Model Spotlight

Case 580CK Construction King: Specs, Parts & Common Issues

Produced 1966 through 1971 — the heavier sibling of the 480CK and the model where Case introduced the power shuttle to the Construction King line. G188D 188-cubic-inch diesel or 188-cubic-inch gas, with both mechanical shuttle and power shuttle drivetrains offered factory.

BT

Broken Tractor Editorial Team • Updated May 2026 • 9 min read

The Case 580CK is the heavier sibling of the 480CK and the volume Construction King backhoe of the late 1960s. Produced from 1966 through 1971, the 580CK shares the Case G188D 188-cubic-inch diesel with the 480CK and adds a larger 188-cubic-inch gas option. The defining drivetrain difference from the 480-line is the power shuttle — Case introduced the hydraulic torque-converter shuttle on the 580CK, making this the first Construction King model offered with a no-clutch directional change.

This guide covers the verified specifications, where to find the serial number, the engine and drivetrain options, the power shuttle (a 580CK first), the failure modes 580CK owners report most often, the parts we stock with confirmed 580CK fitment, and how the 580CK fits in the Construction King lineage as the predecessor to the 580B and the platform that eventually dominated the Case backhoe lineup.

At-a-glance specifications

Where to find the serial number plate

The 580CK carries its tractor serial on a stamped data plate on the left side of the tractor frame rail, under the left loader tower near the clutch housing. Some 580CKs also have a secondary plate on the right side of the instrument panel inside the operator station. The engine serial is stamped separately on the left side of the engine block.

Production years and serial numbers

The Case 580CK was produced from 1966 through 1971, when it was replaced by the 580B. Published year-by-serial breaks for the 580CK are widely cited across multiple parts vendors and reference sources.

Engine and powertrain

The 580CK was factory-available with two engines, both Case-built inline four-cylinders:

• Case G188D diesel — 188 cubic inches (3.1 L), naturally aspirated, indirect injection. Approximately 52 HP gross at 2,100 rpm. Roosa Master / Stanadyne DB-series rotary injection pump. Same engine as the 480CK, 480B, 530CK, 580B, and used continuing through the 580C.
• Case 188 cubic inch gas — four-cylinder gasoline, approximately 55–57 HP gross. The 580CK uses the 188 ci gas engine — the smaller 159 ci gas was on the 530CK and 480CK.

Three transmission options were offered factory: 4-speed or 8-speed synchronized mechanical shuttle (driven through a single 11-inch dry clutch), and the new 4-speed power shuttle with torque converter and hydraulic clutch packs.

The power shuttle (introduced on the 580CK)

The 580CK is where Case introduced the power shuttle transmission to the Construction King line. Power shuttle uses a torque converter on the engine side and a hydraulically actuated forward/reverse clutch pack — no foot clutch pedal is required for directional changes, just a hand or knee-actuated shuttle lever and an inching pedal that modulates engagement pressure. The smaller 480CK and the earlier 530CK and 430CK never offered power shuttle — that drivetrain stays with the larger 580-class machines from this point forward.

Power shuttle units are identifiable by:

• A torque converter housing between the engine and the transmission case
• An inching pedal in place of (or in addition to) the dry clutch pedal
• A shuttle control valve with two female-end connections behind the operator station
• Different fluid specification — the power shuttle originally required Case TCH (now superseded by Hy-Tran Ultra)

The power shuttle is also the source of most documented 580CK drivetrain failures (forward clutch burn-up — see common problems below). When the power shuttle works well it's a meaningful productivity advantage; when it fails, it's a tractor-split rebuild.

External band brakes

The 580CK uses external contracting band brakes on each rear axle — the same architecture as the 430CK, 480CK, 480B, 530CK, and 580B. Each pedal operates a band wrapped around a drum on its respective final drive housing. Bonded-disc-in-drum brakes did not arrive in the Construction King line until the 480C and 580C in the mid-1970s.

Common failure modes: bands sticking to drums after the machine has sat, broken band return springs, rust-frozen ball-and-ramp actuators, contaminated linings from axle-seal leaks. Service parts including brake bands, lining kits, and brake bearing carriers are stocked.

Loader and backhoe capacities

Common problems documented by owners

The following failure modes are drawn from long-running threads on TractorByNet, Yesterday's Tractors, Heavy Equipment Forums, JustAnswer, and MyTractorForum. Diagnose in order before replacing major components.

Power shuttle forward clutch burn-up

The single most-discussed 580CK problem. Symptoms: machine drives in reverse but slips or drops out in forward, with metal and clutch material in the shuttle pan strainer. Root causes include low fluid level, the wrong fluid in the shuttle, restricted pickup-tube screen, low charge pressure, and worn clutch packs. Repair requires splitting the tractor for clutch pack replacement. Complete rebuilt power shuttles with torque converter are stocked.

Single dry clutch wear (mechanical shuttle units)

On mechanical-shuttle 580CKs the 11-inch dry clutch is the most-replaced wear item. Symptoms are the same as on the smaller 480CK: gear grinding on the shuttle shift, slipping under load, pedal hitting the floorboard. Before splitting the tractor, inspect the rear engine main seal and front transmission seal — oil contamination on the dry clutch is a frequent root cause.

Roosa Master injection pump fade

The DB-series rotary pump on the G188D develops predictable failures over time: weeping mounting-flange seal, sticking delivery valves, plastic internal coupling failure, gum-up under the fuel return cap. Pump rebuilds with the R14711 seal kit address the seal-related failures; complete rebuilt pumps are stocked for more advanced wear.

External band brake sticking

After extended storage, brake bands stick to the drums and the operator will report "no brakes" or "won't release." The fix is usually adjustment and a careful pedal cycle to free the friction surfaces. Worn bands and rivetable linings are still consumables — replacement band sets and lining kits are stocked.

Power steering cylinder and pump leaks

The 580CK uses a separate power steering pump and a hydraulic steering cylinder. Both are documented service items. Power steering pump A137187 and steering cylinder 234447A1 are common replacements on high-hour 580CKs.

Hydraulic main pump wear

The main hydraulic gear pump on the 580CK is not rebuildable in the field — the housing wears and replacement is the path. Symptoms: slow loader, weak digging, howl under load. Replacement pump D48950 is stocked.

Split-piston hydraulic cylinder leakage

The 580CK era uses split-piston hydraulic cylinders. Seal kits exist but whole-cylinder replacement is often the more reliable path on machines with worn cylinder bores.

Verified replacement parts

Browse by 580CK-fit category

• Brakes — 430CK, 480CK, 480B, 530CK, 580CK, 580B
• Rear Axle & Differential — 580CK, 580B, 480CK, 480B
• Front Axle 2WD — 430CK, 480CK, 480B, 530CK, 580, 580CK, 580B
• Case Backhoe Parts — full catalog

Maintenance schedule

Related Case Construction King models

Frequently asked questions

What years was the Case 580CK made?

1966 through 1971. The 580B replaced the 580CK in 1971.

What engines were offered on the 580CK?

The Case G188D 188 ci diesel (approximately 52 HP gross at 2,100 rpm) and a 188 ci four-cylinder gas engine (approximately 55–57 HP gross).

Does the 580CK have a power shuttle?

The 580CK is the model where Case introduced the power shuttle to the Construction King line. Both a 4-speed mechanical shuttle (with dry clutch) and a 4-speed power shuttle (with torque converter and hydraulic clutch packs) were factory configurations. The smaller 480CK and the earlier 530CK and 430CK did not offer power shuttle.

What kind of brakes does the 580CK have?

External contracting band brakes on each rear axle — the same architecture as the 430CK, 480CK, 480B, 530CK, and 580B. Bonded-disc-in-drum brakes did not arrive in the Construction King line until the 480C and 580C in the mid-1970s.

How deep does the 580CK backhoe dig?

Approximately 14 feet with the standard backhoe attachment, or about 15 feet with the Extendahoe option.

What parts cross between the 580CK and the 480CK?

Engine internals (the G188D is shared), brake bands and linings, rear axle bull gears and ring-and-pinion sets, front axle 2WD spindles and steering arms, and most hydraulic components. The 580CK is the heavier machine and uses different sheet metal, frame, and loader geometry, but the wear-item parts catalog cross-references heavily with the 480CK and 480B.

Is the 580CK the same as the 580B?

No. The 580B replaced the 580CK in 1971 and brought refined sheet metal, an updated cab and ROPS option, and over-center backhoe geometry. The drivetrain — including the power shuttle option — continued from the 580CK. Many parts cross between the two but they are not identical machines.

Where is the serial number on a Case 580CK?

Stamped on a data plate on the left side of the tractor frame rail under the loader tower, near the clutch housing. Some units also carry a secondary plate on the right side of the instrument panel inside the operator station.