Converting WD to 12 volt
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=190284
Printed Date: 23 Aug 2025 at 10:20am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.10 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Converting WD to 12 volt
Posted By: littlemarv
Subject: Converting WD to 12 volt
Date Posted: 25 Aug 2022 at 6:31pm
I've been humming and hawing, and putting it off for years, but I finally broke down and put a 12 volt alternator on one of my WDs. It really is pretty easy, a Napa 2134011SW is what I used. $79 at Napa, with a $16 core charge. Removed the generator. This WD has a 1/2" fan belt. Not sure if that's correct, I thought they were 5/8"?  Drilled out the 5/16" holes in the original mount, to accept some 3/8" ready rod.  I was told, your original pulley will work with this alternator. Shaft size looks the same, not sure about pulley thickness because I didn't have to swap mine.  Got it set up on the bench, and cut the rod to length.  Mocked it up on the tractor. If you redrill the 2 mounting holes about 1" ahead, it fits right in, and the top bracket needs a slight adjustment to line up nicely.  Wired it to the battery. It is supposed to be a one wire alternator, but there is a ground stud, so I ran two wires. that way I am sure of a complete circuit, and don't have to worry about all the different bolts and connections on the ground side. Put a coat of flat black on it so it doesn't stick out so much. The whole project took about an hour. Shoulda did this years ago, will definitely be doing my other one in the near future! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diV6-MeGcao" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diV6-MeGcao Thanks for looking. ------------- The mechanic always wins. B91131, WC23065, WD89101, CA29479, B1, Early B10, HB212, 416H |
Replies:
Posted By: steve(ill)
Date Posted: 25 Aug 2022 at 8:24pm
  ------------- Like them all, but love the "B"s. |
Posted By: Darb210
Date Posted: 25 Aug 2022 at 8:30pm
| looks great! Nice work! |
Posted By: tadams(OH)
Date Posted: 26 Aug 2022 at 2:20pm
| Oh yes done that to mine years ago, also done CA that way only I used a smaller atlernator on the CA |
Posted By: jvin248
Date Posted: 26 Aug 2022 at 6:25pm
|
. I converted my 1955 Ferguson TO35 from 6v to 12v and made the tractor so much more reliable. My 6v 1952 AC WD seems to start so far but if it gets ornery I'll switch it over. I used one of the small 12v alternators the 'hot rod guys' use as it's smaller and fits in the frame of the ferguson (the typical Delco models can get hit by the steering drag link going through ditches. The Farmall cub+ guys also use this hot rod alternator because they have to tuck it up under the cowl. You'll find it's an amazing+ tractor now. Just a note: if you add silicone dielectric grease at all connections after polishing them up you'll greatly increase the longevity before corrosion gets in there. .
|
Posted By: Dusty MI
Date Posted: 27 Aug 2022 at 7:37am
|
I had a WD that had a bigger block put in it. I put a 8 volt battery in it without changing any other electric parts, worked good. ------------- 917 H, '48 G, '65 D-10 series III "Allis Express" |
Posted By: Driverdan
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2022 at 11:00am
| ...is the WD now negative ground, and what changes were made to accommodate that, or is it still positive ground ?? ...just wondering... |
Posted By: littlemarv
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2022 at 11:28am
|
It's a negative ground. No changes to the starter. It is a magneto ignition, so no changes there. Just install an alternator and a battery. If you have a distributor, I think you need to install a resistor so the coil only gets 6 volts. But I would just replace the coil with a 12 volt one. ------------- The mechanic always wins. B91131, WC23065, WD89101, CA29479, B1, Early B10, HB212, 416H |
Posted By: Driverdan
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2022 at 1:22pm
| Thank you for that info..I have a WD45 that I am pondering that conversion as the old generator no longer works.. |
Posted By: ac45dave
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2022 at 2:52pm
------------- 54 wd-45gas ; 56 wd-45d N/F w/fact p/s ; 63 d-17 sIII N/F gas ; 60 D14 N/F ; 67 d-17 sIV N/F gas ; 63D15 sII W/F; 39rc#667 ; 2021 massey 4710 fwa ; gravely 2 wheel tractors |
littlemarv wrote:Posted By: BMinor0788
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2022 at 5:44pm
|
Ac45dave, Where did you get a nose cone for your CA starter or didn’t it destroy that? I need one for my CA starter. Brandon |
Posted By: steve(ill)
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2022 at 8:03pm
------------- Like them all, but love the "B"s. |
Posted By: ac45dave
Date Posted: 30 Aug 2022 at 7:05pm
------------- 54 wd-45gas ; 56 wd-45d N/F w/fact p/s ; 63 d-17 sIII N/F gas ; 60 D14 N/F ; 67 d-17 sIV N/F gas ; 63D15 sII W/F; 39rc#667 ; 2021 massey 4710 fwa ; gravely 2 wheel tractors |
Posted By: BMinor0788
Date Posted: 30 Aug 2022 at 7:59pm
| Yeah you’re lucky. I need a new nose cone for mine as the pinch bolt hole is wallered out. I tried the one Steve posted above but it doesn’t line up. I’m looking for a good used 14 Tooth CA starter. |
Posted By: steve(ill)
Date Posted: 30 Aug 2022 at 9:03pm
|
You can take the nose piece and drill a new hole in the proper location.... Two different locations depending on what tractor it was put on. ------------- Like them all, but love the "B"s. |
Posted By: Allis dave
Date Posted: 31 Aug 2022 at 7:20am
| Looks good. When I put an alternator on my WD45, I had to make a new bracket. I tried to reuse the original but the belt didn't line up right. |
Posted By: nella(Pa)
Date Posted: 31 Aug 2022 at 1:06pm
| https://youtu.be/Wn08PVcoI2c%20" rel="nofollow - https://youtu.be/Wn08PVcoI2c |