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Allis Chalmers Discussion Forum

1950 WD diesel

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JimFeet

08-27-2007 20:14:52

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About 10 years ago I bought an old diesel AC tractor to use for landscaping. It was hard to start but ran good so I used it for several years before retiring it in favor of a new Kubota. So now I'm looking at this guy and trying to decide if I want to tackle a recondition job. (I'm not retired but headed that way in a few years.)

Based on its sn (40834) I believe it was made in 1950. It has a cracked block that has been welded and which seeps just a bit. It's hard to start (no glow plugs in those days) and one of the brakes doesn't hold well. But it runs. Any advice out there? Any idea what it would be worth? WD diesels seem pretty scarce.

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Texas Denny

08-27-2007 20:47:37

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Re: 1950 WD diesel in reply to JimFeet, 08-27-2007 20:14:52

You are correct. WD diesels are rare. They didn't make any. The serial number you show is among the numbers for 1950. It is possible that a previous owner put a diesel in your tractor from a WD-45 or from some other source. The WD-45 diesel had 6 cylinders. How many cylinders does yours have? Also, the tractor serial number is near the left brake inspection plate. And the number is preceded by WD. This is certainly an interesting situation. The value would depend highly on what you actually have.

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JimFeet

08-28-2007 09:17:00

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Re: 1950 WD diesel in reply to Texas Denny, 08-27-2007 20:47:37

Interesting. Yes, I read the SN from the rear left near the brake inspection cover plate -- it clearly reads "WD 40834". And I obviously can tell the difference between gas and diesel. So, now the question becomes where did the diesel originate? It doesn't look cobbled in any regard (at least no more than any well-used 57 year old tractor would) and all the engine/drive controls seem original. Would a WD-45 diesel "drop in" to a WD frame and transmission?

Perhaps I should look for an engine SN that would shed some light?

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Texas Denny

08-28-2007 10:37:26

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Re: 1950 WD diesel in reply to JimFeet, 08-28-2007 09:17:00

I can't help you on engine serial numbers but there are others who frequent this board that can. A WD-45 Diesel, 6 Cylinder would bolt up to the transmission. I wonder if someone didn't just have two tractors - one with a good rear axel and transmission (WD) and another with a bad rear axel and transmission (WD-45) so they swapped engines. It isn't convenient to change a WD to a WD-45 diesel since most of the sheet metal is different. I'm not sure about the steering box.

If you can repair this engine, I would do it. Though you have a WD Rear axel, it still is a WD-45 Diesel. Do you have a curved gearshift? Maybe only the rear axel was changed.

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JimFeet

08-29-2007 06:32:24

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Re: 1950 WD diesel in reply to Texas Denny, 08-28-2007 10:37:26

> Do you have a curved gearshift?

Nope. Straight. Also, the wide front wheel axle has a 4-bolt mount on the frame rather than 3-bolt.

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Texas Denny

08-29-2007 07:04:27

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Re: 1950 WD diesel in reply to JimFeet, 08-29-2007 06:32:24

That is additional information. The four bolt front end came out sometime during the manufacture of the WD-45. No WD tractors ever had a 4 bolt front end. And the early WD-45's had the three bolt. This would suggest that the axel and transmission were changed and everything forward (including the side rails) was left as is.

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JimFeet

08-29-2007 08:32:34

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Re: 1950 WD diesel in reply to Texas Denny, 08-29-2007 07:04:27

Another point of interest is that the sheet metal seems appropriate for the engine -- doesn"t look cobbled. This leads me to believe the engine "fits" the frame. Also, the front end seems to be lacking the front "shelf" that protrudes ahead of the radiator over the axle on the WD's I've seen.

Seems to me maybe I might have a WD-45 diesel with a WD rear end bolted on.

I"ll try to find time to post some photos this weekend. That should help.

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Texas Denny

08-29-2007 10:38:09

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Re: 1950 WD diesel in reply to JimFeet, 08-29-2007 08:32:34

The WD-45 Diesel did not have the steering box ahead of the radiator - it was underneath the radiator. I think your conclusion is correct - WD-45 diesel with a WD transmission and rear end. Should be a very sound tractor.

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JimFeet

08-29-2007 13:38:25

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Re: 1950 WD diesel in reply to Texas Denny, 08-29-2007 10:38:09

Worth re-conditioning? Sheet metal, engine, brakes, paint, etc.?

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Texas Denny

08-29-2007 15:14:37

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Re: 1950 WD diesel in reply to JimFeet, 08-29-2007 13:38:25

For the 50's, the WD-45 Diesel commands the highest prices - often as much as double a good D-17. It is perhaps the most "Collectible" tractor that Allis ever made. I've seen WD-45 Diesels sell as high as $7000 for an especially nice tractor. In this case, the rear axle and transmission of your tractor don't match the engine and the value will be reduced. I can't estimate how much. You could find an axle and transmission from a WD-45 and have them match.

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J.C.in AZ.

08-28-2007 20:54:17

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Re: 1950 WD diesel in reply to Texas Denny, 08-28-2007 10:37:26

I had a wd45d that the engine went away on and a WD with a good Engine but little else and it also was a hard to steer,so we took the WD Engine and sheet metal and Radiator/gas tank and put the WD engine in the WD45D Chasis. It fit right in. Problem developed when sharp eyed shoppers who attended my Farm Sale and saw the Tractor sitting in the shed and assumed it was for sale which it was not ,caught right on to the swap even tho I did not try to dodge the issue and did not have it listed on the sale bill. I did have a WD45 Gas on the Sale Bill but not this one. It worked as a good Tractor for me so I was not concerned. I sold it to my BiL as he knew the circumstances.

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acd17toy

08-27-2007 20:44:50

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Re: 1950 WD diesel in reply to JimFeet, 08-27-2007 20:14:52

there was never any wd diesels made. the first year for the wd45 diesel was 1955. the wd45 diesels are highly sought after by collectors, wd45d had the six cylinder buda engines, they did have air heaters in the intake manifold just above the big pipe plug.

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acd17toy

08-27-2007 20:41:52

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Re: 1950 WD diesel in reply to JimFeet, 08-27-2007 20:14:52

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