1972 Case 446 wont start - Please Help!

Long story short I have 15 acres in PA, last year mowed with a push mower. Stop laughing! My wife and I decided this year we need a tractor, we went to an Auction and low and behold we found a 1972 Case 446 ran(key word) great.

As for the issue, my brother in law decided to do me a "favor" and mow the grass, really he wanted to play with the Tractor. So I came home from work and there it was in the middle of the yard not running.

When asked what happened, he replied it shut off while climbing a hill and he could not get it back on. Upon further inspection I found that the gear shift was not in neutral, and is extremely difficult to move. When turning the key nothing, it won’t even crank like it is trying to start.

Im no expert but I believe that he has messed up the gears somehow and it will not go back into neutral so that it can be started. I was able to push the tractor so perhaps it is between gears? Also the lever to change from high to low gear previously was pretty difficult to move; now it moves freely with ease.

Any suggestions for a diagnosis? What else could be the issue would be fantastic. I am somewhat mechanically inclined but I would love it if someone could give me some direction, I am at a loss and am sure not looking forward to only having a push mower again.

Also if it matters we bought OL' Casey for 500, if I can fix her I'd love to, but if he has severely messed it up.....is it worth it?

Thank you any help is much much appreciated!
 
Think you're on the right track looking for a neutral switch, safety switch, something preventing it from starting. Typical areas to look, PTO turned off, park brake?, seat switch, safety clutch, etc.

As far as gears, the only gears are in the 2 speed transaxle. If it is between gears it will be in neutral.

The forward/reverse lever is not a gear selector, but operates the hydrostat valve. There may be a linkage to a foot pedal to return it to center position?, or some other linkage to look over. Be sure something hasn't come loose or something jamming the linkage. Not likely the problem is going to be internal.

Might look around for an owners manual, possibly a shop manual if you're going to be working on it.
 
Steve -
Thanks that is good information, even though we picked her up at the Auction, I have the original owners manual and parts manual, I will have to check around to see if I can find somesort of shop manual.

Thanks for pointing out that there may be something in the linkage. I did check the brake that is not the issue, but perhaps you are on it with something keeping it from returning to neutral.

I do know when you push the lever to put it into forward or reverse it is very difficuly now and one would have to force it into forward or reverse. Im glad that you feel it is not in the gears, that makes me feel better about working on it.

Thanks again, keep the ideas comming....the grass isn't getting any shorter!
 
Their is a neutral start safety switch that you need to locate and check and a fuse to the ignition switch located by the battery. Adding to Steve's comments, pull the plate under the steering wheel off and see if any thing is binding up the movement of the shift lever and check the safety switch. Turn the key to on and check for power at the + side of the coil, it should have voltage, if it does. While trying to start, move the shift lever back and forth over the neutral position. That's about it as I recall. I'm sure others will be along to help..
 
Jo Bird -
Thanks for the information, I will take a look at this tonight after work, if it is as easy as you all are making it sound that would be super.

I will keep you posted as to the results tomorrow!

thanks again for the help, I have a feeling this is not the only time I will needs some help!
 
The forward/reverse lever on the dash is connected to a simple hyd valve to control forward /reverse movement and also speed, buy how far you push or pull it. The neutral start switch is mounted below the dash with two screws. It is a cresent shaped peice of plastic. From your description the lever is binding. It not only rotates but also moves up and down in the bushings and has a spring to make it follow the contour of the plastic cresent. I think if you free up the shaft with some PB blaster or such most of your problems will disapear. If the brake pedal is seized or sticking down, it will keep you from moveing the forward/ reverse lever also. The lever below the seat connects to a shifting fork in the trans which is driven by a hyd motor, and gives you high, neutral, and low in the tranny.
Loren, the Acg.
 

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