WD45 Governor issues...need help

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    I have an Allis-Chalmers WD45 with the 226 engine. I have owned it only a few weeks and have driven it only a few times. 

I am worried about a governor problem, possibly broken governor weights, but I figured I'd ask the experts before I disassemble things. 

It's always seemed to have a slight hunting/surging RPM feel, along with a dead spot in the hand throttle.  One time I heard/felt the governor work normally while going up a hill: the engine loaded down and the governor slightly increased RPM's like it should.

 Now, usually under a light load and with the hand quadrant  around 1/4 throttle, it will:

 1. Start to stumble or lose RPM.
2. rapidly accelerate RPM (only for a second or so) 
3. It stumbles again.
 4. It stalls.

 After it stalls, I can get off and see that the governor has pulled the carburetor throttle plate all the way open, even though the hand throttle is only around 1/4 throttle.

 I can manually raise and lower RPM normally with the hand throttle at other times. The tractor starts right up, idles perfectly fine, will run fine at working RPM's,  but acts up about once every 3 or 4 minutes, always under light-moderate load. 
The linkages for the gov/carb/throttle are all decently tight, none of the connections are noticeably "sloppy" and the connector holes are nice and round. 

 I checked fuel flow to the carburetor and it appears fine.  I have not yet confirmed the condition of the carburetor internally, including float level, needle/seat, main jet/nozzle, passages, adjustment, or throttle-shaft wear, but the tractor starts and idles just fine. I was reading my owners manual, and it dosen't seem to say much regarding the governor and the proper adjustment procedure. My main concern was broken weights. Are broken weights likely, given the symptoms? I'm a decent shadetree mechanic but this is my first Allis so I'm learning as I go. Thanks y'all!

Edited by BossofBBQ - 22 Sep 2026 at 3:07pm

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BossofBBQ Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Bronze Level Joined: 24 Jul 2026 Location: Colorado Points: 12	Post Options Post Reply Quote BossofBBQ Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: WD45 Governor issues...need help Posted: 22 Sep 2026 at 3:00pm
	I have an Allis-Chalmers WD45 with the 226 engine. I have owned it only a few weeks and have driven it only a few times. I am worried about a governor problem, possibly broken governor weights, but I figured I'd ask the experts before I disassemble things. It's always seemed to have a slight hunting/surging RPM feel, along with a dead spot in the hand throttle. One time I heard/felt the governor work normally while going up a hill: the engine loaded down and the governor slightly increased RPM's like it should. Now, usually under a light load and with the hand quadrant around 1/4 throttle, it will: 1. Start to stumble or lose RPM. 2. rapidly accelerate RPM (only for a second or so) 3. It stumbles again. 4. It stalls. After it stalls, I can get off and see that the governor has pulled the carburetor throttle plate all the way open, even though the hand throttle is only around 1/4 throttle. I can manually raise and lower RPM normally with the hand throttle at other times. The tractor starts right up, idles perfectly fine, will run fine at working RPM's, but acts up about once every 3 or 4 minutes, always under light-moderate load. The linkages for the gov/carb/throttle are all decently tight, none of the connections are noticeably "sloppy" and the connector holes are nice and round. I checked fuel flow to the carburetor and it appears fine. I have not yet confirmed the condition of the carburetor internally, including float level, needle/seat, main jet/nozzle, passages, adjustment, or throttle-shaft wear, but the tractor starts and idles just fine. I was reading my owners manual, and it dosen't seem to say much regarding the governor and the proper adjustment procedure. My main concern was broken weights. Are broken weights likely, given the symptoms? I'm a decent shadetree mechanic but this is my first Allis so I'm learning as I go. Thanks y'all! Edited by BossofBBQ - 22 Sep 2026 at 3:07pm

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DrAllis Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Access Joined: 12 Sep 2009 Points: 23518	Post Options Post Reply Quote DrAllis Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 22 Sep 2026 at 4:33pm
	Broken governor weights allow the engine to runaway over speed by just opening the throttle very little. That isn't your problem. You have an operational issue, like the carb running dry or ignition problems. Governors don't make the engine just up and quit running.

DrAllis Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Access Joined: 12 Sep 2009 Points: 23518	Post Options Post Reply Quote DrAllis Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Yesterday at 10:25am
	Get a funnel and remove the drain plug from the bottom of the carburetor and catch the gas that flows from the carb in a clean pail so you can reuse it. Your flow NEEDS to be more than a gallon of gas in 10 minutes. The engine pulling a plow will consume almost 4 gallons an hr, so this gallon every 10 minutes or more meets the criteria. I'll bet you have a gas problem in the carb or the sediment bowl inlet.

BossofBBQ Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Bronze Level Joined: 24 Jul 2026 Location: Colorado Points: 12	Post Options Post Reply Quote BossofBBQ Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 20 hours 7 minutes ago at 8:28pm
	Thank you for the information, Dr. Allis---I will check the fuel flow rate next time I'm by the tractor. For what it's worth, the tank seems relatively clean, but I'll investigate further. There is a pretty big "dead spot" on the hand quadrant, where the throttle is unresponsive. I was looking at a diagram of the governor system, and the manual shows a little spring connecting the bendable rod coming from the carb. The spring attaches to the coolant drain petcock on the block. My spring is missing. Could that be part of the issue?

DrAllis Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Access Joined: 12 Sep 2009 Points: 23518	Post Options Post Reply Quote DrAllis Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 19 hours 32 minutes ago at 9:03pm
	Nope. WD45 doesn't have or need one of those springs. Concentrate on why the engine quits running first. It shouldn't be doing that at all. Edited by DrAllis - 19 hours 12 minutes ago at 9:23pm

BossofBBQ Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Bronze Level Joined: 24 Jul 2026 Location: Colorado Points: 12	Post Options Post Reply Quote BossofBBQ Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 9 hours 24 minutes ago at 7:11am
	I will definitely investigate the stalling issue. The next time I'll be by the tractor is probably next week. Regarding the "dead spot" in the throttle actuation.....what could be causing that? The linkage eyelets aren't wallowed out. I have been trying to figure out how to adjust the 2 set screws on the throttle linkage at the governor side (by the fuel tank) and I'm at a loss. What is the proper procedure there? Thanks again, I mostly work on 8N's, and newer equipment--this AC has me stumped.

Allis dave Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 10 May 2012 Location: Northern IN Points: 3173	Post Options Post Reply Quote Allis dave Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 9 hours 10 minutes ago at 7:25am
	That missing spring is for the choke. Edited by Allis dave - 9 hours 10 minutes ago at 7:25am

DrAllis Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Access Joined: 12 Sep 2009 Points: 23518	Post Options Post Reply Quote DrAllis Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 8 hours 59 minutes ago at 7:36am
	There is a choke spring, yes. But, on some WC/WD engines there is a surge spring for the governor that goes upwards to the gov link rod, which a WD45 doesn't have.

DrAllis Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Access Joined: 12 Sep 2009 Points: 23518	Post Options Post Reply Quote DrAllis Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 7 hours 5 minutes ago at 9:30am
	As far as throttle linkage adjustments go: With the governor speed lever on the engine (next to the oil fill cap) pulled 100% to the rear, I like to see the bell crank under the gas tank almost fully rotated 100% CCW, so it has the governor speed link rod nearly touching the bell cranks pivot. This sees to it that the counterbalance spring can hold the throttle lever at whatever position you place it. Then, adjust the vertical rod to place the hand lever correctly for low idle and high idle speeds on the quadrant. Do NOT loosen both adjustment screws at the same time or bad things could happen related to the counterbalance spring taking over. Edited by DrAllis - 7 hours 4 minutes ago at 9:31am