I've been puzzling over how it would even be possible to make the steering column more vertical with a WD45 steering box. Seems like it would take two u-joints. 

The colder it gets, the more I overthink things.

I'm kinda relieved that I didn't get flamed for thinking of modifying one of these machines! I love the WD45 mechanically, but that sitting position sure can beat the body up pretty bad.

True. I really like the snap coupler system, with traction booster, power shift wheels, and the wet hand clutch. Not to mention the snappy governors they have. 

I'm 6' 3", and I just can't get comfortable on them, as much as I want to learn to like them. Hand clutch hits my knee, left leg feels like it needs to be longer than the right, and the seat doesn't do me any favors. 

Hopefully Terry won't mind...here's a video I took of his tractor from one of the Orange Spectacular shows. I believe he said it has live hydraulics, for the 3pt. 

http://photos.app.goo.gl/tKkNBPrDe4RQdUbX8" rel="nofollow - http://photos.app.goo.gl/tKkNBPrDe4RQdUbX8

 

Hell, just step up to a 175D and be done with it LOL!

10-4!

 

Just sold #4 to a young guy west of me.....I have 4 left that I think I will keep! Gotta say the D series just set since I started using them.

Hopefully Terry won't mind...here's a video I took of his tractor from one of the Orange Spectacular shows. I believe he said it has live hydraulics, for the 3pt.  http://photos.app.goo.gl/tKkNBPrDe4RQdUbX8" rel="nofollow - http://photos.app.goo.gl/tKkNBPrDe4RQdUbX8

On my project called "Schwartz", I've moved the operator's position forward, placing the seat essentially centered over the shifter,  and lowered the frame rails.  I've installed a Clear Vision cab, such that the floor of the cab footwells are about perfect to seat height.  Climbing in DOES require stepping over the transmission, but there's plenty of room for control pedals AND big boots on big feet.  Standing height to top of the roof is, if I remember correctly, about 3" shorter than my 8ft garage door.

It hasn't seen much progress lately, but when done, the Schwartz wide-front end will have fully hydraulic steering, with an adjustable angle steering column that'll pivot up for easy entry/exit, and full live hydraulics to run the front end loader and 3 point.  I've eliminated the factory hydraulics, because there's nothing in there that'll be used... but the seating position will be excellent, particularly when I'm wearing full winter gear... I'll also have a powerful heater to keep the operator and glass warm and dry on really nasty winter nights.

Can I just say how refreshing this is? Any other brand and the collector correctors would be flipping out. Here's there's an interesting open-mindedness about modifying to better use some of the most useful traits of these older machines. It certainly helps me appreciate the work the engineers put in.

Definitely looking at a front hydraulic pump and deleting the factory setup, since I have no great need for the draft control and no need at all for delayed lift. And I'm not that impressed with the stock spool valve, be it due to design or wear. 

I guess that is why I'm not the only one thinking about this kind of mod. The WD45 is modern and powerful enough to really make things happen, and the hand clutch can really let you do some tricks with a brush hog. But it's at the tail end of the "row crop" tractors made for the generation who expected to hang off the back of the tractor and monkey with ropes and levers on older implements. But it sure seems like someone in Milwaukee was thinking ahead, leaving that tantalizing space behind the gas tank with nothing in it that can't be moved.

Thanks!

Regards,

 Chris

Schwartz is a WD with a 45 motor.  It was a NF... with pedestal.  The Schwartz front end was originally setup so that it could be bolted to the chassis, the tires removed from the pedestal and moved to the WF spindles, and a bellcrank attached to the pedestal, so that it could be rapidly changed from NF to WF and back.  I have eliminated the pedestal, however, as this opened up a TON of room for a front-driven live hydro pump and a front lift for snowblade or V-plow.

With steering being fully hydraulic, there's no need to have a pedestal or steering box... just two hydraulic lines coming from the steering valve to the axle-mounted rams.

As for lowering the frame rails, here's an easy way to explain it:

Take a piece of stout steel tubing or channel, about the same dimensions as the original frame rails.  Cut a piece about 5ft long, clamp it UNDER the existing rails from a few inches in FRONT of the rear axle, up to about the clutch housing.  Weld the bottom flange of the frame to the tubing for a continuous length about 10" each way, on inside, and outside.  Now carefully cut out a segment of the original frame rail from 12" or so ahead of the rear axle, to the point where the cab would start.  This yields an offset in the frame that effectively lowers the frame in that zone where your feet will be, to the level of where a cab floor will be, when sitting on the seat as positioned directly above the shifter.

I hadn't even considered fully hydraulic steering, but that sounds like a really good idea. A front lift would be super useful. And the hydraulic pump I have for this is pretty big. That would also mean I can make it work with ANY wide front end - needn't be Allis. I'm looking at a NFE machine this eve and that could be useful. What are you using for a torque generator?

Do you have pics of the completed project? Looks neat!

Nothing worse than regular life interfering with projects!