WD VS WD45:

All WD45’s had Battery Ignition, helical gear transmission, bypass thermostat, and Snap Coupler. Most WD’s lacked these except for very last year of production.

I think wider rear rims and tires were also on WD45.

The WD-series (late WD and all WD-45's) got the constant mesh/helical gear transmission at chassis s/n 127007 and up.  The early WD's basically had a spur gear/sliding gear transmission nearly identical to the WC tractor. The newer transmission was to tolerate more torque and power and was quieter running. This same transmission transitioned into the early D-17's. The only real negative to the new constant mesh/helical gear tranny was it did not like being constantly ground into gear !!! which is an operator issue.

Actually, the 2-disc hand clutch was used in early WD-45's up to approx s/n 165,000.

The WD will burn less gas doing the same job.

Brian G. NY wrote: Gary Burnett wrote: The WD will burn less gas doing the same job. But......it will take longer to accomplish. In some cases "time is money".

DrAllis wrote: The WD-series (late WD and all WD-45's) got the constant mesh/helical gear transmission at chassis s/n 127007 and up… …This same transmission transitioned into the early D-17's. The only real negative to the new constant mesh/helical gear tranny was it did not like being constantly ground into gear !!! which is an operator issue.

You get a 1 inch long pipe spacer on top of that coil spring and this will all be worth the fight....I promise.

DrAllis wrote: D-17 chassis serial numbers started at 1001, so yours can't be less than that.

Yes, it’s a straight One-Ninety diesel. It’s got about 2200 original hours on it. It hasn’t been used much. I think the majority of the hours on it are from brush cutting, 3 point hitch log splitter, and raking hay. Probably 6 hours a week in the winter with the log splitter, and maybe 40 hours a summer with the brush hog. I did use it for about 300 hours pulling a 13 foot allis disc from about 2007-2011, but that is when something in the rear end or transmission locked up and ever since that it jumps out of gear going down hill. The brakes were always a problem from sitting so much. Most of its problems are due to lack of use and it spent close to 20 years sitting outside or in a shed with very little protection. it also sat on a dealer lot from the time it was new, until March of 1968. I think it was bought for $8800. Priceless to me with lots of sentimental value. Great tractor, just haven’t had the time to get it apart and fix it. At this point, I would like to fully restore it. Always gets put on the back burner, especially now that the D17 is in many pieces on the shop floor. 

Don't think so. Dad had a late WD with the curved gearshift and tall cylinder head and it had battery ignition from the factory, so I don't see any WD-45 having a mag. One other thing I remembered was the WD didn't have a bypass hose on the thermostat hsg and the 45 did.

But, they used the mag governor housing. Dad's was the same governor housing as the 45.

OK Doc, you are right. The mag was dropped in '53 at serial number WD136318. I thought the mag was an option for a bit but haven't seen anything to verify that thought. Haven't opened that book for a couple years.