Caterpillar D8 cold start

Advertised as a good running D8h we made a 4 hour trip to look at. It became a game of find the starting fluid. The guy in the seat was selling it and was directing the starting process of this piece of junk..

[@ashleycnoble3280]

The old d6 and d8s were the very best.

[@robertreisner6119]

We still use our 1943 & the 1946 D-8 Cats where I live and we have a reputation as the Kings of obsolete.

[@cwdtransport2247]

You have to tune up the pony engine just like you would on anything else. If the only thing you do is put gas in it you can expect it to run poorly. This one sounds like three is water in the sediment bowl also keep in mind water freezes that will prevent the pony from starting. ALWAYS keep the pony gas tank full to stop condensation from forming. Chief D

[@camnorris1740]

This old iron is unfortunately ether addicted due to its owner. My grand pap had an old D6 with the pony, always told me if you rely on ether to run your iron you don’t deserve it!! Patience on that pony to heat things up and you’ll be just fine!!!

[@scada4321]

I guess "Etherman" doesn't understand the damage that can be done to cylinder walls.....

[@richardbarnard247]

Why do you have to be in such a hurry. Let the starting engine do it's full job. It isn't just for turning over the big engine, it also warms it up.

[@robertgumm8506]

Ever see a hand crank pony motor. We had one in Antarctica. Really hard to start. No starting fluid as it damages the cylinders and rings.

[@billywalker9223]

We have one. It's a 1936 D13000 power unit, the same engine as on a D8. It powers a 1922 Farquhar 54" circle blade sawmill. It has less than 1400 hours on it. The critical thing I see on a lot of videos is that nobody is turning over the diesel with the pony motor until the diesel has 40 lbs of oil pressure, then turning it over on compression to heat up the cylinders, before starting the diesel. No starting fluid for my Cat.

[@heatmoon]

We ran an old D8 like that, the pony motor was always the worst to get going. Sold it to a museum. They ran less than 200 hp, but they still did their job, ditching, digging ponds. So my question is... its cold out, you might be running number 1 diesel, it looked to be in good shape for its age, and the tracks seemed to look good, working as they should, didn't slip, good tension, and that thing is 50 years old and it seemed to run good once you got it going. Seems like a good buy, assuming it was priced right. What did you expect? You must have pissed the owner off wasting his time like that, you got it going, ran and drove fine, blade worked, cables good and you call it a piece of crap.

[@goldrusher7554]

Agreed

[@BobSmith-iu3hx]

I agree!.

[@adamkolm6711]

It's called torque.

[@alspeers6931]

Ya the old timers,mechanics, operator s, and owners are right, boys stop the either thing,seriously those engines will last many thousand s of hours more by being operated properly, thanks boys

[@joemoore7276]

Don't need starting fluid if you precondition it right with the "Little Joe"! That's what they're for! And that old girl will still be working when a lot of the new "electronic latest and best" electronic whistles and bells are in the boneyard or melted down into widgets.

[@anthonymacneil2279]

No need to spray either just let it build up heat they get addicted to it and won't start without. Great old dozer just the same

[@mackpeteno]

They don't get addicted.The start fluid explodes on top of the pistons and break the top rings.THUS LOWERING THE COMPRESSION,which makes it hard to start.My engine repair business always doubled in the winter time.All from people using starting fluid.

[@elonmust7470]

@@mackpeteno if you spray some on the air filter and let it eat pure vapor, it doesn't seem to destroy anything at all....

[@curtiscf1986]

There’s no reason whatsoever to shoot ether into that. Just apply the compression and let it build heat for a few minutes. These were meant to do that on cold days. Change the plugs and wires on the pony motor and it will probably will start easier and not run like shit.

[@catskinner7564]

You're absolutely right about using ether on the main engine you do not crank the throttle wide open on the main engine with the compression release on let the pony motor run for about a minute with no fuel spraying fuel cools the Pistons off more you should be able to crack the throttle after a minute and she'll fire on her own lots of experience with this but then again everybody's a cowboy knows everything

[@curtiscf1986]

@@catskinner7564 hell, most the time the pony motor was harder to start than the main powerplant. 🤣😂

[@danielelliott3659]

I can see alot of these guys commenting have never started one of these cats when it is really cold out.

[@curtiscf1986]

@@danielelliott3659 I live in Idaho. I’ve started mine when it’s -30 below without ether........two years after my original comment.

[@Blueblur1987]

Well the ether wasn't absolutely necessary that is why that thing came with a pony motor to preheat the intake manifold which heats the cylinders as the pony motor's exhaust is located near the diesel's intake and its also for starter for diesel engine to crank it over. And ether or starting fluid destroys engines gasoline or diesel as it destroys most commonly the pistons and piston rings has it put unnecessary pressure them I've seen ether blow holes in pistons which when that happens that cylinder becomes a dead cylinder which sends the fragments of the piston/pistons into the crankcase requiring a time consuming expensive engine overhual or rebuild so leave the ether alone unless you want a inoperable bulldozer or worse a blown up one.

[@maynardreed4036]

Sometimes the machine is smarter than we are.

[@kevinlamarr1424]

I’m all of a sudden interested in this kind of stuff

[@justicelut]

That poor d8 would be stoned all day with that much ether!

[@elonmust7470]

Sounds kind of like something that someone who had absolutely zero actual experience woild say.

[@michaeltarasenkoop2389]

Those old cats had a lot of metal on them !

[@dozerfarms]

Convenient that the starter and intake are within reach so if necessary you could spray and start at the same time lol

[@garethifan1034]

Waayyy too much ether being squirted in to the engine on that CAT..good way to wreck a good engine quickly. I avoid it at all costs

[@macfletcherhotmail]

A farmer near me has a d8h and his is a beauty to start yes it take 20 mins on a cool ish day, but he doesn't force her to start straight up not like these numpties get the donkey fires up let it warm up,engage main engine full decompression 5-10 mins,then another 5-10 mins on half compression then she should fire straight up once the decompression if full disengaged, If you want I'll quite happily That "peice of junk" of your hands

[@lolbr-tn6kq]

I can see it's pretty cold but I can't help but wonder, "How cold is it" .

[@randomoldbloke]

What is this obsession Americans have with ether ?

[@timmayer8723]

pete ryan quick start , saves batteries.

[@elonmust7470]

We want to go to work and not screw around starting tractors for 2 hrs?

[@MrHarleyoldfart]

Good all round visibility on this one!

[@wilmamcdermott3065]

Wow chang the sparkplugs and wires on pony motor

[@NorthEastSaskFarmer]

Put that ether away

[@wilmamcdermott3065]

Do u guys know were a guy can find parts fo a d717a

[@moptrucks]

Piss poor example of a pony start on a catipiller, would not buy it anyway with all that ether you pumped into it

[@Species5008]

Hate to break it to ya Skippy, but that "piece of junk" would outwork any of your newer crap, and you as well.

[@erikg.2666]

Why does no one maintain the pony engine properly??

[@NakedDave100]

Because it takes to much effort for lazy cocksuckers, sad, looks like a good ole dozer, but the dipshit starting it, doesn't want to take the time for the starting engine to do it's job, because its to convenient to use ether, fucking people like that don't deserve equipment like that 8!!!

[@GavCritchley]

What does the pony motor do? Turn the main engine or run a compressor?

[@MDLandandProperty]

The pony motor is the starter for the big engine

[@GavCritchley]

@@MDLandandProperty So it has a direct connection from the pony motor to the flywheel of the main diesel engine?

[@MDLandandProperty]

@@GavCritchley once the pony motor is up and running, the is a clutch to engage big engine. Once big engine starts, the pony will disengage. Check out some of those old videos of pony motor starts. Very cool

[@GavCritchley]

@@MDLandandProperty Got it, thank you!

[@lembriggs1075]

Is this dozer for sale? If so contact me.

[@duncang01]

1st it was like, Not For Sale...and I was like. NO WAY DUDE! Then it turned and like...it was for sale. I was NOOOOO WAAAYYYYY DUUUUDE!

[@paulpugh5315]

For sale when it won't start. Not for sale when its running...! 🤣

[@paulpugh5315]

On realy frosty days before cold start buttons etc drivers used to light diesel wrags and let the flames/heat get drawn up the intake to get old Gardners started.

[@alirezahosseini3881]

WOW WERIGOD uarufram

[@wilmamcdermott3065]

Not for sale but u have a forsale sign

[@kevinfalkner2243]

If that ponies as wore out as the one i used i would have useds that much either too. The pony motor i had was a pull cord. Hated that son of a bitch especially on cold days.

[@mchl8]

This wasn't carried out correctly, as the genitalman below say " why the eighier" we have a d9 older 1. 9u it is intended to cycle the main engine for fuel pressure, oil pressure, combustion chamer temp, coolant temp with the main engine on compression release engaged no fuel. After say 15 min or so then close the release and feed some fuel thats how its designed.

[@alanwunnecka3006]

Why r u useing ether

[@camamoutback]

must be a hornets nest in that dadburn gizzy !!!

[@lewiemcneely9143]

Good grief.

[@elonmust7470]

Is it for sale?

[@andrewkamov]

why does this engine sound weird? sounds like it is farting like a weed wacker.

[@johneratcliff]

Will you sale it?

[@NakedDave100]

Did you not see the For Sale sign on it??

[@sk1doo2]

Makes me cringe

[@jayyoung5423]

Comical,sneakers and a ball cap in the snow? I'd give you 5 grand tops for this antique..keep it and enjoy your ritual starting fiasco.

[@elonmust7470]

Well jay, you probably live in a suburb....

[@jayyoung5423]

@@elonmust7470 No, rural northern VT....I think you live in the city.

[@elonmust7470]

@@jayyoung5423 Look up Ironside Oregon.....