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New to me Case 644 drive issues

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Tibeka

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Hi,
My name is Tim and I just traded an Emglo air compressor that my uncle gave me and some other small stuff for a Case 644.:thThumbsU

I remember when I worked for my Pap he tried to buy a 646 at an auction. He kicked himself forever for not bidding high enough to get it. It stung a little more because a friend of his got it and he had to see it quite often. After that I always liked the 600 series tractors and set out looking for one.

The tractor is in decent condition but the PO said that it wouldn’t drive in forward or reverse very well. He told me that the pump was replaced last summer and the problem started a few months after that. The hydraulics on the loader are strong and it did move some when I first looked at it. He also told me that he had replaced the drive motor at some point but he didn’t know how long ago that was. He was convinced it was the drive motor so he removed that and took it to a local Mennonite that works on hydraulics before we made the trade. I am going to talk to him this weekend to see if the motor is ok or not. I’m a little familiar with the banana plate issue but at the moment the drive motor is off so I can’t check that out completely. There is defiantly play and wear in that linkage though.

My question is, do the drive motors go bad very often? If it is bad should I have it rebuilt or is there an aftermarket replacement? I have the old drive motor that he gave me and it looks like a pretty standard off the shelf motor to me.

I read on this forum somewhere about a banana plate rebuild kit. Is this kit still available? What is the price and who can I order it from?

Thanks for any help you can give.:thanku:

I do have all the covers and the front grill and headlights so that’s good. All the tires will need replaced but what do you want for a tractor I have about $200 in. Here is a picture of the old girl and it's not leaking in the picture. It's marking it's teritory:fing32:

Image
 
#3 ·
I'm sure Brian will be along shortly with the straight info. There is an update kit available for the banana plate wear issue. Brian can likely get you one.

The drive motors are rugged and seldom go bad, unless system gets contaminated with dirt or lots of particles from a pump failure that wasn't properly flushed. If it is bad, new ones a expensive! But, they are the same as the 4xx models. And, I have a few good used ones if you need one, drop me a PM.
 
Discussion starter · #4 ·
Thank you both for the replies.

Antiqueect,
I gues that means no cheap aftermarket replacement then?

That kinda stinks. I was hoping I could order a bolt in from northern tool. I should know by now it’s never that easy.
 
#5 ·
I just recently purchased a 646 with the same issue. I purchased a control plate kit from Brian and now the tractor drives properly. It was under $200 and well worth the invesment.

The other thing I recommend is changing the hydraulic oil to 15W40, it make a difference as well. This is the advice I received and it work for me.
 
#6 ·
Tibeka said:
That kinda stinks. I was hoping I could order a bolt in from northern tool. I should know by now it’s never that easy.
Click to expand...
You really don't want some cheap aftermarket junk in one of these machines, they are quite capable and darn near everything is rebuildable on them. Eaton, Cessna, Parker make quality stuff, and Case knew it and used their parts .

I'd place my bet on the travel issue being the banana plate and related linkage being worn, along with the TCV being out of spec, and old oil. Simple maintenance issues, and I bet if you tend to them it will run around the yard happily for decades more.

Ummm, just gotta say, 200 bucks in it? WOW!:thThumbsU
 
Discussion starter · #7 ·
Northern tool carries Prince hydraulic motors. My Pap and I replaced a Parker motor with one in a skid steer about 10 years ago. It's still going strong. I'm not trying to cheap out on it but I have three kids and can't sink too much cabbage into it. I want to fix it right but I just can't afford a $1000 motor. The linkage kit on the other hand I'll most likely be ordering.:thanku:

Thanks for the complements on the machine. Don't get me wrong I did give up a nice Emglo compressor that my uncle gave me that was worth around $1000 to the right person but it was really too big for me. The rest of the stuff was just sitting around and I didn't have alot in it. An old trailer with no title I got for free, A Honda Scooter I paid $150 for and some ramps I got for $40. He was happy with the trade since the tractor needed work and so was I cause I don't have much in it.:fing32:

I am for sure going to replace the tires all the way around. I was looking at some R4 style tires for it like these.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/TWO-28-8-50...-Loader-Skidsteer-Tires-/230765422984?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35bab0e988

I don't really want to tear up my grass when I use it but I want to have plenty of traction. I would also like to put the same style on all for rims but I don't know if they make that tread in a 8". Any advice on a good all around tire?
 
#10 ·
Awesome deal Tibeka. You can't even find a 6XX unit this far south, much less one for trade at a song. From what I can tell Case sold those in some kind of Horseshoe shaped sales area that starts in new england and ends in Canada briefly dipping into Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin. I hope the Banana Plate fix works for you and you get to use your machine to move all the dirt you can dig. Really awesome deal Tim.
 
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#11 ·
I am also looking for new tires. I looked at those R4 threads and decided against them based on what I have read about them. Now I am seriously considering going to 26x12-12 size tires. Yes, it requires new rims but the tire choices in that size are endless. Another reason I am thinking about the wider tires is that the ground is really sandy where I am so the standard size tends to dig in quickly.
 
#12 ·
I have a 644 project that is getting 27x12x12ATV tires. But, fitting them hasn't been as easy task. I found a set of wheels from a Sears tractor that are 12" with a 6on6 bolt pattern. But with the standard axles they don't clear the drive motor. I found a set of axles from a 646LBH. These are longer since that machine comes with 12" wheels. But, they are alos bigger in diameter at the outer bushing area. Good news is that the housing is the same ID, the bushing is just bigger ID, same od and thinner walled.
Haven't got it together yet but it alls looks good at this point.

woodczech said:
I am also looking for new tires. I looked at those R4 threads and decided against them based on what I have read about them. Now I am seriously considering going to 26x12-12 size tires. Yes, it requires new rims but the tire choices in that size are endless. Another reason I am thinking about the wider tires is that the ground is really sandy where I am so the standard size tends to dig in quickly.
Click to expand...
 
#14 ·
Wow, that sounds complex. What is the backspacing/offset on those Sears wheels?

I thought about that clearance as well and if the axles are only a little short (2" or less) perhaps this can be used to make extensions -> http://www.ezaccessory.com/Custom_Wheel_Adapters_s/269.htm

antiqueetc said:
I have a 644 project that is getting 27x12x12ATV tires. But, fitting them hasn't been as easy task. I found a set of wheels from a Sears tractor that are 12" with a 6on6 bolt pattern. But with the standard axles they don't clear the drive motor. I found a set of axles from a 646LBH. These are longer since that machine comes with 12" wheels. But, they are alos bigger in diameter at the outer bushing area. Good news is that the housing is the same ID, the bushing is just bigger ID, same od and thinner walled.
Haven't got it together yet but it alls looks good at this point.
Click to expand...
 
#15 ·
The sears wheels have no backspacing, mounting surface is dead center of the wheel.

I considered wheel spacers, but figured that the engineers spec'd the bigger bushing for a reason. That and I lucked into a pair of axles cheap.

Also, guys that have adapted duals to these have experienced axle breakage where the plate is welded to the shaft. Spacers would stress that area also, as would specially offset wheels.

woodczech said:
Wow, that sounds complex. What is the backspacing/offset on those Sears wheels?

I thought about that clearance as well and if the axles are only a little short (2" or less) perhaps this can be used to make extensions -> http://www.ezaccessory.com/Custom_Wheel_Adapters_s/269.htm
Click to expand...
 
Discussion starter · #16 ·
I considered 12" rims but good luck finding them to fit. I haven't been able to locate any and a local Ingersoll dealer said he was pretty sure I wouldn't have any luck matching them. The tire selection in 15" is non-existent. It's either the R4's or turf tires. I won't do retreads. I have seen the treads peel off like a banana skin on tractor tires.

Anyone have any luck finding 15" AG's???
 
Discussion starter · #18 ·
Yes I did. I think I have looked at every tire site on the internet.

I don't see anything in rims that will fit and the tires are just the R4's and those odd V tread skid steer tires. I would love to find something else but I'm not haveing any luck.

I was told that finding 12" rims with the right bolt pattern and offset is going to be very hard. The local Ingersoll dealer said that rims off of a Case LBH might be the only ones that would work because of the offset.
 
#19 ·
Like antique has already said, even the LBH wheels won't work without the longer axles because the spacing is more centered on those 12" wheels. Wheel horse D series tractors ran 12s and 15s but those 12s are the same way. I've never had a pair of Bolens large frame wheels to try but I asked someone who had a pair on eBay and it sounds like they are too.
I did the same search years ago when I got my first 600 series and came up empty just like you have. They did have some 27x10.5x15 but I can't even find them anymore. With those you'd have to run the wheel spacer and yes it would probably stress and or break the axles but they are easy to find and replace. Break it and fix it.
Don't really understand what your aversion is to retreads. Sure someone could not get them bonded right and they could come apart but a new tire could fail too. At 6mph I don't think there's allot to worry about. In my searching and it sounds like yours too that's seams like the only answer.
If you do find something else though definitely let us know.
On side note I really like my diamond tire chains.
 

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#20 ·
The wheels I have came from a Sears FF series tractor. Not plentiful by any means, but more so than 6xxLBHs!

I may have bought the only set of LBH axles not attached to a LBH, at least I haven't seen a set since getting these.
 
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Tibeka
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