intro, looking at WDs

Longtime lurker first time poster.
 I don't  know for sure when it started but I've got a hankerin' for a WD.
I've had it for awhile. A friend once mentioned that his buddy had a WD he was trying to sell for $400. I think that fell through. But I started looking at WDs for the first time, youtube videos. Pictures on here.
 This summer I started going to auctions.
  That one on craigslist, by MPLS, with the grappler. Kept going down from $1500 to $1100. I asked when I could come look at it,.. "Just sold it".
  I bid $650 on a wide front at a tractor collector auction by Fertile Iowa last summer.
 It sold for $700 to the only other bidder,.. online.
  I bid $750 at an auction in MN recently,.. it was at $625 until I bid,.. then the guy bidding $625 bid it up to $775. Quite a ways up into MN so bringing it home would have cost more.
 One came up on craigslist. two way loader, wide front, power steering,.. sold in 2 days for $1500.
 Another wide one came up locally on craigslist. 2-way bucket. auxilliary hydraulics driven by a sprocket/chain running straight off the crank nose. He wanted $1900,.. I drove it and the seat was so loose it was swinging right and left. The whole thing was rickety and more than I wanted to spend for a leaky project WD.
 Went to a family reunion. Told my uncle about trying to get one. He said, "I've got one." Wide front, power steering and a bushhog. He calls it the perfect acreage tractor. He's right, it's not too big and not too small.
 Look over and my other uncle has one hooked up to the hayride wagon,.. he takes me into the shop and shows me his pride and joy D17 series 4.
 I'm wondering how big of a trailer do you need to haul a WD with a loader?
How long? and how wide?

 On the WD, it seems like the one-way hydraulics is a drawback. What's the best choice for auxiliary hydraulics? I've seen them run off the PTO, the front of the crank,.. I was wondering if it can be run in place of the belt pully?
 I think I see one on Des Moines craigslist doing that:
https://desmoines.craigslist.org/grd/d/saint-charles-1950-allis-chalmers-wd/6773498563.html
 Is that what he has going on there?

 I might end up buying a narrow front tractor and swapping a wide front onto it.
 To me a tractor is the original multitool. Hydraulics, pto, belt drive. It lifts things up, pulls things down. A 3-point conversion allows me to hook up anything from a buzz saw to a post hole digger. Might even try putting a quick attach on the loader so even more tools will stick to it.

 A little big for what I want but here's a D17 diesel on craigslist for $2250.
https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/csw/grd/d/hutchinson-allis-chalmers-d17-diesel/6778142929.html

 I'm pretty good with a wrench,.. mostly putting them to use on old VW diesels.
 They are puzzles, that if you put them together right, you can drive them around.
I'm ready to start working on some WD puzzles,.. then drive them around and put 'em to work..

Welcome to the site, WD's are one of my favorite tractors. I own two of them one is s/n 76000 witch is a neet number to me.  Anyway sounds to me like you are on the right track as far as price and waiting for the right tractor. A lot of them are just completly worn out, but there are still some nice ones out there. Keep looking and let us know what you find.

I had Grand dads 1950 WD with wide front and freeman loader parked in my ally in Omaha for several years.  Finally got rid of it because people kept messing with it so when I would try to start it it would not!!!

wide wrote: I was wondering if it can be run in place of the belt pully?  I think I see one on Des Moines craigslist doing that: https://desmoines.craigslist.org/grd/d/saint-charles-1950-allis-chalmers-wd/6773498563.html  Is that what he has going on there

Welcome to the forum!  Got to warn you, like the potato chip, you just can't do one.  Then another, then another... its a good addiction!  Got one for mower work, one for snow blowing, one for raking, one for baling, one for stump pulling, one for sunday drive, one for yard art, one for parts donor, not all AC but... love Persian orange, er... rust brown!

If you are going to add a WF,2 way hydraulics and 3pt I think you'd be way ahead finding a tractor that already had those things as original factory equipment.

Wouldn't running the hydraulic pump of the belt pulley be the same as running it of the PTO? Push in the clutch and it stops.

Gary Burnett wrote: If you are going to add a WF,2 way hydraulics and 3pt I think you'd be way ahead finding a tractor that already had those things as original factory equipment.

What tractor do you have in mind that would be as good as a WD with a 2-way loader and 3-point? For the same price?

truckerfarmer wrote: Wouldn't running the hydraulic pump of the belt pulley be the same as running it of the PTO? Push in the clutch and it stops.

 I hadn't thought of that, wasn't sure how the belt drive pully works. Looks to me like the gear is on the mainshaft coming from the foot clutch so you are probably right. I was thinking that would be a place to put it that would free up the PTO, also mounts it close to the loader, where it's needed?
 My friends have PTO driven pumps they would sell/trade but I'm hoping for a better option.

wide wrote: Gary Burnett wrote: If you are going to add a WF,2 way hydraulics and 3pt I think you'd be way ahead finding a tractor that already had those things as original factory equipment. What tractor do you have in mind that would be as good as a WD with a 2-way loader and 3-point? For the same price? [QUOTE=truckerfarmer]Wouldn't running the hydraulic pump of the belt pulley be the same as running it of the PTO? Push in the clutch and it stops.

 I hadn't thought of that, wasn't sure how the belt drive pully works. Looks to me like the gear is on the mainshaft coming from the foot clutch so you are probably right. I was thinking that would be a place to put it that would free up the PTO, also mounts it close to the loader, where it's needed?

I've never been around a D series, but with your mechanical talents, I'd get the WD you have a hankerin' for.  You will enjoy making it do what you want it to do, while still having that desirable 1950's look.  My Grandad farmed from 1927 to 1977, and his biggest and best tractor was a WD.  

First welcome to the forum.
WD/WD45 are currently my favorite model AC.
I really like how they grunt when you really put them to work. Good stable tractors. Very versatile machines.
In my opinion. The draw back is the hydraulic system. Which can be easily upgraded to 2 way power.
They are a good inexpensive tractor. With you mechanic skills. You’ll be able to make it just what you want.
Need any help. Just ask.
Here are some of mine.
Ray W.

Wide,
The loader on the WD45 in the picture is an AC 445. The rear tires can be run in all the way. The rear axle loader mounts are inside of the rear fenders.
No quick attach, ,   yet.
The rear wheels are not loaded. 3 factory rear wheel weights per tire are supposed to be equal to the tire being loaded. I only put 2 on to keep me honest about how much I’m trying to pick up. I’ve picked up close or a little over 2,000 lbs with it. If the rears get light. I know I’m pushing the amount I should be lifting with it.
The flat top fenders are off of a 170. Something different to have on it. They work well.

https://ames.craigslist.org/grd/d/farmersburg-allis-wds/6777303805.html
Two for one sale not far from MN. Good luck.!

wide,