Hood peeling

[MrChris]

I noticed on the hood of my 3215 that there are three spots that are starting to peel. It looks like the clear coat is coming off. I also included a pic showing the stripe decal under the Mahindra logo on the side of the hood. This has always had a film which has been peeling off since new. Always thought this was just the protective cover for the decal. The tractor sits outside 24/7. What do you all think?

 

[brin]

Acid rain and weathering will take it's toll. Do you have it covered with a trarp or anything ? If not I would do that for sure and the few times I have had to leave my tractors outside overnight I always worry about mice getting in under the hood or cowling and chewing wires that could cost a fortune to find and fix.

 

[wallace]

How old is the tractor?

 

[ray66v]

The technical term for the hood problem, is delamination of the top, (apparently clear), coat. If this is indeed the original factory paint, there was a defect in the product. This type of delamination, (between the color and clear coat), is more common in a part that was repaired incorrectly. An area which was not repaired, but clear coat was applied over part of the existing finish. The bond between the color and clear is very difficult to break when the products are applied properly and together. Even if you bought this tractor new, it is still possible, even at the factory level, this has been repaired before you received it. Which would be another possible explanation.

The decal does look like it had a clear liner that was supposed to be removed, but was not. That, or it was very poor quality.

 

[MrChris]

It's an '06, bought 12/06. I've never seen peeling like this before so wasn't sure if it was the clear coat or some other type of finish. The paint underneath is duller in comparison. I've had many cars older than 3 years that sat outside 24/7 and have not seen peeling like this. Took the photos this morning. Sorry about the wrong picture dates again. Really need to fix that.

 

[ray66v]

I am actually quite surprised that it may have been clear coated. It is really not necessary on a tractor. And in the end, it has actually created a problem.

It is going to have to be stripped, and refinished. Spot repairs won't stop future peeling.

 

[MrChris]

Since it's occuring on both ends of the hood I'm thinking it was just a poor factory finish than a refix later. The whole hood surface would have had to been redone. I'm more inclined to say the finish is flaking off now rather than peeling. It's more brittle and flakes rather than a thin cohesive skin that can be peeled. Wondering if there is something to aid in removing this without hurting the paint underneath? Or should I just apply some carwax to the exposed areas and let nature remove it little by little. I don't forsee me entering the tractor in a beauty contest any time soon.
Any trick to removing the skin over the decal completely and easily? It's never seemed like it wanted to be removed completely. It sticks real good in some spots and other areas is just begging to be removed.

 

[ray66v]

Since it's occuring on both ends of the hood I'm thinking it was just a poor factory finish than a refix later. The whole hood surface would have had to been redone. I'm more inclined to say the finish is flaking off now rather than peeling. It's more brittle and flakes rather than a thin cohesive skin that can be peeled. Wondering if there is something to aid in removing this without hurting the paint underneath? Or should I just apply some carwax to the exposed areas and let nature remove it little by little. I don't forsee me entering the tractor in a beauty contest any time soon.

Peeling like that, (sorry, that is what we call it), is exactly what would happen, if the hood was say repaired and painted with color in the middle, and a clear coat finish was used, (improperly), on the whole piece. I have seen, and repaired this on cars, hundreds of times.

Unless the clear blows off entirely, with a pressure washer, or air hose, (this almost never happens), you will have to strip it. Even if it all comes off, you will still need to sand the color, and very likely reapply color, or the same thing could happen again.

 

[Sergei]

Maybe you've already mention this but have you also noticed that you also have cracks in the front plastic (silver) part of the hood. My tractor is also an 06 model but mind is keep inside a building and I have developed a couple of cracks but no paint issue, I 'm think just shutting the hood has caused the cracks to appear, has anyone else seen these.

 

[LAWALLSTRACTOR]

Peeling like that, (sorry, that is what we call it), is exactly what would happen, if the hood was say repaired and painted with color in the middle, and a clear coat finish was used, (improperly), on the whole piece. I have seen, and repaired this on cars, hundreds of times.

Unless the clear blows off entirely, with a pressure washer, or air hose, (this almost never happens), you will have to strip it. Even if it all comes off, you will still need to sand the color, and very likely reapply color, or the same thing could happen again.

I see I have run into a fellow auto body tech, I will have operated my own shop for 30 years, this coming April 1st. Back in the late 80's early 90's, the early days of base clear, I have seen clear peel off in sheets to where you could strip it from a whole hood with a air hose.

 

[ray66v]

I see I have run into a fellow auto body tech, I will have operated my own shop for 30 years, this coming April 1st. Back in the late 80's early 90's, the early days of base clear, I have seen clear peel off in sheets to where you could strip it from a whole hood with a air hose.

Yes, that was when they, (especially GM), were "testing" a lot of waterborne, and low VOC junk. Using customers as guinea pigs.

I do miss automotive colors that only had 5 different tints in them.

Now its: :confused2:

 

[devildog1]

Poor paint job! Especially for a tractor that is an 06. Talk to your dealer and ask him what can he do, I know I would as that's unacceptable.
DevilDog

 

[MrChris]

Maybe you've already mention this but have you also noticed that you also have cracks in the front plastic (silver) part of the hood. My tractor is also an 06 model but mind is keep inside a building and I have developed a couple of cracks but no paint issue, I 'm think just shutting the hood has caused the cracks to appear, has anyone else seen these.

Sergie, If you look closely at my front hood pic you will also see the cracks that you speak of. I'm not really sure how they occur either.

 

[Sergei]

My thinking is since the hood is not metal it's allowing more flexing either when closing it or when moving over rough ground and allows cracking where the screw go into the nose piece. I started using super glue and mixed it into the cracks to help stop further damage, it's a minor issue but does show poor engineering in the design.

 

[MrChris]

Just wanted to post an update. Thought I would contact Mahindra directly about the hood so went to the website and tried access through the 24/7 customer care. Wouldn't accept my serial number so I e-mailed Mahindra asking for help with the website. Brenda from Mahindra e-mailed me back saying they had updated my serial number in the system. I tried again and it worked! Some interesting information there but nothing really applying to my situation so I e-mailed Brenda back with an explaination and pictures of the hood. She e-mailed me back saying that she forwarded the photos to the Mahindra service manager for my area and the next step for me was to contact the dealer to start the process taking care of this under "Goodwill" since it was no longer under warranty.
So I decided to take a drive to my dealer with copies of my photos and the e-mail. When I arrived at the dealer I took notice that there were very few tractors on site - a couple of New Hollands and 1 Mahindra. It's a small dealership so I usually just talk to the owner. He said his whole tractor business had been so bad last year he and Mahindra had parted ways, but he was still willing to listen to my situation and help.:thumbsup: When I mentioned the "Goodwill" option he chuckled and said that means it was up to the dealer to decide to pay for it! I told him I didn't think it was the dealer's fault and wouldn't hold it against him if that was the end of the story but he said the Mahindra service manager was a good guy and he would give him a call. So he called him on his cell phone right then and even though I was just overhearing the conversation I got the sense that the service manager had indeed received my photos from Brenda and they were going to work with my dealer and have my dealer get some bodyshop estimates on the refinish of the hood.
That was indeed the conversation, so the owner said he would give me a call in a couple of days and let me know what's up for sure. Don't know how the cost is going to split up so I will wait and see, but have been pleased with the responses and sincere concern from everyone involved so far!

 

[MtnViewRanch]

I have one of the very last 3215s before they went to the 3316. My hood is not clear coated, so either Mahindra changed the finishing process that was done or your hood was repainted before you received your tractor.

I have a question for you guys with a 2815, 3215 & 3316. Have any of you had any problems with the head lights. As in dirt and or water getting inside past the lens? And have your head light lenses turned amber or yellowish?

 

[MrChris]

I have one of the very last 3215s before they went to the 3316. My hood is not clear coated, so either Mahindra changed the finishing process that was done or your hood was repainted before you received your tractor.

I have a question for you guys with a 2815, 3215 & 3316. Have any of you had any problems with the head lights. As in dirt and or water getting inside past the lens? And have your head light lenses turned amber or yellowish?

My headlight lenses are staying clear(appear to be glass) and no dirt or water is getting inside(even with tractor sitting outside), but the clear plastic that runs around the front of the headlights and around the front sides of the hood is definitely yellowing.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

My headlight lenses are staying clear(appear to be glass) and no dirt or water is getting inside(even with tractor sitting outside), but the clear plastic that runs around the front of the headlights and around the front sides of the hood is definitely yellowing.

Not sure what part your thinking is glass, but the clear plastic lense that wraps around that is yellowing on yours seems to be a common problem. Mine was yellow when I went to pick up my tractor, got it changed out under warranty a few weeks later. Now there is dirt inside and it is supposed to be a sealed unit. Mahindra regional rep acknowledges that there is a problem with the manufacturing process at Mitsubishi and because I already had a front grill-head light piece replaced that I'm out of luck, they are not going to replace it again. Dealer has said that he would consider getting me one, but I don't want him to be out of pocket, it is not a dealer problem, it is a Mahindra problem and they don't seem to care. I have talked to several manufacturing reps at AG shows and either they have no idea what I'm talking about or they seem not to care. I talked to an engineering guy at the last show, pointed out how some improvements could be made for little or no money. All I got was "I don't know why we do it this way" Well that is one heck of an answer.

 

[MrChris]

I'm thinking the actual face of the headlight, the part that is staying clear, is made of glass?? Can't touch it because it is behind the nice yellowing plastic. I'm thinking that if my hood is going to be refinished I might as well just remove the hood to have them repaint it. At that point I may remove the whole headlight assembly to make it easier on the body shop. I might be able to find out then if the headlight face is actually glass. After examining my hood a little closer I am realizing that the top and front portions are plastic and that's where I'm having the peeling, while the hood sides that have the grilling are metal and the paint finish is holding up fine on these.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

If what you are saying is true, (about what looks like glass) then the newer ones are different, because the only glass that is in mine is the actual light bulb itself. I have seen where the silvering has gone bad on the reflector because so much water had gotten in past the front yellowing lenses that seems to be common. Just a note, the ONLY clear lense that I have ever seen was-is mine after it was replaced with a new one out of a box. It would still be clear if it didn't have dirt all over it on the (sealed :laughing inside.

You will get a much better job from the paint shop if you strip the hood of the grill, hood ornament and hinge hardware. I hope that they are going to put new decals on for you, that would be nice. Maybe ask them if they are, or see how much more to put new ones on if they aren't going to.

Good luck