Case 444 Garden Tractor, Overhauled Tractor + Engine + Deck

Description

I am the Hemlock Case Guy and this Case 444 came to me as an "I give up" tractor. It has many new parts that were bought and installed by the previous owner. It also has a 48" mower deck model N46 that will come with it.
The Kohler K-Series 321 14 hp engine had been rebuilt. But, the engine had a broken rod. The engine drain was broken off which lead to the engine oil immediately exiting the engine. The muffler still had the sticker on it that was not yet burnt. That was a 0 part. Then there were other newly replaced items. The previous owner saw it as cursed. I saw it as needing someone like me to fix it right. The reason for the failures was all evident when I got to them. It was not a cursed tractor. It was a tractor that just did not get highly skilled hands on it.
What I have now is a 444 with a correctly overhauled engine. With parts, machine shop and labor that alone is 0ish. The bore is .020 over and the crank is .020 under. I used only Kohler gaskets when I reassembled the engine. The engine also came with a new carb that is a China knockoff. It is working and is what it is. Many people have used these carbs but with mixed results. I was able to adjust the carb and have it running well. A Kohler engine is a long-service life engine when the owner treats it right. This engine should go for at least 1,000 hours and can go 2,000 hours if you just keep oil in it, change the oil every 25 hours and keep the engine clean of oil and grass or stuff like mice nests so that it can cool as it was designed to do.
The paint. The paint almost made me not take the tractor. Someone painted over the stock paint without any prep and in the wrong color and the paint oxidized. It is ugly in that regard. I am allergic to painting tractors. Not really. But I do not like to paint them. I did paint the rear fenders. They at least are shiny, unlike the hood. If you want it repainted I will take it off for you and you can get it done or do it yourself. The new decals are still available. It can be a pretty tractor again. I work opposite the tractor flippers who change the oil and filters and a new spark plug. Then they paint bomb the whole tractor. Paint does not mow the grass.
The way I always overhaul these tractors is to take them mostly apart. The rear fenders and rear seat support come off in order to replace the fuel line. The original fuel line would not even bend in sections. I installed my special travel control linkage. The tractor moves forward smoothly and it starts moving forward as soon as you move the lever. The throttle lever was not staying in the fast position and I fixed that. Some of the wiring had multiple repairs that I replaced. The front PTO lever was being held in place with a bungee cord. I rebuilt the PTO with new bearings and spring washers and properly adjusted it. No more bungee cords are needed. The seat was covered in duct tape. I put a nice durable seat cover on it. Seat prices went through the roof in price during the supply issues. The steering had some parts that were worn out that I replaced. I replaced the front axle pin with the improved version that takes out a lot of the steering/front axle looseness.
I am sure there were other things I did. This is why I do not repair owner's tractors with a price quote. When I do fix them it is strictly parts and labor with the goal of fixing what needs to be fixed. And I only discover what needs to get fixed after that tractor is in pieces in several boxes. And then some fixes are easy, with some not so easy. But, they all are easier with the tractor gutted.
The 48" deck has all new bearings and one new pulley. I did take a cover from one of my spare decks and use it on this deck.
I do have the older style 54" front blade for 5. If you do not want the mower deck, subtract 0.
I have a 48" snow caster. It had an electric crank conversion and I do not have the motor part. I assume its bearings are original, which is what over 90% of attachments have. People do not realize that the attachments should not make noises louder than the engine. And when the attachment is louder than the engine, the bearings are the reason. So, no crank handle comes with it. 0 for the caster as it is.
I am the Hemlock Case Guy. I fix these tractors for therapy, seriously. I know them well and enjoy solving the puzzle each one presents.
Ingersoll Garden tractor