Colby 560 Project Help... Paint prep

Ok guys we noticed that my castings on the wheels and in a few other places look super rough. We are seriously considering making them look WAY better. Sanding them down, maybe filler even.

I have some great friends who are helping with the project and they think we should clean them up some at least.

What's your thoughts here??

This tractor gone WAY far from just a quick rebuild / or actual factory look. By that I mean, most hardware (new hood bolts, all hoses, any wire, etc) will NOT be painted over. Stainless exhaust, etc

Hoods & fenders are done, and WOW it was worth it spending the extra $$$ for paint. I thought i was NUTS to spend what I did, but OH MY does it rock.

Guess I'm just looking forward to see the look in people eyes when they see this, bringing back memories when there NEW 560 arrived on the farm.

Just wish my dad was here to see this... I had rebuilt this tractor back (it's a 62 model) in 85' when in high school, you know quick paint job, nothing special. It's got VERY low hrs and it shows as and until last yr it was used. Dad passed away by suprise in summer of 2010 and just a few months before we attended a tractor show and decided we should do the 560 again for good. Guess that is why I'm going the extra mile, or 10. ha ha. Best part was other than few little things, mechanically it was nearly perfect. We replaced anything that could be issue, few seals & gaskets, rebuild generator & starter, new water pump & fan bearing, I could go on and on.

Plan will be to have it at this summer's Red Power Round-Up.... what do you think "unveil" it there? ha ha

Hate to say it but doubt it get used for much when it done, BUT my new in-laws have there original McCormick 4 bottom plow which will be next yr project to restore. It's doesn't need much but will need to match







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I see you are going the "show route" with this one!!!


Have you sand blasted these castings to MAKE them rough,or are they just "factory" rough???Have you had them blasted at all?(NO picture,so I am guessing at this point.)

If you are going to have them blasted,I would reccomend SOFTER blast media than sand.They can use media that is just a paint stripper.(If you use sand ,it will make the cast iron pitting WORSE !!!!

If you are NOT having the castings blasted,it will be a process of sanding,using a GOOD high build primer,and sanding some more to fill in MINOR pitting.For DEEPER pitting,you will have to break out the spot putty for those.

But,remember,the castings are SUPPOSED to have somewhat of a rough surface to them!They are all naturally "grainy' from the IH factory.

Think about it - Paint is only a thin film of color.
A good paint job is about 95 % prep.

I agree with your thought about the rough surfaces. I took an angle grinder and took the roughoff of the cast wheels on my H, some of the cast transmission, and the frame rails. I think it looks alot better. No filler, just primer and paint.

Correct, I have yet to blast tractor & we are not using sand. My castings are super rough, so are my weights.

I guess show tractor is correct, but I just wanted something special and think it will be.

We do have GOOD primer...

Thanks for you help

NEVERsand blast a tractor with any media and leave the castings "factory rough". Over the top fancy tractors are a dime a dozen at the shows and nobody will remember them after the show. I much prefer looking at tractors with attatchments and after market and farmer options to enable them to better do their jobs. Tractors were meant to work!! Also keep the original tach. and hour metter to show the original low hours! Going back to sand balsting I used to do it and no matter how good you clean the machine or implement I found when painting the paint gun would blow sand out of the stranest places with the chance of messing with your paint job. Ues your tractor and enjoy!!! Armand

My tractor will be in 100% working order, guessing I'll
Do some plowing with in-laws plow...

Gauges are all original along with everything else, unless it had a problem.

A needle scaler works great on castings to remove paint.

Pull the wheels off and sandblast them. They are supposed to be rough, body filler and smooth surfaces will make them look artificial. If there is an obvious defect from the factory you might consider fixing that, but that is all. I use base clear paint which some people say is too glossy, but I stop there as far as cosmetics. Use epoxy primer followed by urethane topcoat on all cast parts, no intermediate sealer, etc is needed.

It's your tractor and maybe it never had a set of fenders, but I personally think a 560..and most other Farmall tractors too for that matter, look so much nicer with a proper set of fenders on them. Those rear wheels just look "naked" without fenders. Some old-timers never liked them and thought they were a nuisance...but not me...and I'm an oldtimer. JMHO you understand.

Colby, I go to several large tractor shows a year and enjoy viewing a tractor brought back to factory original or better with modern day paint. I don't like stainless nor do I like to see castings polished. Once you polish the castings you can't go back. Just a turn off to me but to each his own.
The lord willing I will see you and your tractor at RPRU 2012!

A rough casting will allow the paint to stay on the metal better than smoothed surfaces will. A nick or chip will take off a nickle or quarter sized chip if on smooth surfaces. On a rough finish, the tips of the casting roughness are exposed to the wear, and "Lock" the paint.
Spend money on chroming bolts or other decorative features. (I like good paint, and no wet look top coat, but to each their own. Jim

Thx everyone!

-Fenders are done & in my basement painted, look for another post & you can see one.
-Agree with you all about paint I spent silly money, wish I totally thought WAS foolish.... But now, it was totally worth it
-Going to leave castings alone, more I think about.

Going be great to show this at RPRU2012, "there's the guy with the crazy 560" ha ha

Thanks GUYS!

Here's Colby's other image.


Looks good. I don't mind the look of touched up castings. I would rather see that than a "pressure wash and paint" resto.

Last words:

You want the castings to look NATURAL !!!!!!

Like has been said in previous post,making them totally smooth is a BAD idea for several reasons.

I wouldnt do any more than gring off the "casting flash" off of the edges.

A good,natural cast finish will look like the skin of an orange.( N O T "orange peel" as in "paint job"!!! lol)

BTW,you might have inspired me to go to RPRU 2012!

Wanna see it !!!!

Colby,
I've done a 400 and now a 560. In my case the castings and weights were so rough that they deminished the rest of tractor's quality paint.
So. we had to go back and sand and smooth the larger imperfections on the cast and weights.
I'll post the wheels of 560 just done and post 400 finished. I also have a smta that we did nothing but blast & paint to wheels & weights and I will be redoing them as soon as we finish current projects

Colby,
I forgot to mention on my previous post that; IMOP you are not spending foolish money, anything done right will cost more money.
As you stated this tractor is a tibute to your Dad,( As mine are) and this is a tie to your youth and your father.This tractor and work has your heart & soul poured into it,Its evident in your posts. You are young, do it to your best ability and it will be your keepsake for many years to come.
Take yor time don't skimp.Keep us posted with pictures. We want to be there along the way and when its completed.
Best, Tony

Thx for heartfelt post.

Cant wait for my project to be completed. Your tractor is amazing, wow!

Yes this is totally a tribute to my dad... and at 40yrs old I want this rebuild only one on this tractor. There are many other pictures on other posts

I'll keep u all posted