The Case 1840 skid steer loader was built by Case Corporation for 12 years between 1989 and 2001. Featuring a 51-horsepower diesel engine and capable of lifting a load of 1,400 lbs., the loaders were designed primarily for working in buildings with narrow doors and low roofs where traditional materials handling equipment could not be used.
Engine and Drivetrain
The Case 1840 skid steer was powered by Case Corporation's 4-390 diesel engine. This four-stroke, four-cylinder power unit had a displacement of 239 cubic inches, and each cylinder had a 4.0-inch bore and a 4.72-inch stroke. Featuring direct fuel injection, the engine produced a net power output of 51-horsepower at 2,000 rpm. Peak torque of 179 foot-pounds was achieved at 1,200rpm.
The 1840 featured a hydrostatic transmission that used fixed-displacement high-torque/low-speed drive motors and a single-stage reduction chain drive to all four wheels to achieve forward and backward speeds of up to 6.2 miles per hour.
Hydraulic System
Central to the operation of the Case 1840 skid steer was a hydraulic system centered on a gear-driven pump driven directly by the engine crankshaft. The maximum pump oil flow at the rated engine speed of 2,000rpm was 15.3 gallons per minute at a pressure of 2,300 psi. The oil flow to the loader actuating rams was managed by a two-spool monocast loader control block. To protect the hydraulic system from dust and dirt, the circuit was fitted with a 6-micron oil filter that featured spin-on replaceable elements and a warning light to alert the operator if the filter needed to be replaced.
Dimensions
The Case 1840 skid steer was 96 inches long without a bucket and 125 inches long with the bucket attached and on the ground. The unit was 54 inches wide, the same width as the smallest available bucket (63-inch and 73-inch buckets were also available). The height to the top of the cab was 77 inches and the overall operating height with the bucket in its uppermost position was 145.5 inches.
The 1840 had a ground clearance of just 6.5 inches, and its operating weight -- with a 175-lb. operator, 54-inch dirt bucket and full fuel tank of 19.5 gallons -- was 5,558 lbs.
Performance
The Case 1840 Skid Steer was designed handle an operating load of 1,400 lbs. and boasted a tipping load of 2,800 lbs. The breakout force from the lift cylinder was 2,773 foot-pounds, while the same measurement taken at the bucket cylinder was 3,066 foot-pounds.
Cycle times for the 1840, measured with the rated load of 1,400 lbs. in the bucket, were quoted as: raise, 4.7 seconds; lower, 2.6 seconds, dump, 2.3 seconds and rollback, 1.5 seconds.