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cleat

Work Horse GT1600 restoration and conversion to Hydro

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rick

They sure look nice!

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cleat
9 hours ago, rick said:

They sure look nice!

Thanks.

The wheels are great.

Tires especially the fronts are quite cracked but I'll run them as long as they last.

They all hold air as they already had tubes in them.

This is my first time painting wheels white as all my other tractors have silver wheels.

I hope the clear coat helps with them staying nice and bright white.

 

 

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ebinmaine
9 minutes ago, cleat said:

Tires especially the fronts are quite cracked but I'll run them as long as they last.

They all hold air as they already had tubes in them.

 

As long as you can't see the tube from the outside you'll be fine. 

:)

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cleat
3 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

 

As long as you can't see the tube from the outside you'll be fine. 

:)

No tube poking through yet.

I would buy new fronts as they are easy to get but I am hoping to track down a set of 8" wheels for this machine eventually.

The rears fortunately are much better with just some cracking between the treads but none on the sidewalls.

 

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cleat

Rear fender stripped of decals and sanded.

This is a spare later model fender as the Work Horse fender had no access for the hydro cam adjustments and this one is in better shape.

I will give it one more sanding before prime and paint.

It just started to rain so I had to stop (I sand and paint outside to keep the shop clean as possible).

1106663197_Rearfenderde-decalledandsanded1.JPG.47b9638350db30937606c680ffb45bf6.JPG

545993380_Rearfenderde-decalledandsanded3.JPG.7cc711e1183c680ef585dd5cb53fd1fc.JPG

 

 

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cleat

Fender primed top and bottom.

502499330_Fenderprimed1.JPG.65f7415f380e1de3db42b27f471fab83.JPG

1978191006_Fenderprimed3.JPG.d55cb16021e5c45ca6212961a6670fbf.JPG

 

Left side cover painted.

723624043_Leftsidecoverpainted1.JPG.645c39700b2f112ac81c1e23f4a29abd.JPG

2033978723_Leftsidecoverpainted2.JPG.17c8e3714e0fed91da900237e95e7512.JPG

 

Right side cover painted.

1419801837_Rightsidecoverpainted2.JPG.3c0b640dda5636c60187a95b9b238533.JPG

 

It is very hot and humid here right now and rains a lot so I am getting this done when I can.

 

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ebinmaine

Looks excellent! 

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cleat

Fender painted.

1632298873_Fenderpainted1.JPG.98e3810e4dda18adbb528a013978fb81.JPG

606568624_Fenderpainted3.JPG.df6af3d8223024af6c41100f03408de1.JPG

 

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kpinnc
13 hours ago, cleat said:

Fender painted.

 

That is beautiful! I like the color choice on this project! :thumbs:

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cleat
7 hours ago, kpinnc said:

 

That is beautiful! I like the color choice on this project! :thumbs:

The basic Tremclad silver aluminum sprayed on gives me the colour I was looking for.

When you spray clear over it, you get a pretty good shine too.

 

So far only the foot rests have been cleared as I want the paint to be well dried before applying it.

 

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cleat
Posted (edited)

I bought this relatively cheap spray gun and used it to paint the side covers and rear fender.

It is a learning curve as I have never used one of these before.

I normally use rattle cans.

Wow, does this thing ever get the job done fast.

 

1124835920_Spraygun1.JPG.b0d8a1a9ffe8d023c48b136dc592eb44.JPG

 

Once the hood gets welded up I will paint it as well.

Hard to find Varsol as it has been recalled in Canada at least.

I tried some low odour mineral spirits and that simply did not work well.

Finally found real nice and stinky Varsol and that works well for thinning and cleanup.

 

Edited by cleat
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ebinmaine
Just now, cleat said:

spray gun

 

The Paint Department AKA BBT Trina has been mulling over getting one for several years. 

Biggest reason we haven't is purely convenience. 

Spray can paint doesn't have anywhere near the durability of auto grade but the cans are easy to pick up and put down and use whenever she wants or needs.  

No clean up.  

 

 

 

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Thor27

@cleat always impressed by the quality of your builds, just want to say thanks for documenting them so well. Beautiful tractor btw.

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cleat

I hope it will look good when it finally gets put together. 

More importantly I hope it runs and operates well.

Time will tell.

I am headed over the border to pick up more parts for this unit next week.

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cleat

Fender clear coat applied.

765646230_Fendercleared1.JPG.70bd16542347cc466a3f5a18922a586c.JPG

632939061_Fendercleared2.JPG.baf84fdf850fbf72c8c555332ac2af4f.JPG

1080758022_Fendercleared3.JPG.507c72ec41e8aebf633c83ab9688f8ce.JPG

2018152728_Fendercleared4.JPG.eeeec52a30483dc3860ebdd7e9f41764.JPG

 

Left side cover clear coat applied.

596748111_Leftsidecovercleared1.JPG.14a9f507ca4be4cdd1a9ab0692cb1e38.JPG

 

Right side cover clear coat applied.

1370458175_Rightsidecovercleared1.JPG.dc36a56974ffc027e8f21059c474d9b3.JPG

29492686_Rightsidecovercleared3.JPG.10aea0c5327925f8629fe419c43afa1b.JPG

 

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cleat

Hood had several holes drilled in the front and was cracked on the bottom.

124975495_Frontofhoodcleanedtohaveholesweldedin.JPG.41112344479b037ef4817f0b71a39f0c.JPG

1426552156_Hoodbottomcleanedforwelding1.JPG.7804db27df955ef243f54f8955b6c0f1.JPG

 

Holes have been welded in and mostly ground flat and sanded.

1070670178_Frontofhoodholesweldedin1.JPG.7c2c8d45293affc5964883f6376b66d6.JPG

1030583370_Frontofhoodholesweldedin2.JPG.1d520716fd957e33dc343ddf36c98bf3.JPG

 

Bottom has been welded up.

385248995_Hoodbottomwelded.JPG.08ed3e86f3fc1f2778264523c07d0ede.JPG

 

This early hood did not come with the brace.

1937638695_Hoodbottomcleanedforwelding2.JPG.c46e1af0a84ffae9ca868e50f750a23b.JPG

 

Brace made up and welded in.

1472977839_Hoodbraceweldedin.JPG.a439843261464e540cd351f37e70494a.JPG

 

Still lots more sanding and prep left to do before painting but this is a start.

 

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c-series don

Now is a good time to remind everyone that this is Cleats “WINTER” project!!!  😂

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ebinmaine
31 minutes ago, c-series don said:

Now is a good time to remind everyone that this is Cleats “WINTER” project!!!  😂

 

Mebbe winter starts this early in Canada 🇨🇦 😬???

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cleat

Yea yea yea.

I am getting the paintwork done now so it has lots of time to dry.

That is my story and I'm sticking to it.

 

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cleat
Posted (edited)

Upper steering shaft bead blasted and painted.

2062793737_Steeringshaft1.JPG.191e3e3c66bf54b1adc8bf1cca9d178a.JPG

 

Steering tube cleaned up and polished.

212269928_Steeringtube2.JPG.192344f69554abacf0fb5eb419cb8bb7.JPG

 

Thanks to ebinmaine for these parts.

It will be great to have the proper steering wheel on this tractor that this shaft and tube will facilitate.

 

 

Edited by cleat
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cleat

Engine pulley for the hydro conversion bead blasted and painted.

1435139530_Enginepulleyforhydro1.JPG.e800308ad6c1c57cd4ed3031159cb0fc.JPG

1243240779_Enginepulleyforhydro2.JPG.1058f51abccc1c6f551255650ba9c974.JPG

 

Thanks to c-series don for this pulley.

Finding the larger hydro pulley with the 1" bore required for the Briggs engine is difficult but Don came through.

 

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cleat

Front engine air cover was badly bent on this tractor when I got it.

c-series don sent me this nice straight one.

Here is the difference.

509085113_FrontairguideoriginalVScseriesdonreplacement.jpg.87e7f9cd224e934c53798fe9b65fd5b2.jpg

 

Here is the cover as I received it.

Great shape just needs some bead blasting and sanding.

 

1438817051_Frontairguideasreceived2.JPG.21a9cbaa859fd875b3723c65c6a1147b.JPG

1892392567_Frontairguideasreceivedinside.JPG.ba4f24d0aa5b8f1829bb6487bf7136f5.JPG

 

Cover cleaned up and primed.

481589021_Frontairguidesandedandprimed3.JPG.a683b81998a9665e810b88f90ea34df7.JPG

1850067955_Frontairguidesandedandprimed1.JPG.d978424d46d74ede2af5675dae726b82.JPG

 

Don even sent me this cool decal.

212402469_DonOliverdecal.JPG.75fd4cb54ace091dc1794f431e9eea1d.JPG

 

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cleat

Cover now has 2 coats of semi gloss black.

I left the decal on even though it is for an 18HP and my engine is 16HP because I think it looks better than no decal.

I can't find a source for new decals.

 

1745490082_Frontairguidepainted1.JPG.51cb7b3c0ebe666d8d3ca64a651e763c.JPG

1359002262_Frontairguidepainted3.JPG.89da7e482b86bc0a236cf1f49c29ba74.JPG

 

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rjg854
4 hours ago, cleat said:

 

I can't find a source for new decals.

 

 

 

Terry at redo your horse.com      :scratchead:     

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Lee1977
On 7/16/2024 at 11:09 AM, cleat said:

 

Well, part of your issue is the lift arm does not go there it goes where you see it in this picture.

1921297246_ProgressasofApril920209.JPG.58619b044aae9840f83dade6a56731ea.JPG

 

The bushing OD is 5/8" ID is .5" Length from under flande to end of bushing is 3/8", OD of flange is 3/4"

DSCN6846.JPG.bd0a7c3f4baac7b2e3001f73f86a93f4.JPG

DSCN6847.JPG.b2e8351468cbef589d0c8490c084280e.JPG

 

Not sure witch frame you have there most deck lift rod are 1/2" with a 1/2" ID and 5/8" OD bushing.  I guess they up graded the rod on later 520  to 5/8" rod for the 60" deck.

 

oF

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