Looking at buying a set of used tracks for our Cat D8N. Found a set that looks to be in good shape. My only concern is on the bolt together section of the tracks. Looks like the previous owner had a hard time removing them and needed to heat/torch the area? looking for opinions on this... Thanks!
how is the actual pin and bushing wear? at the very least, those links will have to be replaced and if the height of the new links is higher, they will have to be ground down to match the worn height of the rest and maybe the outside of the bushing to match so the wear is the same as the rest so it wears evenly on the sprocket segments. maybe i'm just too nitpicky though. it depends how long you want it to last and what you use the machine for. ie, full-time construction or occasional farm use
Those master links had been welded. The torch marks are where they cut them apart. Poorly,
The pads look OK. The height of the grousers doesn't mean a lot. Usually is is the thickness of the plates that I look at. The master links are scrap metal. There is no way to check the stretch in the chains without pulling the tracks out. They are SALT so it is likely there are many dry joints. I wouldn't waste any money on what I see in the photos.
Aren't those system one tracks ? Is your machine set up for them? They will have to have a new set of master links pressed on . Bob
Nice catch Bluox! I hadn't thought to look because I have never seen System 1 on a D8 sized machine.
System one tracks. Not worth a dime on a D8 in my opinion. With respect to the poster,did you spot that they were system one?This is an extremely rare thing on a D8N. I strongly suggest you take a closer look at what tracks you allready have on your D8N. The tracks in your pics are scrap. Read that last but again incase you’re not sure. Keep your money in your wallet sir
Seems Cat is pushing system one on all models D8 and below. https://caterpillar.scene7.com/is/content/Caterpillar/C10507958
Good to know. I definitely am no track expert here. What exactly is "system one tracks"? Never heard that term before. Heres a few more pics of them...
And here is what is currently on our D8N
Also our machine is a 1992 model year
A bit like pushing **** uphill. It's a tough job but someone has to do it. I just feel sorry for the salesman who has to try and sell that undercarriage system to customers. There are basically two track systems available for tractors of D8 size - Heavy Duty (HD) & SystemOne. Your existing undercarriage is HD. SystemOne would require AFAIK replacing the sprockets, idlers, & track rollers as well as the tracks because the components are different. A D8N like yours can be converted to SystemOne, but it wouldn't be cheap. TBH the perceived wisdom is that SystemOne tracks are sh1te....... especially on a D8 size machine. That's probably why they are being offered for sale - they've been pulled off a newer tractor somewhere that was converted from SystemOne to HD and nobody wants them. Here's a link to the various forms of undercarriage which includes information on both HD & S1. https://www.holtcat.com/Portals/0/undercarriage broch.pdf
You have SALT now. System one is basically a rotating bushing design instead of fixed bushing. A system that "Cletrac" used successfully back in the 30's and 40's. Lots of debate as to whether it is a successful design or not now.
Here's what has to be done to install SystemOne tracks on a D8N.
The value to you is in the plates and bolts . If you need new chains these plates may fit the bolt holes on the type of chains you need . That would be the key to a worthy purchase . The seller may not know what type of chain he's trying to sell and may be keen to sell to you at a value representing the value of the plates .
It seems most on this forum contradict what Cat says regarding Systemone undercarriage. It looks like the tracks in question have been off for quite awhile by all the rust on them. Would be interesting to know why the one master link was welded??? The pads are good but unless the price is real cheap not a reason to purchase them. Here's a question, why were the seemingly good tracks removed? On a D8 for sure you'd want to use new nuts and bolts on the track pads. My guess is the pads won't fit but even if they did it could be a pain removing them. It looks like general consensus is to pass on the systemone tracks.
I clicked on this thinking someone found bigfoot.
Tracks but no dung... on 2nd thought maybe the tracks are dung.
Watch the videos and you can learn what you need to know about dozer tracks. High drive undercarriage. New technology dozer tracks. System 1 tracks can work well in certain situations. Almost no one works a machine in one of those situations long enough to make a dent in cost per hour of expenses.
A good idea but unfortunately it won't fly. The track shoes for SystemOne have a rectangular bolt hole pattern compared to the ones for HD tracks that are offset because of the shape of the links. SystemOne HD
Not even close. Bob
And your tracks are for sure wore the f out. Bob
Well thats that then , short of spending weeks on the handle of a drill press it would need the rest of the system one track components . They may be available after some time searching out the donor machine owner .
General consensus is to stay with the HD undercarriage.
Not to mention Cat discontinued system 1 on D8’s a number of years ago….
Kevin,I think you should take a breath here for a minuit. Some close up shots of idlers and rollers and the bushings are important . From the pics,it’s easy to write your D8 tracks off,but just hold on. Those pads are wore out,so are your segments.BUT,your link height is good and I very strongly suspect that a set of non Cat segments will make those chains run on and on for a good while yet. You must change your segments immediately though as they are chopping into the bush.Once the bush holes out,you’re on a slippery slope. Turning bushes,is not cost effective in my opinion,but ITR segments cost £450 UK pounds for both sides and are fitted in 2 hours. Make sure you clean all the mating surface’s Luke your eating your dinner off them and torque and turn the bolts tight to the correct spec. As for pads,do you really need them at this very moment in time?What work does this D8 do?? You may use it for a few jobs every year and the segments will get you another 6/700 working hours. Please take more pics of those bushes and don’t rush into buying anything today.
Kevin,I’ve owned about 12 x D8’s and 1 xD9 past and present and know how to squeeze every last penny out of undercarriage’s on them without causing other unseen damage to track frames and cannons etc. Generally,if your rollers are hitting your bushes,then action is required from your wallet.If your D8 cannon is around 5” out with the correct tension,then action is required. I run D8T and D9T’s currently in abrasive conditions and keep my hourly costs well down with abit of thinking and over 30 years of experience in getting things right and wrong. Pictures are needed please
I’ve been able to blow the pics up some more and stuck me specs on. I advise you to put cheap segments on it today,and forget about spending any more money it for a good while yet.
Except for the grouser your old tracks look new compared to some of the junk I ran. Yeah worked for some $ pinchers.