D17 Series IV vs WD45

I've got two WD45's with factory PS. Nice tractors. But in a couple of weeks a local farm auction has a decent D17 Series IV on the auction block. Its a nice looking used farm tractor. I was wondering if jumping to a D17 be a noticeable upgrade in power? From what I read its about 10hp more than the WD45.

I have a 7 ft finish mower but the WD45 is under powered so I run a 6 ft brush hog to clear tall grass. It takes HP to spin a finish mower vs brush hog.

I might try to grab the D17 anyway to add to the pile of toys. Depends on how high the bidding goes. Seems everything goes high thanks to the internet drawing in the buyers. No such thing as a good old farm auction anymore.

Just wondering what the thoughts are on a D17.

Thanks

The D17 will give you a better ride than catapult they call a seat on the WD45. Also easier to get on and off of than the WD's. The high low was added to the D series vs the the WD45 hand clutch.

Saw that one. O'Connor auctioneer. Please let us know what it sells for.

I can't find it on the Nebraska tractor test, but i'm pretty sure the pto speed on a 45 is 540 at 1400 engine rpm. On the D17, pto speed is 540 at 1620 rpm, the same as the One Seventy and the 175. That alone gives the D17 an advantage on the pto even if the 45 has been given power increasing engine parts.

I grew up on a WD45, a series 1 D17, and a few JD tractors. Even the series 1 D17 was superior to the 45. I bought the WD45 off dad, overhauled it with a smidge bigger pistons etc. Then I was lucky enough to buy a series 4. I absolutely cannot imagine anyone thinking a 45 compares in any way to a series 4. My series 4 came with a snap coupler, I bought a factory 3 point off a 170. It made it a whole lot better tractor that way.

Flat cylinder heads being shaved off do not increase the compression ratio, except for the fact that valve standout might increase slightly, and on a gas engine it means so very little.

Just felt the need to add;The D19D was purchased with intent to pull larger HP requirement. My father bought it with a set of 4 x 16” plows. Up in till that time we had (2) sets of 3 x 16”’s that we used on any tractor that was available without issues. The first time the 19 blew a head gasket, dealer said we were over working it plowing(only could pull those plows in 2nd low and shallow!) sometime not long after that, we hooked those same plows to the 45 and pulled in 2nd. Yes it was like riding a pissed bull even weighted beyond the max recommended I’m sure.

A stock 175 gas is 61 HP. The 170 is 54 HP.

66 on the deezel….71 on a gasser.

D-19 gas was a good tractor. The turbo deezel was bad news from the git-go. Yours was typical....blown head gasket and another and another.

I'd take a D17 over a 45 any day for farm work.