870 Agri King

Tiny Farmer

New User
Hi folks, I'm new to the forum. I'm here looking for the good and bad on a case 870 Agri King The pros and cons. I can't find the serial number on it. But it's a 4cyl diesel 336 cu in. It's a 8 speed hi/Lo transmission I bought the tractor on Xmas eve this year. It came with a 6ft snow blower and I live in north east South Dakota so I need it. So is this a good tractor ? I would like to plow and disc my garden and small field with it but I have no implements for it yet. Mainly cause I don't know it's capabilities. So if anyone has anything to say about it whether it's good or bad I sure would appreciate any info or advice.
 
I cannot think of anything negative about an 870. We've had one here for 37 years, and for 37 years it has been a great, dependable tractor. Chris would sooner see me leave the farm than the 870!!
 
I live just West of Brookings, and I have an 870 power shift, and a 970 8 speed like yours. I use the 970 on my snow blower because the 8 speed works much better than the power shift. 870 is a very handy tractor. I use mine on a 14' hydro swing, rake hay, bale hay with square baler, pull 15' Oliver disk, and 16'field cultivator. I would think a plow to 4 bottom, and chisel plow to 10' would be fine. Most 870's run about 70 HP. Use low reverse and do NOT slip the clutch on the snow blower. Very,very well built tractor that will give years and years of service if maintained well.
 
I have never heard anyone talk bad about an 870 Case. Most people that have one would rather be tared and feathered before they had to lose their 870 Case.
 
They are well built tractors. Like anything they do have things that will wear out but they really do not have any weak spots. Service it well and it will serve you well. Rod.
 
DKase, Thanks for that info it was helpful. Hey we are practically neighbors I live over by Goodwin. 12 mi east of Watertown. I appreciate you and everyone who took the time to post on this Seems like everyone I talk to has no complaints about the 870. But they didn't seem to be very popular or maybe they didn't make that many of them. Maybe they are a odd hp size or something. Just thinkin out loud sorry. Thanks again!!
 
My dad bought our first 870 in 1981 or so. It is still in the barn, it was the big horse until a 970 came along a while later. He pulled 5-16s with it which was too much, but she did it for years( I am only pulling 4-16s with a 1070 now). Only issue with that much plow was it was marginal on cooling capacity at best. It ground feed almost daily, and was a planter tractor(6 row mounted) after being bumped off of plowing duty.


A couple more 870s have come here since to keep it company. The only common problem to all of them has been spun engine bearings. Original cranks for these are like hens teeth. If you have any suspicion of noise, or low oil pressure... shut it down, pull the pan and check the bearings.
 
Just west of you in my area, 9 and 1030s were the preferred tractor with the most demand,so when the 70 series came out it made sense for 9 and 1070s to follow suite. Every one soon after went to 1370s, 2590s and 3594s as they became available. I never saw a 870 or 770 until I traveled to Minnesota farms in the 1990s. Like the others said, an 870 was a solid tractor, but they just didn't have the horsepower required for big wheat country out here.
 
RG, don't want to start something here, but this is the 1st I have ever heard someone question the cooling cap'y of the 870. Like anything else, under dirty conditions, the rad. fins need cleaning. As for cranks? Never heard that complaint before. We change oil & filter here every 100 hours, and I am very loyal to 1 brand of oil that has proven itself. "nuff said.
 
(quoted from post at 13:37:49 04/13/16) RG, don't want to start something here, but this is the 1st I have ever heard someone question the cooling cap'y of the 870.

Like I said, too much plow. Likely she was turned up by previous owner as it was pulling those 5-16s 1 gear slower than I am pulling 4-16s with a 1070. Radiator got cleaned daily if dusty.



(quoted from post at 13:37:49 04/13/16) As for cranks? Never heard that complaint before. We change oil & filter here every 100 hours, and I am very loyal to 1 brand of oil that has proven itself. "nuff said.

100 hour changes here too. Dads first one spun at 4000 hours or so. I'm sure daily cold starts to grind feed didn't help the situation.

The other 2 were bought spun, one on the center main(2500 hours), the other on a rod(7000 hours). No idea the back story on them.
 
Just want to thank everyone for all of their replies good info, stories and opinions. You guys made me feel better about buying the 870. Thanks again
 
Early 7-870s had 4 gear balancers. with the crank drive gear bolted to the crank with counter sunk bolts. The bolts came loose and also the bushed shafts in the balancers would ware and the oil pump was part of the balancer. Later 7-870s had 3 gear balancers, much better and the crank gear was welded to the crank, but I have seen those welds break. We converted a couple failed 267-336s to the oil pump mounted on the front main bearing cap, and eliminated the balancer.
Loren
 
I can't remember what the pumps were off or their part no. Perhaps Mel will chime in. The info was given to us by mutual Case service reps.
Loren
 
straw boss im from Missouri originally small farms heavy timbered area steep ground. im like a duck out of water up here. this is farming on a scale ive never seen before the tractors and equipment are awesome, I just have a small hundred acre farm that im trying to fix up just to put a few cattle on. I will probably never do any major plowing or planting ive got a old jd 3010 and a old jd baler that works when it feels like it im just piddlin around enjoying the headaches that go along with messin with the tractors
 
this is my 870
a223791.jpg
 
Nothing wrong with that. Between your 3010 and 870, you have more horsepower than my Dad and Grandpa did when farming 6 quarters with an Allis D-17 and an Oliver 88. Don't ask me how they got it all done??? I guess that generation knew how to work.
 

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