Stepney 2,325 #1 Posted May 17, 2021 Figured I'd make a post about this old rig I've been working on. See.. my Horses are being good for a sudden change this year, and my '57 Economy doesn't have to do much more than putt around the yard and make people smile. Been looking for a little loader for quite some time. Never could get to the few I found fast enough.. this one had actually shown up for sale several times over the years, always by the same fellow, for the same low price.. then vanished. Right up the road from me.. not the kind of place you knocked on the door tho.. Bull Mastiffs kinda have that impression on people. Anyway, by a stroke of luck, I happened across it once again, called/emailed as always I have.. got a reply this time and dragged it home.. The previous owner has .. not been kind to it. It my not look too bad, but it's been run for years on hydraulic fluid, which is a no no on a hydraulic drive Case. They require motor oil. Every. Single. Fitting. Leaks.. Over a gallon an hour just trying to run around the yard. It won't make a hill unladen in high range. Low range will creep you along OK enough, albeit at roughly 2mph. Has a 14hp K series and was built sometime around 1973. Came with the hydraulic PTO driven rototiller, 3pt hitch, mower deck, and some .. 'spare parts' which turned out to be some of the drive linkage from pedal to rear end. Missing the forward/reverse lever entirely. It's now rigged like a treadle and doesn't work too hot. Been a project for a while, have a lot to do with the hydraulics.. I've never seen a more messed up Carter carb, he had drilled extra jets into it, bowl was full of JB weld on account of the corrosion. A wood screw took the place of the low speed needle. It turned over kinda slow.. as it turns out, he rat tailed the headlight wire from the key, to he starter terminal of the solenoid.. I dont mean just the terminal. No. I mean he literally slit the insulation from the L terminal, pulled the wire over, around the S terminal, on down the dash, where he shaved the wire again and wrapped it around the solenoid.. Kinda did wonder why the lights came on when turning over.. There was a literal section of christmas tree light wiring under the dash too.. How it remains as half decent looking as it has is beyond me. But anyway.. that's ol 644. 4 4 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 48,815 #2 Posted May 17, 2021 (edited) Wow nice pickup regardless of the condition. You know dang well as I do you gotta kiss a frog to make a prince. Any kind of tractor like that might be a welcome to my herd. Good luck with her and keep us posted. Edited May 17, 2021 by WHX24 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Achto 27,571 #3 Posted May 18, 2021 I kind of expected to see a Colt built Case sporting Ol' Abe on the grill. No matter, nothing wrong with an Ingersoll purpose built loader tractor. Very nice find, I hope it treats you well. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stepney 2,325 #4 Posted May 18, 2021 2 hours ago, Achto said: I kind of expected to see a Colt built Case sporting Ol' Abe on the grill. No matter, nothing wrong with an Ingersoll purpose built loader tractor. Very nice find, I hope it treats you well. I've fired on an old Case Steamer a time or two, I guess the nickname just comes to mind any time Case goes through my head. It will likely have a 190 Old Abe badge on the nose at some point, there's a high wheeler being sent for scrap most likely, not too far from me.. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,494 #5 Posted May 18, 2021 Certainly a great find! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites