New case 446 owner!

[JWCaseOwner]

Hi all you MTF'ers! I am the proud new owner of a 446 picked up in Flint Michigan this past weekend. I got a tiller, deck and plow with her. I drove two hours in the rain with my two boys and got there and guess what? no ditch anywhere in site and faced with the quandary of how do i get this thing up into the back of my truck. I was walking around with Bob (the old owner) and I happened to see what looked like the frame of an old utility trailer (made from 2" angle iron) leaning against the back of his garage. I asked him if I could have that too and he said yes I dropped the gate on my 79 F150 put that old frame down, put some old 2x6 on it and drove her right up in there. Worked like a charm. Anyway, I got her home and immediately put the mowing deck on and started cutting grass - in the rain in 42 degrees! That mowing deck is really sweet and quiet like you wouldnt believe. The boys were jumping up and down running circles around me, begging me to let them drive! It was way fun.

So, here I am waiting for the weekend to see what I can tear up with that tiller and blade! I thought I would introduce myself and ask this question: Now that I have this brute parked in my barn, what are the first things I should do? to get her ready for use and to ensure a long and fruitful life! I know nothing about the case other than I had heard how sturdy these little tractors are.

I am going through all the posts in this forum reading through a dozen or so every night this week and learning a lot - thanks to all you experts!

bye for now.

I will post pictures soon.

[Caseguytoo]

Congratulations on your purchase. And congratulations on having the "smarts" to go through the archives and read. If you are already doing that, then you'll come across posts that talk about what "new owners" should focus on, including the purchasing of operator and parts manuals.

I suggest that you continue your education in this manner because you will learn a lot, very quickly. If you have specific questions, then ask away.

[jayvee43]

JW Welcome aboard M.T.F.

[Ingersoll444]

Welcome to MTF!!!

Sounds like you got a nice one there.

As was said, continue reading up, and dont be afread to jump in and ask us thing!!!

BTW my first thing would be change all fluids.

[glenn27]

Originally Posted by Ingersoll444

Welcome to MTF!!!

Sounds like you got a nice one there.

As was said, continue reading up, and dont be afread to jump in and ask us thing!!!

BTW my first thing would be change all fluids.

Correcto--Mundo!!

And that way you can start a journel/service entry with everything you do forward from this point./take pictures and make notes also.....
I always like to install an hour meter, also--as a reference point.
BTW--forgot my manners--Welcome to MTF!

[munderhill]

Welcome and congrats on the new tractor. We really like pic's here so don't be afraid to snap a few.

MU

[bontai Joe]

As mentioned above:
1. Change all the fluids with new correct stuff.
2. Change all the filters
3. Get manuals.
4. Grease everything with a grease fitting
5. Clean out any and all grass clippings and dirt from around the engine and hydraulic pump, and rear differential.
6. Remove any corrosion from around the battery terminals if there is any.
7. Sit back and admire your tractor and plan where the forthcoming attachments will be stored.

[Caseman2]

[QUOTE=JWCaseOwner;532709]Hi all you MTF'ers! I am the proud new owner of a 446 picked up in Flint Michigan this past weekend. I got a tiller, deck and plow with her. I drove two hours in the rain with my two boys and got there and guess what? no ditch anywhere in site and faced with the quandary of how do i get this thing up into the back of my truck. I was walking around with Bob (the old owner) and I happened to see what looked like the frame of an old utility trailer (made from 2" angle iron) leaning against the back of his garage. I asked him if I could have that too and he said yes I dropped the gate on my 79 F150 put that old frame down, put some old 2x6 on it and drove her right up in there. Worked like a charm. Anyway, I got her home and immediately put the mowing deck on and started cutting grass - in the rain in 42 degrees! That mowing deck is really sweet and quiet like you wouldnt believe. The boys were jumping up and down running circles around me, begging me to let them drive! It was way fun.

Congradulations on your new purchase, if you take good care of it - it will take care of you, these things are built to last.

I know getting a new tractor is very exciting (maybe thats why I have so many of them ) and not knowing the age of your boys the first thing I do every spring (and being that you just got yours now would be a great time) with my boys is to remind them that these are machines. They cannot think or see or feel and I tell them the blades don't know that their feet is not grass and to stay away. I also do not allow them to follow behind me, and when the phone rings or they need my attention for any reason - they must wait until I am facing their direction and just wave their arms, they are not allowed to approach me.

One of the reason's I collect these is the cool factor, but kids must be reminded that the are not toys.

Welcome to the forum, your going to love this machine. BTW I'm out of Waterford/Pontiac area.

Looking forward to the pics.

[JWCaseOwner]

Hi everyone. I really appreciate how friendly and helpful everyone is on this forum! Thank you!

I ran across an opportunity to buy a simplicity 9020 tractor with a 3 pt hitch and a brand new backblade all for $500. It runs but it is pretty rough, the drive to the rear PTO is missing, no seat, broken belly mower pully mount etc. the 20 horse Onan seems to be ok though. How does this tractor compare to the case models - similar to the 600 series? Will the 3 point hitch will fit onto my 446?

How about that price?

I think I am bit by the bug.... what do you think?

[Caseman2]

Originally Posted by JWCaseOwner

Hi everyone. I really appreciate how friendly and helpful everyone is on this forum! Thank you!

I ran across an opportunity to buy a simplicity 9020 tractor with a 3 pt hitch and a brand new backblade all for $500. It runs but it is pretty rough, the drive to the rear PTO is missing, no seat, broken belly mower pully mount etc. the 20 horse Onan seems to be ok though. How does this tractor compare to the case models - similar to the 600 series? Will the 3 point hitch will fit onto my 446?

How about that price?

I think I am bit by the bug.... what do you think?

Well JW, it sounds as though your well on the way.

Simplicity builds a strong machine - how it compares to Case is hard to say, especially as I am partial to Case, but thats my bias.

As far a the value goes, the base product is there, the question is do you want to work on it and get it right.

A Case three point on ebay will bring anywhere from $400-$500, and if you want one thats the way to go, what the three point on the Simplicity is worth - I don't know but it also has to be up there.

I think if it runs good its worth that easy, but go in there and make him an offer, the worse that could happen is you'll save a few bucks for those repairs.

[slkpk]

and you and the boys enjoy it safely. slkpk

[Caseguytoo]

Originally Posted by JWCaseOwner

Hi everyone. I really appreciate how friendly and helpful everyone is on this forum! Thank you!

I ran across an opportunity to buy a simplicity 9020 tractor with a 3 pt hitch and a brand new backblade all for $500. It runs but it is pretty rough, the drive to the rear PTO is missing, no seat, broken belly mower pully mount etc. the 20 horse Onan seems to be ok though. How does this tractor compare to the case models - similar to the 600 series? Will the 3 point hitch will fit onto my 446?

How about that price?

I think I am bit by the bug.... what do you think?

Sounds like a 2nd project tractor to me. Simplicity has been around longer than Case, when it comes to garden tractors. The brand has a strong following due to the quality of the machine. However, Case is hydraulically driven and Simplicity is not. So while they're both garden tractors, they are quite different in the way they operate and the type of powered attachments they use.

Nothing compares to a 600 series Case because those tractors were designed as an INTEGRATED loader or loader backhoe based on the proven values of the Case 580 rubber-tired loaders and loader/backhoes. Other brands do offer GT's with optional loaders but those FEL's all detach from what is basically a garden tractor. The 600's are first and foremost a FEL with the ability to cut grass with a belly mower and use all the other attachments that the 200/400 series have available for the three-point hitch or drawbar. The later 600's dropped the ability to use the belly mower at some point but don't ask me which year. LOL

A new backblade should be worth at least $250.00 on its own as it will fit any Cat 0 hitch. The rest of the tractor would easily part out on e-Bay for double that amount. In other words, $500.00 for what you describe is a deal you can't go wrong on no matter which direction you go in. As for the Simp 3 point, I suppose it might be adaptable to the Case but it needs to be mounted at the correct height or you won't get the geometry right for the attachments.

If it was me....... I'd definitely buy the Simp package as cheap as I could haggle it for and then after a thorough investigation, decide whether fixing it up or parting it out is the way to go. If you part it out, then you can use the profits on the Case.

[slkpk]

When do we get to see some pics of it? slkpk

[JWCaseOwner]

Thanks Caseguy2! So you think I will have to do some modifications to make the 3 point work?

This weekend I will take pictures. I have to go get a load (50 bales) of hay for the horses, cut a cord of wood and try to work in the time to play with my tractor as follows:

My first project is to try to get the ground prepared for a garden next spring. I need to mow an area 35x110 down as close to the ground as I can get it, then till about two inches deep, scrape all the top soil of, put 4 inches of sand and 2 inches of sawdust, lime and manure on and till it all in. I will get to use all the implements that came with the Case.

btw, the temperature is supposed to be in high 30's!

Oh, I almost forgot, before I do any of that, I have to change fluids in my Case. Any body know how many quarts/gallons of whatever that I will need to get?

[Caseguytoo]

Originally Posted by JWCaseOwner

Thanks Caseguy2! So you think I will have to do some modifications to make the 3 point work?

IF..... the 3 pt on the Simp is hydraulic, then the rest is a matter of cutting, welding and drilling. Just be sure that the Simp hitch is a Cat 0 model.

This weekend I will take pictures. I have to go get a load (50 bales) of hay for the horses, cut a cord of wood and try to work in the time to play with my tractor as follows:

My first project is to try to get the ground prepared for a garden next spring. I need to mow an area 35x110 down as close to the ground as I can get it, then till about two inches deep, scrape all the top soil of, put 4 inches of sand and 2 inches of sawdust, lime and manure on and till it all in. I will get to use all the implements that came with the Case.

btw, the temperature is supposed to be in high 30's!

Based on what you wrote, I disagree with your plan unless you intend to put the topsoil back on top of the other layers. Secondly, unless you've done a proper PH test in several areas of the garden that indicates a need for lime, why are you adding it? The sand will help improve heavy clay soil. Sawdust will decompose over time and also improve the soil but it takes massive amounts of nitrogen to break sawdust down. Some of that nitrogen will come from the manure providing it is fairly fresh. Well rotted manure won't have the high concentrations of nitrogen needed to break down the sawdust but adding manure is a good idea.

The top soil you are taking off is the layer of soil that is normally the richest when it comes to nutrition for whatever it is you intend to grow so make sure you reuse it. If all this layering has a tendency to make your garden too high, then remove several inches of heavy clay after taking off the topsoil. Either put the clay in another area on the property or truck it away. If you can get your hands on compost from a municipal composting operation, then that too is an excellent soil builder.

Oh, I almost forgot, before I do any of that, I have to change fluids in my Case. Any body know how many quarts/gallons of whatever that I will need to get?

I was under the impression that you were reading all the past posts because this information is certainly contained there. Make it easy on yourself. Go buy a five gallon plastic bucket of Shell's Rotella T 15W40. You will need 5 to 6 qts for the hydraulic system. You can use this oil in the transaxle too. And since we are moving into cooler weather, it's fine for the engine but when hot weather arrives, switch to straight 30 weight oil instead of a multi-grade.