Does JD fiberglass/plastic hold up??

[crazylare1]

i agree with you about paint, sometimes the paint on caddies looks old, sometimes the paint peels off some cars, some tractors look old when they aren't and so on. i've got a 1990 murry lawn mower that i still wax and it looks like new. i also have a newer mtd that looks like it came from the factory with pinkish paint on the metal but the hood (plastic) looks shiny and red. i hate it when i see some tractors all faded and rusty. i really feel that the new xenoy hoods on the deeres will work out great, they sure look like a million dollars now. i can't see why they won't look that way 10 years down the road. when i was shopping for a new tractor a few months ago i heard all about the plastic hoods on the deeres from some of the other color dealers, but i've seen their 10 year old tractors, all faded out and rusty, so which is the best? plastic or metal? i think that imho it doesn't mater, it's all about taking proper care of what you have. my old 90 murry is still a great looking tractor, some people think that it's only a couple of years old, boy do i laugh about that. aren't they only suppose to last for 5 or 6 yrs? mine is still on the original engine 12hp, transaxle, tires, etc. the only thing that's been replaced is the frt. wheel bushings, one quill on the deck, and one idler for the drive belt when i replaced the belt. this mower has mowed the lawn, picked up the leaves, and been used with a lawn and garden wagon at my house and the lake property since it was new. i hope that my new gt 235 gets me at least 20 years of use. i'm sure it will look like new for a long time, i'm not the least bit worried about the plastic hood on it nor the one on the new 3320. so if anyone tells you about the feared plastic hoods on jd, just look at them and say. green for me....etc. just my opinion of course.

 

[Deere_parts]

Another quick one about paint on older cars from before the automakes started clearcoating everything.

The reason you see older silver, and about any other metalic paint on old cars flaked away, missing to the primer or completely oxidised looking is because the unprotected aluminum flake oxidized. In other words the paint litterally rusted itself out. You don't see that as much on newer cars because almost all of them are clear coated now.

Also ever wonder why peoples project cars all covered in primer have tons of surface rust?......Most primers, especially the cheap stuff and about everthing in spray cans, are not waterproof. There are a few that are like Dupont's 100s and 120s that are and I beleive that some of the newer epoxy primers are too but I have never used them.

And on the note of primers The red oxide primers are made with iron oxide....... rust /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif I will never use red primer on anything and have no idea why it is usually marketed to cover heavily rusted stuff......Why......I don't know, mabey rust sticks better to rust and you think your doing the right thing because it looks better longer but all you did was hide a serious problem area that should have been sandblasted and fixed right.

Good thread and debate...Alot of material to learn from about different materials, composites and whatnot.