RickyMayhew 37 #1 Posted August 10, 2019 Need to know what I should do with This barn find 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RickyMayhew 37 #2 Posted August 10, 2019 First step what should I do everything locked up? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 46,739 #3 Posted August 10, 2019 7 minutes ago, RickyMayhew said: Need to know what I should do with This barn find Sell it to me!?!?!? Seriously what are your plans for it? Start by getting all the fluids out and get penetrating oil on fasteners that are gonna give ya trouble. Pull the deck off and set it aside for now make it easier to work on the rest of the tractor. Then stock up on more Kroil. Take lots and lots of pictures during disassembly so you know how everything was. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AMC RULES 36,945 #4 Posted August 10, 2019 Pretty much depends on what your end goal is... returning it to as show room new, with shiny red paint. Or...simply a mechanical resto, that will still retain all of decades old patina? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RickyMayhew 37 #5 Posted August 10, 2019 My plans are just mechanical resto.. To save the patina what should I put on it. Some say wd-40 and white scotch bright. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oliver2-44 8,852 #6 Posted August 10, 2019 Looks like it could have some nice patina if you keep it original looking. As mentioned above, drain the engine, transmission and especially that hydraulic unit. Fill them with diesel and let them soak a few days. give it a good bath to get any old caked up grease oil dirt off. if your going to keep the patina scrubbing it with an SOS steel wool pan removes some of the rust, but leaves it nice and old looking, then spray it down with WD 40 to keep it from rusting back while you work on it. Get a can of your favorite penetrating oil and spray everything that wont move. walk by every couple of hour and spray them again. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 51,656 #7 Posted August 10, 2019 Don't be in a hurry with anything old and rusty (sort of like me)! The bolts going into the aluminum gas tank are the biggest concern, galvanic corrosion has probably "brown welded" them together. If the fastener breaks off in a threaded hole you will need to center tap it and use several progressively larger drills until you work your way out to the tapped threads and then pick out the remains of the fastener. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 51,656 #8 Posted August 10, 2019 7 minutes ago, RickyMayhew said: My plans are just mechanical resto.. To save the patina what should I put on it. Some say wd-40 and white scotch bright. Glad to see you plan to celebrate the patina! I have used 400 wet/dry sand paper, 0000 steel wool and WD-40 and the remaining old paint under the rust will show through quite well. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHNJ701 4,164 #9 Posted August 10, 2019 take lots of pictures of how everything bolts together, even though they are simple it's good to have reference. look at as separate projects. tractor, the engine, the mower deck, the hydro system. don't conquer everything at once. I would pull the engine out first and go over it, then move on from there. drain that trans too it's probably full of water. lots and lots of topics about patina resto on here Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RickyMayhew 37 #10 Posted August 10, 2019 Thank you so much for the help! Just want to do good job on this Wheel Horse and give a fresh breath of air. Just could not stand seeing it everyday rusting away in the brier thicket! 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHNJ701 4,164 #11 Posted August 10, 2019 plus you have this site to answer all your qustions. make sure become a member here to keep it going! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 59,687 #12 Posted August 11, 2019 Does the engine turn over? If so, the diesel flush and oil change would be a great place to start. Also, there are great threads in the transmission portions of the forum to get it up to snuff too. I have put seized parts into a bucket of oil/diesel and forgotten them for months in the past to free them up... you might want to grab a few buckets to soak stuff in! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Tuul Crib 7,332 #13 Posted August 11, 2019 (edited) One giant electrolysis tank should do the trick. Just find one big enough for the tractor to fit in and plug it in . well of course piece by piece! Edited August 11, 2019 by The Tool Crib 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHNJ701 4,164 #14 Posted August 11, 2019 1 hour ago, The Tool Crib said: One giant electrolysis tank should do the trick. Just find one big enough for the tractor to fit in and plug it in . well of course piece by piece! no way!, red scuff pad and Johnson paste wax, paint the rims antique white, and re decal it from Vinylguy. that's a show winner! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RickyMayhew 37 #15 Posted August 11, 2019 Thank you Guys for all the help. No I will just paint it John Deere green! Just kidding. 3 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RickyMayhew 37 #16 Posted August 18, 2019 Cleaned with sos pads and wd-40. But not very impressive!!! May be to much of a restro for me. 1 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 46,739 #17 Posted August 18, 2019 No that's perfect! Grill is really good shape and nice character dent. I'M thinkin next apply some boiled linseed oil? What say fellas. Try a small spot and see if you like the look Ricky. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AMC RULES 36,945 #18 Posted August 19, 2019 I'd keep going until the surface smooths out a bit more. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RickyMayhew 37 #19 Posted August 19, 2019 Thank you I just want to do it right. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 59,687 #20 Posted August 19, 2019 8 hours ago, RickyMayhew said: Thank you I just want to do it right. 57 years of history right there, get it running and driving and it’ll be right Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
