1941 Case 'SC'

Don't let the sign on the side fool you, it really is a '41! I mistakenly put 1939 on the sign shortly before a parade and found out after I took this picture that it was a '41. Dad did a really nice job of painting the old Case. This tractor was originally my Grandfathers' and my Dad inherited it from him when he passed away in 1964. My grandfather had my Uncle buy it for him at a farm auction sometime in the 1950's. It always ran poorly and the engine was very worn. When my Grandfather passed away, my Dad pulled it to his farm where it sat in the toolshed for about 13 years. One day I got inspired and asked Dad if we could get the old Case running. So we aired up the tires, put some gas in it, checked the oil, and pulled it. It went about 5 feet and fired up! Now, it only ran on about two and a half cylinders, and smoked something awful, but it ran! Over the next several months we overhauled the engine, my Dad having to rebuild almost the entire valve train as it was so worn out. The rod and main bearings were poured babbitt with shims for adjustment and we re-shimmed them all. When we got it together again, we couldn't even turn the engine with the crank it was so tight! So, we pulled it down the road, and even with the Case in high gear the rear tires slid for a ways. The engine finally turned over and it started - the oil pressure gauge pegged to the top which was about 75psi! After it ran for a while it loosened up. We mostly used it for easy chores as it still did not run well when under a lot of load (such as plowing or discing). The hand clutch made it a favorite for using to back wagons in the barn, and other such activities. The foot brakes always worked terrible, and we could never trust them for stopping much of anything. Luckily there was a brake on the hand clutch and it was used regularly!

Last Update: 01/15/00