Why I don't paint for a living

[Farmwithjunk]

Mornin Bill,
Beautiful job !!! There seems to be one problem, it looks so darn good that if your gonna use it for your bush hoggin adventure its gonna get DIRTY

The good news is that they still have soap and water in Ky

By this time next year, it'll look like a used tractor again. Oh well...... It took 35 years to wear out the original paint job. Maybe with some luck, this one will last 10 or 15. (More'n likely about 6 months.)

Why, we even have 'lectricity here in K'ntuky. Uss'ns hillbilly folk lik all them thar modern conveniences.

Just got off the phone with Valu-Bilt. Ordered all the wear parts for the Massey Ferguson #66 plow and #25 disc I've got to go with the 150. They get the royal treatment next. I'm planning on trying to locate the #39 planter, #41 Dyna-Balance mower, and any other "period pieces" that match up with the tractor. This is getting expensive! (Also have a line on the mid-mounted 2-row cultivators. VERY rare)

 

[TxTom]

Man, that looks good. I repainted everything on my 135 about 1 1/2 years ago and watching your progress makes me want to do it again. It's something about the first shot of color to make you forget all the prep work. If you really want to get carried away (like I did) hit it with some glaze and microfinisher and buffer. Definitely brings out the gloss. But remember, those high spots and runs are just areas that might see more wear and need more protection than others.

Don't you just love the smell of fresh paint on a warmed up tractor.

Great job. This is mine after 3 months of work and learning how to paint.

Thomas

 

[Skipholiday]

WoW thats awesome~!

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Man, that looks good. I repainted everything on my 135 about 1 1/2 years ago and watching your progress makes me want to do it again. It's something about the first shot of color to make you forget all the prep work. If you really want to get carried away (like I did) hit it with some glaze and microfinisher and buffer. Definitely brings out the gloss. But remember, those high spots and runs are just areas that might see more wear and need more protection than others.

Don't you just love the smell of fresh paint on a warmed up tractor.

Great job. This is mine after 3 months of work and learning how to paint.

Thomas

Good lookin' 135 you got there!

I've already wet sanded and buffed out one "sag". (Not quite a full-blown run)
I'll probably wait 6 weeks or so to let everything dry down good, then do some polishing. I'm not so much after more shine as I am just getting a good lasting finish. It just happened to turn out REAL shiney. I used the absolute maximum amount of hardener, sprayed just a tick "wet" (thinned) with the paint, and the lowest air pressure I've ever used with my paint gun. (25psi-Sharpe Platinum HVLP) The hood has been done for almost a week now, and from 10 feet away, it still looks wet.

And funny you should mention it, but the 3 remaining runs are ALL in high wear areas. (Where leg makes contact with fender when getting on and off the tractor) Before painting, those areas were worn clear to bare metal. It won't take too long to wear off the runs in all likelyhood.

 

[GEB]

If you do decide to sand the runs out, try this it works!
Take a single edge razor blade and drag it across the high side of the sag.
A few swipes with the blade will have the run near the surface of the paint.
Then wet sand & polish the area, I do this all the time with clear coats.
Sags in metallic paints is not so foregiveing.
Sometimes it's also a good idea to round the corners of the blade.
Again your work looks nice.
Gene

 

[roxynoodle]

If my Farmall looks half that good when I get to it, I'll be happy! Great looking tractor!

 

[JJ. in B.C.]

I just don't know Bill, i think this paintin' thing must be catchin', after reading your posts i really got an urge to drag somethin' in the shop and paint it
Maybe i'll paint my old MF baler, still got paint left from the 135.......naw then i'd havta buy new decals an there's no tellin' where it might end, still....

 

[Farmwithjunk]

I just don't know Bill, i think this paintin' thing must be catchin', after reading your posts i really got an urge to drag somethin' in the shop and paint it
Maybe i'll paint my old MF baler, still got paint left from the 135.......naw then i'd havta buy new decals an there's no tellin' where it might end, still....

I'll tell you where it's leading....... at least where it's leading me. I have a model #25 Massey disc, 9'er, that's already in the shop, along with a #66 2-bottom plow. They're both from the same time period as the tractor. They would have been sold as "mates" to the 150. There's paint, decals, some new parts, and the months of Jan and Feb to get them to look befitting of hooking to the 150. I'm shopping for a #39 2-row planter, a #41 Dyna-Balance sickle bar mower, and maybe few other Massey implements of that era.

 

[JJ. in B.C.]

I'll tell you where it's leading....... at least where it's leading me. I have a model #25 Massey disc, 9'er, that's already in the shop, along with a #66 2-bottom plow. They're both from the same time period as the tractor. They would have been sold as "mates" to the 150. There's paint, decals, some new parts, and the months of Jan and Feb to get them to look befitting of hooking to the 150. I'm shopping for a #39 2-row planter, a #41 Dyna-Balance sickle bar mower, and maybe few other Massey implements of that era.

Yeah i hear ya, had to paint the Haybine last year 'cause it looked so shabby hooked up ta the new painted tractor. My young neighbor already thinks i'm crazy messin' with this old stuff. but at least i don't have his monthly payments

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Yeah i hear ya, had to paint the Haybine last year 'cause it looked so shabby hooked up ta the new painted tractor. My young neighbor already thinks i'm crazy messin' with this old stuff. but at least i don't have his monthly payments

I spent 35 years playing farmer just to have the "lifestyle" and to raise my kids on a farm. At the point where I was at my biggest, I still only farmed about 225 acres. (some rented land) There was no conceivable way to make a GOOD living with that small of a grain/cattle operation. I did manage to turn a healthy profit every year though. The biggest single reason why was my tendency to buy CHEAP used equipment and fix it up. Low overhead helps offset low commodity prices. I was always able to farm just as successfully as my neighbors who owned new, more modern equipment. Mine was big enough and good enough to handle the jobs at hand, WITHOUT that payment book and interest payment that goes along with it. And on more than one occasion, that neighbor had to park his broken-down new equipment and come borrow my old relics to finish his jobs.

And now that old "relic" is being repaid for it's many years of dependable service.

 

[morningwood]

You guys are making me jealous with your nice red painted tractors.

You are making my blue colored tractor sad that she still has some of her original worn down paint from 1959.

The engine and front end were painted during the overhaul.

Maybe I will work up some courage this year and give her a paint job with some tip and tricks from Bill and the rest of the folks. Guess it is just one more reason to get a new toy ( spray gun ).

Scott

P.S. Bill, I always enjoy your posts over here and at Nebraska Cowmans board. Always informative and to the point with no bs'ing.

 

[Soundguy]

What are we looking at.. a dexta?

Soundguy

 

[flusher]

You guys are making me jealous with your nice red painted tractors.

You are making my blue colored tractor sad that she still has some of her original worn down paint from 1959.

The engine and front end were painted during the overhaul.

Maybe I will work up some courage this year and give her a paint job with some tip and tricks from Bill and the rest of the folks. Guess it is just one more reason to get a new toy ( spray gun ).

Scott


P.S. Bill, I always enjoy your posts over here and at Nebraska Cowmans board. Always informative and to the point with no bs'ing.

Nice tractor.

Noticed that there's no blue paint on the injector. Did you replace the old injector after the paint job? Or did you mask the injector before painting?

I notice that the injector is painted over on a lot of restoration/touchup jobs that I see on TBN and on eBay. My feeling is that it's probably not a good idea to paint over the injector fittings and other associated plumbing. Any comments? Am I being too nitpicky here?

 

[Farmwithjunk]

All the new tractors I've ever bought had the injector pump and lines painted from the factory. Shouldn't be an issue.

 

[morningwood]

What are we looking at.. a dexta?

Soundguy

Soundguy,

She is a 1959 Fordson Power Major. The older lady we bought our property from gave it to us as it was her husbands tractor that he used when they owned the place.

Scott

 

[morningwood]

Nice tractor.

Noticed that there's no blue paint on the injector. Did you replace the old injector after the paint job? Or did you mask the injector before painting?

I notice that the injector is painted over on a lot of restoration/touchup jobs that I see on TBN and on eBay. My feeling is that it's probably not a good idea to paint over the injector fittings and other associated plumbing. Any comments? Am I being too nitpicky here?

Thanks flusher,

The injection pump along with the engine was rebuilt last year. The pump shop that I took it too dipped it and cleaned it and them put a coat of clear lacquer over it. I like the look of the bare pump vs it being painted. Plus if I ever need to prime it, the diesel that comes out of the plug on the top will more than likely remove the paint anyways. Here is close up of the injection pump and engine on my tractor.

Ford used the same injection pump in the Major, from there original design up until they were changed in 1962 with the Super Major.

The pipes from the injection pump to the injectors are painted. We painted those because they were steel and I did not want them to rust.

If the tractor were to go back to its original paint job the whole tractor would be painted blue. They even painted the radiator hoses, fan belt, and electrical wires.

Scott

 

[Kaliburz]

Soundguy,

She is a 1959 Fordson Power Major. The older lady we bought our property from gave it to us as it was her husbands tractor that he used when they owned the place.

Scott

Gave? Lucky!

 

[morningwood]

Gave? Lucky!

Yeah, she lives in florida in a retirement complex and she had no use for it. I actually negotiated it as part of the deal to buy the property.

The tractor did not run when we were given it. But she runs like a champ now after a pretty hefty repair bill. The repair bill was probably the same as yours was with your 3000 except your repair bill is tax deductible and mine is not so far, still working on it.

Scott

P.S. That was a great thread to follow. It was one of my daily readers.