Case 970 Tractor

What is your opinion of this tractor?

Just my opinion, one of the best 4 plow tractors made. Excellent 5" stroke moderate rpm engine. That being said , these thing are 40-45 yrs old now and the ones with power shift are very likely to be troublesome if not ever rebuilt. A straight 8 spd (4 w/hi-lo range) is bullet proof and still working today. You can either get one of these for $5500-$7500 ( for a nice one ,not junk) or a 4020 / 4320 for $10,000 - $12,000. If you are working it get the Case , if collecting probably the JD.

One of the best tractors case made, very under rated. A solid 95 hp, I doubt you could get 5 gal of fuel/hour through it and will do things like cut and bale hay on 2 or less/hour. The controls are handy and the cab is very good for that vintage. They came with eithe an 8spd straight or 12spd powershift trany. The 8 speed is bullet proof, the powershift is nearly as good with propper maintainance. The powershift is real handy for loader or round baler since it works similar to a shuttle in that you just push the clutch and movethe lever, no searching or grinding the gears. They have 2spd pto and 2 hyd.

I have a 1070 and have had no trouble with it in the 15 years I have own it.It is big and clumpy but the heater works as well as the radio.It serves me well.Talked to a friend who just leased a new John deere 180 hp for 3 years @ 65.00 a hour and 1200 hours in three years.That is 26,000.00 a year payment for 3 years.Does not make sence to me but to each his own.Makes me appreciate the old 1070.

There were more of them in our area than there were 4020's because they would do the same amount of work for 2/3 the fuel and were less expensive when brand new.

LAA, NOT to start a brand war, but explain this, PLEASE!

Nebraska test #930, DEERE 4020, 15.82 Hp hrs per gallon @ 94.88 HP

Nebraska test # 1078, Case 970, 15.56 Hp hrs per gallon @ 93.87 HP

Don't see a 2/3 difference there, in fuel consumption, are you saying the Nebraska tests LIE (by 2/3)???

There's NO reason to spread blatant misinformation on these Forums, is there, LAA?

The power shift version is like a Mexican jumping bean

Bob -- don't wet your nnalert, I am in no way spreading blatant misinformation, I'm pretty sure the man was asking for an opinion, he did not require affidavits to accompany every statement. I will rephrase and say that the CASE 70 series tractors had a very good reputation for fuel economy in our area and out sold John Deere probably 3 to 1.

Good engine, good cab for the early 1970's, good field tractor, not as nimble around the yard as a 930. The power shift was jumpy when inching or backing. The power shift had a linkage that pulled the power shift lever into low whenever the clutch was used in a forward gear, that takes some getting used to. Early ones with cabs often didn't have A/C.

A lot depends on what you will use it for. Drive one to see how you like it.

Nebraska and real world are two different things. Plus, a 4020 is a 94 hp tractor at rated rpm. It's an 88 hp tractor at pto rpm.

My 2 cents is probably as many 970/1070 tractors sold as there were IH 966 tractors where I am. The 4020 still commanded that size market during the time the respective tractors competed with each other and more narrowly the 4230 when it came out. The JD's may have not been the most torque-y versus the others but having a full powershift transmission was a huge competitive advantage in the soils here. Had things gone differently for Oliver locally they would have had much more market with their 3 speed hydraul shift. Sometimes to be productive meant having to make a couple powershift changes while on the go which IH's TA could not do. IH 1066's held their share in areas where the soil was fairly consistent and could show off the torque of the 414 turbo but 4430 powershifts were the kings in variable conditions.

In our area jd out sold case by a lot, but most people who have driven both will say the case runs on a lot less fuel. Depending on model and use 1/3 less can be conservative.

A jumpy power shift is out of adjustment. It does take someone with the proper set of gages and some
skill to set them right tho.

I've owned both the Case 970 and the JD 4020. They are both great tractors. The 4020 was a little easier on handling and visibility (both without cab) but the 970 was a rock-solid/never fail tractor.

Can that engine surge as the clutch is released be adjusted out? The engine surge is what messed me up, it came from the factory with that. When moving, the slight lurch when shifting gears or getting rolling was never a problem, but when inching the power shift was jumpy for me compared to a dry clutch tractor or the wet clutch in a Deere.

I'm not saying they are a bad tractor at all. Depending on how it will be used a power shift 970 could be a great tractor for the OP. For a feeding tractor or a tractor to run a rear mounted snow blower, he might be happier with a dry clutch 970 or something other than a power shift 970.

I know that is adjustable, but your problem is not a common one. The most common out of adjustment problem is shifting between gears on the powershift, when they get bad the wheels can actually come to a stop between shifts causing quite a jump. I would ask on the case forum as there are many there who know more about that than me. When you push in the clutch you should hear it in the engine, but it shouldn't be a pronounced jerk at the wheels, and you shouldn't get anything when letting the clutch out.

The tractor is long gone. The problem wasn't when shifting, it shifted fairly smoothly. The problem was when trying to inch forward or back a just a few inches or less. The wrong combination of the clutch packs gripping, the engine surging, the cab shifting, and the operator's leg moving could get it bucking pretty hard. It did that from new, not always, but sometimes and for more people than just me.

Individual tractors can be very different. I'd suggest driving before buying.

let me say this ,, I use a p/shift open station 4020 diesel that I love to run the round baler ,,yes it needs fuel before the 1070 ,, because the deere has a smaller tank than the 1070 ,, and a lot of folx will falsely equate that to excessive fuel consumption , the roomey cab 1070 is my choice for chisilin , discing , planting ,, BUT when it comes to yarding around the barn lot ,,. the deere easily wins in nimbleness and ease of handling over the clumsy 1070, p /shift. however with either tractor I can back a wagon with no struggle ,,the case will squel when I steer with brakes the deere will groan,, the deere turns shorter with no complaint while the case will squeal from turning too short ,,. the case has the deere beat for impromptu cold winter starting ,, either will start if you plug them in ,as far as working on them ,the case seems more straightforward and less confusing to take down or diagnose problems than the deere , although changing out injectors under the cab cowling will make a guy fuss ,. my son and I have taken the deeres entire front end to the motor off in a hour to repair again and again the hydro pump and remove the steering motor pump ..those parts MUST BE REBUILT BY A QAULIFIED DEERE shop . honestly think that you can wire the case together and finish the day and limp on home , whereas with the deere , seems like any little thing gone wrong will sideline it for the day or longer, til you get the rite guy there to figure what went wrong ,,. I like them both , but to be honest I have fussed at both at onetime or another,,,. just my 2 cents..