Enjoying my David Brown 780 Selectomatic

[The kid]

One day about 100+ starlings, I think, broke into the barn and tried to paint about every piece of equipment I own. They have been evicted.

Thanks for the advice to get the steering wheel off. I will try the mallet technique tomorrow. Worked most of the day on the seat mechanism. I can fix it but will be a lot of work just to keep the original looks of the tractor. Well that's what I wanted so I will keep at it.

Red Robins have invaded our area and can make a real mess if you park near a tree. Certain times of the year when certain species of bird are mating. I have to cover my side mirrors on the cars and truck or they fight with themselves and crap all down the sides. Covering the mirrors with something as simple as a plastic grocery bag works great.

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[DB Pilot]

Birds and mice are a real car and tractor problem. What I did was Hang a Plastic owl from the trusses. I have not seen one bird in the barn since. I had one mouse nest in the tractor but since I hung up the owl the barn seems to be mouse free also. Another item to use is a Black Cat silhouette. The trick is to move them around once in awhile or they become nonthreatening to vermin.

[DB Pilot]

Found these pictures of the David Brown 780 on the day I bought it. Notice the original air cleaner which I have since updated. It will be interesting to compare the tractor at different stages of repair.

[The kid]

<img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=304081"/><img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=304082"/>
Found these pictures of the David Brown 780 on the day I bought it. Notice the original air cleaner which I have since updated. It will be interesting to compare the tractor at different stages of repair.

I saw a decal kit for around $38 shipped from the UK. It sure would look once on a freshened up paint job.

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[DB Pilot]

Here are pictures of the David Brown "Super Comfort Seat". It has been completely rebuilt. I will have to mount it on the tractor to test. It does crank up and down nicely though. The seat cushion is a Massey Ferguson seat but seems to fit nicely. The backrest is very solid with no alterations to the original DB pan. The picture with the two hooks are the Battery hold downs. One was left on the tractor and I could copy it very closely with a Harbor Freight compact bender. The undercarriage I painted with Rustoleum Leather Brown paint, I am rethinking that color as it is not dark enough. The Original DB Chocolate Brown color looks llike Hershey Chocolate Bar brown, very rich dark brown color. Still looking for that. There are things to do that will just have to wait until warmer weather.

[The kid]

<img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=304793"/><img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=304794"/><img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=304795"/><img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=304796"/><img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=304797"/>

Here are pictures of the David Brown "Super Comfort Seat". It has been completely rebuilt. I will have to mount it on the tractor to test. It does crank up and down nicely though. The seat cushion is a Massey Ferguson seat but seems to fit nicely. The backrest is very solid with no alterations to the original DB pan. The picture with the two hooks are the Battery hold downs. One was left on the tractor and I could copy it very closely with a Harbor Freight compact bender. The undercarriage I painted with Rustoleum Leather Brown paint, I am rethinking that color as it is not dark enough. The Original DB Chocolate Brown color looks llike Hershey Chocolate Bar brown, very rich dark brown color. Still looking for that. There are things to do that will just have to wait until warmer weather.

Looking good DB.

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[MasseyWV]

Here are pictures of the David Brown "Super Comfort Seat". It has been completely rebuilt. I will have to mount it on the tractor to test. It does crank up and down nicely though. The seat cushion is a Massey Ferguson seat but seems to fit nicely. The backrest is very solid with no alterations to the original DB pan. The picture with the two hooks are the Battery hold downs. One was left on the tractor and I could copy it very closely with a Harbor Freight compact bender. The undercarriage I painted with Rustoleum Leather Brown paint, I am rethinking that color as it is not dark enough. The Original DB Chocolate Brown color looks llike Hershey Chocolate Bar brown, very rich dark brown color. Still looking for that. There are things to do that will just have to wait until warmer weather.

Looks great!

[DB Pilot]

Here is the David Brown Hood Emblem. I saved as much paint as I could but it needed freshening up. Also the two gear shift knobs. Noticed the shift pattern and painted over it and then lightly polished off the surface leaving the grooves white. Odd thing is the gear shifter was screwed on. However the Hi-Lo knob was pressed on. The shaft is knurled. I will have to wait until warmer weather and JB Weld the three parts around the shaft. It was severely cracked so when I tried to unscrew it, it fell apart in three pieces. this was a good thing though as it will be very solid when I finish fixing it.

Here is the emblem 75% finished. Tomorrow I will get the Case Power red paint to finish the red rose. It seems that when I top coat with the flat Black paint it brings up the gold, red and white colors. The last picture shows off my original owners manual with the correct Orchid White, Poppy Red and Chocolate Brown Colors.

Also tomorrow I will reinstall the seat base and seat on the tractor But I want a warmer day to drive the tractor from my barn (one mile away) to the garage/workshop to put the fenders and hood back on.

See you later

[The kid]

<img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=305334"/><img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=305335"/>
Here is the David Brown Hood Emblem. I saved as much paint as I could but it needed freshening up. Also the two gear shift knobs. Noticed the shift pattern and painted over it and then lightly polished off the surface leaving the grooves white. Odd thing is the gear shifter was screwed on. However the Hi-Lo knob was pressed on. The shaft is knurled. I will have to wait until warmer weather and JB Weld the three parts around the shaft. It was severely cracked so when I tried to unscrew it, it fell apart in three pieces. this was a good thing though as it will be very solid when I finish fixing it.

DB, it you don't want to get deep in your pocket, that emblem can be restored pretty close to original. They make a product that is spray chrome. These chrome claiming silver paint is a waste of money. Now this new method they sand down the piece to where it's perfectly smooth. Then lay down a coat of gloss black. Then this spray chrome lightly spray over it just a few light coats Gently buffed with a soft cotton cloth. Then sealed with clear. Looks like polished aluminum. The more coats applied the more silver and non chrome it looks. With so little of your emblem showing chrome most of it would careful fill in with color with high quality art brushes and some acrylic hobby paint. That's basically how I restored mine, but the spray chrome kit wasn't known to me at the time I restored mine. I found these pictures of emblems. I believe yours is on the right. -robert

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[DB Pilot]

Kid, Added two more pictures of the emblem. Did not realize the first picture was so bad, but the next two are better. Many of the pictures I have taken make the parts look much worse than they are. The title of my thread says it all. The chrome look on the letters is actually a very shiny Gold. One interesting thing about this project is that I have not destroyed anything, yet. After this I will repaint the rear wheels and then New brakes, after that if all is still working New Tires. I am thinking of antifreeze to load the tires. Did you load yours? My L3800 has the Rim-guard beet Juice in them and so far so good but the dealer is a bit far to do that again. I had Calcium Chloride put in the BX2200 and destroyed one rim so I am finished with that. I have a 6' brush hog on the David Brown most often and Possibly do not need to load the tires at all.

See you,