Need some guidance with WD starter
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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=123262
Printed Date: 10 Sep 2025 at 9:59am
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Topic: Need some guidance with WD starter
Posted By: DanC911
Subject: Need some guidance with WD starter
Date Posted: 12 May 2016 at 6:26pm
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A few weeks back I picked up a WD that had been converted to 12 volt with negative ground. He didn't do the quality of work that I like so I have a few repairs to do. The first thing I want to fix is the starter system. Here is what he did:   I picked up the rod and switch but I am not sure how to make it work with the negative ground since the switch goes on the negative terminal of the starter. Any ideas on how I can make the starter original again? Thanks for the help. ------------- 1950 WD, 1955 B, 66 Jacobsen Chief-O-Matic, 68 Simplicity 2110, 77 IH Cub Cadet 1450 w/front loader |
Replies:
Posted By: TMiller/NC
Date Posted: 12 May 2016 at 7:01pm
| Check the cable on starter as it should now be connected to the positive on battery, so switch should work. |
Posted By: norm[ind]
Date Posted: 12 May 2016 at 7:01pm
| that is a AUTOLITE STARTER- SWITCHES ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE- HELP YOUR SELF |
Posted By: DanC911
Date Posted: 12 May 2016 at 7:17pm
It is on the positive terminal and starts and runs. But I want to get rid of that starter switch on the steering column and return the rod and switch on the starter. ------------- 1950 WD, 1955 B, 66 Jacobsen Chief-O-Matic, 68 Simplicity 2110, 77 IH Cub Cadet 1450 w/front loader |
TMiller/NC wrote:Posted By: TMiller/NC
Date Posted: 12 May 2016 at 8:28pm
| I have a B that is a 12volt conversion with the switch mounted on starter and a rod to activate the starter. The starter has a "lug" that switch mounts over. I had this lug installed at a starter rebuild shop, it takes the place of stud your battery cable is attached to. |
Posted By: DanC911
Date Posted: 12 May 2016 at 8:59pm
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How is the switch mounted to the starter? Did the shop drill and tap the case?
------------- 1950 WD, 1955 B, 66 Jacobsen Chief-O-Matic, 68 Simplicity 2110, 77 IH Cub Cadet 1450 w/front loader |
Posted By: MACK
Date Posted: 12 May 2016 at 10:48pm
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First thing you will have to do is buy a Delco starter and starter switch. There is no pos or neg to a starter. It don't which way it is hooked up. MACK
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Posted By: Steve in NJ
Date Posted: 13 May 2016 at 6:30am
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I agree with Mack. If you want to use the original style starter rod setup, you'll need to either find a switch for that Autolite Starter motor (which is like Hens teeth) or switch over to a Delco Starter motor where the switches are readily available. You can make a Delco switch fit the Autolite, but you need to be a little creative. Also, if you had the original Autolite Starter switch, that would help in modifying the Delco switch to work. Parts are getting tough to get for the old Autolites anyway, so you're better off switching over to the popular Delco Starter. Would be a great benefit in the future should you decide to keep the Tractor for many years to come... HTH Steve@B&B ------------- 39'RC, 43'WC, 48'B, 49'G, 50'WF, 65 Big 10, 67'B-110, 75'716H, 2-620's, & a Motorhead wife |
Posted By: Sugarmaker
Date Posted: 13 May 2016 at 7:43am
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Dan, Congratulations on the WD added to the family. I converted a couple to 12 volt negative ground but all had the original starters and starter mounted pull switches. Pretty good looking tractor from the pictures. Regards, Chris ------------- D17 1958 (NFE), WD45 1954 (NFE), WD 1952 (NFE), WD 1950 (WFE), Allis F-40 forklift, Allis CA, Allis D14, Ford Jubilee, Many IH Cub Cadets, 32 Ford Dump, 65 Comet. |
Posted By: CTuckerNWIL
Date Posted: 13 May 2016 at 7:59am
If the tractor is set up for negative ground, the stud connection to the starter is the POSITIVE side. The negative side is where it connects to the bell housing. Get the right switch ( like some said would be like finding hens teeth) or get a Delco starter like 99% of all Allis's had ------------- 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: DanC911
Date Posted: 13 May 2016 at 1:51pm
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Thanks for the advice. I guess the best option is to replace the starter with a delco. I will post pics when I am done. ------------- 1950 WD, 1955 B, 66 Jacobsen Chief-O-Matic, 68 Simplicity 2110, 77 IH Cub Cadet 1450 w/front loader |
Posted By: JC-WI
Date Posted: 13 May 2016 at 2:22pm
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I like the looks of the Delco better, but in this case, I guess I would put a solenoid above the starter and run a short jumper down to it and then put either a push button or a key switch wired to the solenoid and get rid of that push button contactor on the post. that is butt ugly. Here somebody slams an outo-lite on and fits, I am dealing with a delco on a MM and no one can give me a number or anything that would retrofit to that tractor.  modern technology I guess.------------- He who says there is no evil has already deceived himself The truth is the truth, sugar coated or not. Trawler II says, "Remember that." |
Posted By: DanC911
Date Posted: 13 May 2016 at 3:04pm
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I thought of the key and solenoid but I could not see a place to mount the switch where it look like it belonged there. ------------- 1950 WD, 1955 B, 66 Jacobsen Chief-O-Matic, 68 Simplicity 2110, 77 IH Cub Cadet 1450 w/front loader |
Posted By: CTuckerNWIL
Date Posted: 13 May 2016 at 3:30pm
Just replace the original key switch with a keyed 3 position start switch. ------------- 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: TBone
Date Posted: 14 May 2016 at 1:24pm
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Posted By: DanC911
Date Posted: 14 May 2016 at 8:53pm
There isn't a key on the tractor. There is a pull switch on the electrical box for the ignition. ------------- 1950 WD, 1955 B, 66 Jacobsen Chief-O-Matic, 68 Simplicity 2110, 77 IH Cub Cadet 1450 w/front loader |
Posted By: CTuckerNWIL
Date Posted: 15 May 2016 at 8:07am
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I guess if it was magneto ignition, it wouldn't have a key, but you can remove the push pull switch and put a 3 position switch in place of it. I don't know when they started, but my 45 has a key switch. ------------- 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: Ted J
Date Posted: 15 May 2016 at 11:53am
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I have a key start on my WD45 also and also put one on my 1941 C on the steering tube. Makes it a LOT handier than a push pull switch!
------------- "Allis-Express" 19?? WC / 1941 C / 1952 CA / 1956 WD45 / 1957 WD45 / 1958 D-17 |
Posted By: stu(ON)
Date Posted: 15 May 2016 at 2:38pm
| http://www.allischalmers.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=22770&title=how-to-delco-to-autolite-starter-switch" rel="nofollow - http://www.allischalmers.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=22770&title=how-to-delco-to-autolite-starter-switch |