Case CASE401 4.00 star(s) (1)

Found In A Creek Bed
Model Year: 1957

My 1957 Case 401 Super Diesel was first seen laying on its left side in a dry wash about half a mile from property I purchased in 1995. After a year there, the owner finally moved it up near his barn. I bought it for $1500 in "as is" condition, having been told it needed a little work to get it started. Turns out it needed an in-frame rebuild, since number 2 cylinder had broken off up inside the water jacket, but after the rebuild and some reassembly of the injection pump ( previous owner was no mechanic and has used about 12 cans of ether trying to start it after it fell off the jack while changing a tire), it sprang to life and has been a good running tractor ever since. I did rewire all the corroded electrics, rebuilt the manual brakes (left side completely rusted), replaced the generator with a new one wire alternator and fixed a small leak in the radiator. It is used in the firewood yard, grading the roads, snow removal, and was even put to use grading a 2 acre yard for the firewood trucks to use to unload. It is a very workable old beast, and though sometimes temperamental in really cold weather, it is my favorite unit to use when I need to get out and move dirt or plow snow.

Pros: Simple to work on. Rugged and easy to operate.
Cons: A padded seat and a cab would be nice sometimes.