Case 1288 Poclain Excavator: Poclain-Era Vintage Mid-Class Legacy Excavator
The Case 1288 Poclain is a mid-class legacy excavator from Case’s Poclain-derived heritage, identifiable by the DAC1288 serial format. Production moved through a standard configuration, a mid-production hydraulic and control upgrade, and a late-production turbo-equipped variant. It bridges the gap between Poclain-era machines and the modern Case CX line.
Where the 1288 Poclain fits in the Case excavator line
The 1288 Poclain is part of Case’s legacy excavator lineage — a predecessor to the modern CX-series excavator line. It sits between the smaller 688 Excavator and the larger 9010B Excavator in the legacy sequence, and represents the Poclain-derived design DNA that Case carried forward into the early CNH era.
Case 1288 Poclain Excavator — Quick Specs
- Class
- Mid-Class Legacy Excavator
- Era
- Poclain-Era Vintage
- Engine
- Case / Cummins Diesel
- Drivetrain
- Hydrostatic Dual-Path
- Serial Format
- DAC1288
- Serial Plate
- Stamped on frame near boom base
- Smaller Sibling
- Case 688 Excavator
- Larger Sibling
- Case 9010B Excavator
Engine, hydraulics, and drivetrain
The 1288 Poclain runs a Case or Cummins diesel through a hydrostatic dual-path drivetrain. The platform is pre-Tier 4 emissions — mechanical injection on the earliest builds, with electronic engine control showing up on later production. Late-production machines also added a turbocharged variant of the base diesel.
The main hydraulic pump drives boom, dipper, bucket, swing, and propel circuits through mechanical or electrohydraulic control valves depending on production year. The undercarriage is a conventional steel-track design with sealed-and-lubricated chain, rollers, idlers, and drive sprockets. Swing is driven by a hydraulic swing motor through a planetary reduction gear riding on a swing bearing.
Common service items on the 1288 Poclain
- Engine internals: Pistons, rings, sleeves, bearings, head gaskets. Mechanical-injection or early-electronic depending on production year.
- Fuel system: Injection pump, injectors, lift pump, primary and secondary fuel filters.
- Cooling system: Radiator, water pump, thermostat, fan, hoses, belts.
- Hydraulic system: Boom, dipper, bucket, and swing cylinder seal kits, main pump rebuild, control valves, hoses.
- Boom and dipper: Pin and bushing service at every joint, bucket pins, thumb attachment hardware, quick coupler service.
- Undercarriage: Steel track inspection and replacement, rollers, idlers, drive sprockets, recoil springs.
- Swing system: Swing motor and reduction gear service, swing bearing inspection, swing brake.
- Electrical: Starter, alternator, wiring harness, gauges, switches.
- Cab glass and wiper: KHN16820 24-inch wiper blade, KHN3046 front lower glass, and KHN2632 front upper glass cross-fit across Case and Link-Belt excavators.
- Operator station: Seat, joystick controls, pedal linkage, instrument panel, cab HVAC.
Parts and cross-fit components for the Case 1288
| Category | Common Parts | Browse |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | Pistons, rings, sleeves, bearings, gaskets | Browse Engine |
| Fuel System | Injection pump, injectors, lift pump, filters | Browse Fuel System |
| Cooling | Radiator, water pump, hoses, belts | Browse Cooling |
| Hydraulics | Main pump, swing motor, cylinders, seal kits, valves | Browse Hydraulics |
| Boom / Dipper | Pins, bushings, bucket and quick-coupler hardware | Browse Boom / Dipper |
| Undercarriage | Steel tracks, rollers, idlers, sprockets, recoil springs | Browse Undercarriage |
| Swing | Swing motor, reduction gear, swing bearing | Browse Swing |
| Cab Glass / Wiper | KHN16820 wiper, KHN3046 lower glass, KHN2632 upper glass (Case/Link-Belt cross-fit) | KHN16820 Wiper Blade |
| Electrical | Starter, alternator, harness, gauges | Browse Electrical |
| Operator Station | Seat, joysticks, pedal linkage, gauges | Browse Operator Station |
Need a part for your Case 1288 Poclain Excavator?
Hydraulic components, cab glass, and undercarriage are the highest-demand items on a 1288. Call our parts team with your serial number and we’ll match the right component to your machine.
Request a PartWhat to verify before ordering
- Serial number. Confirm the DAC1288 serial on your machine before ordering year-specific parts.
- Engine serial. Engine internal parts must match the engine serial number, especially across the naturally-aspirated vs. turbo split.
- Hydraulic cylinder bore. Cylinder seal kit fit depends on bore dimension — measure before ordering.
- Production-window revision. Engine and hydraulic components saw multiple revisions during the production run.
- Control valve configuration. Mechanical vs. electrohydraulic control valves vary by production year.
- Bucket and quick coupler. Quick-coupler interface varies — confirm before ordering attachment-side hardware.
Why the 1288 Poclain still earns a paycheck
The Case 1288 Poclain is a legacy excavator from the era before the modern CX-series. Pre-Tier 4 emissions, mechanical or early-electronic injection, and a service architecture that rewards a wrench, a manual, and a parts catalog. For owners and operators running these machines, parts availability through the legacy Case service network remains broad.
Maintenance priorities on a 1288 Poclain are: clean fuel with quality filtration, hydraulic oil at temperature with clean filters, swing-bearing lubrication, steel-track tension and undercarriage wear monitoring, and pin and bushing service at every working joint. Broken Tractor maintains parts coverage across the Case legacy excavator family.
