Allis Chalmers WD45 - Has Fuel and Spark but Won't Run.

I help my dad fix this Allis Chalmers WD45 tractor. It ended up being a pretty interesting diagnosis.

[@ModelMaker305]

I learned from my Model A Ford days that 90% of carburator problems are electrical

[@WatchWesWork]

Heh. Seems true for points ignition.

[@johnditch6357]

my uncle said be sure to get a good 10 penny nail for that rotor i dont think plated works as good as copper or steel.

[@tcmtech7515]

My grandpa was worse. to him a 12V battery that was too dead to start what it used to be in should still start a 6 volt engine, to which we would then spend who knows how long screwing with 'a weak starter' only to find out the "The new battery" in the tractor was the dead battery from the pickup/whatever that wouldn't start last time.

[@Starcrunch72]

Funny, I learned the same thing from my 70 Beetle...

[@bluegrallis]

And 90% of electrical problems now days, are the off the shelf condensers that come junk right out of the box. I've been using Blue Streak ignition parts. Better to pay a little extra than to do it over. It can't hurt to run a high output Pertronix coil either.

[@johndunbar2393]

Best line in the whole video, "There it is! I knew you'd beat it!" - Wes's dad. It's great to see Dad's like that. Great video Wes!

[@texasjetman]

Tell your Dad, we all enjoyed his CAMEO appearance even though it was brief and WHAT AN ENTRANCE Pulling in on the HOT ROD pulling back that Throttle\as he coasted by the little WD45 in his drive..! So glad you caught that on film...!

[@garredhill4169]

+

[@keegangarrett329]

you all prolly dont give a shit but does someone know a way to log back into an Instagram account? I was stupid lost the password. I appreciate any tricks you can offer me!

[@chadsolomon3501]

@Keegan Garrett Instablaster :)

[@keegangarrett329]

@Chad Solomon i really appreciate your reply. I got to the site on google and Im in the hacking process atm. Takes a while so I will reply here later when my account password hopefully is recovered.

[@motor2of7]

Your a dad seems like a good guy. I liked it when he said “you got it, I knew you would”

[@giggiddy]

I caught that too. Made me tear up a little.

[@texasjetman]

Cherish these little moments with Dad Wes, You will look back at them someday and be glad you did, Time has a tendency to pass us by too quickly, I like seeing your son already getting into the shop on his peddle tractor to be near Dad.

[@leedress2187]

I love how there isn't one piece of gear on that thing that isn't serviceable. That thing could run for 200 years as long as guys like you and your dad work on it.

[@Maysin777]

Cherish the moments you have with your Dad.....I use to wrench with my Dad a lot also and miss him terribly....and learned a lot...God Bless You both.

[@tubatom23]

Wish I had that type of relationship with my dad. But, instead I’ve had to learn on my own and ended up being a better wrench hand in the long run

[@giggiddy]

You are so fortunate to still have your dad around to do these things with. I love to watch you guys interact on these projects and I particularly appreciate the respect you show for your father and his opinion. This is top quality material Wes. Cant thank you enough.

[@WatchWesWork]

Well he's almost always right...

[@patrickniedermeyer2112]

That was the first tractor my grandpa allowed me to drive. He, his two brothers, and their father all bought them new way back and most of them still run.

[@WatchWesWork]

These things are tough!

[@packofhounds]

Dad: I don't have time to mess with it. Go ahead and try. Also Dad: (Laying down on his back in the dirt with a timing light) "nope, go back a little... that's it."

[@WatchWesWork]

Priorities...

[@zahbus8315]

I think most dads do that lol

[@tcmtech7515]

Better than mine. Complains he has done everything to get it running yet obvious evidence around said object shows he literally hasn't even touched it leta lone been near it in who knows how long. That or its out of fuel and he cranked it until the battery was dead then walked away while leaving the key on (a week or month or more ago) so it's now 'dead' dead plus now has a ruined battery or set too.

[@chadanderson3486]

My grandpa " No use fiddle-fartin" around with it" as he was going in to get more tools.

[@CrimeVid]

Is that a Sun timing light I see before me ?

[@wingdwolf56]

One thing good about this pandemic is that we get more videos from Watch Wes Work!!!

[@WatchWesWork]

Well I'm trying.

[@nickstockwell9305]

@@WatchWesWork you've gotten me through some fixes, some bad times, you are a true highlight to me AND my 9 year old daughter. Shes always ahead of the game scanning for new "watch wes work" videos. I appreciate all you do to make a video, regardless of how many takes it ends up being, we, I appreciate all you document for the hell of it!!! - Nick from Hinsdale NH

[@carlhelmick8104]

Old tractor did a lot of work in it's day to wear out like that. They're good old tractors . You can't beat them. I grew up around old tractors like that. Love them all. 😃👍

[@pettyfogger2305]

I came back to watch this one again. Your dad had to be a no-nonsense kinda guy when you were a kid but more than willing to give praise when it was earned. I have always said give me a crusty self-employed mechanic with a killer mustache and a mallet any day!!!!

[@tripler3724]

Brings back memories, E. P. Coleman owned 20, 000 acres and farmed an additional 40, 000 and when he switched from mules, he bought a fleet of these and converted many to LP. Everywhere you looked seems there was a field full of orange.

[@kennethmilus1533]

I hope you know how truely blessed you are to have a dad like yours. That " I knew you'd beat it" was total Love and respect. I'm Jealous. My dad was a pos. Be thankful. Great vid. Keep wrenching

[@AmericanRussian-yr7se]

I had the pleasure of driving this tractor in the 1960's... enjoyed every minute

[@michaelashcraft8569]

A few moons ago that tractor was somebody's pride, and joy ,I love it!!

[@rayscrafield2106]

You need to work you Dad into more of your videos. He's got a great sense of humor and it's neat to see how he mentored you. I'll bet the two of you are a real team to draw to.

[@StreuB1]

Your dad is awesome. "You beat it! I knew you would!" That's got to be awesome to know your pops looks up to your abilities like that.

[@martinedelius]

It's obvious that this was run without coolant for a couple of minutes, that's why it's broken. :P

[@FishFind3000]

Martin Edelius yep. Shows all the signs.

[@mattthescrapwhisperer]

Yeah, and the exhaust manifold was off also....

[@WatchWesWork]

LOL. Do these things even have a cooling system?

[@martinedelius]

@@WatchWesWork Doesn't matter, still the problem. :D

[@toad3048]

@@WatchWesWork Yes, look up at the above comments....lmao . I wouldn't advise getting them to help.

[@chrisheffernan6600]

I cut my teeth on a WD45 at 8 years old. My dad still has that tractor, I'm now 50. Ours runs as good as it did when it was new. Dad always kept the maintenance up on it well. They are a beast of a tractor, can't kill them.

[@georgeloyie7456]

That is a lovely little tractor. And I agree with Maysin777, cherish the moments you have with your Dad because... well we won't go there this evening.

[@filmbluff99]

Always good to see sons working with their dad.

[@jtthill5475]

Like I said with the dozer, I haven't seen anything you can't get to run. At least for a little while. You are the engine whisperer. Thanks for sharing.

[@craigsudman4556]

Oh man that was a real hair puller, that's the type of project that when you are done for the day your hair is full of grease from all the times you run your hand through your hair saying, "I don't know...let's try this now." Great video, thumbs up Wes.

[@WatchWesWork]

We had about 3 hours in the job including cleaning the carb and making new gaskets.

[@DangerousSportsForSeniors]

A timing light! Way to go old school. Thanks for the family videos. Very much appreciated.

[@earboit5145]

I like how you and your dad work together, you can tell it’s been a long partnership by the way you compliment each other. When I work with my Dad we do similar things, only he challenges my diagnosis constantly, not because he thinks I’m wrong, but to prove to him why I think I’m right. Hands down best thing he’s taught me and all the other apprentices that have been through our shop.

[@bobprock4960]

Nice job of troubleshooting guys! Love the old Allis's. (Great to see your Dad too.)

[@offrodnolefmr7445]

At 68 I remember growing up in this tractor. We plowed many fields on the dairy farm in East Tennessee growing corn wheat and rye for cattle. Us boys would disc and drag the fields at night till around 11. That’s when mom made us come back in and get ready for bed so we could get to school the next mornin. I always remembers the hand clutch being on the left side though…memory ain’t what it used to be I guess.

[@KevinCoop1]

I spent LOTS of hours on WD and WD45 narrow front ends. Brings back many memories of life on the farm! Thanks for the video!

[@bigunone]

LOL dad stands by with a hammer he is apparently experienced!

[@WatchWesWork]

Not his first rodeo.

[@oldretireddude]

BFH does it every time

[@dudleysdad]

Always good to have the threat of a hammer with temperamental symptoms.

[@GIGABACHI]

@@dudleysdad 🤣🤣🤣👍🏻

[@lubesEquipment]

Maybe in case he needed to tap the float bowl on the carb to free it up if stuck?

[@johnelliott7375]

I always wanted to know how much different my life would be if my Grandfather had got to see a decade of retirement instead of 6 months. You being from Illinois probably have heard of Pullman Standard, he was foreman of the tool room for a good almost. 3 decades and worked for Bantam making torpedoes after he got sent home from the European theater during WW2. Before the war he was a mechanic. He built and put together every car we had until the late 70's. He didn't buy a new car until 1979 and he traded back in immediately on a older used car until Grandma pushing him got two more new cars in 1982. God bless you and your family and I hope you have many days left with your Parents. We as always enjoy your videos Wes. Thanks for sharing your work.

[@unclemarksdiyauto]

Something you don't see everyday, working on an old tractor! You guys got it purring! Great father & son team!

[@TheBrookian]

Your dad reminds me of my dad. He taught me to wrench. I lost him to COVID last December. I miss him so much. Wes, treasure your time with him. It's the only time you'll have.

[@chrisstephens6673]

A little tale that might amuse you was told to me by an old car mechanic. Back in the fifties there was a shortage of cars, but unfortunately not a shortage of sharks, anyway there was an area of London known for dodgy dealers but needs must as the saying goes. My friend and his boss went looking for a car, they found one that didn't look too bad or rusty but just wouldn't run. It had plenty of compression and good spark so they took a gamble and towed it home. They tried everything to make it work but no luck, so the took the head off to reveal.......tennis balls in all the bores.

[@WatchWesWork]

That's crazy. Why?

[@chrisstephens6673]

@@WatchWesWork why the balls? To give the impression of compression, when the engine was turned over with the crank handle, although you might be a bit young to remember what they are.😉 I did say sharks were involved. Edit forgot to say the piston to bore was so great you could allegedly see daylight.

[@kingdongchong]

Would have killed to have a relationship like that with my father, not that it was bad, just not as wholesome as this is. Cherish every second and every compliment he ever gives you.

[@rodneylucas2930]

My grandpa had a WD45 that he had a two row corn picker mounted on and would use it to pull a full wagon load of corn up out of a steep hollow. That tractor had amazing power and this video brings back many fond memories I had with my grandpa.

[@j.c.smithprojects]

dad stands there with a dead blow hammer just in case! i like the timing light hooked up to its own 12 volt battery since the tractor is 6 volt. someone less experienced would have chased this for a long time.

[@WatchWesWork]

And he did until his dad showed up...

[@jesrusso4682]

If I lived next door to you, you can count on me bringing tons of lobsters ,shrimps , Crab cakes , seafood, Steaks, Beers and wines monthly to your house, nothing like having awesome mechanics living close by...I'm in Staten Island and they kill us at the garages....Good job guys...

[@WatchWesWork]

Sounds like a good arrangement!

[@bompasbees782]

I love how those engines just purr!

[@johnditch6357]

at first it was purring like a hit an miss but all it needs to do is run.

[@bill8by5]

Good job BOTH of you. Working with your Dad is the greatest treasure you can have - do it every chance you get!!!

[@Oddman1980]

When you've been tinkering with an engine all day, finally hearing it settle down and idle right is sooo satisfying.

[@anthonysimonhough9691]

Very interesting Wes it’s good to see old tractors coming back to life.

[@sheriffrisner6919]

Just found this video, understand I am a little late to the table. If you do get this wanted to say thank you for taking time to get this video and work out. I grew up on a WD 45 we farmed several hundred acres with livestock. The old 45's never let us down. Tough old girl. Thanks again Sir.

[@Alanthe918mobilemechanic]

Always nice to see a son and pawpapa working together between the both of them they prolly got at least 50-70 years of know how and both still happy and healthy god bless ‘em.

[@Hybriddiag]

Best moment in the life of a father to work with his son its out of this world kinda feeling.i wish everyones fathers stay with them till end of time

[@thomasvorwerk9296]

In 1955 when I was 6 years old, my Dad purchased a new WD45 on LP gas, (the LP tank was mounted in front of the radiator) and you could run it on either gas or LP. He also purchased other Allis Chalmers equipment. (3 bottom plow, tandem disk, 4-row cultivator, round bailer, and mower ). I sure loved that tractor and spent many hours riding sitting on the tool box, and learned to drive that tractor. I would love to see one with LP tank on the front and restored. Also, it had more power on LP than on gas. On LP it had a true 45 hp.

[@darylnicklen3685]

Always warms the heart father & son working to problem solve together. It certainly sounded real good when you and dad got it sorted.

[@timgentry1789]

My grandpa bought one of those brand new in Iowa when he was a teenager, it was the first wide front end tractor in the area of Ames Iowa.

[@GIGABACHI]

Your Grandpa was a Baller. 🤘🏻

[@steveengelbrecht7271]

Think that’s the same engine that was on a lot of carnival rides. Would sit there and purr all day and never miss a beat.

[@LordMuck]

She runs as sweet as a nut ! Isn't it great having the benefit of years of wisdom and experience to learn from ? Great bit of diagnostic work and repair Wes.

[@WatchWesWork]

Yeah, my dad is a master of points ignition. I've never seen one stump him!

[@LordMuck]

You can just tell he's a wizard with stuff like that. Great to see him at work, it's a lost art !

[@robertklein9190]

How about a tour of your Dad's shop, let's see the "STASH". When he brought out the hammer the A-C had no chance, run or else.

[@WatchWesWork]

Maybe someday.

[@danburch9989]

Seeing an old, old, old tractor brought back to life is so refreshing. It's amazing that parts are still available for them.

[@505fastlife6]

You very fortunate to have a dad to teach you mechanics just like your son will learn from you. This is my new favorite channel been binge watching.

[@jaygraham5407]

I love that you use a Stanley 6 way screwdriver. An extremely handy tool. I carry a 6 way screwdriver all the time.

[@wxfield]

Your Dad's a good egg Wes. A lot of wisdom there. We can see where yours comes from. 👍

[@WatchWesWork]

I got some of it anyway!

[@Starcrunch72]

@@WatchWesWork ah the difference is just the miles on the clock, Wes. I hope that your boy will have the same potential and interest in the future.

[@danaitch3880]

Carb rebuild on the tailgate - neat. I'd end up dropping the small pieces on the ground and never finding them. Dad in video - very cool.

[@michaelconway81]

Any day you spend with your dad fixing something is a good day in my book!

[@lauriecox6377]

Good for another 10,000 hours! Used the same WD 45 on our farm for 65 years and yes 90% of the "carb" problems were electrical . A lot of other tractors have come and gone but the old Allis is our one constant.

[@wes11bravo]

How did I miss this one? Anyway, very cool to see your dad doing his magic.

[@herbertpatterson8201]

Thank you. I have just bought a WD45 and I couldn't get it to run. I worked on it for two days but thanks to you l am good to go.

[@rickashayrabbit1]

Great video...Many memories flashed back in my mind from 65 years ago when I heard that smooth sounding engine rev up. In the late 50's and early 60s', I would work summers for a neighbor when they baled hay and straw in northern IN. They had two Allis Chalmers WD-45's to run the operation. These people were great to work for as they would allow me to operate the tractor pulling the baler, run the wagons from the field to the barns and the least liked task of working in the hay loft. These tractors were not the most popular but were great tractors. Many other farmers preferred red or green rather than the AC orange. Thanks for all your great videos and I love them all. Rick in Central FL

[@michaelalford7722]

My man Wes you may have just solved me and my grandpas problem with our WD 45 I live in central IL on a small farm and my grandpa has had this wd45 for 30 years says it was the best tractor he ever had could start with one hand crank in the winter and one day I was using it to spray and it started running like garbage and quit running, we rubuilt the carb 2 time with no success and played a little with the timing but couldn’t get up to run it would just pop. I’m going to show him this and see if it works thank you for being an awesome you tuber!

[@WatchWesWork]

Well I hope it does help. I don't think Allis used this type of distributor drive very much. The manual does not even show it, only the style with the gears pinned.

[@billwaid1834]

That tractor brings back a lot of memories for me. I learned to drive on of those when I was very young. I love the sound of an Alice chalmers! Thank you so much for posting this video

[@mattpavmusic1321]

I can only imagine how vast your dads shop is. Right up there with his knowledge handed down.

[@WatchWesWork]

He's got everything you need, but you'd never find it...

[@calrob300]

Good to see another one of those art deco inspired designs like the letter series Farnalls. This was one of those "why isn't this thing running?" problems that one needs to file the solution to in the back of one's brain. Very clever.

[@Maysin777]

Good Job guys! Wish I still had my Dad around to tinker with !...Cherish these moments!

[@stevebessant8102]

I did smile at Dad schooling Wes on the distributor. I do the same to my son. Can't help it and l'm sure he's cursing behind my back. Nice tractor, good fix.

[@NINJA4RL]

you are very fortunate to have times like this with your dad. i did not have the same fortune. i in no way envy you though. i thoroughly enjoy seeing others have happy times. thank you for sharing.

[@redmondjp]

My grandfather used to own one of these, from 1952 (when his parents died, who were still using draft horses up to then) to when we auctioned off the farm in 2003. It still had the original battery terminals on it with orange paint on them when we sold it. I learned to drive on it when I was 12. I didn't even know that it had an electric starter for years, as my grandfather for some reason always crank-started it. If I had a bigger place, I'd have one of these tractors again just for sentimental reasons, but the lack of a proper 3-point hitch on back really limits its usefulness.

[@michaelslivensky8741]

Wes fixin' a tractor, Mustie1 fixin' a tractor, Taryl fixin' a .... DRYER? At least I got to see 3 of my favorites fixin' something... Good Job. Keep up the good work.

[@WatchWesWork]

Well. I watched Ivan at Pine Hollow Auto Diagnostics fix a garbage disposal a few days ago...

[@lubesEquipment]

I've worked on antique tractors for almost 30 years and learned something from this. I never would have thought to check the nut holding distributor gear. Very cool. In regards to giving points a quick cleaning after you fool with them, use a dollar bill and run it back an forth between the points for a few seconds. The paper that a dollar bill is made of cleans oil and crud off em really good. The carb on that Allis was a Marvel Schebler not a Zenith.

[@WatchWesWork]

We always used white paper. My dad is the original Nazi on cleaning points.

[@LostMountainRestoration]

You are lucky to be able to spend that kind of time with your Dad. Treasure it. (Nice job, by the way)

[@allyouneed71]

I'm listening to you and tour dad list of the other problems, meanwhile I'm thinking "it sounds great, print the invoice!" great job, love those old tractors

[@WatchWesWork]

Gotta go all the way...

[@dannytheplumber7394]

You and JC are truly awesome American legend mechanics.

[@canvids1]

Wes when I was in my 20's I used to do all my own repairs on cars motorcycles with no problems. since everything changed I wouldn't have a clue how to fix them. I sure enjoyed you and Dads video on the tractor. Thanks for the memories video.

[@WatchWesWork]

Yeah, it's a lot more involved on the newer stuff.

[@CubasAutomotive]

I enjoyed watching this video. Working with your father, reminds me of my father & I, I started tinkering on things due to him. He helped spark my interest with wanting to know how things worked, or just plain wanting to work with my hands. Quality time with family is the best.

[@papaowl13803]

Had a WD 45 on the farm growing up. Sweet,sweet little tractor's. Don't know the year of this, but ours seemed a little bigger. Also noticed that there is no water separator in the fuel line. Will help munches of bunches. Tractor's and open air fuel tanks love air change. Miss that time, sweet memories.

[@donsrestorations]

Oh man, but hard to believe. Back in the mid-sixties (I grew up on a farm) the WD45 was the first tractor I ever drove and cut my teeth on so to speak. I was only 8 years old, but spent the next 10 years driving that old tractor spending a lot of time in the fields of central Indiana. I would love to have one again if nothing else but for the memories. Thankyou for sharing this video!!

[@WatchWesWork]

There are still a lot of these WD series tractors around.

[@johnfry9010]

Wes it's no wonder you are a good Mechanic , it's in your blood , another fine repair and that is a very cool little tractor .

[@WatchWesWork]

Yeah I didn't really get a choice.

[@Nathan-pw7do]

Great teamwork! Gotta love how the old iron just keeps on purring.

[@roxanneabbott8424]

What a great team you and dad! Love the smile on your dad, too cute! Great job Wes!!!

[@rodgerrain7033]

This has to be one of the coolest things I've seen on KZbin. Very smart father and son.

[@henningklaveness7082]

Reminds me of that time I ran across a shorn flywheel key in an OMC V4. The timing was all over the place, I'd get it synched up and run good for a while, but then it'd wander again. It turned into a very expensive exercise in frustration, and a very valuable learning experience: Don't ever take anything for granted.

[@paulc.sachsejr.7209]

I use to work at Central Tractor, when the farmers wives would come in for parts I would ask them what’s it off of and they would say, “I don’t know, it orange.” 9 times out of 10 it would be for the WD. Very popular tractor and they keep going and going...

[@WatchWesWork]

They were also popular here.

[@465maltbie]

Great to see you and your dad working together, reminds me of mine, except less cussing. :D Charles

[@jasonpeaslee9865]

More great content! I spent many hours raking hay on one of those, still remember the ass aches after spending hours on the old steel seat wouldn't trade those memories for the world.

[@WatchWesWork]

Heh. We used a Farmall 300. But it had the same seat...

[@richardlambert1544]

My dad had exactly the same on the farm best tractor he ever had when he sold the farm his brother bought it and parked his international diesel tractor

[@itbigboy1984]

Love them WD's, still using them! That one has some nice tin work on it, it would be a good one to restore!

[@treborupp]

Actually love these Tractors, raked a lot hey back in day. Rode in a lot parades for 4H. Great tractor.

[@ianbartelmez4720]

Really enjoy your Allis-Chalmers videos, watching from West Allis, Wi

[@silasmarner7586]

Beautiful, thorough, elegant work. It runs like a clock. Thanks WWW and co.!

[@garrykraemer8993]

Awesome video! My Father worked for an AC implement dealer in the 50's and 60's. He built a WD out of junk parts! He has a WD-45, WD, CA, and his dad's 1947 WC. They all run! I miss the days on the farm riding those tractors. That is a nice looking WD-45.

[@raymorse7424]

Nice tractor.Does AC mean all crap?

[@jimlong527]

Wes saves another from the scrap yard...nice team work Wes.

[@Kowyn]

I love how your dad is busy but can't resist getting his hand dirty and hanging out with his son.

[@garyfeltus9801]

That was cool. Got to see your dad. Old friend had that same year tractor. We had to roll it off a hill to get it started. Run great. Used it for turning hay over. Then it started over heating. He parked never did figure it out.

[@WatchWesWork]

Probably needed a head gasket.

[@mike3133f]

Such a beautiful design on the hood! I see why my old friend collected so many tractors! Nice work on the diagnosis!

[@RC-fu6hg]

Those old tractors are a thing of beauty.

[@pn3846]

Nice job Wes I also like your Dads expression yah there you go that’s what I was looking for nice find them power crater engines were a pretty smooth running engine and a lugger

[@millibilli7058]

I've got a 1980 f250 4x4 that I've had sence I was 18. I had the exact same symptoms until the gear spun completely off the distributor shaft. Talk about run like shit, and 3 mpg was a real learning experience for a kid. Fine wrenching and great video.

[@jondavidmcnabb]

Perfect day to deliver this video! Like Lazarus rising from the dead, you have laid a healing hand upon it. Now go bless some motor oil.