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If it was me, I consider renting a dozen if all you need is a few more days for the road. You still have to get gravel down & winter is coming soon. Deal with the D8 next year. Issue is pulling the D8 transmission is going to take a lot of time, which I believe is a precious commodity for you.
As per Forbes "Temu, the Boston-based, Chinese-owned retailer is owned by PDD Holdings Inc., which also operates Temu's sister company, Chinese e-commerce platform Pinduoduo." I'm afraid I'll have to take a pass on that one. 👍
On your D8 Dozer & speaking as a technician & owner of older heavy equipment, older is better built , cheaper & easier to repair parts are still readily available, in my opinion I’d keep moving forward with your current D8 you know the history & know what you’ve done. Replacing it with a different machine has pros & cons , biggest con unknown condition & hidden problems, like the ( Hitachi) , from what I’ve seen on the D8 it’s performed very well , the engineering back then they wanted it to last forever, unfortunately the newer machines of today not as reliable, if it 10 years old they ( the dealer ) want you to replace it , ridiculous. Anyway it my opinion, in the end you’ve got to do what makes sense for your situation. Love the videos keep up the good work , stay happy & safe .
plus that old beast , has no emissions and def systems. Some one put a lot of time in to that old girl doing all the additional hard facing on the blade and the push carriage.
Riley, over my lifetime of 76yrs and growing up as a son of a "Jippo Logger", I've always had the burden of buying second hand equipment. Then dealing with all the things that the last owner was never going to share about the piece you just bought. Thus, every time we fixed a problem, we became closer to building a sense of accomplishment and security. I am aware that there comes a time when fixing is no longer within your desire, but after watching your journey and now buying additional property, I would suggest that you fix the dozer for future projects that will come up as you guys move forward with your dreams.
I would agree with Randy, especially if you fix the transmission, plus you know the dozer well. Ready to see what’s to come with the additional land 👍🏾!!!
I’d move/park the dozer out of the way where you can work on it if you choose to, before it breaks down somewhere in the way. Then I’d pull the transmission and rebuild it over the winter (doing it yourself and knowing how it looks inside will save $ and help you plan longer term ).
With the excavator to lift the heavy pieces around and some temporary heavy roller platforms it is the perfect winter rebuild project. You will wind up with a like new dozer that will last basically forever. With a little publicity you may be able to attract some viewers with experience and get the job done in a few days.
100 Agree … then hire another D6/8 dozer on a contract basis. However you will need to ensure that this dozer is constantly working to avoid standby charges
My vote is to repair the transmission on the D8 and keep it going. They don't build them as good as that one anymore! Also, for missing bucket teeth. Could you completely paint them with fluorescent safety paint so that even if a lot of the paint wears away, there may be a spot of yellow or pink to see on the ground if one falls off (and seeing a missing tooth might be easier if the tooth root on the bucket stays a bright colour when the tooth falls off). Just a suggestion.
paint the inside of the tooth neon pink... amen it falls off, it'll show the pink on the bucket and the tooth, so you'll know right away to stop and get it.
Part of the problem with the teeth falling off is worn anchor points. Worn anchor means tooth movement. Tooth movement means paint gets chipped away during use, i.e. loss of the intent of the paint in the suggested solution. Likely the paint wouldn't be there to make noticing it missing or finding the missing one the same as no paint. In my opinion at least. Good idea, just don't think it will work.
Some of the paint should be visible because the tooth socket and root don't have 100% contact between the two, so all of the paint shouldn't wear off at least not during the short time those teeth stay on. It is well worth a try.
Paint will wear off the teeth inside and outside no matter the situation. It might be loose and not making contact but dirt gets in there moving around wearing the paint out of every book and cranny. They come painted from the dealer. I don't see any paint left on it outside or inside. If some stayed on the tooth it would be covered by dirt or such a small amount it wouldn't make a difference.
I would love to watch the series where you "re-transmission" the dozer if it comes to that! The D8 episodes remain my favorites to date, although I genuinely appreciate all your videos.
The issue with re-transmission is not really having the equipment or time. Maybe a project for 2024. Probably would make sense to rent a dozer to get the road completed this summer. when time is avail. assess the D8.
I second this comment. C&C is AWESOME!, those guys have forgotten more than most schools can even teach. I called them about our Onan generator awhile back, thinking the carburetor needed rebuilt then guy said "Have you checked to make sure the elevation adjustment is correct?" OMG, I turned one little switch and it's ran perfect ever since. Talk about just plain common sense, those guys are like Einstein "eliminate the impossible and only the obvious remains" @@michaelpetty8416
I am a fix it guy ,but not my money. If it was me, I would fix it almost regardless of the cost because I want to preserve old equipment like that. It is what brought me to this channel. Y'all have to do what is best for Y'all. I would enjoy watching you fix it.
Fix the dozer. If you sell it and buy a different used dozer, you are just buying a new set of unknown and possibly worse issues. Owning heavy equipment is like digging a big deep hole and throwing money into it. Just get used to throwing money. But at least you know what you have already fixed and what you are suspicious of breaking soon. A new (used) dozer means starting over from scratch with no idea what is going to break first. Newer does not mean better maintained and selling your now means you won't get much for it.
very valuable advice and most certainly the exact Truth‼️ Treasure the ‘Old CAT’ and just take good care of her…she’ll serve you well even better than she already has 👊🔥 🪖
As an over the road owner-operator for 30 years, I have known the heartache of break downs. One thing that it took me years to learn, was it's better to fix it right one time than patching it several times. Good luck with the road no matter which way you go on the dozer!!
With all the work you've already done to the D8, I'd fix. After the road project, I'd use it to create a fire break around the property. Also, I'm sure you could use it at the abandoned camp site.
We have a 250 acre place where we built over a mile of road through Maine forest, mud, and rock. We sold it many years ago and wish we still had it. Nothing beats big equipment for future big jobs. That D8 WILL come in handy later!
Great video. On the D 8 I would fix it. Puling the transmission is not going to be easy. There is all kinds of online repair books on that cat. There is parts readily available for it. As good as you are at making things (snow blower ) there is no reason you can't rebuild that your self. Once that's done you've got a better dozer than a new one. But I'm a lover of old equipment.
I think pull the transmission and have it rebuilt…even though I know that’s a huge job. I would hate for you to buy another used dozer and it have just as many frustrating issues. You’ve already put a bunch of work into this dozer, it would be great to watch you continue to problem solve and have a well functioning machine in the end. It seems like quite the challenge for this beat up old machine.
Everybody keeps saying repair the D8, but metal shavings (and more) have gone through the entire hydraulic system by now. The powerplant is old and tired, and every bushing and pin is worn to hell. I'm not sure on what future dozer needs look like, but maybe downsize from a D8 to something more maneuverable and newer.
You should look for a parts machine with a known good transmission and swap them. It would make for great content. You could also change out other parts that need swapped. Then once your road is done and you have no use for the dozer, you can sell it for a better price.
The saying that "It's cheaper to keep her". Is very true when it comes to heavy equipment! You NEVER know what a "New" Dozer would have for problems! You know what's wrong with this one, So, I would recommend that you keep her and repair her! Besides I think you doing a transmission repair/replacement would be great entertainment!! You are doing great and you 2 keep up the great work and content!!
collaborate with C&C equipment, Diesel Creek, salvage workshop or some other channel to fix up the D8H, its only fair, they are all getting into jeeps,
When you have an unwanted pond, drain it immediately. The water is a great tool to show where to dig to drain it. When I was a town engineer, I used to inspect drainage when it was raining. Fix the machines. Put in drainage swales along the sides of the road. They will keep the roadway drier and will give some area for plowed snow. This may require putting in some pipes. You will eventually need a dozer for clearing for gardens, fields, and orchards. Good Luck, Rick
Unless you're buying a brand new dozer with the same power house otherwise rebuild this one, reach out to Diesel Creek he may be able to do it plus it will make great content for this channel, Tyler and Co. came in handy for u guys, thanks for the content guys, its very informative.
SAVE THE D8!! Incredible machine that has been a fantastic part of the channel. Would love to see a transmission rebuild series. As previously mentioned, a colab with Diesel Creek would be an excellent idea. #savetheD8!
Rebuild the trans and keep the D8. It makes for great content and for the work that you use the dozer for it would be the most cost effective way to keep a large dozer. Any work in your situation that can be done with a dozer smaller than a D6 can be accomplished with your tracked skid.
One thing I learned from heavy machine recovery videos is that they can pretty much always be fixed if you're willing to put in a lil money for certain parts. Heavy machinery is usually decently simple mechanically. Good video, very enjoyable to watch.
How great has it been having Tyler there helping you not only with the road, but with all the equipment repairs?!! Wouldn’t it be fun if they lived near you full-time?🎉😎
Hey folks. Riley, you mentioned a lot of clay on your land. I see pure veins of it when you are digging. I have clay on my land. If you have lemons, make lemonade. You can utilize your clay to make bricks, pottery, and waterproof. I utilized my white gumbo clay to build a nice chiminea.
Great video. Great diagnosis and fixing of the Hitachi oil leak. Sorry about the D8 dozer. IF you need the D8 more to complete the road, you need to pay for the transmission removal/rebuild and possibly replacement of the oil pump. Loved seeing your dogs with their new toys. Great seeing Courtney and Oliver as time continues in your videos.
It depends on how much the cost for a transmission rebuild on the dozers going to be compared to the cost for a smaller dozer. So if it was me I would look into the cost of rebuilding the transmission on the big and then compare it to the cost of a smaller dozer. And see which way would be the cheapest. But knowing you your going to rebuild the transmission on the Big D-8
You may have found an underground spring. Which is no longer underground, since the ground has been removed. This happens very commonly up in the mountains. Our farm is up in the Adirondacks and we have lost count at the number of natural springs we have on the 300+ acre property.
as an old mechanic I say ,what I would do , as long as engine is ok ...Money well spent to take trans out of dozer rebuild, take all lines off you can and flush with diesel, replace pump , replace filters , and again replace filters after 25 hours , and clean all filter and screens! Good job guys!! Look forward to a repair episode ...
@AmbitionStrikes I called it during the last repair video. You fixed the dozer once, put the money into it and fix it then recoup the costs. All good working equipment is selling pretty high right now, clapped out old stuff isn't really selling as much. Fix it and sell it, or fix it and use it. You have several pieces of property that may benefit from a piece of equipment like the D8.
I'd definitely recommend rebuilding/replacing the transmission, but you had mentioned that the previous owner had jut put a transmission in it, is there any chance that this is wreckage from the first transmission still working its way through the system? if so, it might be as simple as flushing the systems that the pump services and potentially replacing the pump if it's bad. The reason I say that is I would think that any part of the transmission or drive system losing a bearing would very quickly and very violently make itself known, not just clog filters
Saw the comment on lots of D8's out here. Built to Last, not engineered obsolescence! REBUILD OR REPLACE, Roadwork won't end with this project, the D8 will repay it livery very quickly.
Here's a novel idea.. Paint the bucket teeth bright orange... Is the paint going to last? No. but it's cheap as hell and might help when they fall off. Also, at some point, you're going to have to take all the access panels off your equipment and give them a good washout with a steam pressure washer... Get all the crap off em, get em clean, and re-grease everything... Little bit of maintenance saves a lot of time when you don't break down in the middle of a job.
12:30 first time in the series I saw the dent on the front of the escalator. Must have been fairly easy with all the filming to identify the exact day/event. Glad it worked out in the end.
I cannot tell if it financially worth rebuilding the D8 transmission... but if you keep it after the road is finished, that can be a great rebuilding content series during the winter...
Unless the repair costs more than it's worth just go ahead and fix it. You still have a lot of use for a dozer up there and you have peace of mind knowing the transmission's status after you've taken care of the repair. That thing is a beast. Hope you keep it
Riley you can’t get rid of the old D8. Ever since you brought her home I’ve been glued to your new videos of big toys for big boys! I know that a more modern one is better for productivity, but that old Cat has a legacy of working hard behind it and getting the job done. Once you finish the road, maybe then, but even then you’ll never have a better backup source of power if you ever needed to convert her to a power generator as one of your incredible projects. Seeing you get after that transmission has me on the edge of my seat wishing I was closer to you to help out. Guard the fate of the old D8. 🤠
Tac weld the pins in the teeth even on the rented machine it would be worth the time lol We do some rough excavation and that's what we do. whenever taking a hose out of a frame tie a string to it to pull the new one back in the same place the last one was.
Riley, a possible Tip for your water saturated new road would be to install some DRAIN Tile in the really soft parts. Since you're likely to always have the water issues a few drain tile pipes placed in the roadway now will allow the Water to escape the area and help your new Road. I hope this possible fix helps you great people out. Good luck 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍..
I have admired you two from your earliest travel camper days. You are a top 5 of my over 60 RUclips channels. Rebuild the D8 to keep it going. You are unique among all RUclips’s and homesteads. You guys are the best!
Time to get rid of the dozer, if the previous owner put a new transmission in and it’s broken again your better off just getting a newer dozer. I’m a mechanic for a cat dealership in south Florida, the labor alone associated with actually repairing this dozer would give you a very nice down payment on newer equipment. Also for those saying they don’t make the machines like they used to your right, they build them better.
Fixing the D8 or selling it and looking for a different unit is a tough decision. If you fix it you know what you have. If you get rid of it and get a different one then you may be getting someone’s unit with more problems. If it was me looking at all the current and future projects I would get it fixed.
Rebuild for sure. The enginr and the rest of the machine seems in passable shape. You have some more land to get to work on. Additionally it will be worth a lot more when you finally sell it as a fully operational machine. Scrappy industries and Diesel Creek, amongst many others, have similar machines. Good luck with the rebuild. I for one will be watching!!!
I was pretty sure it was as you explained as y’all are exceptionally efficient and methodical with your projects but I had thought the videos were sequential in real-time. As I said I should have known as y’all are the coolest, brightest, nicest and interesting couple on RUclips. I’m a 76 year old geezer that gets tremendous vicarious pleasure watching your exciting lives progress and your family grow.
Been there and done that. Currently repairing our ‘65 D8H track. Keep repairing and you know the history and level of quality. Your Neighbors across 200.
I truly think you continue to fix the dozer. Giving up on it now after you've done so much only to possibly take on a whole new set of someone else's problems with a replacement dozer seems like a step backwards. You're going to need it for the house build and numerous other projects on the property, I guarantee. Plus, the ear to ear grin you have every time you use it is contagious... 😁😁
When you know how to "do things", over the last forty years, I have almost always found that keeping what you have and know is economically superior and far more fun than buy newer "crap" that you could rent if you really need to. Find a donor dozer to make your dozer tip top AND provide us some awesome old school repair content to DROOL! A youtuber collaboration with someone HeavyDSparks would be over the top entertainment!
Brings back memories of a hose rubbing on a piece of metal on my Walden 5000. It sprayed all over my leg. Luckily it is only red trans fluid so cheap to replace.
Cool video. I would keep the D8 if you still have use for it. Its been good, you know its history now and with trucking and the money you’ll lose due to the machine being broken you probably be further ahead. Look into an exchange transmission possibly be a good idea for you. That way you can just remove and replace. You would be wise to flush out all lines and coolers, and everything that now has contamination from metal in the oil. Its a big job for sure. Once it’s running again, run it for a short period then pull and clean the screen again. Do that a couple times. Then the third or fourth time, drain it all. Drain the torque converter, replace the filters and then reassemble everything and fill with new oil. Don’t forget any time the torque is drained, you must dump a couple gallons of oil into it before start up to give it some lubricant to pump until things normalize. Otherwise the scavenging/circulating pump runs dry. Good luck my man! Unfortunately yellow iron can be the cause of green paper leaving your wallet Rapidly!
You gotta weigh: 1 How much more would you use it? 2 How much, what else could break would cost? Thinking like the ENGINE ! 3 How much work it does compared to other smaller tools? 4 How much you like working on it ? 5 Even a new one or another newer used one will break something. 6 How much fun it is to drive, or even being able to say "I've got a D8 ! 🤗
The hydraulic system on those dozers is pretty simple. It's just BIG. If you drop your tank, seat & related metal, there are 2 rectangular plates on top of the diff housing. Remove these plates & you have direct access to your steering brakes/ clutches. The band around is the breaker. Make sure to go UNDER the dozer to get proper " suspension" distance for the bands IF you try this. It isn't hard, just time consuming. Patience. Even the transmission rebuild isn't that big a deal. The big secret is get ALL the metal out. Examine & determine if you have most of the destroyed part.
I think you should fix that transition second Hard or just fix it I Spent 40.000 on my D6B Caf 1964 and and haven't look back god's well no cost if it's is to much look it putting a manual fire speed in that D8 my is a manual five speed it fast three gear back blade keep going in is cheaper in joy it that old D8 it stop soon you just let someone less get the benefits out of it you have for them n.z
Hi: I love seeing little Oliver, he is a handsome young man. As to the decision to repair or buy another dozer. I learned many years ago that if the cost of repair equals half (1/2) the value of the item, you should sell it and use the money to help getting a better one. This holds true for everything, ie: cars, appliances, heavy equipment, etc. My quick internet search yielded 1.5 million for new D8 and $50,000 to $300,000 for good used. The used will come with new problems since the owner will not tell you how they abused the equipment. My wild guess is fix this one yourself and then you have pride in repair and have saved alot of money. The issue doing this is time. Which do you have more of time or money? I like your channel keep it up and tell the wife she is appreciated by me; married 42 years to a triple wonderful woman (smart, beautiful, and spiritual). Sincerely, Bill
Wow, one issue after another! I'm impressed that you guys are keeping up with the equipment repairs. I just noticed your cylinders were extended, remember to retract all of your hydraulic cylinders before you top off that tank!
Keep the old girl(dozer). I have 2 old allis Chalmers a hd5g and an hd11ep. Great machines they are overly built and tough as nails. I also just purchased a hitachi ex200 and had to change a hose on it today. Here's a tip on your hitachi, if the under belly panels are smashed it all behind the cab back to the battery box, take them off and straighten them all your pilot pump lines run there and they will wear rubbing against the bent covers. I also just bought an old 977 loader crawler it needs a clutch but has a ripper on it. That machine is HUGE!! Maybe look at finding a loader crawler with a ripper on it, it would be EXTREMELY useful for just about every heavy equipment job you do on your channel, just my opinion. Keep up the great vids, also how's the boat coming along? Next spring I hope to buy a large cruiser with a diesel in it. I run 90% of all my disels off of fileted waste vegetable oil. Ps, if I remember right Matt at diesel creek pulled his magnet filter on his d8 and it was WAY worse then what yours did and it's still a pushing. Maybe reach out to him on his thoughts🤷♂️
Another excellent video! Some drain tile running along to the driveway in the wet spots would help de-water the road. Having not actually inspected the dozer, I would recommend keeping it. You know most of the problems now and have a fairly good understanding of the machine. If you sell this one and buy another one, you are just getting a new can of worms with unknow problems. That dozer is about the perfect size/ weight for the conditions your are working. Keep up the good work!
Riley, you know everybody wants to watch you rebuild that transmission. You will make enough in youtube revenue to pay for the dozer. It will be a good winter time project. And put some culvert in the road to drain the water. You should put some drain tile on the sides of the road and keep the road side graded for the water to drain. You need to buy a road grader next for the road. I think you should auction off the pontiac engine snow blower.
Keep the D8, park it by the shop where you can work on it, get the fuel winterized before moving it there. Gonna take a bit to rebuild the transmission and inspect other components. Good winter project. It'll make for good channel content!
Check the transmission filters under the floorboard. If those look good then pull the suction lines off of the front of the trany below the drive line. There are pre screens behind the hoses just inside the trany that will come right out.If you can run the cat forward enough to get it pointed up a steep ramp or pile of dirt (front end up hill) then you can pull the suction lines and pre screens out without loosing hardly any oil . The reason it won't shift or steer is because there's no oil pressure.
It has been a while since the D8 went down. It is now on the side of the road forgotten, hope not for long. If you are not going to work on it this season, it should be winterized so the engine does not crack. Might be a good idea to pull the batteries so they can be saved.
I imagine that with a time line to get the road done and massive break downs ambition wanes rather than strikes. The true measure of your character is how you took those defeats in battle and regrouped to win the war! Both Deb and I absolutely admire your tenacity and good nature in adversity. Love the videos. The water found in the road building could end up being useful down the road if you can isolate the source. Still looking forward to an update on the tsunami water generator? Although we have our busy lives every Sunday morning we live vicariously through you guys! Love you!
Your engineering prowess is serving you well, but....that D-8 will financially bleed you dry...git rid if it while you can still get it to the bottom of the hill for a low-boy hauler to pick it up and sell it for scrap. Look for a used D6, which will fit you needs much better...love your videos!!!
Question: Will you or do you need the D8 for future projects like the abandoned/burned down cabins further up on your property? If so, then compare the costs of replacing the transmission vs rebuilding it. If you don't forsee a need for such a large dozer in the future, then sell it and get a smaller dozer for other future projects. I have a feeling you "need" a dozer in your future knowing you two. Good luck and as always, great video and thanks for keeping us all in the loop!
Sounds like a rebuild then. Great video, I enjoy the road building. Would love to see you empty those cabins and see what other hidden treasures you find. @@AmbitionStrikes
???!!!!....Come on nowwwww! Rebuild that transmission and rebuild the pump too this winter. Shes been good to you. She is part of the family and always starts up so nicely now! She sounds good too. you know you luv her! Rebuild refresh and keep moving forward! thats why we all love your channel! THEN... i want to see more preventive done on all equipment! change ALL FILTERS, fluids, thermostats hoses...etc. keep them all running cool and happy!
LMAO.... Yeah, we ALL kinda knew that would be Riley's answer. Hey, maybe you can find someone with a smaller dozer who is looking for/needs a larger/D8 dozer and that is willing to swap with you! ! ! That would help them and help you. I hope you find something soon.
Sell the D8, you have gotten most of the 'goodie' out of it! If you have to get another dozer, get nothing bigger then a D4 or D5 high track. "The bigger the iron, the bigger the repair bills squared!" Take it from someone who has been around heavy and lighter iron for many years, and owned lots of it. It's good to see little Oliver growing up so quick, he sure is a cute little fella!
I cannot tell you what is the best financial decision with the D8, but as a subscriber, I like watching you fix (and build) things. My vote is to fix the D8 and if it doesn't work out chalk it up to great video content.
I grew up with old dozers like that. If you enjoy working on it keep it because your repairs will never end. It will give you back what it has already...a few hours work then a few hours/days repair. Since your road is almost done I would say sell before it gets cold.
In a previous video you mentioned you will have more to do next year based on the grade. Based on that, the road is only finished as far as you could get this year. That road will never actually be "finished" because freeze/thaw and other environmental factors will degrade it. The time you can spend on future maintenance is drastically limited by the seasons and other tasks that can't be put off. The D8 is has been the key to your success. That means you still need something with the capability of the D8. If the rest of the dozer undercarriage is good for one or two thousand hours, I suspect the economics of fixing the transmission and doing it right will end up being the lowest cost way to fill that need. How to get it fixed is the question. Rebuilding heavy equipment transmissions isn't for the faint of heart and it has to be done right or it will just go bad again, as you've already experienced. You need a good repair job. The condition of the undercarriage and track system - how many hours it has before needing a rebuild, will be an important factor in your decision. Any other used machine is an unknown. Newer, but used dozers that are usable for ongoing construction won't be for sale. The ones that are for sale are because the've reached their sell by reliability limit. A smaller machine, like a D7 won't do what the D8 can do in the same time. High throughput is the key to your success. Replacing the transmission didn't buy much operating time. A competent rebuild is the higher quality approach.
Hi All digging on boggy ground, So, my now passed next door neighbour was a Manager on some of the most significant British Motorway building projects, and he once told me how they solved a BIG problem trying to lay down base material for the 6 lane road in boggy land, He said they put many tons of chalk down on top of wet clay and soil to dry it and firm it up enough to continue to build the new road on. That was a solution used elsewhere BUT you need raw chalk by the lorry load to do this with? So, maybe no good for you> thanks for the video. Ian -UK.
You've had the dh8 for a little while now and know you are investment. I would keep it and park it close to the shop to schedule the removal and repair of it or, perhaps a replacement? The repair and replacement will be a worthy project for the winter time and while you're at it work on a list of maintenance for all the machines you do have. Where in August and winter will be coming soon so you might want to consider some anti- gelling additives. Try and make sure the puddling areas can drain out so they don't ice up in the winter. Best of luck to you all and may God continue to abundantly bless you!
That poor D8, if I remember correctly the fluid was very durty in the transmission and needed to be changed. It's down again well that's no supprise. I told you it would not last. Investigate further and if the transmission needs fixing get it done. You owe it to the Dozer to get it going again. It has done so much for you, plus it will be good content for video's and lets face it, you make money out of them and us commenting on your video's. I will watch a D8 repair series. 😊
Consider stripping the D8 with the intent of a full overhaul. Determine cost, decide from there if you want to sell it off for parts or put it back together for added value. Worst case scenario, you've got an inventory of super powerful hydraulic parts for future projects.
getting all the metal out of the system is a huge job. All hoses really need to be pulled off and cleaned. It doesn't take a big piece of metal to wreck new stuff. I would park it and start looking for new.
I think you should look into repairing the transmission on your D-8, and here's why. You've already made some expensive repairs on the dozer, and you know what needs to be fixed to get it back up to par on the job. If you sell it for whatever you think you can get out of it and someone else checks the filter and finds metal in it, your name will be black-balled by the whole community you live in faster than the speed of light! Buying another dozer opens the door to a new world full of new problems. You can find yourself far worse off than you were before. Be careful, I know how frustrating it is to work with older equipment that breaks down. However, sometimes the money spent on repair costs is far less than the newer replacement ones are! Eventually, you will have an assortment of extra parts backing you up for repairs 😊
Man… tough call on the dozer. I can see it both ways. Riley, your mechanical enough to pull off a rebuild but that’s a lot to put into that old machine. I guess it depends on your future plans for the property. I know that the rock pile you’ve been on would have a smaller dozer for lunch and ask for a snack! You guys are smart so you’ll figure it out. Probably already have. Cheers! 👍🏻
That transmission pump can be primed with oil until it gets rid of the air. If priming works, it is an indication that you have a worn out or busted part in that system. Have done that on several older D8's and D9's over the years. You also might consider having a Cat field technician come by and do some transmission testing. I don't know what costs are in your area, but pulling and overhauling transmissions isn't cheap anywhere.
I'm so happy a video came out! I found this channel about a month ago and have watched all of yalls videos starting from the very beginning! From breaking into yalls own house all the way to buying the houseboat! I am addicted! I love the channel and content! I shared the channel with my friends and family! Thank yall for what yall do! Ollie is so cute and so lucky to have parents like yall!
On the excavator for hydrologic lines you may consider using a wrap round the lines... In the trucking industry we use line wrap to protect our air lines and power cords to the trailer from fraying.
I love that dozer and would be sad to see it go! I think watching a video on a rebuild of the transmission and hydraulics would be super interesting to watch. Plus old tooling and equipment tends to be built better. I always opt to fix something old rather than spend the extra money on something new. Totally understand either route, do what makes sense for you guys
If you still have a pumping problem in spots consider cement treat and possibly geogrid. How about painting the Hitachi teeth gold? (or red, yellow, orange) As to the D8 you already know the answer; How much work, How much to have the tranny rebuilt, how much to purchase a smaller dozer and do the work. Of course the other option is to rent what you need for a dozer.
Smart thing is keep the dozer and fix while You already spend some time to do that. Also You already know almost every bad spot there. If You buy a new one than it is pretty much start over from nothing.
Guys, first I am still waiting on your update on the new water system and two.... I would pull the tranny and look. The dozer looks to be in great shape. I would recommend building a dedicated heavy overhead lift to do your own repairs on these big equipment. Another youtuber " Andrew C. " lives i believe upstate NY , built a container home with an awesome huge work shop with an overhead heavy lift crane. I foresee in the future... you guys might need something like that for your big earth movers 🤔. Just trying to help out.... it sucks when those problems show up at the wrong time. Love your channel 🤠
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Guys, why have you partnered with Temu?? You're pretty much endorsing some really questionable work practices and a company that undercuts legitimate businesses. Please think more carefully who you partner with..... Thought you two would care about this kind of thing! 😕
If it was me, I consider renting a dozen if all you need is a few more days for the road. You still have to get gravel down & winter is coming soon. Deal with the D8 next year.
Issue is pulling the D8 transmission is going to take a lot of time, which I believe is a precious commodity for you.
So lame to see you supporting such a shady company. Such a gross sell out
As per Forbes "Temu, the Boston-based, Chinese-owned retailer is owned by PDD Holdings Inc., which also operates Temu's sister company, Chinese e-commerce platform Pinduoduo." I'm afraid I'll have to take a pass on that one. 👍
On your D8 Dozer & speaking as a technician & owner of older heavy equipment, older is better built , cheaper & easier to repair parts are still readily available, in my opinion I’d keep moving forward with your current D8 you know the history & know what you’ve done. Replacing it with a different machine has pros & cons , biggest con unknown condition & hidden problems, like the ( Hitachi) , from what I’ve seen on the D8 it’s performed very well , the engineering back then they wanted it to last forever, unfortunately the newer machines of today not as reliable, if it 10 years old they ( the dealer ) want you to replace it , ridiculous.
Anyway it my opinion, in the end you’ve got to do what makes sense for your situation.
Love the videos keep up the good work , stay happy & safe .
Sounds like sage advice to me.
I agree with this sentiment. Plus, you'll have a "new" transmission... so one less part to break.
plus that old beast , has no emissions and def systems. Some one put a lot of time in to that old girl doing all the additional hard facing on the blade and the push carriage.
I agree.
Riley, over my lifetime of 76yrs and growing up as a son of a "Jippo Logger", I've always had the burden of buying second hand equipment. Then dealing with all the things that the last owner was never going to share about the piece you just bought. Thus, every time we fixed a problem, we became closer to building a sense of accomplishment and security. I am aware that there comes a time when fixing is no longer within your desire, but after watching your journey and now buying additional property, I would suggest that you fix the dozer for future projects that will come up as you guys move forward with your dreams.
Well said, I agree 100%
Gyppo
I would agree with Randy, especially if you fix the transmission, plus you know the dozer well. Ready to see what’s to come with the additional land 👍🏾!!!
x2
I agree but they didnt buy additional property... that last video if the abandoned house was there current property .... just further up the mountain
I’d move/park the dozer out of the way where you can work on it if you choose to, before it breaks down somewhere in the way. Then I’d pull the transmission and rebuild it over the winter (doing it yourself and knowing how it looks inside will save $ and help you plan longer term ).
Agreed
Heck yes! Fix it yourself. We know you can. Unless you can afford one with low hours.
Better the devil you know than one you don't
With the excavator to lift the heavy pieces around and some temporary heavy roller platforms it is the perfect winter rebuild project. You will wind up with a like new dozer that will last basically forever. With a little publicity you may be able to attract some viewers with experience and get the job done in a few days.
100 Agree … then hire another D6/8 dozer on a contract basis. However you will need to ensure that this dozer is constantly working to avoid standby charges
My vote is to repair the transmission on the D8 and keep it going. They don't build them as good as that one anymore!
Also, for missing bucket teeth. Could you completely paint them with fluorescent safety paint so that even if a lot of the paint wears away, there may be a spot of yellow or pink to see on the ground if one falls off (and seeing a missing tooth might be easier if the tooth root on the bucket stays a bright colour when the tooth falls off). Just a suggestion.
I was thinking the same thing.
paint the inside of the tooth neon pink... amen it falls off, it'll show the pink on the bucket and the tooth, so you'll know right away to stop and get it.
Part of the problem with the teeth falling off is worn anchor points. Worn anchor means tooth movement. Tooth movement means paint gets chipped away during use, i.e. loss of the intent of the paint in the suggested solution. Likely the paint wouldn't be there to make noticing it missing or finding the missing one the same as no paint. In my opinion at least. Good idea, just don't think it will work.
Some of the paint should be visible because the tooth socket and root don't have 100% contact between the two, so all of the paint shouldn't wear off at least not during the short time those teeth stay on. It is well worth a try.
Paint will wear off the teeth inside and outside no matter the situation. It might be loose and not making contact but dirt gets in there moving around wearing the paint out of every book and cranny. They come painted from the dealer. I don't see any paint left on it outside or inside. If some stayed on the tooth it would be covered by dirt or such a small amount it wouldn't make a difference.
I would love to watch the series where you "re-transmission" the dozer if it comes to that! The D8 episodes remain my favorites to date, although I genuinely appreciate all your videos.
The issue with re-transmission is not really having the equipment or time. Maybe a project for 2024. Probably would make sense to rent a dozer to get the road completed this summer. when time is avail. assess the D8.
Courtney HAS Aready Werked on the Transmission ( Torque-Converter ) mostly on that "REALLY Tired" machine.
Would suggest calling C&C Equipment in IN. He knows everything about anything heavy equipment. Great video.
I second this comment. C&C is AWESOME!, those guys have forgotten more than most schools can even teach. I called them about our Onan generator awhile back, thinking the carburetor needed rebuilt then guy said "Have you checked to make sure the elevation adjustment is correct?" OMG, I turned one little switch and it's ran perfect ever since. Talk about just plain common sense, those guys are like Einstein "eliminate the impossible and only the obvious remains" @@michaelpetty8416
I'll second that. Would love to see that repair.
I am a fix it guy ,but not my money. If it was me, I would fix it almost regardless of the cost because I want to preserve old equipment like that. It is what brought me to this channel. Y'all have to do what is best for Y'all. I would enjoy watching you fix it.
They should do an epic 3-4 hrs collaboration with Diesel Creek and Andrew. Would be insanely popular. 😎✌️
I would love to see a collab with Diesel Creek as well. I watch that channel a lot. He knows his stuff!
Fix the dozer. If you sell it and buy a different used dozer, you are just buying a new set of unknown and possibly worse issues. Owning heavy equipment is like digging a big deep hole and throwing money into it. Just get used to throwing money. But at least you know what you have already fixed and what you are suspicious of breaking soon. A new (used) dozer means starting over from scratch with no idea what is going to break first. Newer does not mean better maintained and selling your now means you won't get much for it.
very valuable advice and most certainly the exact Truth‼️
Treasure the ‘Old CAT’
and just take good care of her…she’ll serve you well
even better than she already has
👊🔥
🪖
As an over the road owner-operator for 30 years, I have known the heartache of break downs. One thing that it took me years to learn, was it's better to fix it right one time than patching it several times. Good luck with the road no matter which way you go on the dozer!!
With all the work you've already done to the D8, I'd fix. After the road project, I'd use it to create a fire break around the property. Also, I'm sure you could use it at the abandoned camp site.
We have a 250 acre place where we built over a mile of road through Maine forest, mud, and rock. We sold it many years ago and wish we still had it. Nothing beats big equipment for future big jobs. That D8 WILL come in handy later!
Awww the Dozer gave you it's all until it couldn't give any more. I think it deserves a rebuild. It's almost a family member at this point.
Great video. On the D 8 I would fix it. Puling the transmission is not going to be easy. There is all kinds of online repair books on that cat. There is parts readily available for it. As good as you are at making things (snow blower ) there is no reason you can't rebuild that your self. Once that's done you've got a better dozer than a new one. But I'm a lover of old equipment.
I think pull the transmission and have it rebuilt…even though I know that’s a huge job. I would hate for you to buy another used dozer and it have just as many frustrating issues. You’ve already put a bunch of work into this dozer, it would be great to watch you continue to problem solve and have a well functioning machine in the end. It seems like quite the challenge for this beat up old machine.
Everybody keeps saying repair the D8, but metal shavings (and more) have gone through the entire hydraulic system by now. The powerplant is old and tired, and every bushing and pin is worn to hell. I'm not sure on what future dozer needs look like, but maybe downsize from a D8 to something more maneuverable and newer.
You should look for a parts machine with a known good transmission and swap them. It would make for great content. You could also change out other parts that need swapped. Then once your road is done and you have no use for the dozer, you can sell it for a better price.
The saying that "It's cheaper to keep her". Is very true when it comes to heavy equipment! You NEVER know what a "New" Dozer would have for problems! You know what's wrong with this one, So, I would recommend that you keep her and repair her! Besides I think you doing a transmission repair/replacement would be great entertainment!! You are doing great and you 2 keep up the great work and content!!
collaborate with C&C equipment, Diesel Creek, salvage workshop or some other channel to fix up the D8H, its only fair, they are all getting into jeeps,
When you have an unwanted pond, drain it immediately. The water is a great tool to show where to dig to drain it. When I was a town engineer, I used to inspect drainage when it was raining. Fix the machines. Put in drainage swales along the sides of the road. They will keep the roadway drier and will give some area for plowed snow. This may require putting in some pipes. You will eventually need a dozer for clearing for gardens, fields, and orchards. Good Luck, Rick
Unless you're buying a brand new dozer with the same power house otherwise rebuild this one, reach out to Diesel Creek he may be able to do it plus it will make great content for this channel, Tyler and Co. came in handy for u guys, thanks for the content guys, its very informative.
SAVE THE D8!! Incredible machine that has been a fantastic part of the channel. Would love to see a transmission rebuild series.
As previously mentioned, a colab with Diesel Creek would be an excellent idea. #savetheD8!
Rebuild the trans and keep the D8. It makes for great content and for the work that you use the dozer for it would be the most cost effective way to keep a large dozer. Any work in your situation that can be done with a dozer smaller than a D6 can be accomplished with your tracked skid.
the blade on the skidsteer is a ground anchor, it won't take being used much as a dozer blade.
One thing I learned from heavy machine recovery videos is that they can pretty much always be fixed if you're willing to put in a lil money for certain parts. Heavy machinery is usually decently simple mechanically. Good video, very enjoyable to watch.
How great has it been having Tyler there helping you not only with the road, but with all the equipment repairs?!! Wouldn’t it be fun if they lived near you full-time?🎉😎
Riley has a plan to disable their motorhome so they can't leave... 😉
@@AmbitionStrikes I love it!! It must be amazing having them there.
@@MichelleLHiga Hotel Idaho, where you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave?
Hey folks. Riley, you mentioned a lot of clay on your land. I see pure veins of it when you are digging. I have clay on my land. If you have lemons, make lemonade. You can utilize your clay to make bricks, pottery, and waterproof. I utilized my white gumbo clay to build a nice chiminea.
Great video. Great diagnosis and fixing of the Hitachi oil leak. Sorry about the D8 dozer. IF you need the D8 more to complete the road, you need to pay for the transmission removal/rebuild and possibly replacement of the oil pump. Loved seeing your dogs with their new toys. Great seeing Courtney and Oliver as time continues in your videos.
We think we can get the rest of the road done without the dozer, so at least we've got some time to decide what we want to do.
repair D8
ok but you live on mountains ⛰️ aera the cat D8 need repairs all time but expensive the repaired buy more Yung more money 💰
Several YT channels I watch have dogs featured on them and they are quite the crowd pleaser.
It depends on how much the cost for a transmission rebuild on the dozers going to be compared to the cost for a smaller dozer. So if it was me I would look into the cost of rebuilding the transmission on the big and then compare it to the cost of a smaller dozer. And see which way would be the cheapest. But knowing you your going to rebuild the transmission on the Big D-8
Rebuild transmission and pump. Flush hydraulic system. That dozer will come in handy plowing the road in winter, and for future maintenance.
You may have found an underground spring. Which is no longer underground, since the ground has been removed. This happens very commonly up in the mountains. Our farm is up in the Adirondacks and we have lost count at the number of natural springs we have on the 300+ acre property.
Rebuild the D8 trans... make a good winter project 😊
as an old mechanic I say ,what I would do , as long as engine is ok ...Money well spent to take trans out of dozer rebuild, take all lines off you can and flush with diesel, replace pump , replace filters , and again replace filters after 25 hours , and clean all filter and screens! Good job guys!! Look forward to a repair episode ...
@AmbitionStrikes
I called it during the last repair video. You fixed the dozer once, put the money into it and fix it then recoup the costs. All good working equipment is selling pretty high right now, clapped out old stuff isn't really selling as much. Fix it and sell it, or fix it and use it. You have several pieces of property that may benefit from a piece of equipment like the D8.
I'd definitely recommend rebuilding/replacing the transmission, but you had mentioned that the previous owner had jut put a transmission in it, is there any chance that this is wreckage from the first transmission still working its way through the system? if so, it might be as simple as flushing the systems that the pump services and potentially replacing the pump if it's bad. The reason I say that is I would think that any part of the transmission or drive system losing a bearing would very quickly and very violently make itself known, not just clog filters
May be still some warranty on the Trany.
The tranny used was a used one from what I remember. I don't think it had any warranty, sadly but it couldn't hurt to ask the last owner.
Saw the comment on lots of D8's out here. Built to Last, not engineered obsolescence! REBUILD OR REPLACE, Roadwork won't end with this project, the D8 will repay it livery very quickly.
I think it’s time to do a collab with Matt from Diesel Creek. Seeing two of my top five working together would be awesome.
Here's a novel idea.. Paint the bucket teeth bright orange... Is the paint going to last? No. but it's cheap as hell and might help when they fall off. Also, at some point, you're going to have to take all the access panels off your equipment and give them a good washout with a steam pressure washer... Get all the crap off em, get em clean, and re-grease everything... Little bit of maintenance saves a lot of time when you don't break down in the middle of a job.
I have an idea, not sure how many others will agree but I think a once every two weeks or once a month "Bloopers" video would be great.
I thought the regular video was the blooper video!
I don't think they make mistakes on this channel
@@madtater5948 Seriously, I think all she needs to do is put together clips of Riley. LOL 🤣
@@raydartt😂😂😂😂😂 classic!!!!
@@madtater5948😂😂😂😂
12:30 first time in the series I saw the dent on the front of the escalator. Must have been fairly easy with all the filming to identify the exact day/event. Glad it worked out in the end.
I cannot tell if it financially worth rebuilding the D8 transmission... but if you keep it after the road is finished, that can be a great rebuilding content series during the winter...
Unless the repair costs more than it's worth just go ahead and fix it. You still have a lot of use for a dozer up there and you have peace of mind knowing the transmission's status after you've taken care of the repair. That thing is a beast. Hope you keep it
8.13.23 rebuild the transmission. Would like to see how the transmission comes out.
Riley you can’t get rid of the old D8. Ever since you brought her home I’ve been glued to your new videos of big toys for big boys! I know that a more modern one is better for productivity, but that old Cat has a legacy of working hard behind it and getting the job done. Once you finish the road, maybe then, but even then you’ll never have a better backup source of power if you ever needed to convert her to a power generator as one of your incredible projects. Seeing you get after that transmission has me on the edge of my seat wishing I was closer to you to help out. Guard the fate of the old D8. 🤠
Tac weld the pins in the teeth even on the rented machine it would be worth the time lol We do some rough excavation and that's what we do. whenever taking a hose out of a frame tie a string to it to pull the new one back in the same place the last one was.
Riley, a possible Tip for your water saturated new road would be to install some DRAIN Tile in the really soft parts. Since you're likely to always have the water issues a few drain tile pipes placed in the roadway now will allow the Water to escape the area and help your new Road. I hope this possible fix helps you great people out. Good luck 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍..
I'd use an 8 inch drain tile pipe which is semi flexible..
I have admired you two from your earliest travel camper days. You are a top 5 of my over 60 RUclips channels. Rebuild the D8 to keep it going. You are unique among all RUclips’s and homesteads. You guys are the best!
Time to get rid of the dozer, if the previous owner put a new transmission in and it’s broken again your better off just getting a newer dozer. I’m a mechanic for a cat dealership in south Florida, the labor alone associated with actually repairing this dozer would give you a very nice down payment on newer equipment. Also for those saying they don’t make the machines like they used to your right, they build them better.
Fixing the D8 or selling it and looking for a different unit is a tough decision. If you fix it you know what you have. If you get rid of it and get a different one then you may be getting someone’s unit with more problems.
If it was me looking at all the current and future projects I would get it fixed.
Rebuild for sure. The enginr and the rest of the machine seems in passable shape. You have some more land to get to work on.
Additionally it will be worth a lot more when you finally sell it as a fully operational machine.
Scrappy industries and Diesel Creek, amongst many others, have similar machines.
Good luck with the rebuild. I for one will be watching!!!
I was pretty sure it was as you explained as y’all are exceptionally efficient and methodical with your projects but I had thought the videos were sequential in real-time. As I said I should have known as y’all are the coolest, brightest, nicest and interesting couple on RUclips. I’m a 76 year old geezer that gets tremendous vicarious pleasure watching your exciting lives progress and your family grow.
Been there and done that. Currently repairing our ‘65 D8H track. Keep repairing and you know the history and level of quality.
Your Neighbors across 200.
Keep your dozer, and you need to speak to Matt from diesel creek he may even come to you and help you fix her
I truly think you continue to fix the dozer. Giving up on it now after you've done so much only to possibly take on a whole new set of someone else's problems with a replacement dozer seems like a step backwards. You're going to need it for the house build and numerous other projects on the property, I guarantee.
Plus, the ear to ear grin you have every time you use it is contagious... 😁😁
When you know how to "do things", over the last forty years, I have almost always found that keeping what you have and know is economically superior and far more fun than buy newer "crap" that you could rent if you really need to. Find a donor dozer to make your dozer tip top AND provide us some awesome old school repair content to DROOL! A youtuber collaboration with someone HeavyDSparks would be over the top entertainment!
Love HeavyDsparks!
Brings back memories of a hose rubbing on a piece of metal on my Walden 5000. It sprayed all over my leg. Luckily it is only red trans fluid so cheap to replace.
Cool video. I would keep the D8 if you still have use for it. Its been good, you know its history now and with trucking and the money you’ll lose due to the machine being broken you probably be further ahead. Look into an exchange transmission possibly be a good idea for you. That way you can just remove and replace.
You would be wise to flush out all lines and coolers, and everything that now has contamination from metal in the oil. Its a big job for sure. Once it’s running again, run it for a short period then pull and clean the screen again. Do that a couple times. Then the third or fourth time, drain it all. Drain the torque converter, replace the filters and then reassemble everything and fill with new oil. Don’t forget any time the torque is drained, you must dump a couple gallons of oil into it before start up to give it some lubricant to pump until things normalize. Otherwise the scavenging/circulating pump runs dry.
Good luck my man! Unfortunately yellow iron can be the cause of green paper leaving your wallet Rapidly!
You gotta weigh: 1 How much more would you use it? 2 How much, what else could break would cost? Thinking like the ENGINE ! 3 How much work it does compared to other smaller tools? 4 How much you like working on it ? 5 Even a new one or another newer used one will break something. 6 How much fun it is to drive, or even being able to say "I've got a D8 ! 🤗
The 2 machines going simultaneously , filmed from up above, plus awesome music ; Definitely best thing I've seen on u-tube !!
The hydraulic system on those dozers is pretty simple. It's just BIG. If you drop your tank, seat & related metal, there are 2 rectangular plates on top of the diff housing. Remove these plates & you have direct access to your steering brakes/ clutches. The band around is the breaker. Make sure to go UNDER the dozer to get proper " suspension" distance for the bands IF you try this. It isn't hard, just time consuming. Patience. Even the transmission rebuild isn't that big a deal. The big secret is get ALL the metal out. Examine & determine if you have most of the destroyed part.
Really nice sequence shooting and editing. Amazing that a couple of engineer-trained fabricators have become such creative filmmakers.
Thank you so much! A lot of the credit on this one should go to Sarah, who is helping out film and edit this summer.
@@AmbitionStrikes Use a zoom Sarah and tripod, who knows what will fly close to this guy :) Thank you for helping out, it really shows.
I think you should fix that transition second Hard or just fix it I Spent 40.000 on my D6B Caf 1964 and and haven't look back god's well no cost if it's is to much look it putting a manual fire speed in that D8 my is a manual five speed it fast three gear back blade keep going in is cheaper in joy it that old D8 it stop soon you just let someone less get the benefits out of it you have for them n.z
Hi: I love seeing little Oliver, he is a handsome young man. As to the decision to repair or buy another dozer. I learned many years ago that if the cost of repair equals half (1/2) the value of the item, you should sell it and use the money to help getting a better one. This holds true for everything, ie: cars, appliances, heavy equipment, etc. My quick internet search yielded 1.5 million for new D8 and $50,000 to $300,000 for good used. The used will come with new problems since the owner will not tell you how they abused the equipment. My wild guess is fix this one yourself and then you have pride in repair and have saved alot of money. The issue doing this is time. Which do you have more of time or money?
I like your channel keep it up and tell the wife she is appreciated by me; married 42 years to a triple wonderful woman (smart, beautiful, and spiritual).
Sincerely, Bill
Wow, one issue after another! I'm impressed that you guys are keeping up with the equipment repairs. I just noticed your cylinders were extended, remember to retract all of your hydraulic cylinders before you top off that tank!
Keep the old girl(dozer). I have 2 old allis Chalmers a hd5g and an hd11ep. Great machines they are overly built and tough as nails. I also just purchased a hitachi ex200 and had to change a hose on it today. Here's a tip on your hitachi, if the under belly panels are smashed it all behind the cab back to the battery box, take them off and straighten them all your pilot pump lines run there and they will wear rubbing against the bent covers. I also just bought an old 977 loader crawler it needs a clutch but has a ripper on it. That machine is HUGE!! Maybe look at finding a loader crawler with a ripper on it, it would be EXTREMELY useful for just about every heavy equipment job you do on your channel, just my opinion. Keep up the great vids, also how's the boat coming along? Next spring I hope to buy a large cruiser with a diesel in it. I run 90% of all my disels off of fileted waste vegetable oil. Ps, if I remember right Matt at diesel creek pulled his magnet filter on his d8 and it was WAY worse then what yours did and it's still a pushing. Maybe reach out to him on his thoughts🤷♂️
You know the D8 so well. I would rebuild the transmission. You have so much to learn while doing it
Hi Graskey where are you from?
If you're going to get a newer dozer, look at a D8K. Also Cat will be able to tell you what those fragments are if you take them oil samples.
Another excellent video! Some drain tile running along to the driveway in the wet spots would help de-water the road. Having not actually inspected the dozer, I would recommend keeping it. You know most of the problems now and have a fairly good understanding of the machine. If you sell this one and buy another one, you are just getting a new can of worms with unknow problems. That dozer is about the perfect size/ weight for the conditions your are working. Keep up the good work!
Riley, you know everybody wants to watch you rebuild that transmission. You will make enough in youtube revenue to pay for the dozer. It will be a good winter time project. And put some culvert in the road to drain the water. You should put some drain tile on the sides of the road and keep the road side graded for the water to drain. You need to buy a road grader next for the road. I think you should auction off the pontiac engine snow blower.
Keep the D8, park it by the shop where you can work on it, get the fuel winterized before moving it there. Gonna take a bit to rebuild the transmission and inspect other components. Good winter project.
It'll make for good channel content!
Riley, what I forgot to also say, that you could do a go-fun-me on the Doxer so you could take to CAT and have them repair it.
Check the transmission filters under the floorboard.
If those look good then pull the suction lines off of the front of the trany below the drive line. There are pre screens behind the hoses just inside the trany that will come right out.If you can run the cat forward enough to get it pointed up a steep ramp or pile of dirt (front end up hill) then you can pull the suction lines and pre screens out without loosing hardly any oil .
The reason it won't shift or steer is because there's no oil pressure.
Least we forget, D8's were critical in building America! They are special..
Transmission rebuild sounds like a cool project to see happen... maybe during the fall/winter once things slow down on outside projects???
It has been a while since the D8 went down. It is now on the side of the road forgotten, hope not for long. If you are not going to work on it this season, it should be winterized so the engine does not crack. Might be a good idea to pull the batteries so they can be saved.
I imagine that with a time line to get the road done and massive break downs ambition wanes rather than strikes. The true measure of your character is how you took those defeats in battle and regrouped to win the war! Both Deb and I absolutely admire your tenacity and good nature in adversity. Love the videos. The water found in the road building could end up being useful down the road if you can isolate the source. Still looking forward to an update on the tsunami water generator? Although we have our busy lives every Sunday morning we live vicariously through you guys! Love you!
Your engineering prowess is serving you well, but....that D-8 will financially bleed you dry...git rid if it while you can still get it to the bottom of the hill for a low-boy hauler to pick it up and sell it for scrap. Look for a used D6, which will fit you needs much better...love your videos!!!
Question: Will you or do you need the D8 for future projects like the abandoned/burned down cabins further up on your property? If so, then compare the costs of replacing the transmission vs rebuilding it. If you don't forsee a need for such a large dozer in the future, then sell it and get a smaller dozer for other future projects. I have a feeling you "need" a dozer in your future knowing you two. Good luck and as always, great video and thanks for keeping us all in the loop!
Riley said he will always “need” a dozer. 😉
LOL@@AmbitionStrikes
Sounds like a rebuild then. Great video, I enjoy the road building. Would love to see you empty those cabins and see what other hidden treasures you find.
@@AmbitionStrikes
???!!!!....Come on nowwwww! Rebuild that transmission and rebuild the pump too this winter. Shes been good to you. She is part of the family and always starts up so nicely now! She sounds good too. you know you luv her! Rebuild refresh and keep moving forward! thats why we all love your channel! THEN... i want to see more preventive done on all equipment! change ALL FILTERS, fluids, thermostats hoses...etc. keep them all running cool and happy!
LMAO.... Yeah, we ALL kinda knew that would be Riley's answer. Hey, maybe you can find someone with a smaller dozer who is looking for/needs a larger/D8 dozer and that is willing to swap with you! ! ! That would help them and help you. I hope you find something soon.
Sell the D8, you have gotten most of the 'goodie' out of it! If you have to get another dozer, get nothing bigger then a D4 or D5 high track. "The bigger the iron, the bigger the repair bills squared!" Take it from someone who has been around heavy and lighter iron for many years, and owned lots of it. It's good to see little Oliver growing up so quick, he sure is a cute little fella!
I cannot tell you what is the best financial decision with the D8, but as a subscriber, I like watching you fix (and build) things. My vote is to fix the D8 and if it doesn't work out chalk it up to great video content.
I grew up with old dozers like that. If you enjoy working on it keep it because your repairs will never end. It will give you back what it has already...a few hours work then a few hours/days repair. Since your road is almost done I would say sell before it gets cold.
In a previous video you mentioned you will have more to do next year based on the grade. Based on that, the road is only finished as far as you could get this year. That road will never actually be "finished" because freeze/thaw and other environmental factors will degrade it.
The time you can spend on future maintenance is drastically limited by the seasons and other tasks that can't be put off. The D8 is has been the key to your success. That means you still need something with the capability of the D8.
If the rest of the dozer undercarriage is good for one or two thousand hours, I suspect the economics of fixing the transmission and doing it right will end up being the lowest cost way to fill that need. How to get it fixed is the question. Rebuilding heavy equipment transmissions isn't for the faint of heart and it has to be done right or it will just go bad again, as you've already experienced. You need a good repair job. The condition of the undercarriage and track system - how many hours it has before needing a rebuild, will be an important factor in your decision.
Any other used machine is an unknown. Newer, but used dozers that are usable for ongoing construction won't be for sale. The ones that are for sale are because the've reached their sell by reliability limit. A smaller machine, like a D7 won't do what the D8 can do in the same time. High throughput is the key to your success. Replacing the transmission didn't buy much operating time. A competent rebuild is the higher quality approach.
Hi All digging on boggy ground, So, my now passed next door neighbour was a Manager on some of the most significant British Motorway building projects, and he once told me how they solved a BIG problem trying to lay down base material for the 6 lane road in boggy land, He said they put many tons of chalk down on top of wet clay and soil to dry it and firm it up enough to continue to build the new road on. That was a solution used elsewhere BUT you need raw chalk by the lorry load to do this with? So, maybe no good for you> thanks for the video. Ian -UK.
You've had the dh8 for a little while now and know you are investment. I would keep it and park it close to the shop to schedule the removal and repair of it or, perhaps a replacement?
The repair and replacement will be a worthy project for the winter time and while you're at it work on a list of maintenance for all the machines you do have.
Where in August and winter will be coming soon so you might want to consider some anti- gelling additives.
Try and make sure the puddling areas can drain out so they don't ice up in the winter.
Best of luck to you all and may God continue to abundantly bless you!
That poor D8, if I remember correctly the fluid was very durty in the transmission and needed to be changed. It's down again well that's no supprise. I told you it would not last. Investigate further and if the transmission needs fixing get it done. You owe it to the Dozer to get it going again. It has done so much for you, plus it will be good content for video's and lets face it, you make money out of them and us commenting on your video's. I will watch a D8 repair series. 😊
Fix the dozer instead of passing the buck. 💯
Consider stripping the D8 with the intent of a full overhaul.
Determine cost, decide from there if you want to sell it off for parts or put it back together for added value.
Worst case scenario, you've got an inventory of super powerful hydraulic parts for future projects.
You should investigate sponsors, TEMU is draining bank accounts without user permissions. Love your videos and content.
The whip out of the garage made my night. Thanks for going out of your way to film that.
Replacing the transmission would be some great content. The dozer brought me to the channel. 😊
getting all the metal out of the system is a huge job. All hoses really need to be pulled off and cleaned. It doesn't take a big piece of metal to wreck new stuff. I would park it and start looking for new.
I think pulling the transmission out of the D8 and fixing it would gather many views!
I think you should look into repairing the transmission on your D-8, and here's why. You've already made some expensive repairs on the dozer, and you know what needs to be fixed to get it back up to par on the job. If you sell it for whatever you think you can get out of it and someone else checks the filter and finds metal in it, your name will be black-balled by the whole community you live in faster than the speed of light!
Buying another dozer opens the door to a new world full of new problems. You can find yourself far worse off than you were before. Be careful, I know how frustrating it is to work with older equipment that breaks down. However, sometimes the money spent on repair costs is far less than the newer replacement ones are! Eventually, you will have an assortment of extra parts backing you up for repairs 😊
Man… tough call on the dozer. I can see it both ways. Riley, your mechanical enough to pull off a rebuild but that’s a lot to put into that old machine. I guess it depends on your future plans for the property. I know that the rock pile you’ve been on would have a smaller dozer for lunch and ask for a snack! You guys are smart so you’ll figure it out. Probably already have. Cheers! 👍🏻
Looking at 10-15k for new parts in a quick look up might be much cheaper if you find the parts that need to be replaced. Im sure cat has rebuild kits
If it was me, I would fix the excavator and the d8, then when the bulk work is done flip both machines and replace with a reliable 20ton excavator
That transmission pump can be primed with oil until it gets rid of the air. If priming works, it is an indication that you have a worn out or busted part in that system.
Have done that on several older D8's and D9's over the years.
You also might consider having a Cat field technician come by and do some transmission testing.
I don't know what costs are in your area, but pulling and overhauling transmissions isn't cheap anywhere.
I'm so happy a video came out! I found this channel about a month ago and have watched all of yalls videos starting from the very beginning! From breaking into yalls own house all the way to buying the houseboat! I am addicted! I love the channel and content! I shared the channel with my friends and family! Thank yall for what yall do! Ollie is so cute and so lucky to have parents like yall!
On the excavator for hydrologic lines you may consider using a wrap round the lines... In the trucking industry we use line wrap to protect our air lines and power cords to the trailer from fraying.
I love that dozer and would be sad to see it go! I think watching a video on a rebuild of the transmission and hydraulics would be super interesting to watch. Plus old tooling and equipment tends to be built better. I always opt to fix something old rather than spend the extra money on something new. Totally understand either route, do what makes sense for you guys
I love it... "Safety Squint" ...I've never heard it put that way, but I use that technique often. Thank you for the new terminology.
Every time I see you guys working on the equipment I have the same thought: I hope he knows what a fluid injection injury is....and how to avoid it!!
💥Yes, it can be deadly!! 💔
If you still have a pumping problem in spots consider cement treat and possibly geogrid. How about painting the Hitachi teeth gold? (or red, yellow, orange)
As to the D8 you already know the answer; How much work, How much to have the tranny rebuilt, how much to purchase a smaller dozer and do the work.
Of course the other option is to rent what you need for a dozer.
Smart thing is keep the dozer and fix while You already spend some time to do that. Also You already know almost every bad spot there. If You buy a new one than it is pretty much start over from nothing.
Guys, first I am still waiting on your update on the new water system and two.... I would pull the tranny and look. The dozer looks to be in great shape. I would recommend building a dedicated heavy overhead lift to do your own repairs on these big equipment. Another youtuber " Andrew C. " lives i believe upstate NY , built a container home with an awesome huge work shop with an overhead heavy lift crane. I foresee in the future... you guys might need something like that for your big earth movers 🤔. Just trying to help out.... it sucks when those problems show up at the wrong time. Love your channel 🤠
I vote for fixing the transmission. Even if you sell it you would likely get your money back for the repair.