Cat D8H in Devon.

[Nick Drew]

Here are some photos of a Caterpillar D8H that is undergoing refurbishment in Okehampton Devon close to where I live.

It is owned by local contractor Ross Cambell and until recently was in regular work at a local landfill site.
Ross said " There is nothing quite like the sound of the old girl when you pull down on that throttle" !!

Ill agree with that comment!!

This machine used to be owned by someone in Wales (Martyn...any Ideas??) before it was bought by an owner operator from Plymouth who in turn sold it on to Mr Cambell.

[martyn williams]

Hello Nick
This machine has a fleet number in the circle,will find out who ran it

[Holger]

That is a really nice machine!

[nick lamb]

heres one blue peter made earlier!

[Nick Drew]

Great shot Nicky

Is that a recent photo or an archive one, ie is that D8 still working today

More of the same please!!

Please tell us a bit about yourself Nicky in the member introductions section Cheers!!

Nick

[nick lamb]

Hi Nick,good name,
That pic was taken last month.Its a rebuild about 90% finished.I only send it out about 2/300 hrs a year.its due back in shortly having clocked up about 250 hrs this year.It will be receiving track frame attention over the Christmas break as theyre not as good as they look.the rest of the tractor is in sterling shape.

[tctractors]

If you are poping the t/frames off Nick, it is a good idea to remove the E/beam and check its half/moons and weld up the tips, as D8s always look good with their noses stuck up, no doubt you will do a great job on the old bird.
tctractors

[catkid]

Nick Im really jealous of your 22A I loved the whole "getting steam up" with our donkey start 22A first that crazy starter motor noise on the Donkey, then the 20 secs on Decompress then another 20 on Compression with the throttle closed before the clunk clunk ........clunk..clunk,clunk,clunk as the odd piston fires and loadsa black smoke! as she comes alive I wish we hadnt sold ours in hindsight and to think it was to finance a rubber track 75D!!!!
Still heres a pic of fueling up the pair of them before ploughing

[nick lamb]

Hi Tony,we checked the eq bar etc when the nose cone,engine and tranny were out.it seemed ok.
The frames are ok to leave on but I would rather have them off to do the wear strips etc.many of the track guard bolts and wear strips arent great and allthough the idlers are 60%good they need shimming etc.Top and bottom rollers and segments and grousers are only 200 ish hours old.I have new cat seals for the adjusters and new grease fittings too.
Hi Catkid,thanks for the compliment.Its nice to get one.The D8 is a 68A 5842 allthough many of the bits used in the rebuild are from 68A 5768,3001,2816,2812,2500 and probably more!

[tctractors]

I see the Devon tractor has some good oil stains on the tracks, Does he want the F/Drives re-sealing ????
"For Hire tctractors" I love the Devon Beer