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1940's Case Tractor. Worth it?

spaceman

spaceman

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 1, 2020
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94
This is up for grabs in myb local neighborhood.

I realize it's a crap shoot, but any particular reason not to see if I can grab it??

Screenshot_20240606_214534_Nextdoor.jpg
 
I should add, my new son-in-law has a service truck and works on heavy diesel equipment, so I wouldn't be working on this alone
 
They are kinda cool. I had a similar one I got for $500. Fixed it and yard drove it for a little while. I figured I could make a few bucks by selling it off but I basically got my costs back and that was it.

Still fun but not really my thing I discovered.
 
Most of those old VAC's had a 3 point which makes them at least somewhat handy for tractor things.
 
spaceman said:
I should add, my new son-in-law has a service truck and works on heavy diesel equipment, so I wouldn't be working on this alone
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Bwahahaha.

Dude… you will always be working on it alone.




Sorry man, I’m just projecting. You’re life probably isn’t like man.
 
Looks to be a JI Case SC

TractorData.com J.I. Case SC tractor information


pretty sure that is generator 6v. Distributor will look strange, nothing like automotive distributors you might expect. Otherwise, real simple, not much to it. If you plan to restore it, parts will be hard to come by. If you just wanna make it run and use it, pretty easy to fabricobble it into operation with parts from other old tractor brands that are similar. There really wasnt much different between tractor brands (mechanically) in this era of tractors.

Just like a shitbox evaluation, make sure the engine spins over, and if you can, check to see if it has any kind of compression. Lapping the cylinder head is simple and low tech if needed. This era equipment was generally designed for the farmer to rebuild anything in the field. You can probably find an service manual online for download for under 20 bucks.

Get a tetanus shot. :lmao:
 
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Elwenil said:
Just so you know, spark plugs means it's not a diesel, and a lot of younger guys look at a carburetor and points distributor like it's alien tech.
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i was going to say this. its a gasoline engine. i love the sounds they make.

been scouring the country for years for an International Model H or similar from the 40s.
 
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has tires on it that aren't torn to shreds and turns over so yeah it's worth 500
that it moves and make sputtery running noises is just a bonus on top
 
Depends on what you want to do with it. As an actual work tractor, while better than nothing, it's going to be a lot less useful than something more modern. No power steering, low power, probably limited gear ratios, may or may not have 3 point / pto, etc. Also likely to require frequent work, and probably has difficult to get parts. May be 6v as well.

If you want to tinker and have a cool toy, sure. If you're looking for a tractor to do tractor things with I've look for a 60's-70's ford thousand series or similar.
 
sdmuleman said:
... it's going to be a lot less useful than something more modern..
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Compared to modern, old tractors have several downsides. But they have one real big upside. Modern tractors still classify by horsepower, but weigh almost nothing. Sounds great until you are sidehillin or picking things up. Old tractors have so much extra steel/iron ballast, they are usually way more stable than modern. This one is a crop, so a bit more tippy than a utility front, but not really much different.

Oh, the other upside on old tractors is price. You just arent finding a working modern tractor for $500. Start with cheap and old, and if you like tractor work and need more power, upgrade. There is always gonna be a market for old operating equipment to recoup the investment. Modern, well depreciation is a real issue.
 
I had a DC Case, the larger brother to this SC. It was a heavy beast. These have a hand clutch, kinda fun. Pretty decent snort, armstrong steering so you'll be glad it's a row-crop. It would be fun to play with for $500 but it's only "fun" for dragging stuff around. You won't like trying to get any real work done with it.
 
realsquash said:
I had a DC Case, the larger brother to this SC. It was a heavy beast. These have a hand clutch, kinda fun. Pretty decent snort, armstrong steering so you'll be glad it's a row-crop. It would be fun to play with for $500 but it's only "fun" for dragging stuff around. You won't like trying to get any real work done with it.
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Is it a normal 3point or some proprietary oddball system? Apart from the steering, makes a fine mower deck tractor, log dragger, wagon puller, etc.

If the plan was to make a worker out of it, I would scab on a steering pump, orbital valve and hydro cylinder, or retrofit an aftermarket power steer addon from another tractor. Ditch the points for electronic ignition. Toss the genny for an alternator and convert to 12v. add a battery cutoff switch..... oh wait, that is just what I do to all my tractors... :flipoff2:.
 
Get it,.,....... start a new repair thread need some entertainment
 
I'm looking for one for yard art.


That shit is miserable to operate once you are aware that power steering exists
 
Projectjunkie said:
That shit is miserable to operate once you are aware that power steering exists
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some.
There really wasnt any power options on the small mid stuff from that era. So you see other clever ideas like lots-o-gearing, or front axle way out ahead and ass hanging over to lighten the nose, other things. My mid 50s ford doesnt have power steer and doesnt need it. By the mid to late 60s, tractors got bigger, heavier, harder to steer and you start to see steer assist and full hydro systems start showing up.

It really isnt that different from the jeeps of past eras. Unless you go big on tires, you dont need power steer on a gpw or cj3.
 
clodhopper said:
Compared to modern, old tractors have several downsides. But they have one real big upside. Modern tractors still classify by horsepower, but weigh almost nothing. Sounds great until you are sidehillin or picking things up. Old tractors have so much extra steel/iron ballast, they are usually way more stable than modern. This one is a crop, so a bit more tippy than a utility front, but not really much different.

Oh, the other upside on old tractors is price. You just arent finding a working modern tractor for $500. Start with cheap and old, and if you like tractor work and need more power, upgrade. There is always gonna be a market for old operating equipment to recoup the investment. Modern, well depreciation is a real issue.
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I said more modern, not new - 60's - 80's is the sweet spot to me. I guess if you compare strictly by HP, maybe you're right, but not my much - CASE SC is 4200 lb for ~30 hp pto, Ford 2000 is 3200-4100 lb for roughly same HP. Now yes, if you compare that to a today's 30hp grey market machine it's pathetic, but that's not what I'm saying.

Likewise, not uncommon to find Ford thousands in the $500-2000 range. Low end is likely going to be not running, but then neither is this machine, and if I was going to pick one to rebuild an engine on I bet the 3000 is cheaper and easier, and going to last longer. Also can get a reliable diesel in a 60's tractor. May be a pet peeve, but I hat gas engines in machinery - between plugs, ignition, carbs and gas going bad always a struggle where my diesel consistently start right up even after sitting for a year.

I'm up to 6 tractors now in the 60-70's era, all Ford's - 231, 3500, 4000, 4500, 5000, 6600 and a TW-15 & 260C that are mid-late 80's. Come to think of it, pretty much everything I own dates from the 60's-80's. Good balance of old school reliable, simple and cheap to buy/maintain with pretty much all the usability of modern machinery.
 
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sdmuleman said:
I said more modern, not new - 60's - 80's is the sweet spot to me. I guess if you compare strictly by HP, maybe you're right, but not my much - CASE SC is 4200 lb for ~30 hp pto, Ford 2000 is 3200-4100 lb for roughly same HP. Now yes, if you compare that to a today's 30hp grey market machine it's pathetic, but that's not what I'm saying.

Likewise, not uncommon to find Ford thousands in the $500-2000 range. Low end is likely going to be not running, but then neither is this machine, and if I was going to pick one to rebuild an engine on I bet the 3000 is cheaper and easier, and going to last longer. Also can get a reliable diesel in a 60's tractor. May be a pet peeve, but I hat gas engines in machinery - between plugs, ignition, carbs and gas going bad always a struggle where my diesel consistently start right up even after sitting for a year.

I'm up to 6 tractors now in the 60-70's era, all Ford's - 231, 3500, 4000, 4500, 5000, 6600 and a TW-15 & 260C that are mid-late 80's. Come to think of it, pretty much everything I own dates from the 60's-80's. Good balance of old school reliable, simple and cheap to buy/maintain with pretty much all the usability of modern machinery.
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You and I are on the same page. My tractors are of the similar era, 50s to 70s. I dislike the 3cyl engines in the low thousands. Just dont sound right running to me. I have a 5000 in diesel, 4 cyl. Bigger stuff is purpose focus on haying and tilling. But the little 640 is always the first go to for general maintenace tasks. I do have to mess with plugs and carb here and there, but it is just a handy size for the capability. I would swap it for a diesel 800 in a flash. I do lean toward diesel when I can, cause if it starts it just runs. Cant say the same for low compression, upflow carb gassers of that era, which require regular fiddlin.
 
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