that both engines (starting and main) start and
> run well.  Total weight is easily 40K pounds, so with Richard Walker's help,
> I found a trucker to haul it for me.  Name's Charlie, he's an old
> catskinner.. ideal for this job.
>
> The previous owner, who lives in Utah, assured me that the starting engine,
> a 2-cylinder gas hand cranked gas engine, would start as long as I was
> careful not to flood it.  A week ago I called the trucking company where the
> tractor is stored, and they gave me an entirely different picture.
> Evidently the D8 has been sitting there for a year or two, which I didn't
> realize.  Although they got it started once a long time ago, since then
> three different guys with Cat experience have failed.  According to the
> fellow I talked to, 'It's been here so long that the magneto is full of crud
> and there's no way you're going to get it started'.  The PO did mention that
> it had new plugs and wires, so obviously somebody felt that there was an
> ignition problem.
>
> OK, so I changed my plan.  The trucker told me that he had a winch; I
> figured he could still handle the loading, and I'd bury an anchor at my
> place to chain the Cat to for unloading it.  I've been corresponding offline
> with John Parks at Western Gear about the matter, and he told me that the
> winch was almost certainly not going to be able to pull the D8 up a
> beavertail or loading ramps.  Checked with Charlie, and he confirmed that.
>
> So, I'm going North tomorrow to solve the problem.  Never even touched a Cat
> pony motor before, but I do have the D8 service manual because John loaned
> me his to photocopy.  And I bought a D8 operator's manual on ebay a couple
> of weeks ago.
>
> My current theory is that there's nothing seriously wrong with the starting
> engine.  If it's been sitting for a year or two, I'm sure that the gas in
> the carb has turned to varnish.  It only takes a few months in hot
> California weather for the gas to go bad.  Worse yet, somebody may have left
> the fuel petcock on, so several gallons of fuel may have evaporated from the
> carb.  I'll bet it's a mess inside!  I'm taking carb and brake cleaner,
> gasket stock, some brushes and safety wire for cleaning things out.
>
> It's entirely possible that the mag's not sparking also, but I'd bet on
> dirty points instead of some major breakdown.
>
> I've also gotten some valuable pointers from Bill Strickland, Richard Walker
> and John Parks.  It seems that Cat starting engine valves tend to stick when
> the engine isn't used.  I'll be checking that.  I'll be taking a gallon of
> Kroil along.
>
> Also 1/2" and 1/4" sockets and ratchet, the usual hand tools, a digital
> multimeter, cleaners, paper towels, a 55 gallon drum to dump bad gas or
> diesel fuel in, fresh fuel, service manual, pliers and screwdrivers, two
> sizes of fuel hose, some brass fittings and a petcock...  but no trailer,
> for a change.  I haven't driven to Northern California for years without my
> tractor haulin' trailer!  Oh, yeah, and a couple of pieces of plywood so I
> don't have to sit on the track grousers while I work.  And my Y2K Mr. Heater
> propane heater, to take the chill off when I'm working on all that cold
> iron.
>
> I won't have much daylight left tomorrow when I get there, so I expect to
> work all day Sunday on the tractor.  I may drive back Monday, but since
> Charlie's probably going to show up Tuesday morning, I may just stay over
> and help him load the D8, then follow him down to my place.  One way or
> another, I expect to increase the mass of old iron in my yard by about one
> third some time Tuesday afternoon.
>
> Guess I'll find out whether I'm a mechanic or not on this little adventure!
>
> Karl Olmstead   <olmstead at ridgenet.net>
>
> K&F Engineering     Ridgecrest, CA
> Karl's Old Tractor Page:  <http://members.xoom.com/kolmstead>
>
> ---------------
> Tomorrow Part 1
>
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