After stalling for about six months (although I had a valid reason, I have an infant daughter that was born in January), I finally have my Cadet 100 project back on track! Just about done with disassembly, ready to roll the frame out into the driveway to hose out and degrease all the muck. Afterwards, I’ll pull the transmission back (on the wheels) for a deeper clean and to prep the frame for paint. At this point I am going to do the most thorough spray can paint job possible (primer, three top coats and a clear coat) since I don’t want to worry about isocyanates and can’t invest in spray equipment at the moment. The engine spins freely and has compression, and the oil is practically new (it was probably run recently). So I will just clean and paint it, install new ignition components and the rebuilt carburetor I have and change the oil. The goal is to get everything running by Spring 2025. I tried a Bon Ami wash (didn’t have Comet) on the hood to see if the paint was good enough for a patina job, and while it improved things, it is still in need of new paint. A new wiring harness is on my wishlist, as well as new tires. I have a rebuilt steering column, new steering wheel and a trove of other new/NOS parts to help things along. Watch this space!
