B6000 Refurbishing

[elkhunter15]

Hi everyone. I have been reading on this forum for quite some time, but the time has come to join you all! A few years back I purchased a B6000 with tiller and blade and that did not run for $100.00. I got it running and tilled the garden with it for two or three years, and it seemed to run real strong. This spring I decided that I would paint the thing and started tearing it apart. I am down to the frame, motor, and rear now. Its not going to be a top notch job by no means, but I want it to look nice. I have been trying to figure out how to get the blue paint areas clean enough to paint without using water. Does anyone have any suggestions of a good chemical to use with a rag or something? I am having all the orange parts sandblasted and painted with an airless. I think it will be worth what little money I can put in it in the end. Also, the tires are worn down almost bald, can you buy the tires at a local tire store? and how much are they?

Thanks,
elkhunter15

 

[lsmurphy]

I use mineral spirits in a cup gun to clean.......then go back again with denatured alcohol.
The denatured will leave no residue.

 

[elkhunter15]

Thanks. I have plenty of both of those items, I will try that tomorrow.

 

[Stumpy]

Yep I 2nd that. A 5 gal bucket or oil pan with mineral spirits under the part you're cleaning with a rag and a wire brush removes grease\oil\dirt nicely. Pressure wash first if you've got the option, removes the big chunks so you're only dealing with surface grime. I use brake cleaner to clean off the residue but that's probably not great for the integrity of the paint I'm painting over.

 

[elkhunter15]

I used gunk heavy duty engine brite and a pressure washer twice on it before I started. I dont think it had been cleaned since the 70's. THere was a TON of dried and wet buildup. Most of it came off, but that greasy coating refused to come off in some parts, esp. in the little nooks and crannies down in the engine compartment.

 

[elkhunter15]

Here is a picture off it form a few yeas ago, right after I got it running.

 

[Stumpy]

That's pretty. Something about that shot reminds me of the old Wheel Horse we had when I was a kid. Nothing I like better than an old machine out doing what it was meant to do.

 

[Apogee]

Elk,

Your local Les Schwab can order tires for you.

Nice tractor! Glad you're restoring it!

That tiller is gold because that tractor had a reverse pto. Don't get rid of it because you'll have a very tough time finding another one that will work.

Kind regards,

Steve

 

[elkhunter15]

Thanks! I will be getting a quote soon from them, hopefully it is not too much I plan on restoring the tiller with the tractor as well. It is quite a sturdy built implement.

Thanks for all you replies everyone!

 

[dce]

Other memebers may nix me on this and if its wrong I am sorry, but for baked on grime, oven cleaner works great. Just spray it on and let it set for a few hours.

 

[elkhunter15]

Thanks Stumpy and Ismurphy for the cleaning advice. I tried it out today and it worked great. After I sand I will clean the whole tractor with that (or whats left of it anyways!).

Elkhunter15