New to me WD45
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=165680
Printed Date: 04 Sep 2025 at 3:02am
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Topic: New to me WD45
Posted By: Alberta Phil
Subject: New to me WD45
Date Posted: 08 Nov 2019 at 6:39pm
I bought a WD45 yesterday that is the nicest one I've ever seen. It is a one owner tractor that has been carefully used and well looked after. It's been shedded all its life. The paint is in great shape as are the decals. It currently has a 12 volt battery that was put in very recently and a 12 volt headlight was added to the right side. They will soon be gone to be replaced with a 6 volt battery and the proper headlight. Everything works as it should and the hand clutch has a good snap to it and hardly any wobble on the pivot bushing. It drives like a new tractor. only thing missing was the lift latches, but I had a good pair here in my parts bin. Price wasn't a steal, but I don't think I overpaid for one this go   od! |
Replies:
Posted By: Alberta Phil
Date Posted: 08 Nov 2019 at 6:44pm
A few more pics. Serial number is 172697 which should make it a '54. Only downside is the dent in the top of the tank. I have another tank but the paint probably won't be an exact match.  |
Posted By: Ed (Ont)
Date Posted: 08 Nov 2019 at 6:47pm
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Sure looks good. Nice that it has wheel weights. |
Posted By: dawntreader74
Date Posted: 08 Nov 2019 at 7:07pm
| you can make you a bent bar an go in the filler hole an push that dent out' did a few over the years. it works. can do it right on the tractor. |
Posted By: Dave(inMA)
Date Posted: 08 Nov 2019 at 7:19pm
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That's a great looking WD45! Good for you, Phil. I hope you enjoy it for many years to come. ------------- WC, CA, D14, WD45 |
Posted By: JC-WI
Date Posted: 08 Nov 2019 at 7:34pm
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with a WD front end. Still looks nice. ------------- He who says there is no evil has already deceived himself The truth is the truth, sugar coated or not. Trawler II says, "Remember that." |
Posted By: Sugarmaker
Date Posted: 08 Nov 2019 at 8:03pm
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Phil, You did real good! Nice straight tractor! Have fun with it! 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: john(MI)
Date Posted: 08 Nov 2019 at 8:42pm
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Very nice looking original tractor. You can tell it wasn't used for tillage as the backs of the fenders ain't all crunched up like they are on 98% of all WD/45 tractors! Those might be the original rear tires too! ------------- D14, D17, 5020, 612H, CASE 446 |
Posted By: garden_guy
Date Posted: 08 Nov 2019 at 9:46pm
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Whew, beautiful looking tractor! |
Posted By: FranksWD45PS
Date Posted: 08 Nov 2019 at 10:19pm
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That is a nice WD45. Like the paint on it. Leave it be. I was lucky also this summer. I found this 1956 WD45 and was the first caller on it. I finally found a 45 in decent shape and it has factory PS, belt pulley and lift arm couplers. Its been repainted and not a show tractor but thats fine with me. I like the aged look. I've been picking away at it, cleaned carb, fuel tank, new plugs, engine oil change and hydraulic oil change. Lift arms have an issue with the pump keeping them in the up position but I'll fix that. Love this old girl. I grew on on a WD. The 45 was my dream tractor to own.  
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Posted By: Lon(MN)
Date Posted: 09 Nov 2019 at 7:48am
| The hand crank works well for many of these dents. The generator can be rebuilt as a 12 volt should you decide to keep it as 12 volt. |
Posted By: CTuckerNWIL
Date Posted: 09 Nov 2019 at 8:08am
There s NOTHING WD about the front end. The 4 bolt wide front didn't come out till the 45 Diesel. It's kinda like saying a curved shifter is a 45 transmission, when they came out on the WD 2 years, and nearly 20,000 tractors before the 45 was built. ------------- http://www.ae-ta.com" rel="nofollow - http://www.ae-ta.com Lena 1935 WC12xxx, Willie 1951 CA6xx Dad bought new, 1954WD45 PS, 1960 D17 NF |
JC(WI) wrote:Posted By: Dusty MI
Date Posted: 09 Nov 2019 at 9:10am
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I would think that a little compressed air would fix the dent in the gas tank. Just turn the gas valve off first. Dusty ------------- 917 H, '48 G, '65 D-10 series III "Allis Express" |
Posted By: Alberta Phil
Date Posted: 09 Nov 2019 at 9:27am
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Thanks for the comments. I'm pretty happy with this tractor. I may install my loader and blade on this one and semi retire the old WD which has been working hard for the last 25 years! I'll have a go at removing the dent. After all, my specialty is auto body restoration and repair so no stranger to removing dents! I'll check out the existing gennie to see if it's OK when I put a new 6V battery back in. I have a rebuilt gennie on the shelf ready to go if it isn't All my Allis tractors are still original six volt systems and I usually don't have any starting issues. The only one that was hard to turn over was my WD with a slightly modified WD45 engine. That was solved by having Steve at B&B build me a special 6 V starter that spins 'er over like it's on 12 volts!
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Posted By: Ed (Ont)
Date Posted: 09 Nov 2019 at 6:08pm
| Mine is number 175421 so close to that one. Has the same 3 bolt front end. And it is all original. |
Posted By: DSeries4
Date Posted: 10 Nov 2019 at 8:41pm
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My 1954 has a 3 bolt front axle as well. Great looking original tractor there. I would not worry about that dent in the tank. If that is the worst thing that has happened in its life, it has had a good life compared to many others I've seen! ------------- '49 G, '54 WD45, '55 CA, '56 WD45D, '57 WD45, '58 D14, '59 D14, '60 D14, '63 D15D, '66 D15II, '66 D21II, '67 D17IV, '67 D17IVD, '67 190XTD, '73 620, '76 185, '77 175, '84 8030, '85 6080 |
Posted By: Michael V (NM)
Date Posted: 10 Nov 2019 at 8:52pm
| Good lookin original,, just a little buffing on there and it will shine like a diamond! I have a early '45 that also has a "3 bolt" WFE, it is a dual fuel LP/gasoline |
Posted By: Reindeer
Date Posted: 10 Nov 2019 at 9:14pm
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Sweet looking machine! ------------- |
Posted By: HD6GTOM
Date Posted: 10 Nov 2019 at 9:31pm
| That's a good looking old gal. Only thing I see that might not be original is the light facing the rear, and it might be original, I've just never seen 1 like it. Dads 55 had the little red light there. I always wanted a 45 with a wide front. Father in law had 1 and you did not need power steering on it. I sure hope you have fun with it. |
Posted By: IBWD MIke
Date Posted: 11 Nov 2019 at 7:13am
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According to my 'list' that I keep, the 4 bolt wide front started at serial no. 186413. Think I got that out of Norm's book. Also on the list; snap-coupler became standard at 151381. Constant mesh, (WD45) transmission at 127007. Distributor ignition at 136318.
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Posted By: Lon(MN)
Date Posted: 11 Nov 2019 at 7:42am
| When did the foot clutch foot rest get smaller? |
Posted By: Sugarmaker
Date Posted: 11 Nov 2019 at 7:49am
I did not know it changed? I have only seen one type. So Were they very early WD's? Pictures? 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: chaskaduo
Date Posted: 11 Nov 2019 at 8:34am
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I'm sure they are out there but that is the first original snap coupler decal I have seen. This is one good looking orange gal for sure. ------------- 1938 B, 79 Dynamark 11/36 6spd, 95 Weed-Eater 16hp, 2010 Bolens 14hp |
Posted By: Alberta Phil
Date Posted: 11 Nov 2019 at 10:03am
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I think the fender light was installed by the original owner as a rear work light. It's mounted where the original small red light was. I have one of those but don't know if I'll change it over. I will get rid of the big right headlight which is a 12 volt sealed beam unit on a made up mount, and replace it with an original light. It didn't show up in my first pics, but the traction booster gauge is there. Don't know if it works though. I re-installed the lift latches on the arms as all my equipment is snap coupler. Just put new springs on them.
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Posted By: Sugarmaker
Date Posted: 11 Nov 2019 at 1:13pm
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Phil, Do you have good methods to remove the drive pins in the lift latches if they are broken off? I think you did real good on this tractor! It is very nice! 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: Alberta Phil
Date Posted: 11 Nov 2019 at 2:04pm
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Chris, yes I do. I just did a couple yesterday on another set of latches. I place a 1/4 in. flat washer over the broken drive pin and weld thru the washer to the broken pin. Then I weld a 5/16" nut to the washer, again plug welding through the hole in the nut. Let it cool and then slip a 1/2 in. box end wrench over the nut, wiggle it back and forth a few times 'til you feel it loosen up, then screw it out. |
Posted By: Sugarmaker
Date Posted: 11 Nov 2019 at 6:10pm
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Phil, Thank you! I can see how this may work good. I will try to save another set of these! 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: acd17toy
Date Posted: 11 Nov 2019 at 6:23pm
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What happened to the rear hydraulic outlet, I do not see one?
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Posted By: IBWD MIke
Date Posted: 12 Nov 2019 at 8:20am
Great tip! Got a bunch of them around here to work on this winter, think I've got 4 sets of springs ready to go.
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Posted By: Alberta Phil
Date Posted: 12 Nov 2019 at 7:58pm
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acd17toy. The rear hydraulic outlet and feed tube has been removed and the port on the valve body plugged. I'll probably re-install one. I can take one off of one of my parts tractors. |
Posted By: Ed (Ont)
Date Posted: 12 Nov 2019 at 8:24pm
| So with these 3 bolt and 4 bolt front ends. Is just the front plate different or did they beef up some of the other components? |
Posted By: Sugarmaker
Date Posted: 13 Nov 2019 at 8:05am
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Ed, Not the expert here but I haven't seen any changes other than the front plate. Of course the casting it bolts to may have had some minor changes to get the material for the additional tapped holes and new locations. I am sure the change was made to strengthen that weak point of the WD wide front end design. It was only weak if the tractor was abused. I see a lot that survived as 3 bolts. Of course the two that I had both were damaged and I had to make mine into a one of a kind 7 bolt to save it! Guess I could have went and found a good 3 or 4 bolt some where. Just too cheap and bull headed. 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: Ed (Ont)
Date Posted: 13 Nov 2019 at 12:08pm
| I had a machine shop make me a new 3 bolt front plate as the hole for pivot pin was egg shaped from wear. On the new plate I asked to double the thickness at pivot pin. So they welded a piece there same thickness as plate and put the correct hole thru the whole thing. I think that pivot pin is 1” but can’t remember for sure. Was going to drill and tap and install grease fitting but have not done that. Lol. 😀 |
Posted By: Lon(MN)
Date Posted: 13 Nov 2019 at 12:57pm
| One change from three bolt to four bolt is two bolts on the four bolt have a taper to the bolt and plate to hold it from moving. Many three bolt plates would move and egg out the holes. I have made up several of the rear supports hoping to sell some but no interest. |
Posted By: Alberta Phil
Date Posted: 13 Nov 2019 at 2:47pm
Still a lot of WD and WD45 tractors in use around this area, quite a few with loaders. I have 5 if I include my two parts tractors and I've never seen even one with the three bolt front mount loose or with holes wallowed out. Maybe we're just easier on them up here! |
Posted By: Sugarmaker
Date Posted: 13 Nov 2019 at 7:40pm
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Phil, You guys may be easier on them!:) The one tractor that I saved had been used in the woods to skid logs. The wide front was so wore out the tire had worn one of the bolt heads in the top pivot arm on the steering shaft! It did not have a easy life. But is fixed up and retired now! Don't know the back story on the other wide front, 3 bolt WD? But when I found it, the rear axle was broke in half at the spline for the bull gear. I got both very reasonable. But unlike your new one, I had to put a lot of work into making a decent one. Enjoy that new 45! 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: BillinAlberta
Date Posted: 18 Nov 2019 at 7:52am
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Very nice tractor Phil! If you want to see a '45 with a wallowed out front end stop by before spring. That job is on my to do list after going through my old G Gleaner.
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Posted By: Alberta Phil
Date Posted: 18 Nov 2019 at 9:39am
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Might do that, Bill. Haven't been down your way for a while! |