Preserving scrap

notjustair · Feb 17, 2013

I have a Farmall M parts tractor in the back corner of the shed. Nice to have someplace to go for quick parts when my loader tractor needs it.

The fuel tank is a bit rusty but neither it or the radiator leak. I figure they would be good backups if I need them in a quick pinch.

Other than keeping out the wasps and mice is there anything that would help preserve them? I thought about pouring some motor oil thinned with diesel in each and running it around to coat them. Usually I don't worry about such things, but the originals are always better than the replacements and there aren't an unlimited supply of those.

RalphWD45 · Feb 17, 2013

That sounds like as good of Idea as any I could come up with! Can"t help but be benificicl, and will clean out eaisily if you need to use them!

OH - 961 · Feb 17, 2013

If the radiator is absolutely free of any liquid, you shouldn't have to do anything to the inside. Might want to coat the outside of the radiator with an oil solution, (including thoroughly soaking the core and fins) to prevent exterior corrosion. To coat the inside would require filling it completely, then draining out afterward.
The gas tank kind of depends if it was zinc coated inside and out. If the inside wasn't coated, your idea of sloshing some oil around to coat it might be a good idea.
Anything that can rust or corrode will, and if there is any sign of rust, coat as necessary.

Myron

GordoSD · Feb 17, 2013

Make sure you have the top and bottom of the radiator sealed up so the mice don't make a home in it.

John B. · Feb 17, 2013

To coat them just put some diesel fuel or kerosene in your little garden sprayer and spray it all over on the tractor. I've done this on small machinery and works well.

NCWayne · Feb 17, 2013

If the metal is ferrous the best stuff I've ever seen is made by Zep. It's called Iron Clad and comes in a spray can. It goes on kind of heavy and leaves a coating that is self healing so if the object is scratched, etc the stuff flows back over the bad spot. The most telling thing I've used it on was a housing where I sand blasted a sealing surface and then had to wait on the customer to decide wether to complete the repair or not. The housing sat outside for more than 2 years and the spot I had blasted and then coated with Iron Clad never rusted. I've also used it on things like a D9G's dead axel that was in the weather for over a year with no rust.

Like I said, I've used the stuff many times over the years to protect polished, blasted, etc objects that had to set out in the weather, and it has yet to let me down. If this stuff can protect something as well when it's left out in the open as well as it does, then it ought to do even better protecting an object that's even partially kept under cover.

ShadetreeRet · Feb 17, 2013

With all due respect, doesn't oil ATTRACT moisture? Have you ever noticed an engine or other piece of equipment that is covered with oil and dust? On a damp day moisture will gather on them. Personally, I would flush it with clean gasoline, then maybe with acetone or something that will clean everything out of it, dry it out with compressed air and seal it up well. If properly sealed, air and moisture can't get in. Just my thoughts.

ShadetreeRet · Feb 17, 2013

I am here referring to the gas tank, a good flush to the radiator and seal the openings to prevent critters from entering should take care of that.

Rick Kr · Feb 18, 2013

Hose it down with Cosmoline.

Rick

GeneMO · Feb 18, 2013

Keep it dry and out of the sun and you have most of it whipped.

Gene

Preserving scrap

notjustair

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RalphWD45

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OH - 961

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GordoSD

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John B.

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NCWayne

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ShadetreeRet

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ShadetreeRet

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Rick Kr

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GeneMO

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