Patina or refinish???

[pfrederi 17,697]

Been working on this C-160 since last fall.  Engine completely overhauled tranny resealed.  Looks better than she did....but I do not enjoy sanding prep painting etc  The hood that came with her was chopped a bit and has holes.  I have a similar hood that is not cut.  I am thinking of trying the Marvel Mystery oil or some other wipe on finish as opposed to serious stripping repainting.   What would you all do...

[peter lena 8,600]

@pfrederi  personal experience is a simple 2 step process , use an aerosol  penetrating  oil  to totally  spay down the areas , let it sit for days , then a clean oiled soft cloth , never sandpaper , for an initial wipe down , might even break thru the grunge , then I use a mineral oil  rub down , if its going to break thuu , the mineral oil will do it . at that stage , like a 6" electric palm buffer , with cleaning wax  , all the time you are retaining  patina and original base coating . think the older units look best with oiled patina look , never shinny  just clean and rust free. recovered a lot of neglect with this  process, like to leave them in the sun  , to heat up and draw in the lubrication , do the same thing on mower  decks . patina look and rust free , pete

[ebinmaine 67,391]

On my 1974 C160-8 with the Tecumseh engine I used a 3M Scotch-Brite that was the coarser of them. Maroon. Brown. I don't know what color we want to call that.

In principle the idea worked out well but in reality it was a little too coarse.

 

It worked absolutely excellent in removing the dirt, grime, dust, whatever had accumulated over the nearly 50 years.... But it was a little too aggressive on what paint was left on the tractor.

 

I do have one other 1975 C160-8 with a Kohler engine that I'll be building in the future. That has nice straight ish sheet metal so I'm very likely to try using a finer grade of those Scotch brake pads to see how it comes out.

 

I'm not sure on what chemical but it does kind of bug me that soaking something with oil would present serious paint adhesion problems later if I decided to strip and recoat. I just used water this last time.

 

 

 

[SylvanLakeWH 25,524]

Try this:

 

Used for years on old colored fiberglass boats... Just rub it on.

[squonk 41,051]

Scotch Brite pad then Penetrol

[ebinmaine 67,391]

38 minutes ago, squonk said:

Scotch Brite pad then Penetrol

 

Which Scotch Brite do you use Mike? 

[squonk 41,051]

1 hour ago, ebinmaine said:

 

Which Scotch Brite do you use Mike? 

What ever one happens to be in the drawer!

[ebinmaine 67,391]

7 minutes ago, squonk said:

What ever one happens to be in the drawer!

 

Fair 

[953 nut 55,155]

      As good as the rest of the tractor looks it would look very odd with a patina hood.             Sand it,  paint it,  you will love it.         

[kpinnc 11,979]

If you want to paint without sanding as much, a wire brush on a cordless drill is way easier than sandpaper. I’m sorta lazy, and it works well for me. 

Edited October 11 by kpinnc

[squonk 41,051]

Another option would be either a Harbor Freight surface conditioning tool or if time isn't a concern a large electrolysis tank and cook the hood for about a week. 

Edited October 11 by squonk

[Pullstart 62,829]

Whatever you have done to the tractor, it’ll take much less time with the hood alone.  Do the same, you’ll be glad you did!

[rmaynard 15,434]

I don't think the question should be "patina or refinish", but rather "rust or refinish".

 

I say refinish. 

[Ed Kennell 38,112]

Here's one I had everything painted but the hood.    Just couldn't bring myself to destroy the hood patina, so I got a two tone.

 

 

[pfrederi 17,697]

Okay you guys shamed me into it.  Ordered the HF Resurfacing tool ...will see how it goes...

[pfrederi 17,697]

About finished found a correct hood and refinished it......need to get a correct steering wheel maybe new headlight lens.  Engine overhauled 10 over and under, new valves, guides were in spec per machine shop, and (I am sure this will elicit groans) new balance gears and shafts.  The last 341 l left out the balance gears and the vibration was too much for me...it is on long term loan to a neighbor.

Terry's decal really make her look better than she is... my paint job  is 50/50

Only issue...not sure what to do with her...don't really have a use for her.....

 

 

[ebinmaine 67,391]

5 minutes ago, pfrederi said:

About finished found a correct hood and refinished it......need to get a correct steering wheel maybe new headlight lens. 

 

Looks great Paul!!

 

 

5 minutes ago, pfrederi said:

Engine overhauled 10 over and under, new valves, guides were in spec per machine shop, and (I am sure this will elicit groans) new balance gears and shafts.  The last 341 l left out the balance gears and the vibration was too much for me...it is on long term loan to a neighbor.

 

Nothing with with NEW balance gears AND SHAFTS. 

 

 That's where I believe folks go wrong. 

The shafts wear out just as much as the gears and bearings.

 

5 minutes ago, pfrederi said:

Terry's decal really make her look better than she is... my paint job  is 50/50

Only issue...not sure what to do with her...don't really have a use for her....

 

Just toss it on the next Northeast bound freight train and I'll babysit it for ya....

 

[squonk 41,051]

I am having issues with the nerves in my hands. I have a rebuilt K321 in my 953 with no balance gears. At a certain RPM it sets up a noticeable vibration but a pair of Mechanicswear Impact gloves takes care of that. 

[ebinmaine 67,391]

30 minutes ago, squonk said:

I am having issues with the nerves in my hands. I have a rebuilt K321 in my 953 with no balance gears. At a certain RPM it sets up a noticeable vibration but a pair of Mechanicswear Impact gloves takes care of that. 

 

I know that one all too well.  

Same here but not from a Kohler engine.  

Had to sell a favorite chainsaw because I couldn't use it.