I was tuning my old Allis WD today and was once again reminded of how awkwardly it is geared for manuevering in close quarters. I have to have it at minimum idle and slip the clutch. I know many old tractors, especially the less expensive ones were geared simular apparently to serve more for field work than as a utility tractor. Have seen a few including an early H and an F-12 that people have installed smaller rear wheels on in an attempt to slow them down. This screws up the PTO height in particular and requires re-engineering any drawbar/3-pt hitch/front end height.. I was wondering if the factory or any aftermarket company ever offered a high/low "underdrive" or optional differential gears (I rarely now have any use for 3rd and no use for 4th gear). I realize we are talking about a 52 year old tractor and I would have little chance of finding any such options even if they did exist. I am mostly just curious. I have a second tractor, a Massey Harris 444 that is well geared, from creep-along to backroad speed so this is not real big problem although I like the size and simple engineering of my WD. With a creep along gear and maybe power steering, it would do as well for me as any modern tractor its size.

-- Hermit John (ozarkhermit@pleasedontspamme.com), April 10, 2000

Answers

Check out www.yesterdaystractors.com you might find a solution there.

-- Hendo (OR) (redgate@echoweb.net), April 10, 2000.