Wd 45 hard steer
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=163519
Printed Date: 26 Oct 2025 at 4:24am
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Topic: Wd 45 hard steer
Posted By: Dads 45
Subject: Wd 45 hard steer
Date Posted: 09 Aug 2019 at 3:19pm
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Just drove two hrs to see a WD 45 for sale. Fair shape imo, near new rubber, had an engine vibration at low rpm but biggest issue was I couldn`t hardly steer it with 2 hands! Its a wide front, no power steering, no play in steering but it is near impossible to steer either direction. And advice? |
Replies:
Posted By: allisbred
Date Posted: 09 Aug 2019 at 4:14pm
| Well— the front end may just need some grease depending on how long it sat, could be more involved if it wouldn’t budge, others may share different ideas. I would be more concerned with the engine vibration at low rpms and take a close look at the front crank shaft pulley while running. |
Posted By: Dads 45
Date Posted: 09 Aug 2019 at 4:19pm
Yes, vibration has me leary. Then when I drove it, the steering was near impossible to turn and I forgot the vibration!
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allisbred wrote:Posted By: garden_guy
Date Posted: 09 Aug 2019 at 4:26pm
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What can cause the front crank pulley to wobble? |
Posted By: allisbred
Date Posted: 09 Aug 2019 at 5:23pm
| The vibration can be a number of things— difference in rotating part balance most likely in my mind, I looked at one that the crank shaft was shifting back and forth that I didn’t buy. A friend of mine bought it and brgs were ate out of it soon after he got it. A lot of these engines have been apart several times over 60 years. You never know what was rebuilt correctly. |
Posted By: Dusty MI
Date Posted: 09 Aug 2019 at 6:12pm
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We had one of the last WDs, dad bought it new. To me it steered hard. ------------- 917 H, '48 G, '65 D-10 series III "Allis Express" |
Posted By: exSW
Date Posted: 09 Aug 2019 at 7:10pm
| Wasn't anything obvious in that front end linkage. Tires weren't wore funny. Wasn't just a tough spot,it was tough the whole way through the steering travel. My guess is a bind in the steering box. |
Posted By: Sugarmaker
Date Posted: 09 Aug 2019 at 9:13pm
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Dads45, I just took my wide front WD for a spin today and it doesn't have power steering but it sure steers better than my narrow front WD45. Could be lubrication and or bearings/ bushings. Also that vibration could be as simple as timing? Mark the distributor. Loosen the distributor , turn it both ways to see if you get reduced vibration or smoother engine? 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: MACK
Date Posted: 09 Aug 2019 at 9:29pm
| I would agree on lack of lube in steering. MACK |
Posted By: 200Tom1
Date Posted: 09 Aug 2019 at 11:09pm
| My wd45 front end was full of grease gun grease. It had migrated to the outside of the gearbox and was not lubing the steering gears. It steered super hard. I actually filled the gear box with sae90 oil. It was a whole lot better. But it all ran out the bottom of column. I rebuilt the whole thing. The bearings/seals came from Ago. Now it holds oil and steers good. |
Posted By: B26240
Date Posted: 10 Aug 2019 at 6:08am
| I had the same issue as Tom full of grease gun grease but not in the upper bearing. Also there are shims for the main bearings, after cleaning and inspecting I determined bearings were set to tight so I fabricated another shim and reassembled, now it steers much better. |
Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 10 Aug 2019 at 6:33am
| Make sure the steering knuckle beside the engine doesn't have a pin falling out of it. |
Posted By: marion
Date Posted: 10 Aug 2019 at 8:33am
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bought one once that had front wheels spread out as far as they would go it steered the easiest of all I have had without powersteering always wondered if that was the reason |
Posted By: Dads 45
Date Posted: 10 Aug 2019 at 9:48am
| Well, I didn`t buy it and it`s 80 miles away so thinkin I`m gonna pass on this one. I do appreciate all the input though gentlemen. You helped in my decision to walk away. Now if it had been a $1000 tractor, different story/risk but it was over twice that. G-day! |