Case 1394 PRODUCTION
When David Brown brought the 90 Series to the market for the 1980s, it struck a chord with those loyal to the marque, as well as generating interest with those that had hitherto felt that a DB was not the tractor for them. The combination of proven skid units with a new cab and new styling made for an attractive proposition and one that turned out to be a safe choice over the years that would follow. Naturally, as with any new launch, there were some niggles, but the range was well received and built solidly on the foundations of the tractors that had come before. Fast forward to 1984 and with many of the creases ironed out, the 90 Series became the 94 Series, with the prominent ‘David Brown’ decals replaced by ‘Case’ – another subsidiary of the international conglomerate that had acquired DB in 1972 – Tenneco Inc. With a new name came a new livery, which is often affectionately referred to today as the ‘Magpie’ colour scheme – black skid unit, white sheet metal and orange (Power Red) wheels. The six-model range (1194, 1294, 1394, 1494, 1594 and 1694) was in production for a short time, as the merger of Case and IH in 1985 brought about a rationalisation of the companies’ model line-ups – leading to the two smallest 94 Series tractors being dropped from the amalgamated range.
ENGINE
The 1394, the focus of this profile, proved to be a popular model thanks to its power
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output. It used a turbocharged version of the 67hp (DIN) four-cylinder AD4/55 engine used in the 1390, but at 72hp (DIN) it was never really under strain and capable of producing 272Nm of torque at 1,400rpm. Bore and stroke size were 100mm and 114.3mm respectively, with a capacity of 3,594cc, while the governed speed range was 600-2,350rpm – compared to the 1390’s 700-2,200rpm. The use of a turbo not only boosted power output, but lowered fuel consumption and reduced exhaust emissions. It had proved its worth on the outgoing 1490 model and the company saw it as the obvious choice for both the 1394 and 1494 – the former effectively being a de-rated version of the latter. When DB designed the engine, it was always envisaged that it would be turbocharged and with the additional stresses that moving away from natural aspiration entailed, a large-diameter crankshaft and big oil galleries were among its features. The company made much of the fact that its engines were designed solely with tractors in mind and, as such, stamina was at their heart – with the torque back-up to enable sustained PTO power and get the most from implements.
CLUTCH & TRANSMISSION
David Brown had offered the choice of Synchromesh or Hydra-Shift transmission on its tractors for a number of years and the Case 94 Series was no different – the exception being that a purchaser could now specify
The Case 1394 is usually found in two-wheel drive configuration, but four-wheel drive versions are out there. Photo: Peter Love. four-wheel drive as well as Hydra-Shift, not one or the other. Synchromesh was standard equipment, with 12 forward and four reverse gears providing speeds up to 25.7kph. Hydra-Shift, although far from new, was still avoided by some – but those that did specify it were rewarded with four speeds selected by clutch-less changes in each of four ranges – creep, field, road and reverse. Changes could be made under full power, with engine
braking in all gears, and reliability said to be ensured thanks to it being a proven system that was selfcontained and operating at very low pressure, to minimise wear and tear. The dual clutch, of which both plates were 305mm in diameter, was controlled separately – the foot pedal affecting the motion of the tractor without interfering with the PTO. Conversely, moving the hand clutch lever only started/stopped the power take-off. www.tractormagazine.co.uk
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