AC WD opinions

Other than the fact they're orange I don't know anything about AC's. There is a WD coming up for sale at an auction a couple miles from me. Seems like it might be a nice size tractor to do small odd jobs like getting some of my equipment out of sheds. My other tractors are a tight fit in some of the sheds. If it goes cheap might be handy to have course being an auction who knows what it could go for. I just want to be prepared in case. Any idea what a going general price range would be. Unfortunately the only thing I can go on is a lousy picture on the sale bill for condition. It's painted up nice and looks like nice tires and that's all I can tell you.

If a true WD it is a 31HP or so tractor that may or may not have 3 point but 3 point is easy to add. Not the best riding machine out there but not a bad tractor. I have seen them go for as little as $500 up to $2500. Now the question is, is it a WD or a WD45 or even a WC. To most hey all look the same and things like the shiftier and the engine and of course the serial numbers tell the whole story

WDs were made in great numbers and were followed by a more powerful version known as th WD45. Very well built and designed. Will pull 2/14s anywhere and 3 sometimes. With their replaceable wet sleeve design, the engines can be not only overhauled, but brought back to factory spec over and over again. Parts are readily available. Early models had magneto ignition. Later ones coil and distributer. Beware of ones that are labeled as WD45s when they are actually earlier WDs. (less power) Easy to tell the difference but you have to look closely. Serial number on vertical flat face of left rear brake housing/axle component. Up high and starts with "WD" no matter if it's a 45 or old WD. Some complain about seating position but I have many hours on one and it was OK. Hard to stand up. They have independent PTO clutch (hand) that is indestructible. An upside down three point hitch that will not accommodate modern day three point hitch equipment unless it has an after market three point hitch which is easy to find or make your own which is easy as well. Going prices for one in running condition (my guess) would be $600 to $1000, the $1000 one would be mint.

To demonstrate what I'm talking about, if you look at ad#604593 you'll see a picture of an Allis Chalmers tractor that's called a "WD45" when the low head clearly identifies it as a WD in spite of it's coil and distributor ignition. Low fenders confirm it as a WD. Not a WD45. The owner either doesn't know, doesn't care or is trying to Bilko someone into believing that it's a WD45.

The easiest way to tell WD from WD45 is that a WD has a plate bolted to block behind mag or dist. where as WD45 doesn't have that plate. I bought a plow for my WD45 and guy showed me the 45 he was rebuilding. The tractor had serial of a Wd45 but had a WD engine in it. But the WD and WD45 can use ether engine and a D17 engine will work.

I have used 1949 John Deere A , 51 Farmall M and Allis Chalmers WD45. Of the three of them for ride Deere was best and Chalmers was the worst. I bought a WD45 about 6 months ago and am working on moving seat back about 6 inches. As I am 6 ft.4" tall and need leg room. You won't get one for a $1,000.00 in mint condition around here but get you one in rough shape. I bought my WD 45 with new fenders, battery box, clutch, manifold, carb, complete electrical wiring, seat spring-shock, Gauges, front tires, steering wheel and radiator. All I did was make some adjustments, taillight, springs on snap couplers, pre cleaner, and Paint and decals. I paid $2,600.00 for tractor and put about another $700.00 in it.

To even be considered as a possible WD-45 tractor, the transmission must be the constant mesh, helical gear, curved shift lever. Even the late WD's had this, but at least it was exactly the same as the WD-45. The cross breeding of engines, engine blocks, cylinder heads, manifolds, carburetors, air cleaners, front axles, fender brackets, and sometimes even the whole rear end, makes it difficult to know exactly what it is or what it used to be. Any transmission with the sliding spur gear, straight shift lever can never be considered a WD-45.

What are you speaking of when you say low fenders? My wd and my 45 have the same fenders but I dont know if their correct.

The fenders ar the same. The brackets for the 45 were a little taller to clear the 14.9 tires.
AaronSEIA

Well Thank you for all the help but it ended up being a waste of time. The auctioneer was the worst I've ever been to. The AC ended up being a WC not a WD. The other tractor they listed as a WF was a C. There ended up being a 8% buyers penalty they didn't tell anyone about on the sale bill.