Last WD45 pics
Printed From: Unofficial Allis
Category: Allis Chalmers
Forum Name: Farm Equipment
Forum Description: everything about Allis-Chalmers farm equipment
URL: https://www.allischalmers.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=37374
Printed Date: 12 May 2025 at 10:39am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.10 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Last WD45 pics
Posted By: AC WD45
Subject: Last WD45 pics
Date Posted: 16 Sep 2011 at 7:44pm
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Last Allis Chalmers WD45 off the line, s/n:236958. This is the one I was talking about a couple of months ago. Owned by Bob Lynch in OK. Below is the text in the email he sent me.
Tractor was built in Jan 1958 , delivered in Feb to Wayne Fisher dba. Farmers Supply Company Stillwater , Okla . The Whitey Hogrefe family bought it in March , I got it from Jack Hogrefe in 1981 .
The air precleaner was dealer installed . Notice there is no crank rod in the steering casting , never had one . .Also the diesel battery box and gauge pod thru the hood . Not sure why chrome headlight rings ..... never saw a nother set ????? ,
            ------------- German Shepherd dad 1957 Allis Chalmers WD45 #WD234847 1951 Allis Chalmers WD #WD88193 |
Replies:
Posted By: jnicol6600
Date Posted: 16 Sep 2011 at 7:49pm
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That one needs a nice restoration.
I see he has good taste in tractors and trucks.
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Posted By: BennyLumpkin
Date Posted: 16 Sep 2011 at 8:08pm
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Doesnt look bad the way it is other than the mismatched rear tires.....I cant stand that for some reason lol
------------- Central PA Allis Express 1934 WC254 1945 WF 1945 WC135755 1951 WD68085 1953 WD45-150217 1957 WD45D-230744D B110 |
Posted By: orangepower
Date Posted: 16 Sep 2011 at 8:15pm
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in the middle of the lift arms is that a place for attaching a toplink, my 45 doesn't have that.
------------- 45 diesel puller, 45 gas puller, ca puller |
Posted By: Calvin Schmidt
Date Posted: 16 Sep 2011 at 8:23pm
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Has the tractor been repainted at one time?
WD-45's had the name decal with the short 'A' and short 'S'
the WD-45 decal on the front doesn't look quite right.
Great find! ------------- Nothing is impossible if it is properly financed |
Posted By: AC WD45
Date Posted: 16 Sep 2011 at 8:27pm
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Yup, not long after he bought it. I think he said somthing about oneday doing a complete restoration on it getting it as close to factory as possible. ------------- German Shepherd dad 1957 Allis Chalmers WD45 #WD234847 1951 Allis Chalmers WD #WD88193 |
Posted By: Unit3
Date Posted: 16 Sep 2011 at 8:56pm
| I noticed the bracket for a top link for a 3pt hitch. |
Posted By: Rfdeere
Date Posted: 16 Sep 2011 at 9:10pm
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No picture of the serial number ? The toplink bracket is attached to a sleeve (for lack of a better word) that bolts on with the lift arms. I think somone has cut a hole for the diesel pod to fit a gas hood. ------------- Randy Freshour,Member Indiana AC Partners, http://www.rumelyallis.com" rel="nofollow - http://www.rumelyallis.com |
Posted By: AC WD45
Date Posted: 16 Sep 2011 at 9:45pm
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The toplink bracket covers it up I think. He has all the papers for it when it was bought new an a few picsanw with the exception of the decals it looked the exact same. I had them saved on my old computer but I lost everything when it crashed.
------------- German Shepherd dad 1957 Allis Chalmers WD45 #WD234847 1951 Allis Chalmers WD #WD88193 |
Posted By: jhid
Date Posted: 16 Sep 2011 at 10:11pm
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if it were mine I would just clean it up, pit matching rubber on the rear and a few new knobs ------------- red and green are nice for christmas, but orange is all year round http://www.canadianantiquetractor.com/tractorforum/ |
Posted By: Pat the Plumber CIL
Date Posted: 16 Sep 2011 at 10:30pm
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I have heard rumors of late WD45s that used D-17 parts,diesel hoods and dealers painting rims cream colors on new WD45's they had not sold yet.Would not put it past A/C to want to use stuff up.
Always like the look of a WD 45 with cream rims.Knew of a WD 45 over by Pittsfield with cream rims and seat.Lady that owns it says her husband bought it that way new.He never painted anything she claims.Imagine dealers had them and wanted to get rid of them,so they would "update" them. ------------- You only need to know 3 things to be a plumber;Crap rolls down hill,Hot is on the left and Don't bite your fingernails 1964 D-17 SIV 3 Pt.WF,1964 D-15 Ser II 3pt.WF ,1960 D-17 SI NF,1956 WD 45 WF. |
Posted By: RichinWis
Date Posted: 17 Sep 2011 at 7:17am
| Interesting plug for the traction booster in the guage pod, looks like a gauge just painted over. Also doyou think the factory would have just welded the top link bracket onto it? also the front wheels are painted like a D series, but not the same as the D series. Very nice tractor though! |
Posted By: B26240
Date Posted: 17 Sep 2011 at 7:28am
| nice looking as is , great to have most or all history ! |
Posted By: Breeze
Date Posted: 17 Sep 2011 at 7:29am
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I like it, it aint like all the rest. |
Posted By: AC WD45
Date Posted: 17 Sep 2011 at 8:25am
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I think the reason behind the top link being bolted it to hold it inplace from moving. If it was welded it would move with the rocker shaft. I think thats what they where trying to prevent. Alsop to make it removeavle with the rest of the assembly ------------- German Shepherd dad 1957 Allis Chalmers WD45 #WD234847 1951 Allis Chalmers WD #WD88193 |
Posted By: AC WD45
Date Posted: 17 Sep 2011 at 8:31am
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Forgot to mention he also owns a WF, Farmall WD-40, and a 1*0 with a loader ------------- German Shepherd dad 1957 Allis Chalmers WD45 #WD234847 1951 Allis Chalmers WD #WD88193 |
Posted By: arrowcreekfarms
Date Posted: 17 Sep 2011 at 2:01pm
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Thats interesting. So if i am understanding this corectly they used a D-17 block on this wd-45?
------------- 1972 200 diesel, 1966 190 Gas, 1962 D-15 Gas w/ #15 loader, SC 3-16" Plow, SC 8ft disc, SC 2 Row Cultivators, 500 Series 4 row Planter |
Posted By: AC WD45
Date Posted: 17 Sep 2011 at 4:15pm
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Correct
------------- German Shepherd dad 1957 Allis Chalmers WD45 #WD234847 1951 Allis Chalmers WD #WD88193 |
Posted By: arrowcreekfarms
Date Posted: 17 Sep 2011 at 4:44pm
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That is interesting does anyone know what serial # on the 45's they started to put the 17 block in
------------- 1972 200 diesel, 1966 190 Gas, 1962 D-15 Gas w/ #15 loader, SC 3-16" Plow, SC 8ft disc, SC 2 Row Cultivators, 500 Series 4 row Planter |
Posted By: AC WD45
Date Posted: 17 Sep 2011 at 5:17pm
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I believe there where only 2 or 3 made in '58 so not to many numbers before this one, if any others at all. ------------- German Shepherd dad 1957 Allis Chalmers WD45 #WD234847 1951 Allis Chalmers WD #WD88193 |
Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 17 Sep 2011 at 9:12pm
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Wish I could actually look at the tractor, because I have many questions, one being the aftermarket decals (blue color, long A & S and wrong WD45 decals)....snap coupler latches are from a D17 with a spreader bar, diesel clutch pedal to go around the big battery box, WD45 diesel starter pull ring and extra bearing on the throttle shaft running down from the steering wheel, etc. Also the top link tube must be split to slide it over the lift arm shaft so you don't have to remove the lift arm on one side to install it??..also no paint on the lift shaft bolt heads. If that really is a D17 engine, the water pump mtg bolts to the block will taker a wrench bigger than 9/16" and the two lowest timing cover bolts will take a 3/4" wrench. Also the block will have a reinforment rib running lengthwise down both sides of the block behind each side frame. What's the serial number of the engine?? behind the carb hose.....should say 17- XXXXX . |
Posted By: AC WD45
Date Posted: 17 Sep 2011 at 9:24pm
1. tractor was redone once in 81 0r 82 (not long after he bought it) 2. top link tube is solid as far as I know. 3. cant tell. 4. cant tell. 5. See 4th picture down. ------------- German Shepherd dad 1957 Allis Chalmers WD45 #WD234847 1951 Allis Chalmers WD #WD88193 |
DrAllis wrote:Posted By: AC WD45
Date Posted: 17 Sep 2011 at 9:27pm
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I'm guessing the lift arm bolts have no paint because he probably took them off to get the S/N ------------- German Shepherd dad 1957 Allis Chalmers WD45 #WD234847 1951 Allis Chalmers WD #WD88193 |
Posted By: BennyLumpkin
Date Posted: 17 Sep 2011 at 9:35pm
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That tractor wasnt used much....look how tight the bolster pivot hole is on that wide front.....
------------- Central PA Allis Express 1934 WC254 1945 WF 1945 WC135755 1951 WD68085 1953 WD45-150217 1957 WD45D-230744D B110 |
Posted By: AC WD45
Date Posted: 17 Sep 2011 at 9:51pm
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that or it saw nearly all of it's use with a heavy implement on the back.. ------------- German Shepherd dad 1957 Allis Chalmers WD45 #WD234847 1951 Allis Chalmers WD #WD88193 |
Posted By: CTuckerNWIL
Date Posted: 17 Sep 2011 at 10:19pm
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It looks to me like the decals were taped of when it was painted last. Therefore the outdated decals were put on it before the last paint job so maybe it was repainted twice. My 45 has those same lift latches. They were given to me by a guy that had a 17 and already had a set on his. Pretty easy to bolt on. The top link bracket is welded to whatever I'm looking at, which looks like the lift arm shaft to me. Lots of farmers had welders, I doubt this is any factory top link. If the engine was transplanted, it should have a good engine number. If it was a one off, maybe it wasn't supposed to have been sold. ------------- http://www.ae-ta.com" rel="nofollow - http://www.ae-ta.com Lena 1935 WC12xxx, Willie 1951 CA6xx Dad bought new, 1954WD45 PS, 1960 D17 NF |
Posted By: AC WD45
Date Posted: 17 Sep 2011 at 10:23pm
Decals are the cheap Mylar (sp?), thats why they look like that. top link is bolted to where the rocker shaft bolts up (notice the welded metal at each end) ------------- German Shepherd dad 1957 Allis Chalmers WD45 #WD234847 1951 Allis Chalmers WD #WD88193 |
Posted By: wjohn
Date Posted: 17 Sep 2011 at 11:07pm
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I think we've got those same latches on our WD, but we have the bar that runs between the two latches in those holes that you can make out in the picture above. I presume it makes it less likely that you'll bend a lift arm, but the bar is missing from this tractor. ------------- 1939 B, 1940 B, 1941 WC, 1951 WD, 1952 CA, 1956 WD-45 |
Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 18 Sep 2011 at 7:40am
| "D17N" isn't an engine serial number....that seems to be a casting number of some kind. The serial number is stamped on a flat spot behind the carb or carb air cleaner hose, if it even has one ?? |
Posted By: AC WD45
Date Posted: 18 Sep 2011 at 9:12am
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I'll ask next time I see him on Facebook. It's sort of unpredictable because he's Deputy Chief with the Volunteer Fire/EMS ------------- German Shepherd dad 1957 Allis Chalmers WD45 #WD234847 1951 Allis Chalmers WD #WD88193 |
Posted By: AC WD45
Date Posted: 18 Sep 2011 at 9:15am
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Actually, now that I look at it, the breather hose is right below the casting number. Maybe it doesn't have one? ------------- German Shepherd dad 1957 Allis Chalmers WD45 #WD234847 1951 Allis Chalmers WD #WD88193 |
Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 18 Sep 2011 at 9:30am
| With all the things that appear to be a "diesel" chassis.....I wonder if it has the diesel ring and pinion (which is the same as a D17 and 15% slower) and then a D17 governor which is 2000 rpm high idle.....? then there's the PTO box gearing? Engine S/N is more behind the carb if I remember right. |
Posted By: TomMN
Date Posted: 18 Sep 2011 at 10:48am
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I don’t think any factory anywhere that had the idea of making money building tractors would do this. There were over 6600 WD45 tractors manufactured in 1957 those serial numbers were 230295 through 236958 which includes this tractor the records say it was built in 1957. There were already 3,299 D17 tractors built in 1957 ramping up to build 12,200 D17’s in 1958. To even think they would run a WD45 down the assembly line in 1958 is absurd. The goal would have been to push and sell the new line. This looks like a diesel chassis that someone put a gas engine from a D17 in; it looks like they did a very nice job of it. Does the serial number have a D on the end of it? It still has the diesel front end on it too, that would not be needed to put a gas engine in it. The curved down top frame rail can’t be seen in these pictures as it would be right under the radiator, that could be straightened with a torch though I suppose. I don’t buy the story that it was built in the factory in 1958. |
Posted By: AC WD45
Date Posted: 18 Sep 2011 at 11:08am
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Somewhere, I believe in Norm's book? is mentions a few tractors (2-3) built in the very beginning of January '58. I'm guessing these where to fill back orders. ------------- German Shepherd dad 1957 Allis Chalmers WD45 #WD234847 1951 Allis Chalmers WD #WD88193 |
Posted By: BurtIA
Date Posted: 18 Sep 2011 at 11:54am
| I'm highly skepical of this story. I would buy a story of making a diesel into a gas, that would also explain the D17N on the block. What Norm's book does say " The last WD 45 was built during the summer of 1957, after a run of 90,382 tractors". Nothing about any built in '58. They were already building D17's in '57 so building 2 or 3 WD 45's in 58? I doubt it. |
Posted By: DaveKamp
Date Posted: 18 Sep 2011 at 12:03pm
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Only reason I'd doubt DOUBTING it, is because... ...when you have parts still sitting on the manufacturing floor... you do what JEEP did... ...build 'em up with whatever's left, and get 'em out the door. I have a 1971 Kaiser-Jeep Jeepster Commando with OLD STYLE frontend, AMC badges and all sorts of mismatched parts... and the original build-sheet and sales bill from 1972... and I've got a buddy that had one just a few serial numbers later that has the new-style frontend, but a 225V6 (ex-Buick)... they were just usin' up the leftovers. |
Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 18 Sep 2011 at 12:15pm
| But, for only two or three units??? they'd been smarter to throw all the leftover parts into the "Parts" system and sell them over time..... |
Posted By: DaveKamp
Date Posted: 18 Sep 2011 at 1:31pm
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Yeah, most would think so, too... but that was before 'just-in-time', robots, and quick-change assembly fixtures... so you're not talking about assembly lines that have incoming shipments that're used on same-day they rolled out the door. Those last three units may have been mostly assembled, sitting on bracket-stands in the queue-lot for weeks when the shift ended. To move them into 'parts' meant dismantling them, when it was much more cost-sensible to finish 'em up and send 'em out. Changing out an assembly line at an ALLIS plant, happened like many others, with the exception that Allis would CONTINUE pushing products out the door... even while they were tooling up for the new model. All my local Deere, Farmall, and Case buddies said that Allis ALWAYS beated 'em out in changeovers because they had essentially NO time where they weren't pushing SOMETHING out the door. |
Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 08 Jan 2023 at 8:40am
| To entertain yourself on this subject, refer to a May 5th 2021 post by Dean from Iowa. In that post is the actual last WD45/236958 that rolled off the assembly line. A-C even made a sign that says so. So, this tractor featured in this particular post has had wrong hood decals, hood gauges added, diesel battery box with 12 volts, hand crank shaft was sticking out when built, etc. Not saying this tractor isn't thee same one. Just saying it has been changed quite a bit since June 5th of 1957 and was not built in Jan of 1958. |
Posted By: Berickson66
Date Posted: 08 Jan 2023 at 7:13pm
| went back to a post on may 5 2021 and it shows a plcture of the last wd 45 and there a lot of differences between this one and the factory photo. The battery box looks smaller, no gauge cluster on hood or battery box starting shaft clearly visible on front bolster. |
Posted By: Berickson66
Date Posted: 08 Jan 2023 at 7:16pm
| Also temp gauge clearly visible sticking trough the hood |
Posted By: garden_guy
Date Posted: 10 Jan 2023 at 9:47am
Well I'll have to keep an eye on this thread, it is getting interesting.
My one WD has orange wheels on one side and cream on the other... And it came from my grandfather, who as far as I know never had it painted. Not sure if he swapped parts from his D-17 or had to get replacements on one side or what, but it had been cream since the 80s (and likely well before that, but... I'm not old enough to remember before that lol).
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Posted By: plummerscarin
Date Posted: 10 Jan 2023 at 1:28pm
| Have a WD45 here with cream fronts and rear centers. Also on that line of thinking have a disc painted and labeled DA but in many areas all over it the paint is flaking off and shows orange underneath |
Posted By: Carl(NWWI)
Date Posted: 10 Jan 2023 at 2:31pm
| We went over this last year. I picked up the second to last wd45. Built the same as the rest of them. All the correct parts. There’s a picture of the last one built in Norms book. Looks like a normal WD45. This one has obviously had changes along the way. |
Posted By: IBWD MIke
Date Posted: 11 Jan 2023 at 9:14am
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The piece of the pie that's missing is a picture of the serial no.! |
Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 11 Jan 2023 at 9:59am
| I WOULD AGREE !! |
Posted By: Carl(NWWI)
Date Posted: 11 Jan 2023 at 11:28am
| Doesn’t really change the outcome of the tractor. If it’s the last or not, it’s still been changed since it rolled of the line. And it looks nothing like the picture from 1957. Which is 100% proof of what it was, and what it currently has been modified too. |
Posted By: Lon(MN)
Date Posted: 12 Jan 2023 at 7:11am
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The serial number can be questioned also. I have seen two WD45s without a number. ------------- http://lonsallischalmers.com |
Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 12 Jan 2023 at 1:50pm
| Any WD or WD45 that doesn't have a serial number stamped on the rear end housing, means it had the housing replaced with a new one at some time in its life. Reason for that was usually running the rear end very low on oil while doing heavy field work. Pinion bearings lock up and it splits the rear end housing where the bearings are located. |
Posted By: Nathan (SD)
Date Posted: 14 Jan 2023 at 12:26pm
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Posted By: Lon(MN)
Date Posted: 15 Jan 2023 at 6:43am
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Thanks for posting this picture. How easy it is to rewrite history. Pictured is an Allis Chalmers with a 226 cubic inch engine with a snap coupler hitch. Now it is an alice chambers ---liter motor with two point. Sorry for the rant. My metric tools still don't work on this tractor. ------------- http://lonsallischalmers.com |
Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 15 Jan 2023 at 6:51am
| My "metric" crescent wrench still works well !!! |
Posted By: IBWD MIke
Date Posted: 15 Jan 2023 at 7:36am
Doc, assuming the change was done at a dealership, wouldn't they have re-stamped the number on the new housing?
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Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 15 Jan 2023 at 7:43am
| The three dealerships I worked at over 25 tears never had any number/letter stamps. Why would it matter anyway ?? Any experienced partsman seldom needed a serial number for repair parts. Same way with bare new engine blocks that don't have a serial number on them. Not a big deal if there isn't one. |
Posted By: IBWD MIke
Date Posted: 15 Jan 2023 at 7:58am
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Was just a thought. Probably not a big deal on a WD or 45. On other things, like my combine, serial number is huge. Must have been all kinds of changes over time. Edit; Kind of hard to believe they didn't have letter/number stamps. There's so many of those things where I work it's unbelievable! Previous three jobs were similar.
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