Finally got a Case

I'm assuming that you want both the good news and the bad news.

The good news is this. It's worth $350.00 all day long, no matter what. That's a 1969 444 PK model which is the first year for the 400 and the 200 series. For the year, it looks to be in very good condition. The tin appears to be straight and all there. It is a very collectible tractor and if you intend to do a restoration, it should be fairly straight forward.

Now for the not-so-good news.

Back then, hydraulic implement lift was an option and from what I can see, this tractor has manual lift for the deck and all other attachments. The Snap-Fast implement attachment system did not appear on tractors until 1971 so THEORETICALLY.... this tractor does not have Snap-Fast. More on that momentarily. This tractor also has a dedicated starter motor plus a separate alternator. Most likely, the regulator has failed and that's why it is not charging. Case went back to start/gen units shortly after but in 1978 they returned to separate starters and alternators.

Originally, these engines were fitted with a breakerless ignition system. Nice idea but the replacement components are very pricey. Many of these engines got converted back to points, condenser and ignition coils. To do this conversion, changes in the wiring harness had to be made plus you needed a different ignition switch along with the other parts I just mentioned.

The photo confuses me because I'm sure that's an H-46 mower deck under the tractor and it shouldn't be there. But I also see what looks like black paint on the tractor's frame near the front. It could be that this guy modified the frame to accept the Snap-Fast implements after his old G-deck wore out.

I don't know what your expectations are for this tractor. If you intend to work it, then it would be a good thing if the frame was converted. You would have no problem finding the later Snap-Fast attachments such as a blade or snowcaster. If I'm wrong and it hasn't been converted, then finding the older attachments can be more difficult.

I`ll know more on Sunday, the owner said that the mower deck is something like 54" across, not sure if that with the chute deflector down. but my trailer will hold that width. I blew up the photo up this time, may help if it wasn't so blurry. The owner may have bought it like this and he isn't the first owner, he`s 70 years old and it sounded like he has owned it for some time.

I`ll take my time and look it over really good. So if it`s got a coil then it`s been changed back to points? I want to see how well it cuts after I get all of the problems fixed. I`ve always wanted a Case/Ingersoll type tractor after almost buying the 316LGT, may not have been the right choice, but it was built like a tank. The mower decks must work well being deep and look almost like a fabricated mower deck. The owner did say that the hyd. deck lift worked fine, so maybe the model and serial number will tell more about this Case 444.

I`ll copy and paste all the things I need to look at or out for, print that out and take it with me.



I have a Wheel Horse C-85 I can plow with, just need a plow and the quick attach. I use a Toro 828 Power Max snow blower because I can put that in the back of my Dakota, better then dragging a trailer around. Here on the coast we get more wet snow then the fluffy stuff.

Lets hope the owner is a stand up guy I think he is, loosing trust in people is really a bad trend now a days.....

Mower_Man, that's exactly and I mean exactly what I've been looking for! An older 444 that needs a little work and doesn't cost an arm and a leg. Don't worry - it's too far for me to buy out from under you, I wouldn't do that anyway. I don't know how others handle the situation when driving a distance for something but I would maybe call the owner again and just make sure that it's going to be there when you get there. A while ago, when I was still pretty new to being interested in tractors in general I found a really good deal on a 220 that sounded like it just needed a tuneup to run. I emailed the owner back and forth 5 or 6 times throughout the day asking questions and talking about the tractor. I even called him on his cell phone right before walking out of my door to go buy the tractor. I had to remove my truck toolbox and load the ramps. I got there and found the house about an hour drive later, only to have the guy come to the door and say, well it's gone. At first I thought he was pulling my chain, but gave me some story about how a guy showed up "earlier" and he thought it was me, and the guy bought it. Keep in mind I talked to this bozo an hour before and told him I was leaving and would be there in an hour. The whole thing never added up but I just had to leave it go. Sorry for the useless rambling, but thought maybe it would help you or somebody in the future who is going to spend time driving to get something. Back to the point - great looking tractor. I will surely be looking forward to seeing more pictures of it when it gets home, and I'm sure all of the others here will as well.

Yes... I'm totally on board with CM2 and Classic on those issues. If I see an advert for a tractor I want, I immediately telephone the Seller and talk to him about what s/he has for sale. I then ask for their address and arrange to either come right away or the very next day. I figure out in advance when I can be there and I tell the Seller that I am going to arrive at his/her home as close to 2:00 PM as traffic will allow. I then hook up my trailer, go to the bank and get cash and then telephone the Seller again to tell him/her that I'm on my way... see you at 2.

If it appears that I'm going to be even the slightest bit late, I call the Seller again and say "Hi... looks like I'm not going to make it by 2 because I was delayed by some roadwork. Right now, I'm on Highway such and such and just went by the town of Pleasantville and the sign says I'm still 44 miles from your town." Sellers appreciate me doing that because they've got other things they'd rather be doing than sitting around wondering if I'm really going to show up as promised or I'm just another time-wasting tire kicker.

When I pull up and they see that I brought my trailer, then they know immediately that they are dealing with a serious buyer who came to their home with the intention of taking this tractor away with them. The rest of it comes down to a price that the two of you can live with. I've never gone home empty-handed. Most Sellers want the tractor gone ASAP so they can close that chapter and they are reluctant to let you leave their property without the tractor. CASH is KING. Cash means that a Seller has no worries. He gets your cash and you get his tractor right on the spot.

I recently bought a tractor that is in another state. I saw photos of it but I couldn't go and see it. I called the Seller, told him I wanted to buy his tractor and explained my problem. He explained his. If he had his choice, the tractor would not be for sale because it once belonged to his grandfather but he had fallen on hard times and needed the money so it was for sale to whomever paid him first. After several more minutes of intense conversation, I convinced him that I was dead serious about buying his tractor and he agreed to pull the C/L ad as well as telling all other callers that it was sold.

The next day, I wired him his asking price in full in exchange for his word that he would hang onto the tractor for me while I arranged for it to be picked up by a third party. That was three weeks ago and if all goes well, the tractor will be retrieved from him this weekend. Had I not done what I did, the tractor would have been sold the very next day and I'd have lost it. These tractors do not normally hang around for very long if they are priced right and that 444 certainly fits that description. I will be very surprised if it is still there for you to buy come Sunday.

And BTW, after looking at it once again, it does appear that it has the optional implement lift. Your blow up photo helped in that regard and that makes this tractor a bigger bargain.

Thanks everyone for all your suggestions, I spoke with him on the phone and agreed to send him a deposit and that he can consider it sold and Sunday is the day that it will be paid for in full. I just called to let him know I`m on top of things but he was out, so I`ll try again later. I got all of my direction to and from his home to mine. The list I made out using most of the things you guy`s suggested I look at.

Wish I could go Saturday but my co-pilot already has something plan for Saturday. Two sets of eyes are better then just mine especially when pulling a trailer. Remember I`ll be in Massachusetts and their driving is crazy, I use to live in Massachusetts and hated RT 128 the most. Having someone pass you in the break down lane doing 80 or better and your heading for the off ramp will get your heart pumping big time, they don`t slow down, just blast right by you with the horn blowing.

I`ll just have to wait until Sunday to see if he is a man of his word, I hope I`m not wrong.