Starting the restoration on my '97 314-H

[HankB 16]

I'm surprised to be dealing with rust problems on my 314-H. When I installed the deck this spring, I noticed quite a bit of rust and decided I had better deal with that before ti gets so bad I have to replace the foot rests. This is what I saw:

A little work with an angle grinder (*) and they looked like this.

Top side wasn;t much better.

This picture shows some of the worst pitting.

The rest of the tractor looks pretty good. I don't see that kind of rust anywhere else. I'm guessing there was something peculiar about the metallurgy of the sheet they stamped these parts out of, or perhaps the treatment prior to painting. I'm glad I caught it now. I don't think these parts would have made it 40 years.

(*) An angle grincer has become one of my favorite power tools when it comes to removing rust.

[rmaynard 15,715]

Get some Loctite rust treatment and put a coat on it. Let it dry. Then prime it. After you have primed it, you can fill the pits with body filler if you like. Sand, paint and put new mats on it and you will be good as new.

Bob

[HankB 16]

Get some Loctite rust treatment and put a coat on it. Let it dry. Then prime it. After you have primed it, you can fill the pits with body filler if you like. Sand, paint and put new mats on it and you will be good as new.

Bob

Doh!

Apologies to the mods - I typed the following after I hit "report" by mistake. And just continued on and submitted it. :dopeslap:

Bob,

Many thanks for the tips. That's exactly what I've been wondering about. That surface faces down so I won't worry about the pits, but I really want to stop further rusting.

The rubber pads are still soft and pliable so I won't need to replace them.

thanks,

hank

[rmaynard 15,715]

The rubber pads are still soft and pliable so I won't need to replace them.

If you do need new, I have ribbed rubber pad material in stock.

Bob

[chris11 184]

looks like they have been painted before. is there primer under that paint?

[HankB 16]

looks like they have been painted before. is there primer under that paint?

We bought it new and never painted it before.

I cannot see a different color primer under the red.

[rmaynard 15,715]

I think it's just the lighting, but I can see what Chris is talking about.

Color appears to go from red to light gray to bare metal.

Bob

[rickv1957 72]

Seems like the newer models had a paint peeling problem compared to yhe older ones,Rick

[HankB 16]

I think it's just the lighting, but I can see what Chris is talking about.

Color appears to go from red to light gray to bare metal.

Bob

Bob,

I saw that in the picture too. I walked out to my garage and examined the piece before replying. What looks like a different color in the picture looks like a scuff mark from the wire brush and/or grit flap wheel I used to remove loose paint and rust.

RickV

The rest of the tractor looks pretty good. The only rust problem seems to be on the foot rests. I did look at pictures of the restoration of a 310-* (IIRC) and the foot rests looked pretty rusty on that one too so this could be a weak point on the newer tractors. Do any in your stable see sufficient use outside to risk rust? :omg:

[buckeye 5]

Seems like the newer models had a paint peeling problem compared to yhe older ones,Rick

I agree

[bk-scouter 93]

Hank, don't feel alone in this dilemma, I just finished repainting my footrests as well this week. And they looked in the exact same condition as yours, pitted and everything! Funny thing though, the further I sanded them, the more rust I discovered lurking underneath the paint. Good thing the the rubber pads will cover all the pitting... Obviously the metal quality didn't get any better in '99. Perhaps it's because the footpads trap moisture/water ?

-BK