case 780 impulse buy, so many questions....

[edgephoto]

Aftermarket, I can't comment on. I prefer factory parts.

My 40 years in the car business have proven that aftermarket parts are generally inferior. Not always but typically.

 

[NMBlackBetty]

Well, I have went over every square inch of the machine with a fine tooth comb. No serial to be found anywhere. I'm pretty sure it was the tag that got painted over under the hydraulic mount by the door. I did however find a piece of paper that appears to be a service record, it's very faded, but from what I can tell, it says it's a 1972 780.

Is the year and model enough to get a service manual / parts lists / etc. ?

Also is the year and model enough info to order an engine rebuild / overhaul kit?

Thanks all of you!

 

[edgephoto]

Have you tried cleaning of the painted over badge? Maybe someone put masking tape over it? Goof off or goo gone might work.

You could test something on a different spot until you find something to take off the paint then do the badge.

 

[Tinkerer]

Here is a link to the online parts book ——>

CASE CONSTRUCTION KING LOADER BACKHOE | CASE Construction | MyCNH US Store

www.mycnhistore.com

Aftermarket parts for your 336 engine are readily available all over the internet.

 

[NMBlackBetty]

Here is a link to the online parts book ——>

CASE CONSTRUCTION KING LOADER BACKHOE | CASE Construction | MyCNH US Store

www.mycnhistore.com

Aftermarket parts for your 336 engine are readily available all over the internet.

Thanks! That will be a huge help.

 

[NMBlackBetty]

Had a late night and early morning and can't stop thinking about the age of the machine and how much longer engine parts will be available.

Does anyone know if there is a more modern engine that could be swapped in place of the 336 BDT without a ton of customization? I know some customization will be required, but don't want to go nuts.

 

[Delmer]

The engine is rarely a deciding factor in backhoes, you could probably find another engine in a junk tractor easy enough, maybe not for $500, but they're not rare. Engine parts don't go bad or change as often as other parts that may need some creative customization.

 

[Tinkerer]

Case put them in thousands of construction machines and ag tractors.
you should have no trouble locating a used running engine if you go that route.
A 301BDT is nearly the same motor. With fewer cubes.
if your crankshaft is salvageable you have very routine major overhaul.

 

[NMBlackBetty]

Case put them in thousands of construction machines and ag tractors.
you should have no trouble locating a used running engine if you go that route.
A 301BDT is nearly the same motor. With fewer cubes.
if your crankshaft is salvageable you have very routine major overhaul.

Thanks,

Been doing some research, Google, YouTube, etc. To see if I could find some good major overhaul videos, not really anything out there.

Also been looking at overhaul kits, found several for the non turbo that are complete kits, rods, pistons, pins, bearings, sleeves, gaskets etc. But have yet to find a "strip it down to the block" kit for the turbo version.

 

[Tinkerer]

It took about half a minute to find Abilene Machine.
There were others in my search.
Abilene Machine is a good company. I have bought from them myself.

Overhaul Kit, A336BDT Engine, Diesel

Case® Industrial/Construction - 780CK 4 Cylinder Engine with 4.625" Bore, 5.000" Stroke, 5.094" Fire Dam, 5.387" Counterbore, 1.800" Piston Pin, 5.374" Overall Liner Flange Diameter, Keystone Compression Rings Includes:- Cylinder Kits- Rod Bearings- Main Bearings- Front and Rear Crankshaft...

www.abilenemachine.com

 

[1693TA]

It took about half a minute to find them.
Abilene Machine is a good company. I have bought from them myself.

Abilene Machine Link

I have too and they are reliable to use. Seem to be nice folks to get advice from also if purchasing parts.

 

[NMBlackBetty]

It took about half a minute to find Abilene Machine.
There were others in my search.
Abilene Machine is a good company. I have bought from them myself.

Overhaul Kit, A336BDT Engine, Diesel

Case® Industrial/Construction - 780CK 4 Cylinder Engine with 4.625" Bore, 5.000" Stroke, 5.094" Fire Dam, 5.387" Counterbore, 1.800" Piston Pin, 5.374" Overall Liner Flange Diameter, Keystone Compression Rings Includes:- Cylinder Kits- Rod Bearings- Main Bearings- Front and Rear Crankshaft...

www.abilenemachine.com

I've seen their kit, I was looking for something with rods as well. I guess I'll have to start with a basic overhaul kit, then buy rods, injectors, and all the rest separately.

 

[1693TA]

You need to break the existing apart and measure it up to order what you need rather than purchase wholesale. Many of these "kits" will be assembled but once built are not returnable. I suggest you extract the engine, break it apart, and have a competent machinist examine and measure it up before going much further.

Seen more than one party purchase cheap with a blown engine and go the expense to fix this problem only to find other issues making the effort futile. That tractor looks good from appearance but may have underlying problems besides the engine. Probably should get a good overall picture before putting a lot into it.

 

[Tyler d4c]

You need to break the existing apart and measure it up to order what you need rather than purchase wholesale. Many of these "kits" will be assembled but once built are not returnable. I suggest you extract the engine, break it apart, and have a competent machinist examine and measure it up before going much further.

Seen more than one party purchase cheap with a blown engine and go the expense to fix this problem only to find other issues making the effort futile. That tractor looks good from appearance but may have underlying problems besides the engine. Probably should get a good overall picture before putting a lot into it.

I've had the opposite experience buying with blow engines. The 10 or 15 machines I've bought (with the exemption of a ir p250 air compressor) everything else was just fine. The question lays was it Parkes up because of the engine or is the engine trouble resulting of being parked.
The compressor someone rebuild the engine and as far as I can tell put the balance shafts in out of time. And the trashed the input bearings in the compressor it's self costing me 2 couplings and as we speak I'm putting it back together after rebuilding the replacement engine.

 

[1693TA]

First thing I'd do it ensure that engine will rotate. If it does then attempt to start it. Regardless, I'd drop that oil pan and pressurize the cooling system to 20psi looking for leaks to start off with. I've only read the indication there is water in the oil. No direction to where this originates so could be as simple as an oil cooler, or a leaking liner whether a seal, or a cavitated liner. No need putting the cart before the horse planning on a rebuild or exchange right off as too many unknowns at this time.

FWIW of course.

 

[Tinkerer]

Why do you think it needs to have the rods replaced ?

Most fuel injection pump rebuilders will test injectors for free in my area.

Water in the oil could be from a simple head gasket failure.

 

[NMBlackBetty]

Why do you think it needs to have the rods replaced ?

Most fuel injection pump rebuilders will test injectors for free in my area.

Water in the oil could be from a simple head gasket failure.

The rods are probably fine, as I'm sure half the parts I will be replacing in the engine will be, but the same as I do when I have done the old diesel trucks, as long as I have it apart, I will replace what I can to avoid tearing apart again in the future. I have bought remanufactured engines before and had rods, cams, etc go within 10,000 miles. I bought this on a whim, as a challenge, and as a learning experience. I've always wanted to restore and customize old heavy equipment, but always had a diesel truck project in the shop, this landed in my lap for dirt cheap, and I had the room. I really want to tear the whole thing down to nuts and bolts, sand blast, re paint, modernized the cab, and give the machine another 50 years of life. I may never have a chance to do a project like this in my life again.

For $7,000 I could just drop a new engine in it and go, the biggest part of this journey for me is the knowledge and learning, if it ran, I would still probably tear it down and rebuild and customize it. We have 3 working backhoes at the ranch already.

They don't even make backhoes this big any more that I know of, at 26,000 lbs, your talking excavator this day in age. Beyond that, I don't know what it is about it, but I just find it to be a sexy machine

 

[Tyler d4c]

Cat still is making the 450 backhoe @29321 pounds.
There's a reason there's not many. For one that they are heavy

 

[skyking1]

Look I get that you are stubborn and see this as some challenge, but seriously. Don't treat this like a mountain. Don't climb it " because it is there".
If you don't have a specific set of goals to achieve, just a nebulous " that would be neat" idea for it, think about your first post.
You are in the desert and sand. That heavy 2wd mother is going to be a boat anchor once it leaves the hard pack. You asked about tracks. How about a better machine for the conditions?
Perhaps an excavator? or a lighter 4wd hoe?

I looked at your numbered list and it led me right to #8

 

[NMBlackBetty]

Cat still is making the 450 backhoe @29321 pounds.
There's a reason there's not many. For one that they are heavy

Thanks for sharing that, I just checked it out, another sexy big machine.