dells68 7,498 #1 Posted February 21, 2018 Well, I finally got the 857 I bought at the auction in Charlottesville going. I lightly sanded it and clear coated. After getting the engine back together and timed correctly, she is purring like a kitten - very little knock now - it was way out of time (thanks @oldredrider!). I drove it around enough to check it out and it runs great in all gears, idles down nicely, and doesn't seem to smoke any that I can tell, except a little at start up. Below are a few pics including a before and a couple that look a little like something from @AMC RULES. I think I'm going to put on the deck I got last fall and look at the show for a lawn ranger deck for Emory. 13 21 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AMC RULES 37,134 #2 Posted February 21, 2018 Thing is looking sooo...sweet. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chris T 360 #3 Posted February 21, 2018 Looks great! Hope to get my 657 to look that good!!  2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 55,702 #4 Posted February 21, 2018 Looking good, need to ask @BOB ELLISON if he can hook you up with a seat back. 4 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sparky-(Admin) 21,398 #5 Posted February 21, 2018 Looks great! That sanding and clear coat really changed that tractor! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chris G 3,296 #6 Posted February 21, 2018 Good job! The tractor looks great! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
classiccat 548 #7 Posted February 21, 2018 She's a beauty! Those rims really Pop! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
elcamino/wheelhorse 9,343 #8 Posted February 21, 2018 The 857 turned out great , when you have time I have 4 units down here that could use your help 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevebo-(Moderator) 8,340 #9 Posted February 21, 2018 Looks great. What did you use for product (clear coat)? 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dells68 7,498 #11 Posted February 21, 2018 57 minutes ago, 953 nut said: Looking good, need to ask @BOB ELLISON if he can hook you up with a seat back. I was wondering if anyone would notice it is missing. I have the back, but the back panel was torn away almost all the way around. A local upholstery guy is going to use the original horse embossed part and stitch me up a new back. My bottom is in great shape with only 2 small cigarette burns and a small tear at the seam on a front corner. I had this seat from another tractor and a set of springs, so I decided to put them to use! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dells68 7,498 #12 Posted February 21, 2018 4 minutes ago, stevebo said: Looks great. What did you use for product (clear coat)? I sanded it with 220, 400, and 600 and clearcoated with gloss Rustoleum clear. It was cool the day I did the seat pan, so I got a few flow indicators. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 55,702 #13 Posted February 21, 2018 11 minutes ago, dells68 said: My bottom is in great shape with only 2 small cigarette burns 7 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dells68 7,498 #14 Posted February 21, 2018 Oops! I wasn't supposed to mention that in public. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
elcamino/wheelhorse 9,343 #15 Posted February 21, 2018 My bottom is in sad shape but I think it is due to age. My wrinkles have wrinkles. 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 55,702 #16 Posted February 21, 2018 4 minutes ago, elcamino/wheelhorse said: My bottom is in sad shape but I think it is due to age. My wrinkles have wrinkles. 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sarge 3,463 #17 Posted February 21, 2018 That's a picture I didn't need floating around in my skull...wow. Very nice, love how deep the red came back - nice job. Bob and I have been discussing the nicer C series seats...not an easy job. Sarge 2 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
elcamino/wheelhorse 9,343 #18 Posted February 21, 2018 I am just filling in for @squonk clown duties. I think he is hibernating in New York some where. 1 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BOB ELLISON 2,981 #19 Posted February 21, 2018 1 hour ago, 953 nut said: Looking good, need to ask @BOB ELLISON if he can hook you up with a seat back. Richard I wish I had a pattern for that seat but after seeing a picture that Sarge showed me it would be a nightmare trying to do the seat and back. Maybe easier making the back. If I can find a old seat I would try someday but not now. I'm still trying to master the Lawnranger seat. Sorry @dells68 for getting off track. But you did a remarkable job on that one. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Kennell 38,579 #20 Posted February 21, 2018 Beautiful patina save. The best ever. Did you clear coat the entire assembled tractor including the decals? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dells68 7,498 #21 Posted February 21, 2018 Hey Ed. I disassembled the tractor to the point of removing engine tin, seat pan, belt guard, hood, etc... I didn't separate the engine or trans from the frame. As for decals, yes I did clear over them as well. Only the one on the right hood side was lifting any - slight corner fold, so I glued it back down. There are some pits/chips under the old repaint on the hood, but I did decide to leave them. The repaint was on the hood, some engine tin, steering tower, and belt guard. It's off just a little, but had weathered and gotten quite a bit of patina itself. I felt that leaving it alone and clearing would give a better result than stripping and repainting. I'm very pleased with the outcome and am glad I left the red alone - original and repaint alike. 4 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JERSEYHAWG / Glenn 4,497 #22 Posted February 21, 2018 Homerun. Out of the park. Glenn 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 41,287 #23 Posted February 21, 2018 11 hours ago, elcamino/wheelhorse said: I am just filling in for @squonk clown duties. I think he is hibernating in New York some where. Far be it from me to sear a horrible image in a young man’s mind! 1 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ohiofarmer 3,276 #24 Posted February 21, 2018 (edited) That is so cool. I will bet that the pictures do not show it justice. If you catch a tractor at the right time in the paint natural aging process, the black specks of primer showing through the red give it a very pleasing dark cherry color, like what I see on your Horse. Great job. I am a experimenter, so I first tried clear on a true basket case of a seat pan.. you could not see a speck of red paint anywhere, so I just thought I would try something. First i sanded it with plenty of soap and 400 wet. Some of the worst areas, I even used a poly grit sander from Harbor freight.I treated the metal with oxalic rust converter, but washed it off to smooth metal after it sat for 15 minutes and repeated that a few times I used Rustoleum Matte Clear and noticed that it was easy to build up because it dries fast and is resistant to runs. Sanded it with 600 to 1500 to get it very smooth. Then hit it with gloss and sand with 2000 grit to take out any orange peel and buff with Meguiars. Even that old piece of crap seat pan just popped. I tried to post pictures, but just noticed my Supporter status expired. The shame of it all..... Edited February 21, 2018 by ohiofarmer 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 68,136 #25 Posted February 21, 2018 (edited) 15 hours ago, elcamino/wheelhorse said: The 857 turned out great , when you have time I have 4 units down here that could use your help I was thinking the same thing except to Maine. Dell, if you get bored and need a place to go for vacation, I have a nice wooded lot available with plenty of tents and gear for you to stay in while you paint my two tractors. I have more to add but I can see that the joke pool already hit - bottom... Edited February 21, 2018 by ebinmaine 1 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
