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I'm using a one quart cup gun with a compressor. My compressor has a 20 gallon tank, but these smaller compressors don't always keep up, so I use another 20 gallon tank from a dead compressor to have a extra storage of air. I'm priming with Rustoleum White Clean Metal Primer in their Professional Series (silver can) with a mixture of lacquer thinner and synthetic paint thinner, at a 3 parts paint one part thinner ratio, with a 25 percent lacquer thinner and 75 percent synthetic thinner mix, with a small amount of poly converter (hardener). This makes the paint mix really hot and allows it to burn or melt into the old finish, but not too hot as to pull or wrinkle it. I spent considerable amount of time testing these ratios and this works, without the hardener it is a little easier to sand, but it isn't as durable of a primer. For a top coat I will be using Anchor Alkyd Saf-T-Guard enamel #500, custom mix to the Bolens color, it is what is used on industrial coating and equipment all around here. It is a local company and the sons of the original owners still run the plant. Anchor developed the first rubberized latex paint that came premixed in a can in the early 1950's and have had their plant in Tulsa, Oklahoma ever since and sell coatings world wide. They make many different types of architectural and industrial coatings, their exterior house paint is the best I have ever used, their interior paint is okay, but it is also half the price of anyone elses paint. For some time their main business has been Industrial Coatings. I like to use their black tower paint on blades and plows, it is the hardest paint I have ever used, no thinner needed shoot it straight and clean up the equipment immediately with lacquer thinner or Methyl Ethyl Ketone. on my painting of the Bolens with the hot mix and the gun set at 30PSi, I did not have one speck of over spray on my hands, arms, or clothes, look close, not much on the paper either, it shoots and drys quick. I laid on my back on a rug to shoot the bottom side, no over spray on my glasses either. It took 2 quarts to shoot everything, some things were shot twice. That's alot of paint on the metal. The gallons of Rustoleum primer are about 27.00 US and gallons of the Anchor finish gloss paint are around 32.00 US. I can paint two tractors with a gallon of primer and a gallon of finish. It all took one hour including mixing and cleanup http://anchorpaint.com/industrial/products-for/maintenance/saf-t-gard/

Had some time in the red shed today, the tractor and the chassis / panels both check out as 1974 Commando 800s, i stripped the frame and put the parts into stock put a battery on the tractor and had a spark so i put some fresh fuel in and away she went, drove it out of the van and up the drive. It has no reverse gear so I'll change tranny tomorrow with the one I broke up last week.Result

Hello All, Bit late to post this but I was waiting to hear back from the organisers about how much was raised over the weekend! Last weekend I was away with my friend helping out at the 'The Super Car Event' that's held at the top gear track at Dunsfold every year. he runs his family owned breakdown recovery service that covers all of Sussex and Surrey, we normally go out on calls involving fords and volvo's etc, but last weekend was something amazingly different as we was recovering high end performance cars! The weekend is held to support the Childrens Trust Charity and this year everyone raised a whooping £115,000 for the charity. lots to see and do over the weekend, If any of you are into your cars I'd defiantly suggest going next year! its a life time experience to get driven round the top gear test track at high speeds! It was a first for me, I got driven round in all my dream cars! all sorts of cars arrived for you to ride in... Ferrari's, Lamborghini's, Dodge Vipers, The Rare 'La Ferrari' and also the Lexus LFA and many many more.... here is a few photos. but hardly a touch of what was there. a few people can say they have been to the track, but not many can say they have camped on the outfield of the track! Best view out of all from the back of the lorry! The best bit about being 'behind the scenes' as such, was being in the pit lane! all of a sudden something different appeared! and YES! they did go round the track on them! This next one is one of the cars that broke down and wanted to be taken back home, he was furious! he had just had his gearbox/automatic/electronic clutch thingy repaired and a full service... he was showing us the paper work when we got back to his house as we didn't believe it! £16,000 for the work he had carried out... all for it to go boom again! and another one we had to take home.. it seems to be I wont be buying a black Ferrari...... they don't seem to be doing too well

What I've been playing with for the last couple of days. And a few more days to come.

What happened to the original rod ? did it break or is it worn out ? If worn you could bore it slightly larger,and then possibly 'white metal' it, bore to just undersize then scrape to a fit. Try 'googling' re- metalling bearings and 'Babbit' metal.If you have a fairly accurate drill press,and a bearing scraper you could probably manage without the use of a lathe or mill. Doug

Its been some time since I was able to get on with the restoration on the 1556, but yesterday was a good day. I removed the wiring harness for a rewrapped of tape and removed the PTO to rebuild and paint black, I also lifted the engine to paint separtly. I sanded everything with fine sandpaper then rewashed with the power washer, After drying, (did not take long, a little over 35C here yesterday) I sprayed the OSPHO on rusty and bare areas while I prepared my primer. I used a Alkyd clean metal primer with a hot reducer and a small amount of hardener, applying liberally, many pieces getting multiple coats. Next i will sand and power wash again, then use two top coats of Alkyd Industrial enamel with a hot reducer and hardener. Decals will come after tractor is put together. Its a start, still many weeks to go. Attention to detail is very important to get these back to original.

Your'll have to upgrade to a 3 berth tent Chris

Its me, the younger better looking Chris Thought I would air the blue machine Thanks Kev, I will be there Sunday only

But I hav'nt got a ransoms

Alain, You are doing another sterling job on this Bolens. Your methodical approach to this project is inspiring. Looking forward to seeing you getting this back up and running and on the road (at least on the lawn!). Cheers Andrew

Alain, Looks like you are making great progress and it is looking good. I assume you are painting it with a gun on a compressor and that by reducer it is what we (well me anyway) would call thinner. I would be really interest to know more about the types of paint, reducer and spray equipment you are using. Iain

There not for sale Norm, i think they will look nice behind my Cub Cadet