We are repowering our 1979 Case 444. It came with a Kohler 14 horsepower single that is plum wore out. It was supposedly rebuilt circa late 1980s. This tractor is equipped with a 3-point hitch. It runs a tiller, plow, and mower via the 3-point. We also have a snowblower that mounts to the front. This mower has been worked into the dirt, brought back to life and then worked back into the dirt. It has never had what some would call an easy life. Maintenance? None. Oil? You add it when you add gas. Air filter, yep it has an air filter. Catch my drift? My Grandfather and Father never exactly maintained it. If it started, that was all that mattered.
This mowed grass with a belly mower for years and years and years. The 3-point was then added and the attachments were acquired. At one point we had a 222, 444, 446 and 448. We are down to the 222 and 444. The 446 and 448 had even harder lives and were sent to the great lawn mower heaven probably 7-8 years ago. They were from the early 70s and had been used, abused, put away wet and then abused some more.
In terms of the alleged rebuild, the number plate on the Kohler indicates it is either a 77 or 78 motor. The number on the motor is a series or two earlier than the tractor. I suspect it wasn't rebuilt but simply replaced.
We are repowering it with a 18 horsepower B&S Vanguard twin. We ordered a repower kit from a place in Wisconsin that you can easily find via google, I don't want to get in trouble for posting the link.
The engine had been steadily losing power for the past few years and in late 2012 suffered a catastrophic misfire, backfire, hiccup, IT WENT BANG, and never returned from the flat line and subsequent code blue. Check out the pictures after we removed the head. It is missing a piece from the piston and the intake valve was just barely sealing. We didn't get the feeler gauge out but it was clearly not seating 100%. You could spin the engine freely by hand and it required minimal extra effort to spin it through the compression stroke.
It sat in the back of the shop as a project until we found the place in Wisconsin (Ehh...) that sells the repower kits. We finally got around to doing it this winter. The motor will be here later this week and I will finish documenting the heart transplant and rebirth of the Case 444. FYI this thing is 6 years older than me and will probably out live me. It just can't be killed. Ahh, the good ol' days of lawn tractors that last a lifetime.
TRACTOR WITHOUT THE HOOD
HYDRAULIC FLUID COOLER, FAN & MANUAL CLUTCH REMOVED
SHROUD AND EXHAUST REMOVED
KOHLER IS READY TO BE REMOVED
ENGINE REMOVED
BARE FRAME
HEADED TO THE SCRAP PILE
WELL THERE IS THE PROBLEM!!!
MORE WAVES THAN THE OCEAN!!!
This mowed grass with a belly mower for years and years and years. The 3-point was then added and the attachments were acquired. At one point we had a 222, 444, 446 and 448. We are down to the 222 and 444. The 446 and 448 had even harder lives and were sent to the great lawn mower heaven probably 7-8 years ago. They were from the early 70s and had been used, abused, put away wet and then abused some more.
In terms of the alleged rebuild, the number plate on the Kohler indicates it is either a 77 or 78 motor. The number on the motor is a series or two earlier than the tractor. I suspect it wasn't rebuilt but simply replaced.
We are repowering it with a 18 horsepower B&S Vanguard twin. We ordered a repower kit from a place in Wisconsin that you can easily find via google, I don't want to get in trouble for posting the link.
The engine had been steadily losing power for the past few years and in late 2012 suffered a catastrophic misfire, backfire, hiccup, IT WENT BANG, and never returned from the flat line and subsequent code blue. Check out the pictures after we removed the head. It is missing a piece from the piston and the intake valve was just barely sealing. We didn't get the feeler gauge out but it was clearly not seating 100%. You could spin the engine freely by hand and it required minimal extra effort to spin it through the compression stroke.
It sat in the back of the shop as a project until we found the place in Wisconsin (Ehh...) that sells the repower kits. We finally got around to doing it this winter. The motor will be here later this week and I will finish documenting the heart transplant and rebirth of the Case 444. FYI this thing is 6 years older than me and will probably out live me. It just can't be killed. Ahh, the good ol' days of lawn tractors that last a lifetime.
TRACTOR WITHOUT THE HOOD
HYDRAULIC FLUID COOLER, FAN & MANUAL CLUTCH REMOVED
SHROUD AND EXHAUST REMOVED
KOHLER IS READY TO BE REMOVED
ENGINE REMOVED
BARE FRAME
HEADED TO THE SCRAP PILE
WELL THERE IS THE PROBLEM!!!
MORE WAVES THAN THE OCEAN!!!