McCormick Deering WA40

Nebraska Kirk

Well-known Member
I brought this 1936 WA40 home yesterday. It should be a fun project!!


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Looks like a challenge. I think the gas tank may be beyond repair, but I guess anything can be repaired if you have determination.
 
Whats the difference in a WA and a WK? You must be a man of infinite talent and patience to restore a tractor in that condition. Good luck in finding parts. Joe
 
I do have the head, the previous owner had removed it and filled the cylinders with diesel fuel.

The WA was made to burn straight gasoline, it has a 3.625x4.5 bore and stroke. The WK was made to burn Kerosene and has a 3.75x4.5 inch bore and stroke. The WK also has a special heater type manifold to heat the incoming fuel/air mixture for better combustion. Both the WA and WK were built up until late 1936 and then nomenclature was changed to just W-40. The W-40 was built until June of 1940.
 
The picture and the comments make me think of the Hee-
Haw sketch were Jr Samples claims to have George
Washington's axe, 'course it's had two new heads and 4
handles since George owned it. Anything can be saved,
the question is if you replace more than 50% of it
have you saved it or assembled one from parts? If you
assemble a tractor with parts from 10 different
tractors and maybe only 15% of the parts came from one
tractor did you save it? It looks like a fun project
but I would advise doing something about the gas tank
before you try to fill it!!
 
One good running tractor from the parts of 10 is better than none running with a pile of parts going to scrap. It's still one good tractor and I'll bet it never wears out again!
 
As one fellow said, if cast's a shadow it can be restored. Yes you have bit of work to do, but so did I. My 650 gas was almost as bad here's before and after. Good luck on you project.
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Eric Best would be a good source for parts. PM me for his contact information.

1935 McCormick Deering WD-40 Diesel S/N WDC-519, Seth Jones Driving and Noah Jones on bicycle.

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Doesn't look like too bad of a job to me. It's already torn down for you. Be sure to keep us posted on your progress. Jim
 
(quoted from post at 20:36:12 05/02/13) Doesn't look like too bad of a job to me. It's already torn down for you. Be sure to keep us posted on your progress. Jim

After tearing the engine apart I discovered the head is junk and the crankshaft needs to be ground and all new cam, main and rod bearings installed, not to mention pistons and sleeves are worn too. I am finding out that undersized bearings are hard to find and rebabbitting and line boring the old shells will be VERY expensive. I can get a 450 Red Diamond engine cheap so I am just going to install it in the tractor. I will be on the lookout for parts and will rebuild the original engine at my leasure.
 
While at Red Power Roundup this past June, I learned that the WA40 is much rarer than I first thought. I was told that 331 were produced, definitely not more than 338. In light of this new information I decided not to put the RD450 engine in the tractor and instead to spend my time and energy rebuilding the original engine. I have since located a good replacement head, NOS 308 Black Diamond pistons that will fit after boring the sleeves a little oversize, head and manifold gaskets as well as NOS rod and main bearings.

I spent yesterday tearing into the chassis. Parts are coming off without too much difficulty.

Here is a picture of my progress at the end of the day. I had to make a scissors tongs to be able to lift the bull gear out as there are no holes in the side of the gear through which to pass a chain like there was on my 10-20. I don't know how much it weighs but I know it is HEAVY! I got 10 gallons of thick black goo out of the rear end and just a little water, all the gears and bearings appear to be in excellent condition though 8) I will just power wash everything off and fill with new gear oil.

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(quoted from post at 16:51:26 04/21/13) As one fellow said, if cast's a shadow it can be restored. Yes you have bit of work to do, but so did I. My 650 gas was almost as bad here's before and after. Good luck on you project.
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I just received the latest issue of Red Power Magazine, there is a nice article about you and your tractors in there! 8) 8)
 
I got 4-5 inches of snow here yesterday and while the sun is shining, it is only 6 degrees outside. So I thought I would give an update on how the tractor rebuild is progressing.

Here is a picture of my progress so far.

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I thought I could get by without taking the transmission apart, but I discovered a worn bushing and while disassembling it to replace the bushing, I discovered several of the bearings were pretty worn and loose, so I figured I may as well replace them while it is apart.
 
I have worked on it off and on this summer in my spare time and I am almost done! Here is what it looks like after this afternoon's work.

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(quoted from post at 19:46:29 10/19/14) I have worked on it off and on this summer in my spare time and I am almost done! Here is what it looks like after this afternoon's work.

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That looks terrific! Thanks for saving it.
 
IT RUNS!!!!!

I tried belting it up to my Regular to start it, but the belt kept slipping on the pulley and coming off, so I kept cranking.... it popped and sputtered a couple of times, I cranked some more and pretty soon it fired up with a throaty ROAR! It runs pretty darn good if I do say so myself and holds good oil pressure, 20 psi at idle and 40psi at full throttle. I did take a couple of videos of it running, I will have to upload them when I go to the library.... slow internet connection out here in the country.

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I got the ol' WA out of the shed today for the first time this year and made a couple videos of myself starting and driving it around. Enjoy!!

https://youtu.be/Nqp23UFaSX8

https://youtu.be/4TZaVZguVas
 
Kirk, well done. Is that a KB truck in the one vid? Also, you should post that one vid where you are crank starting it for all those who think there is grave personal danger and hard labor to start these old girls! LOL.
 
(quoted from post at 19:27:20 05/02/13) Eric Best would be a good source for parts. PM me for his contact information.

1935 McCormick Deering WD-40 Diesel S/N WDC-519, Seth Jones Driving and Noah Jones on bicycle.

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Hello David!

Gene
 
(quoted from post at 00:02:59 02/28/16)
(quoted from post at 19:27:20 05/02/13) Eric Best would be a good source for parts. PM me for his contact information.

1935 McCormick Deering WD-40 Diesel S/N WDC-519, Seth Jones Driving and Noah Jones on bicycle.

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Hello David!
I have a WA40 that is serial number 509 that I got from my grandfather's estate. Your WD is the lowest serial number I've seen besides my grandfather's WD-40 that was serial number 524 that went to my uncle. You have a Great looking tractor and great restoration job on it!

Tclyde11

Gene
 

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