My new 4300 project

[pmsmechanic]

Wow I think you did pretty good price wise. There was a 4310 locally here with 600 hours that went for $8000. ( That was when our $ were pretty well even.) I thought the price was reasonable but I just couldn't afford it. I think you got a better deal with all the attachments.

If you need parts I've had good luck looking up the part number in the parts diagrams online and just Googling the number. Prices are usually a lot better than at the dealer. eg: Mid pto kit for my 4410 was $250 and a two and a half hour drive away. Dealer was about $1500.

 

[larboc]

A little more progress..

 

[beenthere]

Looks like you have that fit up pretty well, and looking good.

 

[larboc]

The dealer is taking longer to get my new lines in than they predicted so I'm doing a little more. Didn't take any after pics last night, but I got the footwell panels welded in and replaced the left side a-pillar. Quite rusty, and as I found out was in the wrong place.


New panels cut out and welded in, pics later.

 

[beenthere]

Looking like good repairs and skilled workmanship. Surprised the degree of rusting that the cab has.

Now, for kicks, throw a little paint at the horses to cover up the paint splatters (or from birds ?? ) so your pics show your work much better.. kidding and just ribbing you...

 

[larboc]

Looking like good repairs and skilled workmanship. Surprised the degree of rusting that the cab has.

Now, for kicks, throw a little paint at the horses to cover up the paint splatters (or from birds ?? ) so your pics show your work much better.. kidding and just ribbing you...

Thanks! Yes the cab rusted surprisingly badly. I didn't realize it untill I got into it deeper but someone has done some pretty major repairs before me. By mass, I'd guess 1/4 of the steel in the cab has had to be replaced once I get done. I'd like to see a new curtis cab just to see what they are supposed to look like. I decided that it isn't going to be worth restoring the cab to new condition so I'm just restoring it to original functionality so that no damage is done to the tractor itself. The A-pillar I replaced as well as the footwell panels were definitely a problem that needed addressing though as the cab was resting on the hood instead of the floor boards. What is surprising is how good of shape the tractor is compared to the cab.

As far as the sawhorses go, I got them new about a year ago and the first thing I used them for was to paint pegboard. Bonehead move not to think ahead I guess. I laid it down, rolled it, thought "alright, this is going to look much nicer!", then looked underneath at my yard and nice new sawhorses covered in white speckles! On the bright side I have no concern about getting paint on them now.

 

[larboc]

More progress.


I broke down and used a little body filler in deeply pitted rust spots to hide the pits.








I got everything primed last night (no pics of that) , I'm giving it till this weekend to dry before I top coat it with some TSC Majic JD green. I've had this thing for a couple weeks now and have done nothing but work on the cab, I am itching to play with it!

 

[beenthere]

Do yourself a favor and use JD green paint.. the others will turn to a different green color with time.. from my experience.

The JD battery in place of that (what appears to be) bigger one will get the fumes away from the oil cooler for longer life. just sayin...

You do nice work and impressed with your indulgence in this rebuild. Thanks for taking us along...

 

[rekees4300]

I've had this thing for a couple weeks now and have done nothing but work on the cab, I am itching to play with it!

Thanks for the pics. You, sir, know what you are doing! Excellent! :thumbsup:

 

[larboc]

Do yourself a favor and use JD green paint.. the others will turn to a different green color with time.. from my experience.

The JD battery in place of that (what appears to be) bigger one will get the fumes away from the oil cooler for longer life. just sayin...

You do nice work and impressed with your indulgence in this rebuild. Thanks for taking us along...

Thanks!
Hmmm, I did some reading and it does seem people haven't had the best of luck with the Majic paint holding its color, maybe you're right. Local JD dealer only has spray cans and they are $12 a can (ouch). I was hoping to roll on instead of masking and spraying but this may be my best option.
I also was wanting to avoid spraying because I'm working in a two car garage with limited heating capacity and it's -10f out.

I wonder how well it would work to coat everything I primed with the Majic paint to get a good thick layer of JD green and then topcoat with rattle can JD paint.

Also primed up the rusty spots on the snow blower. I did a test spot with Majic JD yellow from a rattle can and the color is spot on. The inside of the blower and all the rapid wear areas will be getting Majic, the rest probably OEM JD yellow.