What do you put on your tractor to protect the paint and prevent rust?

[CB1993 34]

Hello everyone. New 1277 owner here. I was wondering what you all use to protect your tractors paint and help prevent rust. I'm not trying to reverse patina or provide a show quality finish. Just want to know some proactive steps to take to protect and keep the tractor looking good. 

[lynnmor 7,315]

Use car wax, you don't get extra points for neglect.

[Pollack Pete 2,273]

Most of the tractors that I have require new paint.Too far gone for wax or polish.

[peter lena 8,647]

CB 1993, very simple  , use  MARVEL MYSTERY OIL AS YOUR RUB DOWN AND PAINT FEEDER , usually do mine a coupe of times rub down TILL DRY   with a clean cloth , you will notice paint coming thru the grunge, do not rush it , USUALLY DO ANOTHER RUB DOWN DAYS LATER , after that I would use a palm buffer with a cleaner wax, I would not sandpaper as to remove paint . PROBABLY MOST IMPORTANT THING IS TO START FEEDING THAT PAINT WITH A N OIL BASED LUBRICANT. this has worked on my 3 horses , no rot , zero rust , and the finish looks clean and shinny , just my own experience, pete 

[CCW 1,300]

I am guessing a roof is the best thing.  After that what others have said.

[AMC RULES 37,132]

 

Edited January 24, 2021 by AMC RULES

[RandyLittrell 3,884]

 

Love your 1277, I have one with a loader on it. 

 

Letting it sleep indoors will do the most for it, as well as just keeping it clean. Looks like you have nice example to take care of!! 

 

 

 

 

Randy

[rmaynard 15,519]

There are too many areas where you just can't get paste wax or other rub-on solutions to completely cover areas prone to rust. Good paint isn't going to allow the metal to rust as long as the tractor is dry. If you can keep it under roof, in a garage or shed, you will have more success than trying to oil it or wax it. Before I had a storage building, many of mine sat outside, covered with a tarp. 

[Tractorhead 9,064]

6 minutes ago, rmaynard said:

There are too many areas where you just can't get paste wax or other rub-on solutions to completely cover areas prone to rust. Good paint isn't going to allow the metal to rust as long as the tractor is dry. If you can keep it under roof, in a garage or shed, you will have more success than trying to oil it or wax it. Before I had a storage building, many of mine sat outside, covered with a tarp. 

 

Totally agree, the worsest shed is better than the best tarp.

as long as there is a intact roof on it. 👍

That is the half of good keeping.

 

i use for the Patina keeping Ballistol, a Gun oil after each time it has contact with moisture.

While i have now my Shed, it reduces the time i must take care about that to once it was outside on moistured Weather.

 

i still be in a fight with myself between keeping the Patina or refresh it completely.

But for now i will keep the Patina.

 

[AMC RULES 37,132]

[peter lena 8,647]

AMC RULES agree with the ceramic spray coating , even use that on my gel coated smooth flat shower walls , regularly hand squeegee the water off and the combo beads water and stays slick , use 303 boat cleaner wax to keep it clean , never an abrasive ,that would scratch the gel coat , pete    

[CCW 1,300]

As you can see, @CB1993, there are multiple options.  Pick one you have in the house and enjoy.

[JCM 9,202]

[JCM 9,202]

WD 40 to keep the original look after a real good cleaning. Second picture just received a coat of WD on the C-120 and the 417 was keeping an eye on the adult beverage.

[JCM 9,202]

This is the before picture of the C-120 before a good cleaning a scotch brite pad and a WD-40 rub down with 2 coats.

[DennisThornton 4,769]

I've never tried to preserve rust so I've never tried this:

Thompson Water Seal gathered attention decades ago.  I sold it and other paints and preservatives so I know something about this.  Thompsons Water Seal is primarily wax and solvent.  Works as said to some extent but nothing extraordinary.  This topic got me wondering if it wouldn't be better than linseed oil or other oils since it actually dries quickly and wouldn't build up like oils and should get into places you couldn't wax.  Wouldn't collect dust like oils or drying oils.

[peter lena 8,647]

cb1993 kate139, not only the gel coat protection of shower walls , but using the car interior vinyl / plastic cleaner on new appliances ,like stoves , microwaves , refrigerators, keeps them looking like new, just a simple wipe down , pete  

[Jeff-C175 7,202]

Lanolin has some very interesting rust preventative properties.

 

Ever see a rusted fence in a sheep pen?

 

I believe there are commercial rust preventative potions with high lanolin content.  I've also seen it in blocks that you melt down and apply with a brush or roller.

 

Haven't tried it myself yet.

 

https://www.homemodelenginemachinist.com/threads/rust-prevention-with-lanolin-its-better-then-oil.21073/

Edited February 14, 2021 by Jeff-C175

[DennisThornton 4,769]

38 minutes ago, Jeff-C175 said:

Lanolin has some very interesting rust preventative properties.

 

Ever see a rusted fence in a sheep pen?

 

I believe there are commercial rust preventative potions with high lanolin content.  I've also seen it in blocks that you melt down and apply with a brush or roller.

 

Haven't tried it myself yet.

 

https://www.homemodelenginemachinist.com/threads/rust-prevention-with-lanolin-its-better-then-oil.21073/

Lanolin!  Under appreciated!  Fluid Film. 

I'd dilute by half with paint thinner so it penetrates under cracked paint and rust pits.  Maybe hit the bad spots twice.  After a few days, hopefully in hot sunshine I'd wipe off all I could.  I think diluted lanolin, any oil or wax would help slow down the rust.  Help keep the water out.  Trouble with oils is most don't dry and catch dirt and dust which attracts water but I not sure I'd want to use "boiled linseed" or any other drying oil if I couldn't do a good job of wiping off the excess.  A thinned wax that eventually sets up hard might be the best way to go.  Don't know.  I suggested Thompson's Water Seal or similar earlier but it seems few noticed...

[Jeff-C175 7,202]

41 minutes ago, DennisThornton said:

Fluid Film. 

 

Also available in convenient spray cans.  I bet one can would be enough for a tractor.  Ten bucks or so.

[cschannuth 3,816]

On 1/24/2021 at 7:47 AM, CB1993 said:

Hello everyone. New 1277 owner here. I was wondering what you all use to protect your tractors paint and help prevent rust. I'm not trying to reverse patina or provide a show quality finish. Just want to know some proactive steps to take to protect and keep the tractor looking good. 

Keep the tractor clean and in that nice garage and you won’t have to do anything to it. It will still look exactly as it does now 50 years from now.  Mowing grass is probably the hardest thing on her tractors finish. Keep the grass off of it and keep the deck clean on top and underneath and you’ll be good to go. My dad‘s 1978C161 still looks almost as good as it did when he bought it in 1979.

[Jeff-C175 7,202]

On 1/24/2021 at 8:29 PM, DennisThornton said:

linseed oil

 

I've actually had issues with linseed oil in that it seems to be a "food source" for some molds.  One outdoor project that I used it on grew a lot of black mold.  Not sure it was the linseed, just that the mold appearance was coincident with the application.

[DennisThornton 4,769]

8 minutes ago, Jeff-C175 said:

 

Also available in convenient spray cans.  I bet one can would be enough for a tractor.  Ten bucks or so.

Yep!  I buy in gallons and spray cans.  But, I think it should be thinned for better penetration when spraying existing rust.

[DennisThornton 4,769]

2 minutes ago, Jeff-C175 said:

 

I've actually had issues with linseed oil in that it seems to be a "food source" for some molds.  One outdoor project that I used it on grew a lot of black mold.  Not sure it was the linseed, just that the mold appearance was coincident with the application.

Absolutely seen it turn dark black.  I'm not sure if it is mold or not though.

[haydendavid380 759]

Tractors with nice glossy paint car wax, tractors with patina get WD-40 (once it warms up I'm going to pressure wash, de-grease, and scotchbrite then put BLO and mineral spirits), plows get ski wax.