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Too Tall 
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Joined: 18 Sep 2016
Location: Illinois
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 Topic: WD or WD45?
Posted: 27 Jul 2026 at 6:02pm |
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Do I have a Allis Chalmers WD or a Wd45? The serial number is 145148 which puts it between the last number of the 1953 WD 131243 and the first 1953 WD45 146607. My number does not show up on any list that I have found., which seems rather odd.
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garden_guy
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Joined: 05 Jul 2013
Location: Illinois
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Posted: 27 Jul 2026 at 6:34pm |
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Should be a late '53 WD with a curved shifter and distributor from the factory. Not sure what else may be different that close to the switchover.
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DrAllis
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Joined: 12 Sep 2009
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Posted: 27 Jul 2026 at 6:36pm |
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You're reading the chart wrong. Because ( in my opinion), there weren't ever ANY WD's after 146,606. The first WD tractor in 1953 production was s/n 131,273. The last "WD" was 146,606. Sometime mid-year 1953 the new WD-45 came out at s/n 146,607. It was simply a continuation of the "WD"-series. The last WD-45 in 1953 was s/n 160,385. So, about 15,000 of each in 1953. I can pretty much say that the first bunch of WD-45's were absolutely the same tractor as the last WD, only with the new W-226 engine and a different air cleaner. I know there are some serial number charts that show otherwise, but this is what I believe to be accurate.
Edited by DrAllis - 27 Jul 2026 at 8:28pm
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Ed (Ont)
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Joined: 08 Nov 2009
Location: New Lowell, Ont
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Posted: 27 Jul 2026 at 7:06pm |
So yours was close to the end of the WD's. Only 1458 after yours. 
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WF owner
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Joined: 12 May 2013
Location: Bombay NY
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Posted: 28 Jul 2026 at 5:04am |
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At what point did they change from the pin hitch to the snap coupler? I have two WD's with snap coupler (one is a 1949), but I assume it was changed at some point.
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AaronSEIA
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Location: Mt Pleasant, IA
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Posted: 28 Jul 2026 at 5:38am |
The serial numbers are simply sequential. Yours falls before 146,607, so it's a WD. AaronSEIA
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IBWD MIke
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Joined: 08 Apr 2012
Location: Newton Ia.
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Posted: 28 Jul 2026 at 6:11am |
Here are the serial number breaks I have written down; 127,007 constant mesh transmission 136,318 distributor ignition 146,607 first 45, as stated previously 151,381 snap-coupler becomes standard equipment 186,413 4-bolt wide front end I do not have a number for the first diesel engine tractor.
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DrAllis
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Posted: 28 Jul 2026 at 6:23am |
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This site uses a serial number chart that isn't correct and confusing for the WD-series. Normal s/n info charts use the first tractor s/n for a given year, not the last s/n.
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SteveM C/IL
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Joined: 12 Sep 2009
Location: Shelbyville IL
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Posted: 28 Jul 2026 at 9:16am |
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Don't know how accurate....my dad said there were some upset WD owners who bought new tractors very near the end of production when they learned the new 45 had more power and would have waited for it. Sounds like the 45 was a secret till it arrived? Who knows? Makes a good story......
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DrAllis
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Posted: 28 Jul 2026 at 9:49am |
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I imagine that happened more than once. But, the WD45 would have been more $$$$ than the last WD was. Wider rear rims and tires and more power would have been nice but not for the same dollars as a WD.
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dr p
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Posted: 28 Jul 2026 at 7:28pm |
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My grandfather bought a wd 45 and likes the anap coupler so much the dealer retro fitted his wd. Maybe that is the case
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Dennis J OPKs
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Posted: 28 Jul 2026 at 8:38pm |
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Likewise, my Dad bought a new WD in 1948 when they came out. It had a 2-16 mounted pin hitch plow. It was decided to upgrade to 3-14's snap coupler and a traction booster gauge. It handled the 3-14's everywhere but alfalfa and then a bottom had to be dropped.
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