8 minute read
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 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 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.
The Case 1394 is usually found in two-wheel drive configuration, but four-wheel drive versions are out there. Photo: Peter Love.
HYDRAULICS & PTO
94 Series tractors retained the Selectamatic hydraulic system that had been a feature of David Brown tractors since the mid-1960s. Once the desired action was selected (draft, position or external), a single lever was used for operation.
Part of the standard package was a three-way valve enabling the operator to switch between the linkage, spool valves or both simultaneously. Up to three spool valves could be fitted, with double acting/single acting spring centre, double acting detent and double acting detent with float available.
The linkage itself could be fine-tuned with rate of drop controllable and a pressurebalance dump valve to increase the drop rate when faster cycle times were required. Draft sensing was optimised on four-wheel drive 1394s through the use of a selected sensing unit.
A dual-speed power take-off was standard kit, with 540rpm (low) or 1,000rpm (high) selected via an in-cab lever. It was also possible to utilise ‘540 economy’, as has become commonplace on tractors in recent years, by selecting a 1,000rpm PTO speed and running the engine at 1,100rpm. This was only possible with implements that did not demand power, such as sprayers.
REAR AXLE & BRAKES
At the rear it was standard fair, with a differential lock to provide additional traction should the going get tough, unless the high-clearance facility was specified. For what Case Tractors described as “very little extra cost”, buyers could purchase a dual-purpose, two-wheel drive 1394 that was effective for both primary cultivation as well as in-field work once the crops had become established.
The crux of the system was a pair of additional front axle extension beams that could be fitted to increase the ground clearance at the front of the tractor. At the rear, the final drive units were rotated to increase clearance. This raised by the tractor by at least six inches (150mm) and reduced the risk of damaging crops when spraying, for example.
The brakes, rather disappointingly, were of the hydraulically-actuated drum type (8.5in or 216mm in diameter), whereas the 1494 was fitted with multi-plate discs.
FRONT AXLE & TYRES
As previously mentioned, the 94 Series marked the introduction of Hydra-Shift and four-wheel drive as a double tick on the options list, which was a boon for many. Epicyclic drive provided full power to both wheels at all times, even during turns. The front axle was engaged/disengaged via a hand lever.
Hydrostatic steering was fitted as standard and, without brakes, the turning radius was 134in (3,404mm) for two-wheel drive tractors and 191in (4,851mm) for fourwheel drive models. Track width was 52-72in (1,3201,830mm) and 60-76in (1,525-1,930mm) respectively.
When it came to tyres, 7.50-16 or 7.50-18 could be fitted to two-wheel drive models at the front, with 11.2-24, 12.4-24, 13.6-36, 13.6-38, 16.9-30, 16.9-34 and 18.4-30 available for the rear. Four-wheel drive 1394s could be specified with 11.2-24 or 12.4-24 at the front.
CAB
The Sekura-built cab was carried over from the 90 Series, albeit with some improvements. Perhaps the most noticeable change was the grey interior cladding, which was less austere than the outgoing black, but other tweaks included the addition of an external grab handle on the ‘A’ pillar and the repositioning of the air intake to lower the working temperature inside the cab.
Visibility was very good, with tinted glass reducing glare, and insulation was improved to keep heat away and reduce noise levels to 85dB(A). Although air conditioning was not available as an option on the 1394, mechanical ventilation was aided by opening side and rear windows and the roof hatch, which also served as a means of escape.
Pendant pedals, wellgrouped controls and a seat adjustable for height and weight made for a pleasant operator environment that was a good match for the other cabs on the market at the time – particularly the Ford ‘Q’ cab, International Harvester XL and John Deere SG2. ■
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