Farm Equipment - Help with WD year

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Help with WD year

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=154477
Printed Date: 18 Jun 2025 at 6:59pm
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Topic: Help with WD year

Posted By: ray55125
Subject: Help with WD year
Date Posted: 02 Oct 2018 at 1:53pm

Just purchased a WD. Was told it is a 1953. Serial number is WD13793. Only 5 digits. I have scraped the paint and that is all that is there.
I am new to forum and to tractors. Appreciate any help to figure out what I have.

Replies:

Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 02 Oct 2018 at 2:00pm

If it is a 1953 it will have the curved gearshift with faster 4th gear.

Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 02 Oct 2018 at 3:53pm

Chassis # WD- 13793 would be a 1949 with a straight gearshift.

Posted By: Robert Musgrave
Date Posted: 02 Oct 2018 at 4:45pm

I thought that six digit Serial Numbers were 1952-1953. Is the listing below accurate?

1948 9

1949 9280

1950 35471

1951 72356

1952 105216

1953 131273

It is my understanding that these would be BEGINNING serial numbers for years listed. R. Musgrave

Posted By: john(MI)
Date Posted: 02 Oct 2018 at 7:26pm

1949 WD. But look at the right side of the engine to see if there is a plate bolted on. It runs from the front to back of the engine. If it has that plate it has a WD engine. If it does not have that plate it has a WD45 engine and a few more hp. A friend of mine has WD and didn't know it had the 45 engine until I noticed it.

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D14, D17, 5020, 612H, CASE 446

Posted By: pirlbeck
Date Posted: 02 Oct 2018 at 10:42pm

Growing up dad had a WD45 and my uncle had a very late WD. The WD had the curved shift lever (and constant mesh trans) and I am pretty sure the engine block did NOT have the RH side cover plate. What I am trying to say is the lack of the side plate does not guarantee it is a WD45 engine as it may still have the WD engine with a 4" stroke.

Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 03 Oct 2018 at 9:10am

Just because a WD or WC has a WD-45 block (no right side lifter cover plate) does NOT automatically mean it has WD-45 internal engine parts. This is especially true if there is no engine serial number stamped on the left side behind the carb/carb hose area. At some point in time after July of 1953, the old WC/WD/WF engine blocks were discontinued and you were forced into buying a newer style WD-45 block as its replacement.

Posted By: pirlbeck
Date Posted: 03 Oct 2018 at 9:32am

I think that the very late wd's came from the factory with a block without the plate, but yet had a 4" stroke. I remember discussing this with an old time AC mechanic when I worked at the AC dealership in the early 70's

Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 03 Oct 2018 at 10:44am

OK. If that is/was true, there would be a serial number stamped on that block. My Dad had a 53 WD with battery ignition, tall cylinder head and curved gearshift and it had the older WC/WD block in it.

Posted By: Gary
Date Posted: 03 Oct 2018 at 7:26pm

WD's came with curved shifter and 45 transmission in 1953 at approx. 127003.

Gary

Posted By: Ted J
Date Posted: 04 Oct 2018 at 9:41am

FROM the factory, DrAllis is correct. It would have had the serial # stamped.
IF if was a dealer insert, chances are that there is no number stamped.
You WON'T know unless you tear into the engine.
ray55125, as per your question, you have an early 1949 model WD tractor. At least the rear end of said tractor. Plain and simple, irregardless of what engine is in it.
It is a work horse and a very good first tractor. Easy to work on and a lot of fun!!
Ask ANY question you want on here, you'll get some great answers.
WELCOME to the fourm and the world of ALLIS-CHALMERS!

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"Allis-Express"
19?? WC / 1941 C / 1952 CA / 1956 WD45 / 1957 WD45 / 1958 D-17

Posted By: ray55125
Date Posted: 05 Oct 2018 at 7:20am

Thanks for all of the help. Looks like I have a 1949 even though the previous owner said 1953.
Are the s/n listed the end of the year sequence or the beginning? I have been told both.

Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 05 Oct 2018 at 7:22am

Depends whose s/n list you are looking at. I've seen them both ways. Some just list how many total units were built in a certain year. Your's is a 1949. That isn't going to change regardless of which list you look at.