OC-96 rebuild begins again

[Saskfarmer]

 Hello everyone. Its been quit some time since I last posted here with my OC-96 project. I have started the rebuild once again with hopes that this time I have no other unforseen problems pop up. Im not sure where I left off updating so ill give a little flash back for everyone. I purchased an OC-96 at auction several years ago not realizing just what I was getting myself into. I usually concentrate on IH crawlers but this one cought my attention for some reason. It was a running machine and did move on its own enough to move it for sale purposes but once getting it home I found the transmission was in very bad shape and needed a total rebuild and the engine was in poor condition as well and needed a complete overhaul. I found the frame to be broken and the rollers and track tension springs full of dirt and rust as well. At this point it was a major decision to go ahead and try a rebuild or patch it and send it back to auction. After not finding much information on this machine and finding the issues in regards to parts avaliability I decided to, against dads better judgment go ahead and start the rebuild. The transmission has been rebuilt with new clutchs, seals and bearrings.Im in the process of rebuilding the engine now, completer sleves, pistons, turned the crank, ground valves and all new bearrings and gaskets. The frame has been welded and reinforced and im rebuilding the roller shaftes and new bearrings. Ill do my best to keep you all up to date as the rebuild goes on once again and ill see what I can find for pictures of the past work done this far.

[Blake Malkamaki]

Thanks for the update! This will be an interesting project and story for me as the first crawler tractor I ever operated was an OC-96. I was probably about 7 or 8 years old at the time. Not sure exactly, but very young. I have missed it since my grandfather sold it and bought an A-C HD-7G for their excavating business. Someday I would like to get another OC-96.

I believe the OC-96 was the pinnacle of technology in any production crawler tractor at the time, but unfortunately occurred at the tail end of crawler production at Cleveland, and then Charles City. There were bigger tractors in the works that used similar technology, but they never made it to the production stage. I am proud to say I got to run one of these for a few minutes.

Blake

[Bob]

I've got an OC9 bulldozer that seems to run well and pushed good, but just quit going kinda randomly. It is on the list... Maybe when the time comes when I dig in you might be able to help me!

Good luck on your project Hope it turns out well!

Bob

[dlgacl]

I have reacquired an OC9 Series B dozer that I owned as a teenager an sold in 1971. The machine has been derelict for years and will need to be completely rebuilt. Any assistance through advice or through the sale of parts up to and including a spare OC9 or OC96 would be appreciated.

Dwight 

[Saskfarmer]

 Hi Blake. From what I have read about these machines they seem to be quit operator friendly to run. The only down side to it is I like to use my machines after restoring them and with how hard it has been to find parts im a little worried to use it to much for fear of something braking and then not finding parts again. Saying that I still do plan on working it some but just not to its full potential.
Hi Dwight, hi Bob. I think the best advice I could give the two of you in regards to your rebuilds is get hte machine in the shop and do a real good assesment of it. Take some extra time and find out what parts you need then source them all out first befor starting.
Ill do some digging and find the list of places I found parts and post them for everyone here. One other thing to keep in mind is even though parts are hard to find dont forgett about your local parts depot, you will be surprised just what can be found if you have the old part to go by and a parts person willing to do some cross referancing for you.

[Bob]

That thing looks NAKED in your profile picture!

[Blake Malkamaki]

Hey Saskfarmer, what series is your OC-96? Some of the first ones made in Cleveland had weaknesses that were later corrected. One is weak crankshafts that would not take the surges caused by the torque converter. The one we had broke a crank. I don't remember where the one we had originated, but it may have been one of the most early ones. Not sure if it was a production tractor or an experimental tractor. I'll ask my uncle - he may know.

One thing to keep in mind on these tractors - CASE used the same system in some of their tractors, so parts may be available through them. Not sure what all was the same. I think Clark may have made the transmission as they made the transmissions for the HG, OC-3, OC-4, and General.

[Saskfarmer]

 Hi Blake. My OC-96 is in the 1MB serial numbers and does have the heavy crankshaft. The engine is the DD198H so I should be safe in that respect. When I pulled the engine apart I found the previous owner had done some rather questionable repairs. Two of the rod bearrings were turned down .010 and the other two were still standard size, the mains were still standard but there was thin shim stock behind three of the five main bearrings. I was able to find .020 bearrings and have the rods and mains turned as well as the block line bored. I just installed the new sleeves and put the crank in today. Ill have to check into the parts similarities of the Case transmission, I was able to find everything I needed from Landis Zimmerman to repair the transmission and napa was able to supply bearrings and seals.

Bob ill try find a couple pics of the old girl with even fewer clothes on, that was a quick shot after the frame was set together and it got a first coat of paint befor going on to the next step.

[Saskfarmer]

Got a little more done the last few days. The cam is in and new pistons and rings installed and in the holes. Put the front cover on and now going to do the rear housing and pan. Sure is different timming this engine with using number 4 and having to go by the location of the oil pump drive and flywheel markings to get the pump in time. The manual I have is fairly sparce on descriptions some times and the parts book doesnt list every part either which is adding to the confusion at times. Another fun issue to figure out is going to be the fuel lines. The filter wasnt hooked up and there was a chunk of rubber hose from the tank directly to the pump. The oil filter wasnt hooked up either just had a couple plugs in the block where it should have been hooked up. so needless to say I have some brain work ahead of me  .

[Bob]

If I can figure it out, I could post some pictures of my lines on here if you think it will help.

Bob

[Saskfarmer]

Hi Bob. If you have some pictures of the line routing that would be great. Im still working on getting all my pictures resized so i can post them for everyone. Found a bunch of pictures of when I brought it home and the dissasembly to.
I happened to come across another parts machine a fellow had sitting in the bush but what he said it was like and what it really is like are 2 completely differnt  things. I was told all the major components were there and it was easy to get to for loading. What he should have said was the major component housings were still there and everything could be put in the back of a half ton after you cut trees for a couple days to get at it  . That was a wasted 4 hour trip I didnt need. Guess I should have insisted on pictures but took his word instead.

[Saskfarmer]

Tried to resize a pic so lets hope this works.

[ianoz]

Looks like you had a fairly straight tractor to beguin the restoration .

[Saskfarmer]

Well the tin was about the only straight thing on the machine LOL.

[Saskfarmer]

Few more.