WD frequently sticking in 3rd
Printed From: Unofficial Allis
Category: Allis Chalmers
Forum Name: Farm Equipment
Forum Description: everything about Allis-Chalmers farm equipment
URL: https://www.allischalmers.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=161742
Printed Date: 09 Oct 2025 at 10:36pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.10 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: WD frequently sticking in 3rd
Posted By: rossinmich
Subject: WD frequently sticking in 3rd
Date Posted: 08 Jun 2019 at 9:53pm
| My 53 Wd has been sticking in 3rd with ever increasing frequency. When it does I of course have to go through using the super long screw driver to reset to neutral. Now it's grown worse lately. I recall someone saying weld on the bottom of shifter to build it back up. I'm not sure its wore really, figure it is but how do I know that will solve it? The other option is rebuilding the shifter forks, which I know nothing about. Advice please. |
Replies:
Posted By: Sugarmaker
Date Posted: 09 Jun 2019 at 6:08am
|
Ross, Keep the screwdriver handy until your ready to take it apart. Yes there are areas that get worn a lot in these. Our WD never had much problem but the 45's with the curved shifter were worn as you describe. So next time you have the shift lever out and are ready to move the shift forks with the screw driver, take a picture and get dimensions of the end of the shift lever (knob). The dimensions are on the forum. They can be repaired. Also while the shift lever is out take a flashlight and look down into the shift tower to see the area where the knob sets and moves. look for wear. Now your ready to take the shift tower off if you need to examine things more. Good luck. Regards, Chris ------------- D17 1958 (NFE), WD45 1954 (NFE), WD 1952 (NFE), WD 1950 (WFE), Allis F-40 forklift, Allis CA, Allis D14, Ford Jubilee, Many IH Cub Cadets, 32 Ford Dump, 65 Comet. |
Posted By: DaveKamp
Date Posted: 09 Jun 2019 at 8:14am
|
Ross- Chris is spot-on- it possible that you have some other issue, like a sticking detent, but simply due to age and hours, is most likely that you have shifter wear, which causes many goofy problems. Do not fear shifter or fork wear- it's not difficult to remedy with a MIG or TIG welder, a 4" angle grinder and flap disk... and fortunately, it's not difficult or time-intensive to get the shift tower off for repair... basically unbolt and lift the whole thing out. IF you feel that the welding/grinding/etc is out of your realm, have no worries- one can remove the shift tower, place a cover over the transmission opening, and take or ship the shifter to another AC afficiando who can touch it up. Since the forks, detent, and shift lever are all in that assembly, it's a fairly easy thing to refresh... and if that guy has other tractors around, he might just have a parts unit that he's already touched up, and can trade you, so you're not out-of-operation for long. I don't recall who it was, but that's exactly what I did for a forum member a half-dozen years ago or so... I pulled one off of my tractor, touched it up, shipped it to him, while he shipped me his... I touched his up, and put it back on my tractor. ------------- Ten Amendments, Ten Commandments, and one Golden Rule solve most every problem. Citrus hand-cleaner with Pumice does the rest. |
Posted By: Brian G. NY
Date Posted: 09 Jun 2019 at 8:53am
|
Someone posted this on here years ago. Might prove to be helpful if you want to "tune up" the shifter end. The other thing to check are the pins at the top of the tower that keep the shifter from turning. There are two with the curved shifter and one with the straight shifter as I recall. The pins on the curved shifter wear more quickly because of the constant torsion put on them from the curve in the shifter. I "tuned" the ends on both my WD and WD-45. I also made oversize pins for the WD-45 from either 1/4" or 5/16" Gr 5 bolts. Can't remember which. I think aftermarket shifters and oversize pins are now available....check some of the vendors here.  |
Posted By: rossinmich
Date Posted: 09 Jun 2019 at 12:47pm
| I should add this is a late WD with the curved shifter. I'll take the shifter out and measure it. I'm figuring dimensions posted below are accurate? |
Posted By: Nathan (SD)
Date Posted: 09 Jun 2019 at 12:58pm
Those are minimum numbers in my opinion. I go a few thousandths bigger on both dimensions. Most times the shift notches have wear also. Have seen a new shift lever still slip out of worn notches. Not hard work, just time consuming. |
rossinmich wrote: