WD45 Help

I have recently rented some hay ground and have been researching using a WD45 on a square baler.  Everyone says they make a good square baling tractor.  I have never owned a WD45 before.  Are there any out there that dont cost a fortune, and in decent mechanical shape.  Located in central Illinois.  Thanks for any help.

Edited by John (C-IL) - 12 Nov 2011 at 6:35am

friend of mine has a  WD for sale $1400 don't have the number as I am at work can post in the morning  has decent paint and tires, I've not heard it run   kj@work

Keep an eye out for local auctions, i sold mine at the local consignment sale a few years ago, it had been overhauled professionally, wide front, factory power steering, good rubber, paint was fair, needed only a power steering leak fixed but wasnt major, it sold for 1,750 dollars.    and yes WD45's make excellent hay tractors with the hand clutch, the only better hay tractor is a Farmall 656 Hydro

The only problem I've found with the WD45 is if the windrow is very heavy. The 45 is a little fast in low gear if the hay is real heavy. You end up having to work the hand clutch too much. A D series would be a little better suited with the power director. WD45s have baled billions of bales around the country though.

Where a WD/WD45 really shines is with the hay rake.

R.W wrote: m16ty wrote: Where a WD/WD45 really shines is with the hay rake.   Just about any tractor can run a hay rake, and do a good job at it.

Not really. Sure, you can pull it with a lawn mower but it wouldn't work very well.

If you think any tractor will work good with a hay rake you haven't raked much hay. You can maneuver much better with a WD/WD45 than you can with most tractors. At least that's my experience with the way we rake hay around here.

My 45 also does great with my 1010 NH bale wagon. The controls are within easy reach because of the way the seat is set up on the 45. It's got plenty of power but could use a little more weight pulling the loaded wagon up a big hill.

I agree with the gentleman from TN. A D-17 would be a much better baling tractor. You have twice the number of forward gears with the HI-LO power director. Also a more comfortable tractor and a 12 volt system which is far superior to the old 6 volt systems. Price would be close on both models in my part of the country. I've owned both models-WD45 with PS,NF and D-17(3) with PS,NF and I sold the WD because I thought it was always hard to start and was the roughest riding tractor I'd ever drove. I love the D-17,I use it for tedding ,raking and cutting alfalfa with my old NH 495 12' haybine. I can't imagine what shape my back would be in after raking hay with a WD even for just a few hours.

I agree with using a D17 instead of a 45. Them D 17's were built for haying. comfortable and the power director is perfect for adjusting on the fly to the varying thicknesses of hay. May i also add the safety factor in. The D series tractors had front entry for the seat. The rear entry for a 45 makes it a tad more unsafe when the live PTO is a rolling.

John (C-IL) wrote:   I've got a real nice one that I would sell. Pretty decent tires, excellent paint, two way hydraulics, lights and gauges work. The owner before me used it on a baler but found that it was too hard for him to steer. I'll see if I can post a picture. I've owned the tractor for 5 years and mostly take it to shows, but I have done some field work with it. $2700, ready to drive on your trailer and start working. Paxton, IL.

I like them with the rims painted white like this.
Like others have said any 20-40 hp tractor can make a good hay raking tractor.I only raked with a WC and D-17's. Both worked fine.Dad always baled with the D-17.WD 45 was best suited with a roto-baler but I am sure it could handle most older square balers.We had traded the WD45 in on a D-17 before I was born.