ARTICLES

CASE 1030 Comfort King NATURAL BREATHING BRUT
By J. Alan Sanford

In the mid 1960s, most tractor companies were not sold on the idea that turbochargers would become a necessity on the farm tractor. You could say the turbocharged tractors were looked at as "experimental'' at that time. Some farmers jumped at the idea of owning a tractor with "one of those turbo things'' on it, but most farmers viewed it as something high-tech; just something else to break down. CASE had already marketed the 1200 Traction King four-wheel-drive to those who farmed larger acreage. It was equipped with a turbocharged 451 cubic inch diesel that would eventually prove to be one of the best engines ever built by anyone. It had only been out a little over a year when CASE decided to add another two-wheel-drive to their row crop line. While some companies were dabbling with the turbo on their larger two-wheel-drive tractors, CASE chose to keep their big boy a NATURAL BREATHER.

1966: Enter the CASE 1030 Comfort King. Make no mistake about it. This tractor did not take a back seat to others, turbo or not. It was very capable of pulling some of the biggest implements on the market with ease proving to be competitive with any make of tractor on the market. Rated at 100 horsepower, many were cranking out 112 hp plus on the dyno making it an easy fit into the 7-plow class. This certainly put it right in the ranks with the highest horsepower two-wheel drive tractors available at the time.

My grandfather owned one of the first CASE 1030s to come to our part of the country in 1966. It would hold 120 hp at rated rpm. He was known to overload a tractor to extremes, but had to pull as many as three implements at one time to max out the 1030. He turned 90 years old this winter and still talks about how bad he feels for abusing that tractor. "I didn't have any sense back then,'' he says. "I was still enjoying not having to do the work with horses.''

The 1030 CASE was offered only as a diesel. It was powered by an inline six-cylinder 451 cubic inch naturally aspirated diesel engine. It was built on the same design used on previous 30 series models that had proven to be very tough and durable engines. In fact, this basic design was used by CASE for nearly two decades. The major difference between the 930, introduced in late 1959, and the 1030 was the change from the 4 1/8-inch bore, (930 CASE with 401 cid), to the 4 3/8-inch bore, (1030). Both engines had a healthy 5-inch stroke. Aluminum pistons were also used in the 1030 as opposed to cast iron pistons in the 930. You can tell the difference when you rev both of them from an idle to full throttle. The 1030 has a very "peppy" sound winding up very quickly while the 930 gains its revs more slowly. Larger valves allowed better airflow on both the intake and exhaust side.

The 1030 engine was built extremely well. CASE didn't cut any corners with this design. They were doing their best to keep their name up front in the farm tractor market, and well they did. This was a six-cylinder engine with seven main bearings. That's right, a main bearing on each side of every connecting rod. Of course, that's what it takes to handle a high-torque wallop like the 1030 delivers. It was capable of generating 340 foot/pounds of torque. If you'll look at the chart of the 1030 CASE torque curve, you'll notice how the torque rises sharply from the rated 2000 rpm engine speed and continues to rise until it reaches its peak around 1250 rpm. That's a 750-rpm range through which torque continues to build. Comparing that to the competitors' higher-revving engines shows why the CASE engine not only had deeper " guts'', but also why this 451 engine gave its owners the confidence that it would be around for a long time. Most of the competitors' engines enjoyed a torque range of only 300 to 400 rpm's and were sure to have their lives cut short due to higher rpm's.

Coupled to the 451 cubic inch powerhouse was a simple, yet rugged standard-shift transmission. With two ranges, the 1030 had 8 forward and 2 reverse speeds: 4 forward and 1 reverse in each range. Forward speeds ranged from 2 mph to 16.2 mph. Connecting the engine to the transmission was a king-size 15-inch clutch. Transferring this power to the wheels were the massive 3 3/16-inch axles.

The 1030 CASE was offered in two different models; the General Purpose and the Special. Both featured adjustable front and rear axles. There were very few differences between the two. The most noticeable was the shorter wheelbase of the Special. What basically amounted to the front axle being turned around backwards gave the Special model a wheelbase 19 inches shorter than that of the GP. This allowed the turning radius for the Special to be 2 feet, 5 inches shorter than the General Purpose. There were quite a number of options available to meet each farmer's specific needs.

The styling of the 1030 was the same that CASE had used since the late 1950s. The long, slender design of the straight hood and fenders made this tractor appear longer than it actually was. The headlights were placed on the very front at the top of the nosepiece. The "eyebrows'' above them helped accentuate the fact that Old Abe, the American Bald Eagle, was still the CASE mascot. The popular chrome emblem of Old Abe perched on top of a globe was centered between the headlights. The two-tone paint scheme of Flambeau Red and Desert Sunset was still the standard.

There are three disadvantages, all of which have relatively easy fixes that I would like to comment on. The first is the 1966 model 1030 didn't come with a transmission cooler. In most applications this does not present a problem, but if you're prone to overload the tractor, or as my dad puts it, "pull its guts out'', transmission overheating is almost sure to happen. A transmission cooler can be added to alleviate this problem, or better yet, just buy a '67 to '69 model. The second possible problem is the brakes. My dad found a very easy fix for this. Just install balls that are 1/16-inch larger than factory between the discs and your brakes are good for probably 20 years or more. The last problem is very small; the power steering. The belts on the power steering must be good and they must be kept tight. Most people who experienced steering problems simply didn't do the very minor maintenance of keeping good, tight belts on their tractor. If these potential trouble spots are taken care of, the 1030 is a very enjoyable tractor to operate.

There are many, many advantages of owning a CASE 1030 Comfort King. Strong, rugged, tough, dependable, and long-lasting have already been mentioned. Ease of maintenance and fuel efficiency are two other advantages. This was the first CASE row crop tractor to have a dry-type air cleaner, (99.5% efficient), which is much easier to maintain than the old oil bath system. CASE's patented Powrcel injection design proved to use very little fuel as well. This is another big plus on the side of the 1030. Nebraska Test number 952 lists this tractor with 12.01 hp hr/gal. Fuel usage was rarely above 5 gallons per hour under heavy working conditions. An unobstructed operator platform, the Draft-o-matic 3 point hitch, the foam padded seat with positions adjustable for standing or sitting, steps on both sides for easy mounting, multi-stage fuel filters, and a large 48-gallon rear-mounted fuel tank are just a few of the other benefits this tractor offers.

The 1030 CASE Comfort King is not highly sought after as a collector piece except for those who want a complete lineup of the 30 series tractor. If you are looking for one to add to your collection, the Special would probably be the best choice, especially if it has the 3 point hitch or the power adjust rear wheels. Time and space would not allow me to list and describe all of the great features and benefits of owning a CASE 1030, whether it's just for your collection or for actual farm use. If you ever get the chance, just spend about five minutes in the driver's seat and you'll understand why this NATURAL BREATHING BRUTE has the words Comfort and King in its name!

CASE 1030 Comfort King General Purpose and Special Tractor Specifications

• Engine Steering Electrical System
• 451 cu. in. Power 12 volt
• Diesel
• 6 cylinder Drawbar Tire Sizes
• Wet sleeve GP ñ swinging General Purpose
• Special ñ Wide swinging Front-7.50x16
• Rated RPM optional 9.00x16
• 2000 RPM Hitch-(optional) or 7.50x18
• Category II 3 point with Rear-15.5x38
• Compression Ratio single lever Draft-o-matic optional 23.1x30
• 15 to 1 control and lower link or 18.4x34 sensing
• Crankcase capacity Special Model
• 14 quarts Brakes Front-7.50x16
• Differential triple disc optional 9.00x16
• Cooling System or 10.00x16
• 10 gallons Axles Rear-15.5x38
• Adjustable optional 23.1x30
• Clutch or 18.4x34
• Dry 15 inch Dimensions
• GP wheelbase-109 in. Tread Widths
• Fuel System Special wheelbase-90 in. GP Front
• 48 gallons Hood height-72 in. 52 to 81 in.
• Steering wheel height-87 in. GP Rear
• Hydraulic System Width-88 in. 60 to 96 in.
• Dual Valve GP length-165 in. Special Front
• 2 circuits Special length-154 in. 55 to 81 in.
• 16 gallon common sump Minimum clearance-16 in.
• Special Rear
• 12 GPM at 1500RPM Weight-9500 lbs. 60 to 96 in.
• Independent PTO Turning Radius Fenders
• 1 3/8 inch spline size GP-13 ft., 1 in. 2 position
• 1000 RPM at 1700 Special-10t., 8 in. adjustable engine RPM
• Forward Speeds Warranty
• Transmission 2.0, 2.8, 3.6, 5.2, 6.3; 12 month
• Heavy Duty 8.8, 11.2, 16.2 MPH No hour limit
• Sliding Gear
• 2 Ranges Reverse Speeds
• 8 speeds forward 2.5, 7.9 MPH
• 2 speeds reverse

Case 1030 Comfort King - General Purpose and Special

Top /\