WD45 Purchase for $1500. advise
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Category: Allis Chalmers
Forum Name: Farm Equipment
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URL: https://www.allischalmers.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=20052
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Topic: WD45 Purchase for $1500. advise
Posted By: ubw
Subject: WD45 Purchase for $1500. advise
Date Posted: 28 Oct 2010 at 8:32pm
 Came across a WD45 that looks to be in good shape. Has blade in back and comes with loader bucket. I don't know anything about these older tractors but the owner is only asking $1500. for it. Rear tires appear new and tractor is real clean. Owner says everthing works on it and it runs good. I am planning to meet him this Saturday to go over the tractor. Is there anything I need to look for that would not make this worth the purchase. I plan to use it for light grading, weed control and maybe find a brush hog for it. (Has a PTO) Attached are a couple of pics. Any advise would be appreciated.
Bert
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Replies:
Posted By: omahagreg
Date Posted: 28 Oct 2010 at 8:37pm
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WOW! If it is as described AND looks, I would say the price is right! We have a 1950 WD with trip bucket loader on it. It does NOT look any where as nice as that one! The after market 3 point is worth $300.00 new! ------------- Greg Kroeker 1950 WD with wide front and Freeman trip loader |
Posted By: Jeff(WC)(MI)
Date Posted: 28 Oct 2010 at 8:40pm
| if rear tires appear new, price a set of rear tires...deduct that from 1500.00....then you decide if the price is worth it....if not let me know where it's at! |
Posted By: Jeff(WC)(MI)
Date Posted: 28 Oct 2010 at 8:41pm
| i don;t think those 3pt conversion kits are cheap either |
Posted By: ubw
Date Posted: 28 Oct 2010 at 8:51pm
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That is why I stopped, noticed the tires, 3 pt. and blade, so no doubt all that is a plus for the money. My main concern would be if the tractor starts right up, moves and everything works, are these older tractors reliable? I don't want to have to spend any money on the engine, trans, etc. Is there anything I should look out for? If I decide not to buy it, I will post the location and phone number if anyone is interested. Thanks, Bert |
Posted By: ChuckLuedtkeSEWI
Date Posted: 28 Oct 2010 at 8:51pm
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It looks like a WD. Hard to tell from the pictures but it looks like straight shifter handle, not curved, and magneto ignition. Not a big deal. Biggest differences between the two is the WD had a plate on the right side of the engine that bolts on behind the oil filter. WD45 didn't have that plate. WD45 had curved shifter, although I think some late WD's did too. Other then the normal driving around and checking shifting and all the gears, try the hand clutch. Lever on the right side of the steering wheel that comes up about two feet and makes a sharp bend to the right for about 6". It stops forward or rearward travel but lets the pto and hydraulics still work. Make sure it snaps in and out good. Check for noises in final drives in 4th gear. If it's noisy, it might show some indications of how much wear she has seen in her life so far. Also, make sure the brakes are good, they can be a real pain to change out. Also, check the pto to see if it works, and check the pto box for any cracks. If all things seem to be good, a WD with a loader, newer rear tires, and a rear blade is a fairly good deal. ------------- 1955 WD45 diesel 203322 was my dad's tractor, 1966 D15 23530, 1961 HD3 Crawler 1918, 1966 D17 IV 83495, 1937 WC 41255, 1962 D19 6221 |
Posted By: ubw
Date Posted: 28 Oct 2010 at 9:00pm
Here are a few better pics
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Posted By: Matt MN
Date Posted: 28 Oct 2010 at 9:03pm
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Yes that is a WD instead of a WD45, But it is still well worth the Money. ------------- Unless your are the lead horse the scenery never changes!! |
Posted By: LannyMTN
Date Posted: 28 Oct 2010 at 9:03pm
| Check the serial number, and engine number. Appears to me, to be a WD. Serial #146,606 and below would be a WD. Price seems alright either way. |
Posted By: Stan IL&TN
Date Posted: 28 Oct 2010 at 9:11pm
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Only thing I'd change on that rig is the plastic seat. It looks like death waiting to happen.
For $1500 it's a steal. Buy it. ------------- 1957 WD45 dad's first AC 1968 one-seventy 1956 F40 Ferguson |
Posted By: Jeff(WD45-SATX-TN)
Date Posted: 28 Oct 2010 at 9:14pm
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Hey Bert. Welcome to the forum, best place for anything Allis Chalmers related. Knowledge base here is amazing!
She looks to be in pretty decent shape. As everyone else has stated, looks like a WD. A little cosmetic stuff on the hood and gas tank, but the condition of the paint makes up for it. I am a tiny bit concerend about the shifter. Looks a little tweeked in the large pictures. That is a pretty stout rod, would take some serious pressure to bend that. Just make sure it pulls good in all gears. Put that blade down and pull it a little to see. If it runs good, better jump on that deal. I think the three point hitch, blade, and loader would would fetch 1500 easy. You found a good one there.
Jeff ------------- 1954 WD45 NF "Iron Tater" |
Posted By: CTuckerNWIL
Date Posted: 28 Oct 2010 at 9:15pm
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I would take it for a spin and make sure you wind it up and back off the throttle pretty quick especially in 3rd gear. If it pops out of gear, it can get expensive to fix. I guess since it is the WD, the tranny is a little different than a 45. The popping out of gear may not be such an issue??? ------------- 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 |
Posted By: ubw
Date Posted: 28 Oct 2010 at 9:18pm
| Thanks for everyone's reply. I posted it as a WD45 because of the sticker on the front. Like I said, I know nothing about these older tractors, just seemed like a good deal. I will give it a test on Saturday and let you know the outcome. Nice forum. Bert |
Posted By: Hubert (Ga)engine7
Date Posted: 28 Oct 2010 at 9:22pm
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That definitely looks like a WD with WD45 decals. Also the decals seem to be placed too low. Check the serial number, the 45 serial numbers should start around 146607. Check Bryan Smith's website for location of serial number and engine serial numbers http://people.clemson.edu/~wsmth/SNFind/esn_tsn6.htm
------------- Just an old country boy saved by the grace of God. |
Posted By: Hubert (Ga)engine7
Date Posted: 28 Oct 2010 at 9:23pm
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Even if it is a WD it is still worth the money if everything is as advertised.
------------- Just an old country boy saved by the grace of God. |
Posted By: ubw
Date Posted: 28 Oct 2010 at 9:31pm
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I took the pictures today when I saw it parked on the side of the road. Talked to the owner and he said he had the loader bucket and it came with it. Seems like he said it was a '48 or '49, so that would make it a WD I think. I will check the serial numbers.
Bert
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Posted By: Larry(OH)
Date Posted: 28 Oct 2010 at 9:40pm
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that is the same adapter t hat I was wanting a picture of that I have. At least I see the draw bar can stay on it!! Looks good for the price around these parts ------------- '40 WC puller,'50 WD puller,'50 M puller '65 770 Ollie *ALLIS EXPRESS contact* I can explain it to you, BUT I cannot understand it for you!! |
Posted By: john(MI)
Date Posted: 29 Oct 2010 at 7:43am
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Check the rear rims real close and look around the valve stem for corrosion and missing metal.
It doesn't have power steering so the loader will be difficult to use. Just remember, you cannot turn the steering wheel if the tractor is not moving when using the loader!
Before running it, slowly remove the oil pan drain plug until fluid starts dripping. Check to make sure it isn't water or antifreeze.
Check the hand clutch operation. You should be able to put it in gear and with the hand clutch pushed forward the tractor should not move. Engaging it should make the tractor move.
Listen to the engine for any abnormal noises, and run the trans thru the gears.
$1500 is a good price, but if you can't fix an engine or trans, it could turn into a 1500 pile of iron! ------------- D14, D17, 5020, 612H, CASE 446 |
Posted By: fixer1958
Date Posted: 29 Oct 2010 at 8:43am
The newer seats like that are plastic and don't last but a couple of years.
The first one I bought was a metal frame and lasted 12 years but the padding on the seat wore out.
Good price. It needs seat pivot bushings.
I'd jump on it.
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Stan IL&TN wrote:Posted By: TedBuiskerN.IL.
Date Posted: 29 Oct 2010 at 9:41am
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That tractor has the short head, which makes it a mid 1951 or earlier. AC changed the head design, to what some people call the WD45 or "tall" head, in mid 1951. ------------- Most problems can be solved with the proper application of high explosives. |
Posted By: Alberta Phil
Date Posted: 29 Oct 2010 at 10:14am
| I've got a '51 WD with loader that I paid $1500 for ten years ago. I'ts a little noisy in the final drives as most are, but has been in daily use and I would say it was the best $1500 I ever spent!! Buy it!! |
Posted By: Walker
Date Posted: 29 Oct 2010 at 3:13pm
| I do believe I would try to hear it run before Sat. and get that man paid off before he changes his mind or somebody else comes along. |
Posted By: B26240
Date Posted: 29 Oct 2010 at 4:26pm
| Looks like a good deal You will not be able to put trans in gear without using foot clutch at least I never have been able to on the 4 or 5 ive owned. |
Posted By: Brian Jasper co. Ia
Date Posted: 30 Oct 2010 at 11:08am
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Judging by the replies, have you gone back to get it yet? It definitely would be sitting in my yard at $1500... ------------- "Any man who thinks he can be happy and prosperous by letting the government take care of him better take a closer look at the American Indian." Henry Ford |
Posted By: Doug northern IL
Date Posted: 30 Oct 2010 at 6:30pm
| well did he buy it anyone hear anything hope he will post |
Posted By: George R. (MN)
Date Posted: 30 Oct 2010 at 6:52pm
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It may not be a 45 but it is a really nice WD. Heck, aroung here $1500.00 pretty much buys you a tractor that's one step from the scrapper! I would say jump on it! Looks like a really nice rig! ------------- My tractor is not leaking oil, it's just marking it's territory! |
Posted By: ToddSin NY
Date Posted: 30 Oct 2010 at 6:53pm
| Well he must of bought it! No word from him makes me think he's out playing with it like a kid with a new toy!! LOL! |
Posted By: ubw
Date Posted: 30 Oct 2010 at 10:12pm
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Sorry for the late reply, had a roofer look at my leaking roof this morning and the location of the tractor is about 2 hrs from my house; just got home. Looks like everyone is wondering if I bought it -- not yet. Well I did go and look at the WD today and drove it. It is a 1948 model. Starts right up and idles good. Went through the 4 gears, and reverse and all seem fine. In 4th gear it was real spunky - kind of surprised me on how it took off. Brakes stop the tractor, which is good. Dwanye (the owner) had the loader bucket attached. Of coures the hydraulics work both the rear balde and the bucket. When the bucket was up at full extension the left ram was spewing out hydraulic fluid. Closer inspection shows sign of pretty bad corrosion on the ram. Lowering it did stop the leak. Rear hydraulics work good and 3 pt. appears in good shape. I did look at the rims closer as John mentioned and both wheels have severe rust and metal loss around the valves stem. It looks like about a tihird of each wheel has been sitting in water. Hand clutch worked flawless and was easy to engage disengage. There appeared to be some oil seepage around the head and the oil pan. Oil looked good with no water intrusion evidence. PTO worked and no noticible cracks in housing.
Dwayne hasn't had any offers yet so I'm kind of undecided. I am going to give him a call tomorrow and see how much lower he might actually go.
I guess my only major concern is the heavy rust around the rear valve stems. Mechanically the tractor seemed fine -- more to follow -- I will update.
Bert
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Posted By: Bill Long
Date Posted: 30 Oct 2010 at 10:22pm
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If I was still selling I may be tempted to buy for re-sale. The price sounds like that good.
It is a WD which means no transmission problems since they are using "sraight Gears" and not the Constant Mesh transmission.
Course you have to remember the unit is some 62 years old. Things just wear out when they get that old.
However, it looks good.
Good Luck!
Bill Long
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Posted By: Brian Jasper co. Ia
Date Posted: 31 Oct 2010 at 1:50am
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Bert, if you can weld, you can fix those rear wheels. The easy way is go to a salvage yard and cut some patch panels out of another junk wheel. Just take your time fitting them and when done, the repair will be very difficult to spot. I used a cutoff wheel in my Skill saw to do the cutting, and a 125V mig welder to burn them in. A little grinding with an angle grinder, a little spot putty to smooth the imperfections, repair is really tough to see.
Like someone else said, there's easily $1K worth of new tires on the back end. ------------- "Any man who thinks he can be happy and prosperous by letting the government take care of him better take a closer look at the American Indian." Henry Ford |
Posted By: Jeff(WC)(MI)
Date Posted: 31 Oct 2010 at 9:26am
| fixed one valve stem hole on my wd45...chipped out bad metal with welding hammer...formed a large fender washer in there from the inside with the 5/8 hole..tacked it on the inside and ground flat so it didn;t rub on tube...built up outside with wire welder and ground down...nobody ever knew till i told em |
Posted By: Jordan(OH)
Date Posted: 31 Oct 2010 at 11:56am
| Buy it, even if it turns out to be a piece of junk, which I doubt, you have a 3 point adapter, blade, wide front end, and loader that should be worth 3-400 each, plus the tires at least 500. |
Posted By: Jacob (WI,ND)
Date Posted: 31 Oct 2010 at 1:41pm
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Here is some info on the 3 point it has, its a Speeco. My WD has one, but I'm missing the top link. http://www.allischalmers.com/new/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=13604&KW=speeco+point&PID=102479&title=latest-find#102479 - http://www.allischalmers.com/new/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=13604&KW=speeco+point&PID=102479&title=latest-find#102479 ------------- Jacob Swanson 1920 6-12; 1925,1926 20-35 longfenders; 1925,1926 15-25's; 1927,1929 20-35 shortfenders; C; B's; IB; WC's; WD; WD45 |