New Acquisition - Case VA

[brenwaterys]

Picked up a "yard art" tractor last week and have had a bit of time with it seeing what I have. The previous owner attempted to get it up and running and reported it had a clutch issue and the distributor needed some attention. Pulled it home and started in on it. Thought I would do a bit of a running list of the challenges I ran into.

1952 VA w/ Eagle Hitch

• The distributor "issue" was the points were missing the mounting screw and the coil wire pass through was grounding out on the case. One issue fixed.
• It had two different switches powering up the coil, both fell apart when I went to check them so I just bypassed them for now.
• Radiator was holding what appears to be fresh coolant and not leaking!
• Cleaned up the carb a bit and put some more sealing thread on the idle screw to fix the carb leak (will probably get a rebuild eventually) - Zenith Carb
• Temporarily spaced the starter out so it would engage a bit better as it has 1/4" or so shaft play - (new thrust washer/bushing?)
• Engine now fires up and seems to run very nicely.

• Gears appeared to shift like they should so I gave the clutch a shot - Reverse, 1st and 2nd seemed ok but no movement of the rear wheels. 3rd and 4th seemed to lock everything up.
• Pulled off the top cover and discovered the trans gear fluid was basically a milkshake so I got that drained.
• Spinning the gears and positioning them by hand all the trans gears seemed to work as they should but the rear wheels weren't rotating at all. A couple of the gears looked a bit worn but not beyond usability.
• Rocking the tractor back and forth would move the gears so something in the rear end was disconnected / broken.
• Replaced the shifter - this time making sure the shift forks were placed properly and now all gears work as expected (minus the small detail that the rear wheels won't move.)
• Applied the brakes independently and while the right brake didn't change anything the left brake seemed to make it want to start moving. This narrowed down the issue to the gearing to the left wheel.
• Pulled the brake cover on that side and the brakes are grease covered so those will need cleaned up.
• Pulled the rear PTO cover and found the problem - the main drive gear was basically flopping around. Broken axle shaft - probably 6" or so from the main gear.

• Next steps - pull the left wheel and get the axle removed.
• I was able to locate a gentleman locally that has a yard full of parts "inventory" where I should be able to source a replacement.

Overall it's been a bit of a project but considering it was bought as a piece of decoration I'm looking forward to making it earn it's keep.

It came without the grill so the grill that I have on it now is probably not period correct and I have had some comments that some of the details of the tractor don't appear to match the build year. I'm just getting into this so don't know the little details very well and would like to learn. Are there any common weak points I should check while I am in the middle of it? I don't intend to do restoration, just want to get it up and running and use it a bit.

 

[kenbob]

As far as weak points, the pto is not super strong. It is the one thing that was replaced on my tractor before I bought it.

 

[kenbob]

As far as weak points, the pto is not super strong. It is the one thing that was replaced on my tractor before I bought it.

I should mention it spent most of its life running a field cutter so PTO got lots of use.

 

[Tgrasher]

Your a good man saving a tractor that most would have passed up as too too tough to deal with. Enjoying your commentary on the tractor, keep us up on your progress.

 

[Richard G.]

Picked up a "yard art" tractor last week and have had a bit of time with it seeing what I have. The previous owner attempted to get it up and running and reported it had a clutch issue and the distributor needed some attention. Pulled it home and started in on it. Thought I would do a bit of a running list of the challenges I ran into.

1952 VA w/ Eagle Hitch

• The distributor "issue" was the points were missing the mounting screw and the coil wire pass through was grounding out on the case. One issue fixed.
• It had two different switches powering up the coil, both fell apart when I went to check them so I just bypassed them for now.
• Radiator was holding what appears to be fresh coolant and not leaking!
• Cleaned up the carb a bit and put some more sealing thread on the idle screw to fix the carb leak (will probably get a rebuild eventually) - Zenith Carb
• Temporarily spaced the starter out so it would engage a bit better as it has 1/4" or so shaft play - (new thrust washer/bushing?)
• Engine now fires up and seems to run very nicely.

• Gears appeared to shift like they should so I gave the clutch a shot - Reverse, 1st and 2nd seemed ok but no movement of the rear wheels. 3rd and 4th seemed to lock everything up.
• Pulled off the top cover and discovered the trans gear fluid was basically a milkshake so I got that drained.
• Spinning the gears and positioning them by hand all the trans gears seemed to work as they should but the rear wheels weren't rotating at all. A couple of the gears looked a bit worn but not beyond usability.
• Rocking the tractor back and forth would move the gears so something in the rear end was disconnected / broken.
• Replaced the shifter - this time making sure the shift forks were placed properly and now all gears work as expected (minus the small detail that the rear wheels won't move.)
• Applied the brakes independently and while the right brake didn't change anything the left brake seemed to make it want to start moving. This narrowed down the issue to the gearing to the left wheel.
• Pulled the brake cover on that side and the brakes are grease covered so those will need cleaned up.
• Pulled the rear PTO cover and found the problem - the main drive gear was basically flopping around. Broken axle shaft - probably 6" or so from the main gear.

• Next steps - pull the left wheel and get the axle removed.
• I was able to locate a gentleman locally that has a yard full of parts "inventory" where I should be able to source a replacement.

Overall it's been a bit of a project but considering it was bought as a piece of decoration I'm looking forward to making it earn it's keep.

It came without the grill so the grill that I have on it now is probably not period correct and I have had some comments that some of the details of the tractor don't appear to match the build year. I'm just getting into this so don't know the little details very well and would like to learn. Are there any common weak points I should check while I am in the middle of it? I don't intend to do restoration, just want to get it up and running and use it a bit.

Nice tractor.
They are strong.
I have a 51 VAC.

 

[kenbob]

Mine is also a 51 new style. My favorite tractor of my 4.

 

[Joe (Wa)]

Serial nrs starting with 56 are 1952 model year (56-4=52).
ZENITH CARBURETOR Model 161JX7, outline #11106. VTA894 is a Case p/n.
Link is an on-line parts manual that covers VA series tractor models.

https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1457&context=tractormuseumlit

 

[brenwaterys]

Ok - while I am waiting on a chance to work on it I am doing some research trying to identify what can be done with my starter. It's the Auto-Lite MZ-4114 starter that appears to have a worn out thrust bushing? I have around 1/4" of play axially along the shaft that is causing it inconsistently engage with the ring gear. I am assuming that there is a bushing or spacer that has worn and needs replaced. I have done a little searching but can't seem to find guidance on this. I am waiting on a copy of the repair manual and I am assuming it will be included there but would like to get parts on the way if I need them. Can someone link me to the right parts?

 

[kenbob]

I live near KC. We have a place that rebuilds starters and generators. A little pricy but worth it for the job they do. The company is ROmaine and they are a nationwide company. Only too expensive if you have to ship the starter both ways.

 

[brenwaterys]

I live near KC. We have a place that rebuilds starters and generators. A little pricy but worth it for the job they do. The company is ROmaine and they are a nationwide company. Only too expensive if you have to ship the starter both ways.

Turns out they have a branch that I drive by every day. I will swing in one of these days and have a chat. Thanks for the name.

 

[brenwaterys]

Confirmed.

 

[brenwaterys]

Time to post a little update on the tractor.

• Axle replacement acquired (ended up getting an entire tube housing from the clutch bell housing back). A few extra parts including the transmission, brake setup, seat, etc... Trans gears are in better shape than mine but I don't feel like getting that deep right now so that will wait.
• Replacement axle pulled and cleaned up.
• Transmission, rear end cavities rinsed out with some diesel to get the milkshake washed out.
• 
  
• Engine valves adjusted
• Wiring reworked - starter switch and coil switch replaced
• Engine oil changed
• Fuel filter and rubber fuel lines replaced - the fuel sediment bowl has been removed and replaced with an inline filter.
• Hydraulic oil changed (more milkshake though not as bad as the trans)
• All grease zerks checked
• Cleaned left brake assembly of the grease / replaced seal
  • At what point did the VA switch from a disc brake to a drum brake system?
• Got the brake pedals working independently again - the right brake pedal was frozen to the shaft. Now they both work as they should.
• 
  
• Would have made a bit more progress but the axle seals I ordered ended up being the diff bearing seal behind the brakes. Now to locate the proper seal and get it on the way.
• Also need to acquire some replacement axle clamp bolts as when removing those I snapped one and the others are very rusted.
• Also picked up some fenders as the originals were missing

Making decent progress. If I had the proper seal in hand I would have been very close to having it moving under it's own power today.

 

[Case Nutty 1660]

Time to post a little update on the tractor.

• Axle replacement acquired (ended up getting an entire tube housing from the clutch bell housing back). A few extra parts including the transmission, brake setup, seat, etc... Trans gears are in better shape than mine but I don't feel like getting that deep right now so that will wait.
• Replacement axle pulled and cleaned up.
• Transmission, rear end cavities rinsed out with some diesel to get the milkshake washed out.
• 
  
• Engine valves adjusted
• Wiring reworked - starter switch and coil switch replaced
• Engine oil changed
• Fuel filter and rubber brake lines replaced - the fuel sediment bowl has been removed and replaced with an inline filter.
• Hydraulic oil changed (more milkshake though not as bad as the trans)
• All grease zerks checked
• Cleaned left brake assembly of the grease / replaced seal
  • At what point did the VA switch from a disc brake to a drum brake system?
• Got the brake pedals working independently again - the right brake pedal was frozen to the shaft. Now they both work as they should.
• 
  
• Would made a bit more progress but the axle seals I ordered ended up being the diff bearing seal behind the brakes. Now to locate the proper seal and get it on the way.
• Also need to acquire some replacement axle clamp bolts as when removing those I snapped one and the others are very rusted.
• Also picked up some fenders as the originals were missing

Making decent progress. If I had the proper seal in hand I would have been very close to having it moving under it's own power today.

external_link has the seals you are looking for and anything else you may need