Spark plugs for 1945 Case DC4

[Cyclone Guy]

I just moved and the manual for my Case tractor is packed away in a box somewhere. Does anyone know what the spark plug number is for this old case? I need to put resistor plugs in this tractor as the wife said that as long as that tractor engine was running, the OTA TV signal in the house was really bad lolol. I was almost 300 feet away from the house too! I'm likely affecting the neighbors, although they are quite far away.

We bought a bigger acreage and I actually have a bit of space to put the old case to work. Previous owner of the property left about a 10 foot wide JD double row (if that's what it's called) disc harrow and I used it for about 2 hours on the weekend. I was really impressed as to how easily the tractor pulled it, in second gear no problem. Even tested it up a steep hill, the governor just gave it some throttle and it never stalled out. My late Grandfather gave me this DC4 before he passed away, I'm very honored to be able to put it to good use. Need to change the oil, it still has his oil in it haha.

 

[mEl]

Autolite 386 is the equivalent resistor model of the 3116, the 388 is the next heat range up, but they are not recommended for a Magneto system, HTH.

 

[casecollectorsc]

Nice looking DC 4....remember to drain the clutch housing also when changing oil.

 

[John Saeli]

I just moved and the manual for my Case tractor is packed away in a box somewhere. Does anyone know what the spark plug number is for this old case? I need to put resistor plugs in this tractor as the wife said that as long as that tractor engine was running, the OTA TV signal in the house was really bad lolol. I was almost 300 feet away from the house too! I'm likely affecting the neighbors, although they are quite far away.

We bought a bigger acreage and I actually have a bit of space to put the old case to work. Previous owner of the property left about a 10 foot wide JD double row (if that's what it's called) disc harrow and I used it for about 2 hours on the weekend. I was really impressed as to how easily the tractor pulled it, in second gear no problem. Even tested it up a steep hill, the governor just gave it some throttle and it never stalled out. My late Grandfather gave me this DC4 before he passed away, I'm very honored to be able to put it to good use. Need to change the oil, it still has his oil in it haha.

View attachment 113926

NEVER use a Resistor plug on a Magneto ignition. Will shorten the life of a Magneto. Autolite 3116 is the only plug we recommend for all CASE tractors except the SC which requires a 437. Besides, if the interference is coming from the tractor, which I question, it is coming from the wires and magneto.

 

[mEl]

Agreed John, we all ran mags years ago and when fairly close there could be interference but never while we were in the field, I am wondering if there may be some bad wires contributing to the noise.

 

[Cyclone Guy]

Good to know that resistor plugs may cause issues! I didn't know that, thanks for that info. I will definitely drain the clutch of oil, found that detail on a youtube video.

The spark plug wires are new solid core wires I installed a few years back, with only a few hours of use, and it's parked inside all the time. The spark plugs were replaced at that time and are working fine as is. More testing will have to be done, maybe something else was messing up the TV that afternoon.

 

[John Saeli]

Good to know that resistor plugs may cause issues! I didn't know that, thanks for that info. I will definitely drain the clutch of oil, found that detail on a youtube video.

The spark plug wires are new solid core wires I installed a few years back, with only a few hours of use, and it's parked inside all the time. The spark plugs were replaced at that time and are working fine as is. More testing will have to be done, maybe something else was messing up the TV that afternoon.

We've had the SC running a PTO Generator just outside the house when the power was out, not over 30' from the TV and no interference. I forgot to mention that solid metal wires, as opposed to silicone or resistor wires are a must also.

 

[rustred]

I just moved and the manual for my Case tractor is packed away in a box somewhere. Does anyone know what the spark plug number is for this old case? I need to put resistor plugs in this tractor as the wife said that as long as that tractor engine was running, the OTA TV signal in the house was really bad lolol. I was almost 300 feet away from the house too! I'm likely affecting the neighbors, although they are quite far away.

We bought a bigger acreage and I actually have a bit of space to put the old case to work. Previous owner of the property left about a 10 foot wide JD double row (if that's what it's called) disc harrow and I used it for about 2 hours on the weekend. I was really impressed as to how easily the tractor pulled it, in second gear no problem. Even tested it up a steep hill, the governor just gave it some throttle and it never stalled out. My late Grandfather gave me this DC4 before he passed away, I'm very honored to be able to put it to good use. Need to change the oil, it still has his oil in it haha.

View attachment 113926

all them old tractors used champion D 16 plugs as a standard plug when new. select a heat range accordingly. that was one simple thing. massey, ihc case, m.m. and solid core wires are a must.

 

[Cyclone Guy]

They are definitely solid metal wires, so all good there.

Also, the muffler is rotting, does anyone know the muffler inlet size? I would like to pick one up on my way home today...

 

[want@1070]

I remember D 16 plugs, guys said they were the best,

 

[rustred]

They are definitely solid metal wires, so all good there.

Also, the muffler is rotting, does anyone know the muffler inlet size? I would like to pick one up on my way home today...

I believe they are 2 1/4 “ maybe 21/2 “ if I remember right. They had a long case muffler. I saw Ihc mufflers on them and that just dont look right. Why not measure it yourself u got the tractor. Guess I could measure mine also.

 

[Cyclone Guy]

Well I picked up a 2 1/4 inch muffler and managed to get that installed. Sounds good, and no more exhaust in my face.

Today I drained the oil, both drains. Wow, am I ever glad I did that. Also pulled out the screen and took a look inside. I'm not kidding, there was an inch of sludge in the bottom. I got a brush in there, and using some gas for solvent, flushed it out three times. I'm heading out soon to button it back up, and fill it with oil. Since I got the tractor around 2009 I've hardly used it. No way it had more than three hours on it so I guess my Grandpa was a bit behind on maintenance haha.

 

[jon f mn]

I recommend something other than champion plugs, case tractors don't like champions for some reason. Even my dad said way back the the dc didn't run right on champion plugs. My dc will have intermittent misses with them.

 

[mEl]

Jon, I was going to refrain from this discussion because I have made my case years ago and am not depending on second or third hand rumors. In the 60s I was a firm believer in Champ plugs and used either D16s or D15Ys exclusively in my Case tune ups at the dealership I worked for my 50+ year career. When the Government started the emission reduction stuff, suddenly I found myself having to run service calls to replace recently installed Champ plugs because of fouling, this was bad enough that we as dealership were forced to make a change. We went to Autolite and never looked back. I am not saying Champ is a poorly designed plug or inferior in any way, I have noticed in comments on here every once in a while by people who are using Champs that a lot of times they are using D21s which is a lot hotter plug than the D16 and should alleviate fouling issues. Ethanol blended fuels run cooler and I believe tended to keep the plugs insulators from staying dry and passing current instead of the spark jumping the gap. This is my experience, I can see that others may not have the same result as I but we are further North and our climates temperatures may be a contributing factor. I am not saying that Autolites are the only plug, I have used NGK successfully, I think heat range for the temp and fuel used is the real issue. People Like John Saeli that serve the public as he does cannot put out a product that fails and I know he is in my corner on this issue as I have seen his posts as well.

 

[John Saeli]

Mel: Again we're in agreement. I feel as though I've traveled to the nexis of the universe. Anyway, I'm waiting for Klyde to chime in. He uses a non-resistor Champion with an extended tip with good luck.

 

[mEl]

The D15Y is a range cooler than the D16 and has the extended tip.

 

[Don Rudolph]

Jon, I was going to refrain from this discussion because I have made my case years ago and am not depending on second or third hand rumors. In the 60s I was a firm believer in Champ plugs and used either D16s or D15Ys exclusively in my Case tune ups at the dealership I worked for my 50+ year career. When the Government started the emission reduction stuff, suddenly I found myself having to run service calls to replace recently installed Champ plugs because of fouling, this was bad enough that we as dealership were forced to make a change. We went to Autolite and never looked back. I am not saying Champ is a poorly designed plug or inferior in any way, I have noticed in comments on here every once in a while by people who are using Champs that a lot of times they are using D21s which is a lot hotter plug than the D16 and should alleviate fouling issues. Ethanol blended fuels run cooler and I believe tended to keep the plugs insulators from staying dry and passing current instead of the spark jumping the gap. This is my experience, I can see that others may not have the same result as I but we are further North and our climates temperatures may be a contributing factor. I am not saying that Autolites are the only plug, I have used NGK successfully, I think heat range for the temp and fuel used is the real issue. People Like John Saeli that serve the public as he does cannot put out a product that fails and I know he is in my corner on this issue as I have seen his posts as well.

Mel,

Many years ago we used a DC4 for blowing silage and it continually fouled the Champion d 16 plugs, even under such a hard load, that we kept a supply of new spares in the toolbox. An old mechanic friend suggested switching to Autolite and we never looked back. Don

 

[rustred]

You can’t be blaming spark plugs with an engine that uses oil or is worn out. Any plug will foul. I don’t believe for one minute to blame champion plugs as they are in my D and DC tractors and easy to start and no missing. Your busted . Seams the same old story keeps getting repeated and passed down. Maybe make sure the timing and point gap and carb is set correctly which will tell the story in its self.

 

[jon f mn]

Mel,

Many years ago we used a DC4 for blowing silage and it continually fouled the Champion d 16 plugs, even under such a hard load, that we kept a supply of new spares in the toolbox. An old mechanic friend suggested switching to Autolite and we never looked back. Don

I don't remember what brand I put in my dc, but they are not champion, and they have been in there at least 10 years and it runs great and starts even well below zero temps. It is still my most often used tractor, especially in the winter for feeding hay and grinding feed.

 

[John Saeli]

You can’t be blaming spark plugs with an engine that uses oil or is worn out. Any plug will foul. I don’t believe for one minute to blame champion plugs as they are in my D and DC tractors and easy to start and no missing. Your busted . Seams the same old story keeps getting repeated and passed down. Maybe make sure the timing and point gap and carb is set correctly which will tell the story in its self.

Maybe your hearing ain't so good and you can't hear how it's running. 40 years ago a neighbor brought his low mileage, late model Dodge pick up to the shop and asked me to make it run right. Ran terrible. He had just installed new Champions listed for that truck. I did everything, set timing, changed wires, cap, rotor. Took it to a more modern neighboring shop what had a machine. Everything checked out, but ran like $hit.
A neighbor stopped in and asked why the Dodge had been in my shop 3 days. I went over everything w/ him, and the 1st words out of his mouth were to swap out the Champions w/ Autolites. I argued w/ him explaining they were new. Anyways, I did what he said, and WOW!! Ran sweet. BTW, Iost my a$$ on that job.