Case SC vs JD B

Looking at a JD B 1944ish. Thinking about selling my Case SC to make room for it. Looks like a very similar size swap.
I like my Case but have had it for a while and I like the looks of the B.
Any pros and cons anyone wants to share?

I have limited experience with both tractors.
I found the Deere parts more readily available.
Neither were cheap, but at least I could get them.

If you haven't ran a two cylinder Deere they take
some getting used to. The clutch, the sound, etc.
The brakes were some of the best I've used in that era.
The clutch can be finicky to adjust but works well once
you get the hang of adjusting it.

The hydraulics on your SC may be far superior.
Depending on what year and options you have.

The B will go MUCH faster in reverse.

The Deere will be less tractor. But they are more colectable.

I'm all for the "B" but you can do a lot better than that one. I would go for a '50 -'51 or '52. They have the larger engine and better hyd. and seat and square rear axle and single stick 6 speed with extra slow creeper low gear. Nice ones from $ 2000-almst perfect for $ 3000. The one pictured will need rims (chloride rotted), steering gearbox either cracked or seals leaking. Looks like a $700 tractor to me. Depends on whether you want one to work on or one to enjoy.

Well I'm an old dyed in the wool two banger guy, but I have owned and SC for 41 years and to be honest when I want to hop on a small tractor to move something the SC gets the nod 90 percent of the time, mainly because it is easier to get on and off the SC. It's one step up, swing your leg over the seat, sit down and go. The SC has a smoother hand clutch than a two banger but the two banger has far superior brakes. The brakes on a B have to be very, very bad to equal the best SC brakes. Reaching down to operate the brake lock is equally unhandy on both tractors. The B steers shorter and is a little more nimble but the SC steers a little easier. The SC has faster hydraulics but that pilot operated relief valve is annoying. If you are driving it all day long a late B will be less tiring because you can squirm around and change your position in the seat somewhat. You can leave the SC idling forever without worrying about shifting to neutral and pushing the clutch in. The SC will have more power at idle or near idle for putzing around. A muffler is MUCH easier to replace on the SC. Dependability wise, they are both equally very dependable tractors with routine tune ups. I don't have any experience with the pulling power of an SC compared to a B.

"Looks like a $700 tractor to me."

Local tractor jockey had a square box seat "A" for sale here
for quite a while at $900. It wasn't a bad looking tractor.
The paint had been touched up with Oliver green in spots.
In my opinion it was going to need tires very soon.

I'm not sure if he has sold it yet but he told me he was
offered $500 for it and at that price he'd part it out first.
I didn't make him an offer.

A's and B's are good tractors, but they're also common.
Kind of like a Ford N or a Farmall H or M in that way.

Why not have both?

I've got a '41 Case SC, a '42 John Deere A, and a '47 Farmall M (still currently under repair)... I love all three tractors all for very different reasons. (Keep in mind most of the time my tractors all are mainly for show - but I have used all three in the past).

The Case SC I love - it was my grandpa's, it is a center exhaust model, and that gleaming flambeau red you just can't beat. I love the style of the tractor, the chicken roost steering I can manage with one finger (better than both of my other tractors). The brakes, as said before, are 'so-so' at best. I have used it pulling a JD JB-A disk and it did very well. Grandpa used the HECK out of this tractor pulling stumps, pulling drags & discs.. It was his go-to tractor. I will never sell it, and it will go to my kids/grandkids I hope someday. My tractor does not have hydraulics so I can't say much for those.

The John Deere A - well, I built this into a half breed. Started life as a styled slant dash model, and I converted it to an unstyled A that retains the 3 speed hi-lo trans, as well as the lights and electric start. Haven't done much pulling with this tractor but the little I have done it does well. I always admired the sound of the two-cylinder tractors (especially when you snap that clutch forward and it puts out a couple puffs of black smoke with a couple good barks). It does take some getting used to, though. The Case definitely has the better clutch for feathering. I can inch the Case back to an implement, whereas the JD will take some getting used to otherwise you'll back right over the top of it. Steers probably the hardest of my three tractors. Not sure why, but it does. Brakes, even wore out, are still great. Hydraulics I have never used.

The Farmall M. This tractor is a beast, to say the least. If I have heavy work, this is the tractor I would use. I have a loader on the tractor and it works GREAT for snow removal. Live hydraulics would be nice, but you can get by with the Lift All once you learn it. The M is a reliable, comfortable, and easy tractor to operate. More 'hands free' if you will. Your hands aren't always busy trying to operate throttle, steer, clutch, PTO/Hydraulics levers, etc. Seems like they engineered it more for better control of the machine.

From a collectable standpoint, I would have to say the Case SC is far more collectible than the other two. Even one without center exhaust. Case only made just over 60,000 SC's, where there were hundreds of thousands of JD A/B's, and IH H/M's. SC's are harder to find parts for as well (particularly engine kits). I think that the JD's and IH's are just more desirable because they are the two big boys of the day.

Whatever you choose, you can't go wrong. I still say keep both. Lol!

My SC has good brakes. Brake discs have been re-lined and I replaced all the steel balls (3/8 in. and 1/2 in.)inside the brakes with stainless steel ones. That was over 10 years ago. I always liked the look of the unstyled Two-cylinder Deeres the best.

I can't imagine trading an SC for B.