JI Case 40-72
Built: 1920–1923 · Series: Crossmotor-Baureihe
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J.I. Case Crossmotor series (1915–1929) – the tractors with transversely mounted engine from Racine: 8-18 to 40-72, the numbers as drawbar and belt power in hp, four-cylinders of 3.9 to 20.2 litres, kerosene and petrol
The Crossmotor tractors are the machines with which J.I. Case of Racine, Wisconsin, moved from steam-engine building into tractor building: from 1915 the company built tractors whose four-cylinder engine lay in the frame transversely to the direction of travel – Crossmotor – which simplified the drive to belt pulley and gearbox, and kept the layout until 1929, when the models C and L with longitudinal engine followed. The type logic follows the convention of the time: the two numbers give drawbar and belt power in hp – 8-18 eight hp at the drawbar and eighteen at the belt pulley, 10-18, 12-20, 15-27, 18-32, 22-40 and 25-45 the mid-range, 40-72 the giant of the range with a four-cylinder of 20.2 litres built in only a few units. The engines ran on kerosene and were started on petrol, at rated speeds below 1,000 rpm.
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The register lists 7 versions with 13.4 to 53.7 kW from four-cylinders of 3,866 to 20,181 cm³, unladen weights from 1,710 to 9,616 kg, lengths from 2,769 to 5,080 mm, widths from 1,473 to 2,667 mm and heights from 1,410 to 2,794 mm.
The Crossmotor models are the most sought-after Case collectors' pieces: the 40-72 was the most powerful tractor of the Nebraska tests of its time, the 12-20 and 15-27 the best sellers with which Case belonged to the three big American makers in the 1920s.
Used, they are museum pieces: completeness, originality of engine, carburettor and magneto, the condition of the steel wheels or conversion to rubber and provenance count; parts are reproduced.
Sources: SpecCodex register, model data: J.I. Case Crossmotor-Baureihe, J. I. Case Company (Wikipedia)
Technical data
Engine
| Fuel | Benzin/Kerosincorrect |
|---|---|
| Power | 73 hp (53.7 kW)correct |
| Rated speed | 750 rpmcorrect |
| Cylinders | 4correct |
| Displacement | 20,181 cm³correct |
| Bore | 177.8 mmcorrect |
| Stroke | 203.2 mmcorrect |
| Cooling | water-cooledcorrect |
Dimensions and weights
| Length | 5,080 mmcorrect |
|---|---|
| Width | 2,667 mmcorrect |
| Height | 2,794 mmcorrect |
| Wheelbase | 3,150 mmcorrect |
| Unladen weight | 9,616 kgcorrect |
Drivetrain and chassis
| Drive | rear-wheel drivecorrect |
|---|---|
| Gearbox | 2 Vcorrect |
| Rear tyres | 72" x 20"correct |
| Top speed | 4.78 km/hcorrect |
Origin and approval
| Construction | steel-frame constructioncorrect |
|---|---|
| Units built | 41correct |
Where this model stands
Power-to-weight ratio: 5.6 kW/t (54 kW / 9.6 t)
Power class: Universal (40–100 hp)
Stronger than 50% of the tractors in the register — out of 15,663 models with a stated power figure.
Calculated from the documented figures above — not a rating.
Frequently asked questions
How much power does the JI Case 40-72 have?
The JI Case 40-72 delivers 73 hp.
How much does the JI Case 40-72 weigh?
The unladen weight is 9,616 kg.
What engine does the JI Case 40-72 have?
4 cylinders, 20,181 cm³ displacement, Benzin/Kerosin.
What are the dimensions of the JI Case 40-72?
5,080 mm × 2,667 mm × 2,794 mm.
When was the JI Case 40-72 built?
Production years: 1920–1923.
What to check before buying
- Check the hour meter against the service records — a replaced instrument is the most common gap.
- Compare the data plate and chassis number with the papers.
- Check the weights in the papers against the figures here — attachments change them.
- Check front and rear tyre sizes: mismatched pairs strain the drivetrain.
- Shift the gearbox cold and warm — jumps only show up at temperature.
- Load the hydraulics and watch for sag.
- Ask about parts availability for this build year — the running costs hang on it.
A general list for this type of machine — no substitute for an inspection or an appraiser.
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This page carries 20 individual figures for this model. They come from 1 recorded source; every figure can be traced there. What we cannot document is not here — we leave gaps open rather than estimate them.
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Other models in this series
Sources: Wikibooks Traktorenlexikon (CC BY-SA 4.0) (retrieved August 2026) · How we check the data
Tractor in 3D section
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