Allis Chalmers WD-45
Built: 1953–1957 · Series: W-Baureihe
More machines from model year 1953
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Allis-Chalmers W series – WC, WD, WF and WD-45 from Milwaukee, 1930s to 1950s: the classics with four- and six-cylinder engines, 18 to 28 kW
The W series was the backbone of Allis-Chalmers tractors from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, between the 1930s and 1950s. The WC, built from 1933, was among the first tractors offered from the factory on rubber tyres instead of steel wheels and contributed substantially to the spread of rubber tyres in agriculture; the WF was the wheatland and industrial version. The WD of 1948 brought the adjustable Power-Shift rear axle and the hydraulic Traction Booster, and the WD-45 of 1953 was its further development with live PTO and hydraulics on the move.
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The register lists here 4 versions with 18 to 27.9 kW from four- and six-cylinder engines of 3,295 to 3,707 cm³ displacement, unladen weights from 1,501 to 1,794 kg, lengths from 3,099 to 3,521 mm, widths from 1,422 to 1,727 mm and heights from 1,384 to 2,070 mm; the fuels recorded are petrol, low-octane tractor-grade petrol and, on the WD-45, also LPG and diesel.
The W series made Allis-Chalmers, alongside International Harvester, John Deere and Ford, one of the defining American tractor brands of the post-war period and was especially common on family farms across the American Midwest.
Used, the W classics call for checking engine and carburettor condition, originality of sheet metal and paint, the condition of the Power-Shift mechanism on the WD and WD-45, and tyres and the ignition system; parts for the W series are offered by specialist vintage-tractor dealers and reproduction-parts makers.
Sources: SpecCodex register, model data: Allis-Chalmers W-Baureihe
Technical data
Engine
| Engine make | Allis-Chalmerscorrect |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Benzin/Tractor-Fuel/LPG/Dieselcorrect |
| Power | 38 hp (27.9 kW)correct |
| Rated speed | 1.400/1.650 rpmcorrect |
| Torque | 296 Nmcorrect |
| Cylinders | 4/6correct |
| Displacement | 3,707 cm³correct |
| Bore | 101.6 mmcorrect |
| Stroke | 114.3 mmcorrect |
| Cooling | water-cooledcorrect |
Dimensions and weights
| Length | 3,228 mmcorrect |
|---|---|
| Width | 1,727 mmcorrect |
| Height | 2,070 mmcorrect |
| Wheelbase | 2,238 mmcorrect |
| Ground clearance | 540 mmcorrect |
| Unladen weight | 1,794 kgcorrect |
Drivetrain and chassis
| Drive | rear-wheel drivecorrect |
|---|---|
| Gearbox | 4 V/1 Rcorrect |
| Forward gears | 4correct |
| Reverse gears | 1correct |
| Front tyres | 5.50 x 16correct |
| Rear tyres | 12 x 28correct |
| Top speed | 19.3 km/hcorrect |
Working data
| Fuel tank capacity | 68.2 lcorrect |
|---|
Origin and approval
| Plant | USAcorrect |
|---|---|
| Construction | frame constructioncorrect |
| Units built | 90,352correct |
Where this model stands
Power-to-weight ratio: 15.6 kW/t (28 kW / 1.8 t)
Power class: Compact (< 40 hp)
Stronger than 23% of the tractors in the register — out of 15,663 models with a stated power figure.
Calculated from the documented figures above — not a rating.
Frequently asked questions
How much power does the Allis Chalmers WD-45 have?
The Allis Chalmers WD-45 delivers 38 hp.
How much does the Allis Chalmers WD-45 weigh?
The unladen weight is 1,794 kg.
What engine does the Allis Chalmers WD-45 have?
4/6 cylinders, 3,707 cm³ displacement, Benzin/Tractor-Fuel/LPG/Diesel.
How fast does the Allis Chalmers WD-45 go?
Top speed is 19.3 km/h.
What are the dimensions of the Allis Chalmers WD-45?
3,228 mm × 1,727 mm × 2,070 mm.
When was the Allis Chalmers WD-45 built?
Production years: 1953–1957.
What to check before buying
- Check the hour meter against the service records — a replaced instrument is the most common gap.
- Compare the data plate and chassis number with the papers.
- Check the weights in the papers against the figures here — attachments change them.
- Check front and rear tyre sizes: mismatched pairs strain the drivetrain.
- Shift the gearbox cold and warm — jumps only show up at temperature.
- Load the hydraulics and watch for sag.
- Ask about parts availability for this build year — the running costs hang on it.
A general list for this type of machine — no substitute for an inspection or an appraiser.
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This page carries 31 individual figures for this model. They come from 3 recorded sources; every figure can be traced there. What we cannot document is not here — we leave gaps open rather than estimate them.
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