WD 45 Front end project
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=164046
Printed Date: 19 Dec 2025 at 3:35pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.10 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: WD 45 Front end project
Posted By: IBWD MIke
Subject: WD 45 Front end project
Date Posted: 02 Sep 2019 at 7:18am
This all started about three years ago. I got a pair of 15x6 six bolt rims from a coworker. Bought a new pair of 7.5L15 Firestones after I painted the rims white. Wasn't sure at the time where they might land and white kind of works on anything. Over time I got to thinking they would look really good on my wide front 45. One little problem, 5 bolt hubs, 6 bolt wheels. Here's a pic of the before and one with the corn-picker front end while the wide is getting overhauled. Kind of like the way it looks as a narrow front but have others so it's going to stay a wide front.  |
Replies:
Posted By: IBWD MIke
Date Posted: 02 Sep 2019 at 7:28am
Some shots of the disassembly, clean-up, reassembly. That rear pivot bolt was really worn, someone in the past had actually made a 'piece' or a shim of sorts to tighten that joint up. I had even started the painting and decided to replace it.    |
Posted By: IBWD MIke
Date Posted: 02 Sep 2019 at 7:39am
More. Had to get a grade 5 7/8-9 bolt to make the new pivot, they are NLA. A friend of mine machined it for me. Getting it set on the front end took a while and a lot of consternation. Is it straight, level, square, plumb and anything else that might keep it from lining up and going together right? Finally got it tacked on where I was happy with it then put the weld to it, don't want it coming apart.     |
Posted By: IBWD MIke
Date Posted: 02 Sep 2019 at 7:48am
Starting the reassembly process on the tractor. I put new bushings in the knees and new spindles and steering arms from a D-17 series 4.  |
Posted By: IBWD MIke
Date Posted: 02 Sep 2019 at 7:53am
Some shots of her back on all 4 feet. Those tires and wheels have been in storage quite a while now and need a trip to the power washer! Maybe today, though I may do the brake job on the D-17 instead.   |
Posted By: IBWD MIke
Date Posted: 02 Sep 2019 at 8:12am
|
I want to give a HUGE thank you to Reed and Matt at the Central Ia. Farm Store. They make working on these old things fun. Would have never gotten through this without their support. At one point Reed got me some special wheel bearings that match the hub diameter and the WD spindle diameter, that would have worked but the WD spindle is to short. I shelved the project after that. Then I decided while plowing at the local power show, (while watching the spindles move around) that I was going to do this one way or another. From a practical stand point this isn't. It would have been a lot cheaper to leave it 5-bolt, probably would have lasted me the rest of my life the way it was but what fun would that have been! Set the toe-in at about 3/8" and she drives like a Caddy. |
Posted By: Strokendiesel002
Date Posted: 02 Sep 2019 at 8:54am
|
Looks great! I like the others hiding in the background as well :) |
Posted By: IBWD MIke
Date Posted: 02 Sep 2019 at 9:16am
|
Thanks! Yes there is a lot of orange around here anymore. And still room to expand. When Dad was still alive, I would drag something home and he would say, "where are you going to put that?" My pat answer was always that there is 160 acres here, you're not farming all of it! |
Posted By: Sugarmaker
Date Posted: 02 Sep 2019 at 2:37pm
|
Mike, That 45 looks beefy! Good upgrade too! What are your rears 16.9-28's?? Looks real nice with the bit meats on the front! You might have to clean up the rest and pretty it up too? I am still trying to figure out what my 45 narrow front steers more like a Mack? 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: john(MI)
Date Posted: 02 Sep 2019 at 4:44pm
|
Nice job and thank you for posting the pics. I enjoy seeing something get done. I'm also glad to see I'm not the only one that didn't paint his eccentric assemblies orange. ------------- D14, D17, 5020, 612H, CASE 446 |
Posted By: IBWD MIke
Date Posted: 02 Sep 2019 at 9:20pm
|
Chris, I will get this thing painted complete one of these days. Getting closer on the mechanicals. I have power steering for this one, hopefully get that put on next year. Went for a ride tonight, stopped at the neighbors, (he's kind of an AC guy) he told me he has about 10 acres of hay ground that needs plowed up next spring. Told him to let me know, we'll get-er-done!
|
Posted By: Sugarmaker
Date Posted: 03 Sep 2019 at 9:21am
|
Mike, The 45 will love that work! PS will be real nice too! 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: REEDE
Date Posted: 03 Sep 2019 at 7:19pm
| You are welcome. |
Posted By: IBWD MIke
Date Posted: 04 Sep 2019 at 2:24pm
|
Sugarmaker wrote:Posted By: IBWD MIke
Date Posted: 08 Sep 2019 at 8:40am
|
So, I did this little project on Labor Day weekend on Sunday. All wrapped up and driving around. That leaves a whole day off 'work', what to do. Have a set of brake shoes on the shelf ready to go for the D-17 so I jump right in. Pulled the head off the pin on the right side, great! So off to get the torch. Made the first two cuts, pin drove in to flush and stopped! No amount of pounding would move it. Now what? So I drill and tap for 3/8-16. Thought I had it going my way, wrong, that was the bolt twisting in two. So I look around for better options, had no grade 8 bolts at the farm that I could find so grade 5 1/2-13 will have to do. It did, when that pin was out, I quit for the day. Actually had to walk away from this a couple of times, got all the grass mowed in the process. It took part of the day Tuesday, Wednesday, and finally wrapped it up Thursday! It's nice to be able to stop when you want. Moral of the story; I will not cut any more of these brake pins. if they won't move they will just get drilled and tapped,probably for 1/2-20 threads, now have a good supply of grade 8 bolts! No sl*g raining down and the whole thing comes out at once. I think all the brakes are good on the fleet except the CA and it doesn't look like the same problem as a D-17, WD, or 45. |
Posted By: Sugarmaker
Date Posted: 08 Sep 2019 at 12:48pm
|
Mike, After doing brakes on our 45 I can feel the pain! I spent many hours fighting the brake pins too. You kept after it and got it done. Once the torch is out you about have to keep going in that direction! 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. |