D17 Series IV vs WD45
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=182417
Printed Date: 10 Aug 2025 at 8:56pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.10 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: D17 Series IV vs WD45
Posted By: FranksWD45PS
Subject: D17 Series IV vs WD45
Date Posted: 09 Aug 2021 at 8:53pm
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I've got two WD45's with factory PS. Nice tractors. But in a couple of weeks a local farm auction has a decent D17 Series IV on the auction block. Its a nice looking used farm tractor. I was wondering if jumping to a D17 be a noticeable upgrade in power? From what I read its about 10hp more than the WD45. I have a 7 ft finish mower but the WD45 is under powered so I run a 6 ft brush hog to clear tall grass. It takes HP to spin a finish mower vs brush hog. I might try to grab the D17 anyway to add to the pile of toys. Depends on how high the bidding goes. Seems everything goes high thanks to the internet drawing in the buyers. No such thing as a good old farm auction anymore. Just wondering what the thoughts are on a D17. Thanks |
Replies:
Posted By: allisbred
Date Posted: 09 Aug 2021 at 9:09pm
| Not sure what’s been done to your wd45 by now, most have been rebuilt with oversized pistons and possible M&W’s. With that being said, many are making about the same hp as a D17 and not much of a difference. I would put them in the same hp class. |
Posted By: Joe(TX)
Date Posted: 09 Aug 2021 at 9:21pm
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The D17 will give you a better ride than catapult they call a seat on the WD45. Also easier to get on and off of than the WD's. The high low was added to the D series vs the the WD45 hand clutch. To get the same hp from a WD45, you would have to increase the engine speed. ------------- 1970 190XT, 1973 200, 1962 D-19 Diesel, 1979 7010, 1957 WD45, 1950 WD, 1961 D17, Speed Patrol, D14, All crop 66 big bin, 180 diesel, 1970 170 diesel, FP80 forklift. Gleaner A |
Posted By: DSeries4
Date Posted: 09 Aug 2021 at 9:45pm
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D17 Series IV is far superior to operate. High/low power director, much more comfortable and egronomically friendly. The most important improvement was the live 2 way hydraulics operating at a low pressure and high volume. Probably not a huge difference in power the way some old 45s were rebuilt. ------------- '49 G, '54 WD45, '55 CA, '56 WD45D, '57 WD45, '58 D14, '59 D14, '60 D14, '61 D15D, '66 D15II, '66 D21II, '67 D17IV, '67 D17IVD, '67 190XTD, '73 620, '76 185, '77 175, '84 8030, '85 6080 |
Posted By: steelwheelAcjim
Date Posted: 09 Aug 2021 at 9:57pm
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Saw that one. O'Connor auctioneer. Please let us know what it sells for. ------------- Pre-WW2 A-C tractors on steel wheels...because I'm too cheap to buy tires! |
Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 10 Aug 2021 at 6:28am
| If, and only if, a WD45 weighs the same (doubtful), has the same sized/tread rear tires (doubtful) and engine HP, it will never pull what a D-17 will. The D-17 S4 has more speeds with on-the-go shift and a hydraulic system second to none. |
Posted By: Gatz in NE
Date Posted: 10 Aug 2021 at 10:15am
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Go for the D17sIV !! Much better than a WD45 If equipped with a 3-pt hitch, it's Heavy Duty + it has the Traction Booster incorporated into it. If it has Snap-Coupler, still OK and better setup to the WD45. As mentioned, the live hydraulics are top-notch, and "industry standard" |
Posted By: allisbred
Date Posted: 10 Aug 2021 at 10:37am
| The D17 series lV is no doubt a superior tractor for field work as it is refined (although I still think the Factory Power steering on the 45 is better). If the OP was short on PTO power with a 45, I can’t believe everyone believes the 17 will be a big improvement for this application? We had (2) 45’s overhauled with M&W’s /G- springs and (2) 17’s, one being a series lV with a milled head on the farm as a kid and ran the 45’s on the feed grinders when the D19 was down because they made them whistle compared to the fairly stock HP 17’s. We must have had the only good running 45’s out there, and the ragged out one I bought a few years ago. |
Posted By: soggybottomboy
Date Posted: 10 Aug 2021 at 10:53am
| I can't find it on the Nebraska tractor test, but i'm pretty sure the pto speed on a 45 is 540 at 1400 engine rpm. On the D17, pto speed is 540 at 1620 rpm, the same as the One Seventy and the 175. That alone gives the D17 an advantage on the pto even if the 45 has been given power increasing engine parts. |
Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 10 Aug 2021 at 10:56am
| As far as PTO work goes, you'll never rip the PTO gears out of a D-17, unlike a WD45, especially if it has been "powered up". |
Posted By: HD6GTOM
Date Posted: 10 Aug 2021 at 10:54pm
| I grew up on a WD45, a series 1 D17, and a few JD tractors. Even the series 1 D17 was superior to the 45. I bought the WD45 off dad, overhauled it with a smidge bigger pistons etc. Then I was lucky enough to buy a series 4. I absolutely cannot imagine anyone thinking a 45 compares in any way to a series 4. My series 4 came with a snap coupler, I bought a factory 3 point off a 170. It made it a whole lot better tractor that way. |
Posted By: TramwayGuy
Date Posted: 10 Aug 2021 at 11:45pm
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“… one being a series lV with a milled head…” How does milling the head do anything on any of the 226 engines? It is a flat surface to start with —no chambers in the head. |
Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 11 Aug 2021 at 5:32am
| Flat cylinder heads being shaved off do not increase the compression ratio, except for the fact that valve standout might increase slightly, and on a gas engine it means so very little. |
Posted By: allisbred
Date Posted: 11 Aug 2021 at 5:57am
| Well it looks like I upset the D17 guys across the nation. I always considered the D17-175 a parallel HP to the 45 and only slightly more. Our equipment did not change significant size until the 185’s came along. In some cases on the PTO such as the chopper, rotary mower, feed grinder/mixer, blower, the 45 with a normal rebuild for the time, was equal. Comfort, weight, gear selection, 3pt work, and safety go to the D17. |
Posted By: allisbred
Date Posted: 11 Aug 2021 at 6:31am
| Just felt the need to add;The D19D was purchased with intent to pull larger HP requirement. My father bought it with a set of 4 x 16” plows. Up in till that time we had (2) sets of 3 x 16”’s that we used on any tractor that was available without issues. The first time the 19 blew a head gasket, dealer said we were over working it plowing(only could pull those plows in 2nd low and shallow!) sometime not long after that, we hooked those same plows to the 45 and pulled in 2nd. Yes it was like riding a pissed bull even weighted beyond the max recommended I’m sure. |
Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 11 Aug 2021 at 6:38am
| I'm going from memory here, but a WD-45 gas with M & W pistons was 51 PTO HP instead of 43 HP. A stock D-17 was 53 HP. On some PTO work, you probably didn't see much difference, but when it came to drawbar pulling power, the D-17 weighed 1,000 lbs more if they both were fluid filled rear tires. |
Posted By: Joe(TX)
Date Posted: 11 Aug 2021 at 7:15am
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A stock 175 gas is 61 HP. The 170 is 54 HP. ------------- 1970 190XT, 1973 200, 1962 D-19 Diesel, 1979 7010, 1957 WD45, 1950 WD, 1961 D17, Speed Patrol, D14, All crop 66 big bin, 180 diesel, 1970 170 diesel, FP80 forklift. Gleaner A |
Posted By: allisbred
Date Posted: 11 Aug 2021 at 7:19am
| And a D19 was supposed to be 66hp from what I recall. My point is about the Hp class and upgrading. My father bought the D17’s and 19 thinking about bigger Hp requirements based from specs, equipment has ranges so it would take a substantial upgrade in tractor hp to make significant impact. |
Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 11 Aug 2021 at 7:23am
| 66 on the deezel….71 on a gasser. |
Posted By: allisbred
Date Posted: 11 Aug 2021 at 7:27am
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DrAllis wrote:Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 11 Aug 2021 at 7:57am
| D-19 gas was a good tractor. The turbo deezel was bad news from the git-go. Yours was typical....blown head gasket and another and another. |
Posted By: Lonn
Date Posted: 11 Aug 2021 at 8:27am
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I'll take a D17 over a WD45 anyday except for one thing. I love the WD45 and it is a tractor I don't have that I want bad. My Dad went from a WD45 to a D17 and he said the 45 had an uncanny ability and he thought his could out do his D17 he traded it on. But he otherwise prefers the D17. BTW his 45 was overhauled with an upgrade kit. As far as the D19 goes. My gas D19 will easily outwork any D17 or 45. No comparison, but the hydraulics leave a lot to be desired on the D19. ------------- -- --- .... .- -- -- .- -.. / .-- .- ... / .- / -- ..- .-. -.. . .-. .. -. --. / -.-. .... .. .-.. -.. / .-. .- .--. .. ... - Wink I am a Russian Bot |
Posted By: Charlie175
Date Posted: 11 Aug 2021 at 9:22am
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I'd take a D17 over a 45 any day for farm work. ------------- Charlie '48 B, '51 CA, '56 WD45 '61 D17, '63 D12, '65 D10 , '68 One-Ninety XTD |
Posted By: FranksWD45PS
Date Posted: 14 Aug 2021 at 11:20pm
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Alot of good feedback. Thanks all. |
Posted By: IBWD MIke
Date Posted: 15 Aug 2021 at 8:22am
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I think it would be more than a little disappointing if the 17 wasn't considered a big step forward. It was the next link in the evolutionary chain. Having said that, I still like my 45's better than I did the 17 I had.
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Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 15 Aug 2021 at 8:33am
| Most of the time when a farmer was trading tractors, he always bought the new one a little bigger than the one he was replacing....most of the time. The D-17 was clearly the replacement for the WD-45, because the D-14 was barely the replacement for the WD, let alone the WD-45. |