In our area West and NW of Minneapolis, there were a lot of WD 45s sold. But the dealers were not dedicated tractor dealers. The hardware store with a garage at the back of the property was the Allis dealer (Fortin Hardware, Hamel MN). I am sure some sales were generated from the farmers who came in to buy some hardware items, or maybe a household appliance. The Allis was not considered a top line tractor, but a cheaper machine that could get a job done. Probably their best mechanical feature was a super good governor. The engine was quick to respond, and maybe better than any compeditor's governor. It was physically big compared to other brands, so a bit of wear in the governor made little difference to the response. The MM tractors of the time had a way too small governor and a bit of wear and they were way down on power. I think the other manufacturers were somewhere in between in the governor size, life, and response.
I have N Fords, big Fords, Farmalls, MM tractors and have had to maintain the WD 45 for the local saddle club, and use the WD in maintaining their arena. I would happily drive any other tractor than the WD. How they ever sold the second one, I just do not know. It is the worst most bone jaring ride of any tractor I have ever driven. From a maintenance point of view, I can not understand how they could take some off the shelf truck transmission and a truck rear end and chain drive it to the wheels. There is so little oil in the tranny and rear end that it doesn't get the heat out from many continuous hours of tillage. There are many stripped out Allis hulks still residing in the tree lines. With the drawbar hitch and the drop box final drives, the WD had a tendancy to rear up and flip over if not pulling on level ground. Once it began to rise up the tires still pawing forward and the weight shift of the tractor to behind the rear of the tire footprint made the thing just plain dangerous. Given the awkward seating position and very quick governor it was about impossible to get off of before being smushed under the darn thing. And then there is that open PTO shaft running under the rear end. If you weren't careful in tall hay, it would wrap up on the shaft.
And then to do the brakes, what a pain if the lower anchor pin was rusted, so many were run without functioning brakes.
NOOO..siree. I do not become nostalgic over never having to drive or work on another WD or WD 45.
In all fairness, I will admit they were at the forefront of some of the technology, especially the high pressure hydraulic system. But if you think of high production, it was a cost cutting move, as they could make much smaller cheaper hydraulic cylinders than the competitors. They were pushing the limits on what hydraulic hoses could withstand and many failed. Hydraulic hoses of the early 50's were nowhere near the quality produced today.
How about the oil pressure gauge that was mounted on the right side of the engine block? Or was this a PO modification? The temp gauge at the radiator neck? And no tachometer.
Just my experience and opinion, and to each their own!
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