[Bart]

Yesterday I thought I'd mount up a mower deck on my new 220 to see how it fit and found a puzzling problem. This is a 1973 model and, looking at the parts manual, it should have the familiar snap fast mounting system like all other models I've seen but this one has the lower fixed pins mounted on brackets bolted to the frame. I didn't give it too much thought until I attempted to mount the mule drive and found that the brackets are approximately 3/4" closer together than the standard welded on ones. The "ears" that hold the pins are welded on the brackets so that they are positioned approximately in the center of the frame unlike the standard ones that are situated on the outside edge of the frame. I've look through all of the 220 parts manuals that I've come across and none show the bolt on brackets so I'm wondering how this came to be?

When I brought the tractor home the fixed pins had been installed so that they were on the outside of the brackets and I flipped them to the "normal" position assuming that someone had installed them incorrectly. The pins on the outside might work for the mower mule but on other attachments the bracket needs to be inside mounted. I think I will just take the brackets off and move the ears to the outside edge to make things right but I don't understand how it got setup the way it is since everything appears to be original, i.e. no hacked up modification.

Anyone ever seen this before?

 

[Hydriv]

I agree that something is amiss but let's back up for a moment.

As you know, Case used a different style of attachment system for implements during the 60's and for 1970. In 1971, the Snap Fast system was brought into play on all models.

However, Case continued to weld on the frame brackets near the back wheels that the old-style dirt/snow plow blade hooked up to, during the 1971 and 1972 model year. In 1973, the rubber isolator system was added for the Kohler powered tractors. If your tractor is actually a 1973, then IT SHOULD have the rubber engine isolators.

Backing up again; when Case brought the Snap Fast system into play in 1971, they engineered TWO kits that would allow owners of pre-71 tractors to use Snap Fast attachments. Those kits consisted of several stamped brackets that bolted onto the frame, using existing frame holes. No...the kit did not include the spring-loaded pins but those old frames already had little ears with holes in them that were welded to the front of the old frames to hook up the snow blower. It sounds to me like you have that bracket kit but if your tractor is truly a 1973, then I don't understand why that kit would even fit on. What is the PIN? Do you have some photos you can put up?

 

[Bart]

First let me introduce my newest addition, PIN 9674550, 1973 220. Last weekend it was adopted by my 11 year old grand daughter who spend the entire afternoon driving it around the yard with a big grin on her face. Here are a couple of photos with freshly painted fenders and a new seat.

And here are photos of the mounting brackets in question.

 

[tanandorange]

Bart, that's a first...I've never seen a tractor with isolator-mounted engine AND the H-38 add-on lower anchor pin bracket kit. :wtf: AND it does have the factory snap-fast pins in front to boot.....
Could Case have temporarily run out of the weld-on anchor pin mounts at the factory and decided to drill the holes and use what they had on the shelf to avoid holding up production? Just a theory based on improvisation I've seen in the manufacturing world over the years.
John

 

[Bart]

If the bolt on brackets provided the proper spacing between them then I could understand it coming from the factory that way but I think the brackets must have been made for a slightly wider frame. As it is, the mule drive and other front attachments won't fit between the brackets. You can see in the photos that the lower portion of the bracket is aligned with the center of the frame and all the welded on brackets are welded on flush with the outside of the frame. Perhaps someone can measure the width of a frame on a pre snap fast tractor and see if it is wider than the current frames as that would suggest that the brackets were part of a conversion kit.

 

[tanandorange]

I just went out and measured one of each...both are 9 3/16".
Hmmmmmmmmmmm :headscratcher:

 

[Billygoat]

Unbolt 'em and see if a PO cut the welded brackets off then added the bolt ons later. Just never know about some people.

 

[Hydriv]

John,
Have you seen an OEM set of H-38 or H-39 brackets? I have a photo of an H-39 kit from Jason's auction and it does not look like those. The brackets on Bart's tractor appear to use common angle iron. I doubt that Case would have made them with that.

 

[99flhr]

John,
Have you seen an OEM set of H-38 or H-39 brackets? I have a photo of an H-39 kit from Jason's auction and it does not look like those. The brackets on Bart's tractor appear to use common angle iron. I doubt that Case would have made them with that.

Sharp eye, Fearless Leader. Also the welds don`t appear to be "factory" Somewhat cobby..
However, we just learned about Honda powered loaders so I guess anything is possible.

 

[Hydriv]

Yes sir, we did, Mr. R R. Every time I make a definitive statement like that about these tractors, it turns around and bites me in the ass. After all these years, you would think that I would have learned my lesson. :sidelaugh:

 

[Bart]

The weather warmed up a bit today so I gave the old girl a quick bath with the pressure washer so I can see things a bit better. I'll pull the brackets off and see what might be revealed underneath--could be that someone cut the original brackets off. Everything else on the tractor looks to be original and in pretty good condition. Maybe this is a tractor that passed through Grummy's hands for a little makeover! :sidelaugh:

 

[tanandorange]

John,
Have you seen an OEM set of H-38 or H-39 brackets? I have a photo of an H-39 kit from Jason's auction and it does not look like those. The brackets on Bart's tractor appear to use common angle iron. I doubt that Case would have made them with that.

Tom, I've only seen photos of those kits and after taking a second look :facepalm: I'd have to agree with you that the tractor never left Winneconne like that, especially with the rear corners hacked or burned off to clear the bolt bosses in the frame for the iso-mounts.

 

[Bart]

I pulled the brackets off this morning and it appears that the original welded brackets were cut off. I'll be fabricating new brackets to weld on like the originals.

 

[Billygoat]

It's simply amazing what people will do to a perfectly good piece of equipment. Just don't understand why someone would cut them off. :headscratcher:

 

[Mr onetwo]

I am not trying to hijack this thread, but could one of you guys put the photos of the bracket kits you are talking about up so we can see them?Thanks...just curious as to what they look like! :grin:

 

[eBoyDog]

Bart: This is what I have, the normal snap fast is in the front, nothing special nor does it appear to added on but what is different on my 71 220 is the rear/mid mounting point which is were the older Case blade would attach as HyDriv described.

 

[glc]

Here is a pic of the frame on my 69 444 showing the Snap Fast conversion brackets. And a side view of same.