8705 Whittaker Road, Ypsilanti, Michigan 48197
Many years ago, more than I like to think about, in the late
’30s and early ’40s, whenever I could get away from working
at home, I worked for a neighbor, Lee Kubin, who had two WK-40
McCormick Deering tractors, a blue one and a red one. He also had
two separators, two silo fillers and shredders. I really liked
working around the machinery at his place and thrashing at other
farms in the area.
Those WD-40s were very good tractors with six cylinder engines.
They were good at plowing or on belt work. A few years later I was
able to buy this WD-40 from a friend who decided to sell it. The
tractor was in excellent condition. We used it mostly for fitting
ground. Over the years I made a grill for it to protect the
radiator and I put on a cab for shade. The front tires were 750-20
which I changed to 1000-20 to give it more flotation and ground
clearance.
About 1975, the WD-40 was parked in a corner of the barn and was
almost covered up with baskets, bags, rags and dirt, until a year
ago, when I decided to get it running again and give it a new paint
job.
A friend who does sandblasting cleaned and primed it for me.
Then it was a year before I got around to finish painting it.
As far as repairs, the tractor only needed minor work such as a
new fan belt, cleaning the filters, cleaning and checking the
injectors, oiling and greasing it, and it was restored. I rebuilt
the injector pump about 1972 so it is in top shape.
The tractor is a late 1940 model with factory tires, high speed
transmission and 45 degree injectors. It easily pulls a four-bottom
plow or a 16 foot spring-tooth and cultipacker. It’s very
economical to operate.
There are not many of these tractors left in the Midwest. They
were mostly used in the western wheat lands. When I go to the
dealer to get parts, I have to take my own parts book. I also have
the original owners manual with the original owner’s name and
phone number written on it.
I really enjoy the Gas Engine Magazine, reading about
others’ experiences with gas engines and tractors. Years ago I
had a 16-30 Rumely Oilpull that was a very good tractor, it pulled
3-16′ plows. It used as much water as it did fuel oil. When it
ran out of water you could hear it knock a mile away!
One day a man drove in the yard and offered to buy it. At the
time it was just in the way. The offer was good, so goodbye
OilPull, I guess I have enough old things around here to fix up
anyway.
Thanks for listening!
