C-125 Rebuild.

[WestwoodGazelle 103]

Great work so far, looking forward to seeing more!

[Stormin 4,458]

 A bit more progress over the last couple of days.

 

 

 

  That will be it for the time being. Give the paint time to really dry and then get some wheels on. Then I can get it off the lift and make a start on the rest.

 

[Alan 1,273]

Looking good Norm.

[HeadExam 1,783]

On 11/22/2018 at 1:26 AM, Stormin said:

Primer is sprayed. Aerosol cans. Top coat brush painted. The primer dries pretty quick. It's the top coat that's taking the time. Dry now.

You can use VM&P Naphtha to help try time, its a little hotter than regular paint thinner, but with oils based paints they get harder when thinned and dry quicker 

[Joseph 332]

Great progress Norm, it is looking good.

[Stormin 4,458]

7 hours ago, HeadExam said:

You can use VM&P Naphtha to help try time, its a little hotter than regular paint thinner, but with oils based paints they get harder when thinned and dry quicker 

 

 I did think of adding a drop of thinners, Alain. I'm putting the paint tin in hot water to warm the paint. It makes it less thick shall we say, and flows better. It's drying without any noticeable brush marks, so I'm happy with the result.

[Stormin 4,458]

 Managed a couple of hours this afternoon.

 

Rear wheels on.

 

Tower lower half stripped. The lift lever shaft and centre refused to part. Not a problem though.

 

And some small parts primed.

 

[HeadExam 1,783]

A thinner coating is harder than a thicker coating, thats why a few thinner coats will resist scratching better than thick coats. Looks Great!

[Stormin 4,458]

 Front tyres were getting past their sell by date and also the wheel bearings. So into Carlisle this morning and bought replacements.

 

Modified spindles done a while ago.

 

Trailer hub.

 

Trailer wheel and tyre.

 

Looking good.

 

Back on all fours.

 

 Approximately £50 more than replacement turf tyres and new wheel bearings.

[HeadExam 1,783]

That is a great bit of work!

[HeadExam 1,783]

I've done this upgrade on at least 4 different big GTs, but I was able to source the trailer hubs in 3/4"  on tractors that I had  that came with 3/4" spindles, but some of my large GTs already had 1" spindles. For steering ease, durability, and looks it is well worth the 50 quid. I also went with a 25"-30" tall rear tyre to keep it level. Doing the front wheel/tyre upgrade it makes the front tyre 19-21 inches tall and often the design of the front axle makes the front of the tractor taller using the stock 23" tall rear tyres

[Stormin 4,458]

 I did the same mod on my C-121 (The Black Horse). That's what the spindles came off. I modded another pair for that to lift the front, after fitting the narrow wheels and tyres.

[Stormin 4,458]

 Got the tower painted and on today. The external panels will be done again, as it turned damp and humid. But I try assembled to see how it was looking. The paint work looks a bit odd, but that's down to the light in the workshop and camera flash. Honest!

 

 Back up on the bench. Saves the old back.

 

 Assembled the lift lever, clutch and parking brake mechanism. More parts to clean up and paint now.

 

 

 

[the showman 4,074]

Good progress Norm, are you painting the front wheels silver or the back wheels white ?

[Stormin 4,458]

2 hours ago, the showman said:

Good progress Norm, are you painting the front wheels silver or the back wheels white ?

 

 Rears will stay silver. Not decided on the fronts.

[HeadExam 1,783]

6 hours ago, Stormin said:

 

 Rears will stay silver. Not decided on the fronts.

My earlier post about larger rear tyres was a bit in error, as it looks like you are using a 8" bolt on rim on the front. Most of my upgrades I went to a 10" rim and therefore needed to use taller rear tyres. Your set up looks great! BTW, the C-125 originally had white rims all the way around, but silver would be good too. 

[Stormin 4,458]

 Today got the tower fitted, PTO lever, fuel tank and several other bits fitted. Also some more of the smaller parts painted.

 

Now below is a little idea I had. If left unused for a few days, starting up could take a while. So boat primer bulb fitted. Access through a hole in the fender under the seat. And yes. I need a new gaiter for the gear lever.

 

[Joseph 332]

Great progress and it looks fantastic. We have just fitted one of those fuel primers to our Bolens HT20. 

[Stormin 4,458]

In between  putting up Christmas lights, I managed to get a bit of painting done. Three coats of primer on footplates, drive belt guard and fender.

 

The footplate on the right is going to get a touch of filler. I should have done it in the first place.

 

 

Into the kitchen to fully dry overnight. Hopefully get the top coats on tomorrow.

 

 

[Stormin 4,458]

  Three coats of top coat on fender and footplates. Also some skateboard grippy applied to the footplates. Footplates mounted on the tractor.

 

 

Remembered to put the drive belt on, so I don't have to take things off again to fit it.

 

 

 Got the seat base and brackets primed. Split pins in the seat plate suspension bits are rusted in solid. Had to snap the ends off to get the parts out. One spring escaped to hide somewhere in the workshop.

 I know there's a bit of difference in the paint colours, but I couldn't get spray cans in exact match. But two tone's good.

 

 

[HeadExam 1,783]

Maybe paint the other color? Are you going to clear coat?

[Stormin 4,458]

22 minutes ago, HeadExam said:

Maybe paint the other color? Are you going to clear coat?

 

No and no.  As I said at the begining, it's a worker and I didn't intend to take things this far. Besides, it's cost enough in paint already.

[Stormin 4,458]

 Starting to look like a tractor again.

 

Seat base painted and fitted.

 

High back seat that was originally on the Black Horse. Cleaned p not to bad later with a wipe with white spirit.

 

Even fitted a pair of rear lights that have been on the shelf for some time. They'll be wired up later.

[Stormin 4,458]

 Removed it from the bench today and took some photo's outside.

 

 

 After a clean up in the workshop I turned my attention to the antivibration engine plate.

 

Got it primed and top coated.

 

  Next it was the turn of the bonnet/hood. Borrowed  SWMBO's hair dryer, (with permission) and removed the stickers from the sides. Followed that with a good going  over with Turpentine substitute, then rubbed down with emery cloth.

 

  The photo' below shows how the paint has faded over the last 36 years.

 

 

  That was it for today. 

[Stormin 4,458]

  Bit cold and damp today, but with a bit of working between workshop and kitchen, I got the underneath of the bonnet primed and top coated. Took it into the kitchen to warm up, paint in hot water, spray outside, into kitchen to dry. Repeat five times.