Refurbishing my 108

[RayF]

You may have already seen my post about my Kohler K241 rebuild (Kohler 241 Rebuild/Restore)
... so here is the rest of the tractor...

Mower Deck Before: The underside was sandblasted , and coated with POR-15.

Mower deck sanded (240G) and Primed (PPG Omni Epoxy)

Mower Deck with (2) Coats of custom-mixed White, from extra paint around the shop.. I think it's slightly more grey than the creamier OEM. It's Urethane Basecoat, then (2) Coats of High-Solids Urethane Clear:

Spindle Covers and other parts: Sandblasted, primed, and also painted with custom-mixed color (Acrylic Enamel). I think it's pretty close.

I have also done the wheels. These were stripped, sandblasted, epoxy primed, and finished the same as the mower deck. The "inside" part and bead area of the wheel was coated with POR-15 first, to prevent any interior rust.

I will add pics and notes as work progresses. I hope to mount the new tires tomorrow. (Carlisle Turf Masters for the rear, and Turf Savers for the front).

 

[RayF]

Back at the shop today, Mostly did shop work (1961 Studebaker Hawk, and 1956 Studebaker Golden Hawk), but did get some time for the Cub parts.
The first thing I did was install the new tires onto the rims. Fronts were easy... the rears were a bear to get the tires to seat. I had to use (2) ratchet straps to get the sidewalls to spread enough for it to take air, and not just leak past the beads.

Next, I installed the spindle covers on the Deck.....

I brought the nose and hood to the shop from home today. I disassembled it, chemically stripped the parts (Berryman's Carb Cleaner),. The hood and large cast nose was too large for the chem-dip, so they was just sanded (80G, 180G, 240G). There were a few rusty places that I sandblasted to bare metal, and feathered the edges. All the other parts were sandblasted in my cabinet blaster, epoxy primed, and I will finish coat them tomorrow...

 

[RayF]

Day 3 of the "tractor" refurb...
I was "supposed" to drive to Georgia today to pick up a 1974 VW Thing... for a friend. But, title issues hadn't been worked out to the buyer's liking... so I was called back. The tiotle issues have been resolved, so I'll be on my way sometime tomorrow (depending on what I get done on the tractor tonight)
Anyway... today's project was spraying some finish coat on the parts from yesterday...

First (2) coats of basecoat....

And then 2 coats of High-Solids Urethane Clear... can't see the difference? Of course not.. it's clear!
Oh, I also painted the headlight pan black.. I really want to add some nice 3" round LED headlights...

Then, I went home, wire brushed, and sanded (240G).. the rest of the tins on the tractor. Wiped it down with enamel reducer, and am waiting until a weather front passes- to see if I can get some epoxy primer and color sprayed tonight. I have to spray this in my driveway, as there is no room at my shop.

I hope I can get the epoxy primer and some yellow sprayed.. so tomorrow morning I can re-tape and spray the white...

 

[jstorma]

Looking good Ray. I used POR-15 on my QA42A snow thrower and my rims on my 782. Stuff works pretty good. Keep up the good work.

 

[RayF]

Well, the front passed, but it was getting dark, and the wind was still gusty. It made spraying a challenge. I was able to shoot the epoxy (for adhesion-promotion, and sealing the rusty areas) before dinner. I let it cure for about 50 minutes- because of the lowered temps.

After dinner, it was time for Color....

After letting the color sit for about an hour, I un-taped it, and installed the rear wheels.
Some cussing insued when I went to install the fronts... I had left the new wheel bearings at the shop! AAARRRGGGHHHHH!!!!
Rolled her inside for the evening... I know the enamel won't be cured enough to tape and spray the white in the morning.. I'll have to wait for the next opportunity. I really need to get this tractor mowing- the yard's getting high.

 

[Rbertalotto]

Are you using a water based enamel? What are you using to spray it? Looks great BTW!

 

[RayF]

I am using regular Acrylic Enamel (PPG-Limco 1-2-3), with a hardener for the Yellow. It was a gallon of School Bus yellow, that I tinted (added bright yellow and white).. to match the original Cub Cadet Yellow.
For the white, I mixed up some Urethane Basecoat leftovers in my paint cabinet (PPG). This is being cleared with a High-Solids clear and Hardener (PPG).
I'm spraying with an old Conventional gravity-fed spraygun. It's part of a 3-gun set purchased at TCP-Global. I buy a new set of guns, for every restoration I start. The old guns become my primer and "other" spraying tools. I use them to spray cleaners, solvents, and other materials that don't need good patterns.

 

[IHinIN]

Looks good Ray.

 

[dschwandt]

Yellow foot scuff pads??

 

[RayF]

Yellow foot scuff pads??

I just looked through my old photos.. and yes, it does need black footpads. Mine aren't in great shape (around the edges).. so I will probably replace them. And paint them "appropriately" at that time... LOL!!!

 

[IHinIN]

I painted mine with truck bed liner and it’s holding up great.

 

[dschwandt]

I painted mine with truck bed liner and it’s holding up great.

Same here!
I was going to suggest that.

 

[RayF]

OK.. so, I was "going to" just paint the dash pedestal- with it still mounted in place on the tractor.. Buuuuutttt... the more I looked at it, the less I liked the surface rust, and need for detailing. Especially since I've spruced up the rest of the tractor. Most of the rusty areas were going to very difficult to get to, So, off she came!

I was pleasantly surprised at my color-match for the yellow. The pedestal had never been off before- so there was some nice original paint under it. I think the color-match was spot-on!

I took the pedestal to the shop and disassembled it. The smaller parts were stripped with Berryman's Chem-Dip cleaner (5-gallon can). You just put the parts in.. and the paint is gone in about 20 minutes.
Then I put the larger parts in the cabinet sandblaster. The original paint stripped off pretty easily, but the parts that were re-painted in 2006, were a bit more difficult.

Here are the parts stripped, and hanging in my paint booth- ready for epoxy primer.

The fiberglass dash was just sanded with 240G. IF I had done this part 1st, I would have tried to match the nice original paint under the dash-panel. It is much "creamier" than the white I'm using.

PPG- Omni Epoxy Primer:

PPG- MBP Acrylic-Urethane basecoat (Custom mix)

PPG- MC161 High-Solids Clear

Now I have to order the dash-decal.... but that can be put on later.
Hopefully, I'll reassemble and install the pedestal tomorrow...

 

[PACub100]

Looks awesome.
Envious...wish I had that kind of setup and equipment available.

 

[RayF]

Envious...wish I had that kind of setup and equipment available.

Hopefully... I'll NOT have this available by August... I need to RETIRE!

 

[RayF]

Well... as hoped, I got the pieces to the dash pedestal refinished... and reassembled.

I followed another forum member's idea... and painted my dash. When the Decal gets here... I will only need to install the graphics parts

Got the pedestal ready to bolt to the tractor. I added a light switch... as I intend to install LED Headlights and Taillights. My only issue is what to put where the "lighter" hole is. Not a big fan of lighters...

Got the pedestal bolted to the tractor, the throttle and choke hooked up, and the gas tank reinstalled. I was also able to install the other covers. Also, bought a seat from Northern Tool. Of course, none of the holes lined up with the original mount, But luckily- I added some tabs to the original mounts way back in 1996, so I could bolt a seat on. The new seat did line up with my "tabs".

Ready to install the decal set I got from CC Specialties... (link at top of page)

Made a few passes around my yard... to be sure everything was working correctly... and was pleased with the results. I think I need to adjust the steering, as it will turn tighter to the left than to the right. For my yard, I think I need it perfectly centered... or adjusted the opposite way- so it turns tighter to the right.

 

[PACub100]

That looks really good!!

 

[mgwin]

Nice.
Charlie has the lighter hole plugs. (ccspecialties)

 

[RayF]

Charlie has the lighter hole plugs.

Oh... I have plenty of plugs.. I wanted to put something "interesting" in the hole...
(that doesn't sound quite right.... )

 

[mwmacdonald]

Oh... I have plenty of plugs.. I wanted to put something "interesting" in the hole...
(that doesn't sound quite right.... )

Rocker switch for trunk monkey. Not certain what you could actually wire it to. Or a power outlet