Restoring old Implements back To there former glory

sixdogs · Jan 2, 2017

daugen--I forgot the decal question. Find my old threads where I show how to not replace a decal that is in good condition. Get some blue painter's tape and tape over the decal. Run your fingernail around the edge to delineate the decal and then carefully cut the tape around the decal. Peel off the tape around the decal and leave the tape covering the decal. Remove after paint. If you did it meticulously, no one will ever know it's an old decal. I only replace decals that are badly damaged and then only some of those.

Actually, in any repaint of tractors, try to paint as little sheet metal as possible because it is then obvious that you painted it. Here is a thread I did that describes how to re-do a tractor to look right and covers all the bases of technique. It's on an M6800 Kubota I bought at auction. It's a modified Cliff Notes version of what works and what doesn't. Get on board.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...estore-neglected-m6800-kubota.html?highlight=

daugen · Jan 2, 2017

sixdogs, I do decals the same way, trying to preserve as many as possible. Some are ripped, gone, and some I just don't replace.
I usually use 3M tape but would sure like to find a less expensive tape that works. 7 bucks for that silly little roll...
As far as painting, in as bad condition as these wing mowers are, I'm likely to paint all the mower deck and parts, but always try to leave the engine stock. The Honda cleaned up well and with a lot of 303 protectant rubbed in, returned some original color.

To me all the work is in cleaning, sanding and priming properly. With a good primer even less expensive paint will do well. But some of that rattle can stuff is awfully thin. TSC keeps changing brands, I see another new name there now. I wish they had never left Valspar.

sixdogs · Jan 2, 2017

Buy OEM paint. All of your hard earned prep is going right out the window with non-OEM paint. Find any of my numerous threads on it.

Also, don't do much prep because I have a 4000 PSI pressure washer and can blow a lot of it clean off. I electric wire brush because it's easy and does a good job and my final results are liked by most everyone. I rarely sand anything because I hate it so much.

You can buy four packs of blue 3M painter's tape at Sam's Club for $3 or so. I think it's $4 around here at big box stores for the 1" stuff and that's what I use.

daugen · Jan 2, 2017

I'd like to respond to the feeling that glory belongs in the accomplishment, not just sitting there looking pretty.
Just wanted to say I liked that sentiment, tools are made to work, to produce, to provide for us. They finally get worn out
and can't be fixed any more and then you move on. For many of us, we don't wear our tools out. We haven't pulled a plow for thirty years
one year after another. After our father pulled that plow for many years. But that doesn't mean we don't care about more than looks.

A plow with paint on the lower half of the moldboard simply tells me no one uses it. But there's nothing better than scraping that paint off in the first use. Unless you use the equipment for show and are judged on perfection points, I think most of us are more concerned over how the implement works vs how it looks. The thing to remember is that some of us just want both, and are willing to spend the time and maintenance dollars, if needed, to keep equipment in very clean condition.

Paint is going to get worn off, can't avoid it. It's like a boater who says he's never bent a prop. That usually means he never left the dock and went anywhere interesting. The kind of work we do with farm implements takes the paint off on ground engaging equipment. Pretty hard not to...
So yes, I say I see the glory in grinding off that paint, turning over the soil, and smelling the wonderful rich earthy smell as you pass the plowed land. That is a very satisfying smell to me. The real glory is the output of the farm, the food we need to survive.
The old bumper sticker still stands. Like to eat? Thank a Farmer. now there's some well deserved glory.

sixdogs · Jan 2, 2017

daugen--good post. That's why I' not overly tight azzed on prep for painting ground engaging far equip. Ten minutes after you use start using it, there's a half inch of dirt on it.

fried1765 · Jan 3, 2017

daugen said:
sixdogs, I do decals the same way, trying to preserve as many as possible. Some are ripped, gone, and some I just don't replace.
I usually use 3M tape but would sure like to find a less expensive tape that works. 7 bucks for that silly little roll...
As far as painting, in as bad condition as these wing mowers are, I'm likely to paint all the mower deck and parts, but always try to leave the engine stock. The Honda cleaned up well and with a lot of 303 protectant rubbed in, returned some original color.

To me all the work is in cleaning, sanding and priming properly. With a good primer even less expensive paint will do well. But some of that rattle can stuff is awfully thin. TSC keeps changing brands, I see another new name there now. I wish they had never left Valspar.

You can buy all the Valspar you want from Amazon, and the UPS man will bring it to your house!

sixdogs · May 29, 2017

sixdogs said:
Here's a two row Deere 71 "flexi planter" I bought pretty cheap. The prior fellow converted it to plant pumpkins so some of the corn planter parts are missing. Plus it sat outside in Ohio for 10 years or so. I dragged it home, assessed the situation and things look pretty good.

I need new seed drop parts, need to clean it up and paint it. The parts are maybe $80 if I buy new plus I'll need a quart of paint. I also have to bondo a couple places on the seed containers. I have a new super duty pressure washer that I bet will blow most of the rust off so I'll just need to spray it green with yellow wheels. I'll spray oil on everything that moves and it will plant corn for the next 60 years. These things will never go out of style and command a pretty penny at auctions.

View attachment 472351

View attachment 472352

View attachment 472353

View attachment 472354

View attachment 472354

Here's a continuation of the above---post #64--- Deere 71 planter I bought and cleaned up. I had to take the planter portion of the units apart and get everything going again and the rust out. I sprayed the units with penetrating oil and just kept working things until they moved. Most everything did but I broke the bottom of one hopper an it took a few months to find one on EBAY.

I repainted the toolbar and the hoppers only. Anything more would have involved a complete disassembly that wasn't needed. I just sprayed the balance with oil and loosed up what I could. Here's the pic assembled and on my L4300 Kubota.