45’s

So I bought 2 WD45’s at Chats Tractors liquidation auction on Aug 25. One was a 12V ‘54 NFE with factory power steering, the other a ‘56 WFE with factory power steering. Both units seem like they just came out of a museum, sort of a time warp deal as they are incredibly like new. They came with new batteries, new brakes, new wing nuts on top of batt box, etc. When they arrived ( in between flying the 3 Beechjets more than full time) I changed all fluids, replaced all ignition parts, plugs,rebuilt the nfe marvel carb, etc. I grew up on a WD and series 1 ‘17 but I must admit I have been totally SHOCKED with these 2 machines with their simplicity and POWER! My Lord I shifted into 4th gear driving up my sons hard packed driveway and opened the throttle…and held on for my life! The torque and power is incredible. Even sitting still and throttling from idle to wide open makes the rig rock sideways with Newton’s even and opposite reaction theory! I am blessed with 20 beautiful AC’s (these were #’s 19 and 20) and am (sort of) patiently awaiting delivery of our new to us 1976 Allis 7000 which I will make like new this off season. Somehow we managed almost 13,000 bales of high quality horse small square bales of hay this season which was an excellent growing season with all the rain but also an almost impossible drying season! The last day of baling was on Sept 11 which found us finishing first, second and third cutting all on that afternoon! Enough rambling from me but I just needed to say how amazing these tractors are and how I now understand why they say the WD45’s changed the farming world back when I was two or three years old! Thanks! Dana

Congratulations on your new purchases! Your description of the 45 is the exact same as my fathers when he first brought his home. There was a hill nearby that the wd or wc could barely pull, the 45 pulled it and was making rpm’s according to him. Although the wd-45 is probably my favorite AC, I also think they are the most dangerous as well. I know they were the ones I liked playing with the most because the NF one would pull wheelies pretty easy when I was a child. One year when picking corn, my father sold several gravity bin loads to a neighbor. He usually came over with a JD “A” to haul his wagons home. Some reason, my father told him he could just use the 45 for a load. This resulted In flipping our NF tractor when taking off with the loaded wagon, guessing he gave it throttle before letting the clutch out and the governor was very sensitive in that tractor. Luckily, the tractor stalled when he fell off the seat before getting run over. Just wanted to send caution if you have hired help using your tractors at hay time.

Edited by allisbred - 03 Oct 2021 at 7:33am

congratulations Dana. You guys did good this summer.

congrats on your buys Dana...shucks...if'n i bring some of my tractors to you....

Congratulations Dana & thanks for sharing. If you'd like, please email me a couple photos of them & I'll post them for you. That Power Crater 4.5" stroked G226 creates a lot of torque. Are your WD45s original stock engines or do you think they've had their G226s rebuilt? If rebuilt, which kit compression ratio, rpm, & hp?  Maybe M&W pistons??

captaindana wrote: 7060 plz e me dlvloan423@gmail…I lost your e. Bob Chatterton and the previous owners som of the wide front assured me that has never had a wrench on it it’s all stock original as far as the narrow front and I’m not sure I’ll get pictures soon thank you

e sent.
All Original stock - amazing!

Are these the ones you are setting timing on or was that another project?

captaindana wrote: I’d like to set the timing on these but my new 12v timing light I have not succeeded with yet. Someone said hook a 12v batt to the timing light when timing a 6v motor which t did and the light didn’t work at all so that’s as far as that went!

Edited by DiyDave - 05 Oct 2021 at 4:45am

Dana, I thoroughly enjoyed your description of the torque of these tractors, I can only imagine the same response in 1956 when a proud young farmer traded in his 8n or b jd on a new 45. Thanks,Scott

I was a teen-ager when the 45 came out.  My first encounter was hearing a neighbor out plowing.  I knew what a WD sounded like under a load and that was no WD.  We lived over 1/4 mile away and could hear the 45 bark when the govenor kicked in.  Dad later acquired a 45 which had been traded to a dealer and overhauled.  That was the main work-horse for many years.  Obviously, the 45's being a light tractor compared to others but could certainly hold their own against competition.

I think my uncle having one VS our WD is what made me want one

I had a chance to buy a WD45 with a great 3 pt adaptor for 850 dollars. I blinked and didn't contact the person until it was too late. I regret it much. Someone else bought it. I have a 1950 WD and a 1959 D17. Both great tractors. Dana I figured you had worked with a WD45 before now...but yes those Chats tractors are gems! I wish I had the bucks to buy them. I am glad they went to someone who really appreciates them.
Pastor Mike Townsley