My 1949 WD ( Originally my Grandfather's )

Here's a picture of my WD. Was originally my grandfather's, was sitting in the garage unused and forgotten about for 25 or so years. The engine was dry seized, block froze and cracked behind the carb... I repaired the crack with JB weld after drilling it out and grinding the block flush. Also fixed the radiator with JB weld on a seam or two.

Tried soaking cylinders with ATF, acetone, coke, etc trying to free them up... But I had to force two pistons with a block of wood and a hammer... Rings were rusted to pistons. Heat, soaked, heat, eventually the rings broke off in pieces. Pistons were then cleaned up and I installed new old stock rings found online. Plastigauged the connecting rod bearings and all were well within spec. Installed oil pan gasket after watching Don's video a few times. Had trouble getting the push rod cover gasket I cut to seal the first time... But the second cut gasket worked better and doesn't leak.

Added water in to the rad... Thermostat housing was leaking. Broke two of the bolts on the housing. Drilled out and re-tapped the holes. Installed new gasket and lots of RTV to seal it up.

I rewired the tractor front to back, installed new wires, plugs, points, and 6v battery.

Fired up nicely, and is purring like a kitten!



Here's the cultivator I drove 26 miles round trip to pickup from my aunt's yard this past weekend. Just need to fix the leaking plug on the hydraulic pump now.

I have several of those type tool bars..

Hockeyman,

hillmonkey wrote: Nice tractor,glad you saved it.Wondering how the cylinders looked and did you hone them?

Cylinders were actually in good condition... The rings seized in the pistons so the cylinder walls were virtually rust free. I did use a ridge reamer and hone on each of the cylinders to ensure the new rings had the best surface to mate with.

graet to see it going no matter what you have to do to it will be .      " the most tractor, and hardest working,  that you can buy for the money"  thats what my grandpa always told me about his wd's wd45's and d17 's

Congratulations on your hard work and persistence!  It's great that you've brought this family tractor back to running condition.  Best wishes on completing your project.

Cernunnos wrote: That is a neat cultivator set up.  Have not seen one exactly like that before.

It's a neat setup for our heavy clay soil... I need to replace the rotted board that supports the rear tines. There's always something that needs a little tlc.

I've had a couple of those field cultivators, but never seen 1 with a hitch like that. Congrats on the tractor.

Memories are a wonderful thing and you've done even better, you've go the tractor!!
CONGRATS!!!  Glad it didn't take much to get it going.
WELCOME and good luck with it!!  Grampa must be smiling down on you!

jiminnd wrote: I have a cultivator like that, do you have the yoke that bolts near the belt pulley under the tractor?

I do not have a belt pulley on this tractor. The support that is affixed to the tractor frame does connect to the toolbar / cultivator frame as does the other connection to the front of the drawbar with pins. I can take a better picture once its washed.

Great that you have your grandfather's tractor and are caring for it.  Interesting cultivator.

Nice job getting it going. I have read so many “In search of family tractor “ stories.
Keep up the good work.
WD/WD45 are my favorite model.
Thanks for sharing.

Ray W.

Just went back and looked at the picture, that yoke is on the tractor as pictured, should have looked closer first.