My 930 Case

evan_nugget

New User
Hi all. Thought I would make a quick post to show everyone the new tractor I've had for about a year and a half now. It's a 1968 930 CK with the 401 diesel. A little backstory: my grandpa used to work on a farm and this Case was their first big tractor and was used to disk and plant sod, as well as pull a land leveler and irrigation equipment. Basically it was the jack of all trades until the farm could purchase bigger equipment.

When I was just a toddler the exhaust manifold broke and the farm was going to sell the tractor. My grandpa bought it off them and fixed the manifold. I have a few scattered memories of sitting in grandpa's lap pulling a grader up and down their gravel road. A few years later my grandpa's coworker decided to start his own farm and my grandpa gave him the tractor, which he drove 40 miles to his new farm, highway all the way!

A long time passed and I went though middle and high school fixing and working on my grandpa's remaining tractor - an Oliver 77. I also got a tractor of my own, a '54 Ford NAA which i rebuilt the motor and got it running (motor was locked). I'd always wanted a big tractor, I really liked the big Internationals and John Deeres but I never forgot about the old Case. I invited my grandpa's friend to my high school graduation party, where I brought up the Case in conversation. He told me that he no longer needed the tractor and in fact was getting ready to scrap it out. He then said if I could find a trailer and truck to come pick it up, and happy graduation. What a great grad present!

We picked it up over thanksgiving break of my freshman year of high school and brought it back to my grandpa's. The tractor is in pretty rough shape from years of hard use and neglect. The hydraulics and 3pt hitch don't work, and there's a massive hydraulic leak. Power steering is a lost cause. But the tractor runs strong and still moves under its own power. I'm anticipating a full restoration in a few years once I'm done with school. The picture I've posted is when we first got the tractor running after getting it home.

By the way, if anyone knows where I can get seals for where the 3pt hitch assembly attaches to the body of the tractor, a new hydralic pump, and power steering pump and hoses I'd appreciate it. These parts need to be acquired before the resto.
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(reply to post at 22:42:32 01/20/18)

Hey there Evan
What a great story and I’m so glad you will be saving
An old friend
It still looks respectable
Have fun and good luck
One piece of advice
Go to Parts depot on your phone or computer
You put in the part number you need and it will
Tell you if there is any new old stock parts available
I use it all the time and have gotten many parts
That way
Dugger
 

What is written on the side of the hood below the black stripe?
What are your plans for this tractor? Restore it like new, or get everything working and leave all the patina alone?
 
wow, that 930 is in great shape! it even has the fenders and tin work is nice. that is more important than a few leaks. a very nice original tractor that has not been painted like that one is the ones i admire. pretty good for a tractor thats about 50 years old.
 

Thank you everyone for the kind words and encouragement. I'm glad I was able to get the tractor back into our family, and save a piece of local history from the scrap yard. I have a feeling that this forum will see some more of this tractor - I'm sure I'll have questions and be needing advice as I slowly pick away at its mechanical flaws.
 

Yes, I tried power steering fluid, atf, hydraulic oil, and even some Lucas transmission fix as a last resort. I believe the pump is shot - odds are the fluid leaked out over time and the farm employees were never good about maintenance. The pump grinds something awful, and flat out shrieks at higher rpms. I'm guessing a rebuild is going to be necessary.....
 

Under the black stripe is painted "NOVA Turf Farm". That's the farm my grandpa worked for. His boss told me the story of why he painted that on there - sometime in the 90s (I'm not too sure when) NOVA turf got the contract to lay turf at RFK stadium, so that tractor traveled from Manassas VA to DC via semi and pulled a land leveler inside the stadium. I guess my grandpa's boss wanted some notoriety so he painted that on the side of all the equipment that made the trip. I have a photo somewhere of the old Case inside RFK, I'll have to find it and upload it.

As for what to do with the tractor, I'm not too sure yet. I want to first focus on the mechanical problems. I think a new paint job might be in the distant future. I do know that if I decide to repaint the tractor, I want to get a vinyl company to copy the script so I can stick it back on the tractor once I'm finished. I feel like it adds a bit of personality.
 
Some contracts used to require the name of the contractor on equipment and trucks on a project. As leased equipment seems to be part of the norm now days. That requirement has probably been removed. Or as you said, advertising his business. gobble
 
Great Story!!!!!!!

That's a sharp tractor and a nice family Heirloom. Thanks for posting and please keep us updated.

Nick
 
(quoted from post at 21:27:24 01/21/18) Great Story!!!!!!!

That's a sharp tractor and a nice family Heirloom. Thanks for posting and please keep us updated.

Nick

Well I found the picture from when NOVA turf went to the RFK stadium. I also got to talk to the guy who ran the tractor the most when it was at the farm. He told me the story of that day. They brought all the equipment to D.C. via semi trucks, along with all the sod they were laying. They offloaded all the trucks in the parking lots and drove all the tractors into the stadium. He told me that at that time the Case was straight piped, and that 401 made quite a racket running at 3/4 throttle pulling the land leveler. He said he had quite the audience watching from the stands while he worked!! The pic is kinda blurry, but that's definitely a 930. The original picture is hanging up in the farm office.

Also something interesting - I've read a lot that these 30 series Case tractors are really warm blooded and usually need ether to get them going in the winter. Well this Case doesn't for some reason. I've never used ether since I've had the tractor, and I was told that even at the farm they never needed to spray the Case to get it started in the mornings. One day this past December, with snow on the ground and temps in the 20s I went out to fire up all the tractors. Set the throttle a little under half and crank for MAYBE 5-7 seconds and that Case fired right up - quicker than some of the gas tractors we have I might add. Just thought that was something interesting, wonder if someone rebuilt the motor at some point.....? Tractor tach reads just under 6000 hours, but apparently it was broke when NOVA turf had it and they worked it hard for probably 10 years.

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