Getting ahead of myself

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I am 30% through the D14 rebuild, 10% through the D10 SIII restoration for Kim, awaiting delivery on a D15D and a D17D I bought last year (both badly in need of restore along with D12), but, this popped up today. Bob Vanderploeg (a friend and collector who owns Meridian Equipment) came across this and he already has an immaculate WF. He called me and offered me a deal I couldn't refuse. The styled WF is a tractor I always admired, but since it wasn't in the D series (which is what my current collection is focused on), I didn't think I'd ever own one. They are quite unusual in the Pacific Northwest.

I'll say it was the sort of thing where I couldn't afford it given it was outside my collection plans, but I couldn't afford not to buy it. It'll be great for hauling the firewood trailer once it's restored.


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That is a baby doll !!! Just put it in a shed and start it once in a while. You'll never regret the acquisition. What year is it ??
 
Better be careful if you get to far ahead of your self you will find that in reality your way behind and a dollar short and many days behind. My self I like to do one project at a time or parts get mixed up and you end up with a machine like I built back when I was 16 or so. Took 2 Honda 50s one with the automatic clutch and one with the hand clutch and built one good running one. Problem was I use the 4 speed transmission of the hand clutch one and the automatic clutch of the 3 speed and ended up with 1st, 2nd and 4th 3rd got lost some place some how
 
Don't have the serial number yet. Bob told me he thought 1940, but the decal suggests later and I haven't touched it yet to see if it could have been repainted early in it's life.

It would be nice to keep it original, but it always seems you look close and find spots that will deteriorate if left as is. That's what happened with Kim's D10. It appeared to be perfect, but some metal to metal surfaces were hiding rot you couldn't see from the outside. Once you fix anything like that (and I had to to get any usable ground at the back of the tractor), there is no turning back.

I suppose if a person had a humidity controlled storage area, keeping it original would be more practical. With the rise of rat-rods, it seems technology to preserve patina has blossomed, but that's beyond me right now. The climate here makes it that much more difficult than restoration. I'll have to wait till I get up there and pick it up, which I have truck repair to do before I can.
 
I've never been around a WC/WF. I just noticed the grill doesn't have a hole for the radiator shutter crank like our WD had. Plus, the grill is slanted in at the bottom. I wonder if the decal placement is original? It looks higher on the hood than I recall.
 
That's an interesting observation. I've never thought to look at that. In the original pictures from both Wendel and Swinfords books, the placement is equivocal. It looks like most production units had the placement below the bend, but there are a few photos showing them placed higher. It never occurred to me that they were so sloppy in placement.

If it turns out the serial number verifies 1940, then I'd assume the decal was replaced. Maybe I'll call and get the serial number.

Anyone remember what year they changed from black long A & S to black short lettering? I used to know, age is catching up.
 
That is a very nice WC. We had an Allis dealer in our community from 1949 till Allis quit. My uncle farmed with Allis tractors and I spent much time on them.
I have never seen front tires like that in our part of the country>
Richard in NW SC
 
We can get those for N series, but I've personally never had a machine with single ribs, and have only seen them at shows. I've always had tri and twin ribs. These may actually be originals given the condition of the machine, though it would seem like the fronts would be worn more to match the rears.
 
Front tires only have to roll so no wear on them like rears that have to do the pulling. And for most things those single rib are no good. Only good if you are trying to run a tire in furrow to keep row spacing. They will not grip like a 3 rib in turning. Only ones I have seen in Ohio must have been brought in from out west as that style tractor did not match row crop farming so very few if any sold here. Look way more comfortable to drive to me than a WC or WD
 
Here is a shot of the operator's station. I don't think it's low enough to be the orchard model, which Swinford states was the most common load out. Seat spring appears to be the same as the IB but I'll check that out when I pick it up. It is also interesting that it has the bullet fender light on it. That would also suggest it is not early.

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Nice looking WF! I have a 1949, found in northern MN...not common where I live. I think most wheatlands were sent to the Dakotas, and Canada, since they are just a pulling tractor, not row-crop. Friend of mine when he saw mine said, "It looks like a little toughie".
 
That was how I felt about them for years. If I came across one, I'd want it. I never expected to have one land in my lap.

On the work light, I thought that was a nice touch. I was told by an ex-dealer 25 years ago or so, that most rear lighting was an option dealers installed on delivery. Don't know the validity of that. Should be able to tell by the wiring though.

To JMS, I think it might have been the same all over, the numbers were a bit over 8000 total made, so there could not have been that many around given the life of the model. I had assumed they would be most popular in orchard areas. This one came out of Oregon. Original owner had it in a barn for many years and the family put it up for auction. As I mentioned, I hadn't seen one here except at shows.

I'm trying to decide how to pick it up. I only have a small trailer nowadays and a 3/4 ton. I think it will work. The trailer is a twin axle with 3500 pound axles. The stats are 3100 dry weight for the tractor, and I'm guessing it probably doesn't have filled rears given they aren't rusted out. Have some work to do on my truck springs before I can go get it. I had to haul large fir logs this last summer and the air bags had difficulties. So it will be awhile before I can go the 60 miles one way to pick it up. It's paid for though and in good hands with the fellow that sold it to me.
 
Dought if it is much heavier than my For 2N if it is that heavy. Same size as my trailerand have no truble with my truck and it is no way what you would call a 3/4 ton being only a Dodge Dakota with the 4.7 - 8. And I have pulled on some hills. I do have the helper springs on the shocks and use a load leveler hitch.
 
If it doesn't have fluid in the tires it'll weight around 3000.On the light I'd say its an AC option as I've seen a few WC tractors with a light just like that one.
 
What am I seeing in the picture that wraps out part way over the right rear tire, around the lower rear of the right rear fender?
 
If I am seeing what you are, it looks a bit like a twig hanging there but I don't really know. I assumed that was a tattered string from the seat cover, but looking closer, doesn't appear so. I wouldn't think that if that were the remnants of the wiring for the wheel guard light, it would be hanging there.

In zooming it to look at that, I note the original clip and crank are still there. Very nice touch.
 
It would use a WC or WD engine depending on the year. Nebraska tests on the WC showed 24 drawbar. I won't know which engine it is until I pick it up and take a look at the serial and engine number, so it may be quite a bit more, like 30 drawbar for 1950. I think they were made until 1951.
 
Streamlined WF weighed 3490 lbs. Retailed for $1340 in 1951, last year of production (sn 8353). Your trailer should be fine- same as I have, and then pulled with an F150, half ton. Dean"s book shows drawbar 26 hp, belt 29.9 hp.
 
My F250 is one of those oddballs with 7 lugs. From what I've heard, it's more a F150 than 250. It'll probably do it though once I get rid of the air bag springs, they are a system that once they start to go, it's better to replace with coils. The inability to balance shows up under load.

The 3400 weight is a surprise, but it's still close, and should be fine if the tires aren't filled.
 
Leon, don't know if your question got answered' but it looks like a bent piece of fender. That is a nice looking tractor.Buy them when the are available.
 
Sort of an optical illusion thing, I guess. This time when it opened up for me, it's clear that what I'm seeing and had been wondering about was simply the rear axle housing and being between tire lugs sort of made it appear to be over the tire.
 
I hope those fenders are as good as they look- cuz you won"t find a replacement. However, the clamshell is identical to a WC, but the brackets are different, and you need to do some creative cutting to match the WF.
 
Good tractor... I grew up on dad's WF and now I have 3 myself. Good operator station unless you're really tall then it will be a bit tight. I suspect it's an early model with the
exhaust going out the side. I've never seen that steering wheel hub on a WF before... wonder if that came on the early models? My '51 WF was probably made on the last
production day being serial # 8320. You won't have any problem hauling that on your trailer if you just place it right.
 
I think they will be one of the better sets of fenders I have right now. The D15D will be using set of D14 spares I had and they are almost gone, the area around the 3 bolt holes is weak rust, it flakes away. I've been practicing TIG to patch them with about a 15 by 10 panel. The IB fenders are the worst because they are pretzeled and ripped in several places, but I plan to attempt a complete restoration on those too. Even Kims D10 SIII has pin holes all around the bolt holes, and this one might be that way too, but fenders tend to be one of the most rewarding parts of sheet metal work on these things.

I finally see what you were looking at Leon, my eye had to adjust to it too.

Thanks for the weight on that. It will probably take me a month, but the truck should be ready soon enough and I'll go up and get it. Trying to make barn space right now, the D15D and 17D will be here Sunday, and I have to fit all these guys in.
 

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