I suspect that a front pedistal from a gas tractor has been put on your tractor and could have used the cranking shaft for an auxillary drive. I too have never seen a device as you have described, but have owned and used 3 each of wd45d and gas models.
: The wd 45 diesel I'm working on has an extra gear drive sticking through the front pedestal It is right beside the crank. It is not after market and appears to have been chain driven off of the engine shaft. BUT WHAT IS IT FOR? Noone has come up with a good explanation. The wd 45 parts and service manuals don't show anything like this. Was it a starter, or was it a drive for an auxillary hydraulic pump? Hope some of you experts can shed some light.

: I suspect that a front pedistal from a gas tractor has been put on your tractor and could have used the cranking shaft for an auxillary drive. I too have never seen a device as you have described, but have owned and used 3 each of wd45d and gas models.
: : The wd 45 diesel I'm working on has an extra gear drive sticking through the front pedestal It is right beside the crank. It is not after market and appears to have been chain driven off of the engine shaft. BUT WHAT IS IT FOR? Noone has come up with a good explanation. The wd 45 parts and service manuals don't show anything like this. Was it a starter, or was it a drive for an auxillary hydraulic pump? Hope some of you experts can shed some light.

Thanks for the response. If the pedestal is from a gas tractor then that begs the same question, what the heck was is used for? As I said, it is definitely factory or the best machining I've ever seen.j