Case 990

[65plymouth]

Looking for a 50-60 hp utility tractor and just happened upon a Case 990. This one has the Case decals and not the David Brown ones. I have no idea what year it is but having spoKen with the owner, he assured me it was in good working order.

He did mention slow 3pt when it's cold and a "small fuel leak at the injector pump".

Being a perfectly sized tractor for my needs, what should I be looking at when I inspect this tractor? Should I be concerned with parts avail ability, the slow hydraulics, or the fuel leak? He has it priced at 4k and advised that he is the 2nd owner and the previous owner used it to pull a grain wagon. I guess it has a 12 speed trans with a "slow range"

Thoughts? Can't find much about this model on the internet. Give me the good, bad and ugly. How would this tractor compare to a Ford 4600 or Massey 165 of the same vintage.

Thanks
Jeff

 

[RGMartin]

Parts are easy to come by, especially on the internet.

One of the most produced tractors ever. 300,000+ in all of its variations. Over a 20 year span. Pictures or a serial number and I could tell you more about a specific age.

It will be better on fuel, incredible 3 point function, turn better(late ones), and have more useful gears than the Ford or Massey.

Hydraulic issues are generally because of dirty oil, water in the oil, and no one ever having changed the filter.

Nothing particularly difficult about the fuel system. Could be as simple as tightening up a fitting or changing a crush washer.


As to money, its a 40 year old machine, overall condition is everything. Might be a good value, might not.

 

[65plymouth]

Here are some photos..

 

[M Nut]

Neighbor has one. It?s a tough little tractor, used for everything from pulling 9ft haybine to skidding trees out of the woods for firewood. It just
keeps on going. He has said his hydraulics are quite slow too. Not sure if it is a trait of those tractors, or if there is a fix for that.

 

[RGMartin]

Pictures aren't good so can't tell much. It has the later 4/49 engine, hydrostatic steering... The front weights are a nice bonus($3-500)

It has been prettied up. Repaint, seat, front lights aren't original housings.

Rear tires appear to be original 45 degree Goodyears, good indication of low usage tractor if they are. See where they were made, if English or French made they likely are.

If hydraulic oil is milky, that is the source of the slow. Cheap and easy fix.

 

[Dieseltech]

Just returned a Case 1190 pump back to the owner after repairing it of leaks, may not be anything serious.

 

[65plymouth]

Thanks for the info guys. I will probably try to take a look at this tractor in person this coming week. Other than verifying if the tires are original, what else should I look for?

The guy who has the tractor did say he repainted the tins. Said he hasn't used it that much at all in the 3 years he has owned it. Bought it from the original owner.

What would make you turn around and walk away? Ie..what major ossues should i be looking for? I am mechanically inclined but am not looking for a huge project at this time. I have two very young sons.

Thanks and happy new year!

 

[65plymouth]

Another photo.....

 

[Case Nutty 1660]

a low houred 990 to me would be a Great machine to have,, my Dad bought one new in 1965,his use for it changed so he sold it to my uncle the next year and he still has it today and would never think of selling it,, I have always had a great fondness for DB's
cnt

 

[Bret4207]

If it starts good, steers and shifts good and the brakes actually work, the rest is pretty much just changing out fluids I'd bet. Great tractor, very, very well built. Parts are 100X easier to get now than even 10 years ago. Tires are going to be the big thing. If the rears are in good shape, that's great. If they are getting bald and cracked, that's going to be an expensive replacement. And check the electricals! If it charges and the gauges and lights work, that's good. They use a Lucas electrical system and it's just not what most people in the US are familiar with. It can cause some major head scratching.

 

[65plymouth]

Thank you!
Yes.... I am still hearing mixed things about parts availability as I research online (And there isnt much online info to begin with). Can anyone advise me of parts sources for this tractor so I can do some comparison shopping??? Online sites etc. Also waiting for the seller to provide me with additional pictures showing the leak at the injector pump, condition of the tires and some other general pics. I will try and post them up here when I get them

Bret, you mentioned the tires... I assume you meant that if they need to be replaced that I would be looking at $$$. Not that they are some oddball size correct?

The seller did say that the front lights are not original and are not working. He said that when he repainted the hood, he never wired in the lights. Probably because he couldn't figure out the Lucas electrical system. My old Triumph Bonneville (street bike) had a similar Lucas system that i never liked.

Someone very knowledgeable in Vintage tractors suggested that I stay away from the Case/David Brown 990 as "both transmission and engine are very crude and parts availability is non-existent". I am not trying to discount what others have said here, but just want to make sure I am not looking at buying a $4000.00 paper weight.

Thanks.

 

[RGMartin]

(quoted from post at 11:31:16 01/02/18)

Someone very knowledgeable in Vintage tractors suggested that I stay away from the Case/David Brown 990 as "both transmission and engine are very crude and parts availability is non-existent".

Since you have already talked to an expert, not sure why you are bothering with us.

 

[65plymouth]

Apparently you took what i said the wrong way.. I meant no disrespect at all. I am just trying to gather as much useful information as I can. I never said the person was an expert..

The person who made the comment above is a local that I reached out to for advice and possible help finding a tractor. "She" seems to be well respected in the industry and has written several articles for various tractor sites. But, you and I both know what is to be said about opinions.... I will leave it at that.

Again.. I am just trying to make an educated decision and gather as much info as possible. I greatly appreciate what has been shared thus far.

Thanks

 

[RGMartin]

John Deere's after market division "A&I", has nearly everything to completely service one of these. As do several other aftermarket companies. Most anything is available on ebay or amazon for that matter.

This site sells the products from these companies.

Forget buying the parts from Case, overpriced, and they just don't care to sell parts for this old stuff.

I wouldn't consider the engine crude, maybe simple, but on a 40 year old machine do you want complicated? My 14 year old some did an inframe one one this weekend, 95% himself. Simple can be good, DB owned the fuel efficiency on the Nebraska tests for a long time.

As to the transmission? Crude? As compared to the small MF or Ford??? have they ever looked inside or even run a DB? They used the same basic transmission up to 100 horsepower, hard to believe you could hurt it with 53.

Your expert must have a closet full or red, green, or blue T shirts.

 

[65plymouth]

(quoted from post at 12:08:53 01/02/18) John Deere's after market division "A&I", has nearly everything to completely service one of these. As do several other aftermarket companies. Most anything is available on ebay or amazon for that matter.

This site sells the products from these companies.

Forget buying the parts from Case, overpriced, and they just don't care to sell parts for this old stuff.

I wouldn't consider the engine crude, maybe simple, but on a 40 year old machine do you want complicated? My 14 year old some did an inframe one one this weekend, 95% himself. Simple can be good, DB owned the fuel efficiency on the Nebraska tests for a long time.

As to the transmission? Crude? As compared to the small MF or Ford??? have they ever looked inside or even run a DB? They used the same basic transmission up to 100 horsepower, hard to believe you could hurt it with 53.

Your expert must have a closet full or red, green, or blue T shirts.

Thank you. I appreciate the info on parts sources. I will check into your recommendations. I am not sure which are more complicated Massey, ford, or DB, but wouldn't think anything from the 70's would be too complicated. I am no diesel mechanic, but know how to turn wrenches and am mechanically inclined so none of these models scare me. Just want to make sure that parts are not made from "unobtainium". It seems as if you have proved they are not. Several other have comfirmed that as well.

For the sake of conversation, I guess I am left wondering why these 990 units were not as popular as some of the Fords or Massys? Any idea? Was there not as hard of a push for the smaller utility models by Case/DB? I have owned 2 Case Garden tractors and they were bullet proof. Well, one was a Case and the other was an Ingersoll 4018. Parts were available, but not always easy to come by for the small GTs.

Anyways.. all the above may be worthless if I cant get the seller to send me any additional photos. I am going to try and be patient...

As to what's in my "expert's" closet.... I have no clue. Actually, I have never even met her and was referred to her and her father because they are apparently well respected in the vintage tractor/repair scene and they are VERY local. I contacted her via email asking about Fords, Massey, Oliver, and IH.. She sent a response back and then I questioned her about the Case 990. I questioned her regarding the reply she sent because I located an online article written by her for an internet site that called the DB 990 and "underrated Gem"...lol. So I didn't know who to believe.

Thanks!

 

[Bret4207]

All tractor rears are expensive these days, that's what i meant. The 990 doesn't use anything exotic.

As far as parts, go to Messicks and look under the Case/IH section and type in a search for the 990. Same for Allstates and lots of other places. I don't know what you can't get anymore. I've gotten stuff from Canada, England and Ireland for mine and the prices were decent and delivery was only a couple days longer than a US supplier. It's lots easier to get DB990 parts than it is to get parts for several other tractors I can think of.

As far as your local "expert", my guess is she's never spent a lot of time, if any, with a DB990 or tried to get parts. Of course there are lots of people who've never even seen a 990 that will tell you they're junk. That's just the nature of the tractor world.