Case 580 Backhoe Specs and Parts by Generation

The Case 580 is not one backhoe: it is a model family that has anchored Case's Construction King line for roughly six decades, from the original 580 through the 580C, 580K, and today's 580 Super N. Specs move with the generation, spanning roughly 50 to 110 horsepower, 14 to 18 feet of dig depth, and 14,000 to over 17,000 lbs of operating weight.

At a Glance

• What it is: Case's flagship backhoe loader family, in production across generations since the 1960s
• Generations: 580, 580B, 580C, 580D, 580E, 580K, 580L, Super M, Super N
• Horsepower: about 50 hp on legacy models up to 110 hp on current Super N variants
• Dig depth: about 14 ft standard, 18 ft with Extendahoe
• Parts: legacy generations remain well supported by the aftermarket

Which Case 580 Do You Have?

The letter after 580 is the single most important fact about your machine, because parts, engines, and systems change generation to generation. The ladder runs, in order: the original 580 Construction King, then 580B, 580C, 580D, 580E, 580K, 580L, the Super M era, and the current Super N family.

Rough era guide: the original 580 and B belong to the late 1960s and early 1970s; the 580C ran 1975 to 1980 per Case production records; the D and E carried the 1980s; the K arrived in the late 1980s and the L in the 1990s; Super M covered the 2000s and Super N the years since. Case ties exact year breaks to serial number ranges, so the machine's serial plate, on the frame near the operator station on most generations, is the authority. Searches like "case 580 backhoe 1980" are really asking where a serial falls in the C-to-D transition, and the plate answers it.

Case 580 Specs by Generation

Specifications by generation, with sourced anchors from Case records, RitchieSpecs, and Construction Equipment Guide:

Generation	Era	Engine and power	Character
580 / 580B	Late 1960s to mid 1970s	Case gas and diesel options, ~50 hp class	The original Construction King era
580C	1975 to 1980	Case G207D 3.4 L (207 cu in) diesel, 4-cyl	The classic legacy 580, still common on small farms
580D / 580E	1980s	Case diesel, growing output	Incremental refinement of the C formula
580K / 580L	Late 1980s to 1990s	Case/Cummins-family diesels, 70+ hp class	The volume workhorses of the used market
580 Super M	2000s	~90 hp class turbo diesel	Modern controls arrive; 14.42 ft standard dig depth per RitchieSpecs
580 Super N	2010s to current	90 to 110 hp	Current family, up to 17,000+ lbs configured

Across the family, standard dig depth sits around 14 feet with roughly 18 feet available via the Extendahoe extendable dipper, one of the line's signature options.

How Much Does a Case 580 Backhoe Weigh?

Operating weight runs from roughly 14,000 lbs on earlier and simpler configurations to over 17,000 lbs on current Super N machines with cab, four-wheel drive, and Extendahoe. Options move the number substantially, so use your generation's spec sheet and actual configuration for transport planning rather than a family average.

Is a Case 580 a Good Backhoe?

The market answered this decades ago: the 580 is the best-selling backhoe family name in North America for a reason, and its 695 current TractorHouse listings show both its population and its staying power. Owners praise the digging geometry, the Extendahoe reach, and, on legacy generations, mechanical simplicity that keeps repairs in the farm shop.

What to check by age: on 1970s and 1980s machines, expect hydraulic reseals and pin-and-bushing wear as routine; on K and L machines, the condition of the powershift and brakes; on any generation, swing tower play and cylinder drift tell you how the machine was used.

What Is the Difference Between a 580 and a 590 Case Backhoe?

The 590 is the 580's bigger sibling: more horsepower, more dig depth, and more weight, positioned for production excavation where the 580 covers general utility work. The two share design language and cab architecture in modern generations, and the choice between them is workload, not quality. If your work regularly needs the last two feet of depth, the 590 earns its premium; otherwise the 580 remains the default for good reason.

How Much Does a Case 580 Cost?

The used spread is enormous because the family spans six decades: current TractorHouse listings run from about $1,140 for rough legacy machines to over $175,000 for late-model Super N units. Practical bands: working-condition legacy machines (C through E) commonly trade in the four figures to low five figures; tight K and L machines in the mid five figures; and recent Super M and N machines from there upward per the AIO-cited market data.

The value drivers are consistent across generations: hydraulic health, powershift condition where fitted, Extendahoe function, and documentation.

What Engine Is in a Case 580?

It depends entirely on generation. The sourced anchor: the 580C runs the Case G207D, a 3.4 liter (207 cubic inch), naturally aspirated 4-cylinder diesel, per Case production records. Later generations moved through Case's diesel families toward the Cummins-related engines of the K and L era and the modern turbocharged engines of the Super M and N.

Before ordering any engine part, confirm your generation from the serial plate and the engine data plate. Case OEM part numbers are the cross-reference language, and they are generation-specific.

What Are Common Case 580 Problems?

Across generations, the wear map is consistent with hard-working backhoes generally:

• Hydraulic seep and cylinder drift: the highest-frequency repair on legacy machines; seal kits are routine
• Pin and bushing wear: boom, dipper, and swing pivots loosen with digging hours
• Swing tower play: the tell of a high-hour digger
• Brake and powershift wear: on K-and-later machines with heavy roading use
• Glass, seats, and controls: standard cab attrition

Our catalog carries over 100 parts with 580-family fitment across these categories. Start with Case parts, and if you run Case skid steers alongside the backhoe, Case skid steer parts covers the rest of the fleet.

Are Parts Still Available for Older Case 580 Backhoes?

Yes, and better than most legacy equipment: the 580's enormous installed base keeps aftermarket production alive for filters, seals, glass, pins and bushings, and electrical components, meeting or exceeding OEM specifications. Even 1970s-era C machines remain supportable for everything that wears.

Scarcity concentrates where it always does: generation-specific trim, sheet metal, and cab details. For wear and maintenance parts, a 580 owner is in good shape, and based on our catalog data, glass and filter categories lead what 580 owners actually order from us.

Case 580 Maintenance Parts Checklist

The rhythm that keeps a 580 digging:

• Grease every pivot on the hoe and loader daily in work; pins outlast neglect nowhere
• Engine oil, fuel, air, and hydraulic filters at the intervals in your generation's operator manual
• Hydraulic fluid condition checks; milky or burnt fluid means service now
• Seal kits at the first sign of cylinder drift, before scored rods raise the bill
• Cab glass and wiper hardware ahead of the wet season

It is the customer's responsibility to verify part compatibility before purchasing, and with nine generations sharing one model number, the 580 is exactly where that discipline pays. Email your serial number to sales@partsonline.com and our parts specialists will confirm your generation and fitment. See also our companion guide to the Case 1845C skid steer for mixed Case fleets.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Case 580 cost?

Used listings currently span from about $1,140 for rough legacy machines to over $175,000 for late Super N units. Generation, hours, and hydraulic condition set the price within that spread.

Is a Case 580 a good backhoe?

Yes, it is the best-known backhoe family in North America, valued for digging geometry, the Extendahoe option, and, on legacy generations, farm-shop serviceability.

What does a Case 580 backhoe weigh?

Roughly 14,000 lbs on earlier configurations up to over 17,000 lbs on current Super N machines with cab, 4WD, and Extendahoe fitted.

What's the difference between a 580 and a 590 case backhoe?

The 590 is the larger sibling with more power, depth, and weight for production excavation. The 580 remains the general-utility default.

What years was the Case 580C made?

1975 to 1980, per Case production records, powered by the G207D 3.4 liter diesel.

How deep can a Case 580 dig?

About 14 feet with the standard dipper and about 18 feet with the Extendahoe extendable dipper, varying slightly by generation.

Know your generation, and the rest gets easy. Send your 580's serial number to sales@partsonline.com for identification and fitment confirmation, or browse Case parts to start.