WD Live PTO

Been meaning to ask this question here for years, just never did.
On the WD tractors they had kind of a two clutch affair.
One was a 'normal' clutch on the back of the flywheel that stopped the transmission of power to everything behind it.
The other was a clutch pack in front of the pinion shaft going into the rear end that stopped forward motion but allowed the PTO to continue to turn.
Is this correct?
Which one was operated by the hand clutch and which by the foot pedal?
Was the pinion clutch mechanical or was there a hydraulic element to it?
Which models had that setup - WC? WD? WD45? Others?
Was it a good, effective, long lasting system?
Mostly I know the Fords.
On the late 8Ns and Jubilees they had an optional "live" pto package that installed in front of the pinion shaft to stop the tractor but leave the pto spin.
There was a handle you pulled to stop forward motion.
They are not very common and finding one that still works is even less common. There was a hydraulic component in the pinion clutch that was prone to failure and parts for
one have been unavailable for decades.
I always thought the Ford ones were a good idea but kind of doohicky compared to a true live pto which was done with a double clutch and dual input shafts into the
transmission.
Were the AC ones better - more robust?
Were they easy to familiarize yourself with (knowing which handle or pedal to pull/push) so as to be effective?
Just wondering...
Thanks for any info.

The wd-wd45 and newer had a live PTO. The hand lever goes to a wet clutch pack that runs in oil and that's the one that stop tractor motion and keeps the PTO going. That clutch became the power director clutch in the D series and was used all the way to the end of the 185's. Yes they are very reliable and can tolerate considerable use.

Jerry- there was an after-market hand clutch unit for the WC, mounted between the transmission and the differential. It was a dry (and I"ve seen exposed) clutch. With that clutch installed, you could not have the mounted cultivator, since it sat where the mechanical cultivator lift was mounted.

The hand clutch on the WD and newer also gives live hyd power. Live, not independent. It runs in oil, and the WD had two discs, the WD45 had three. If you get out this way, I"ve got one on the shelf. If you don"t get out this way, I"ll still have it on the shelf!

WD had the first Factory set up as others have already said. Foot clutch is the master and stops everything. Hand clutch is behind the PTO and Hydraulic pump but ahead of the transmission.

Really shouldn't use the hand clutch to change gears but it will work. Engaging a gear from neutral doesn't really work with just the hand clutch. There is enough drag from the oil the hand clutch runs in that the input shaft won't stop on this alone. Just takes a bit of getting used to.

Due to running in oil etc the hand clutch is pretty much bullet proof. You can slip it all day long. One way to think about it is Allis brought out the All Crop combine and more importantly the RotoBaler pretty much the same time as the WD. They were really a matched unit. RotoBaler needed to stop forward motion and keep the PTO running for every bale thus a RotoBaler and WD or WD45 were a perfect match.

Now the hand clutch in a CA is a different breed of cat as it is on one of the differential shafts and I think runs dry. I have only seen one apart and really don't have any experience with durability or operation of a CA.

hth

jt

Fellas,
Very informative.
Thanks.

As far as comfort goes...it is undecided...!!!

I, myself never had any problem with the seating position, but many complain about it (since you cannot stand up very easily)..

The controls are all "IN HAND" and logical..

Most WD's and "45's" had LOADED rear tires because MORE Traction was what either one of them needed...ours even had (still do) the front tires Loaded also, to help hold the front down...(we worked them pretty Hard)..Most WD's ended up with "13x28" (now 14.9x28") rear tires..same as what came on the WD-45..

They made an excellent "Baler Tractor", etc, as you could slip the hand clutch and stop or slow for big Hay Slugs, etc..

Ron.

I find that the WD/WD45 as for comfort to be one of the worst tractor I own. I stand 6 foot tall so lack of good leg room is a problem for me

I find the WD45 hard to get off and on and no leg room but I am 6ft 4" tall. I have built a bracket and moved the seat back 6". Its bolted on so it can be taken off if it was to be used by a shorter person. Outside of the seating its a great tractor for its size.