how to paint a crawler

General help and support for your Lindeman through 2010 John Deere crawler
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bookman51
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how to paint a crawler

Post by bookman51 » Sat Sep 22, 2018 10:03 am

I have a John Deere 420C. I had the sheet metal painted, but now I look at the rest of it and wonder how one ever gets the undercarriage painted. Looks about impossible to get to everything. Anyone have experience do so?

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notmeu
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Re: how to paint a crawler

Post by notmeu » Sat Sep 22, 2018 5:53 pm

When I painted my 420 years ago I removed the tracks by putting the crawler in wooded cribbing. Masked off the square tubing that the undercarriage mounts to and spray it yellow!
1956 JD420, gearmatic 8a winch, custom 6 way blade and FOPS.

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Stan Disbrow
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Re: how to paint a crawler

Post by Stan Disbrow » Sun Sep 23, 2018 5:13 am

Hi,

The factory painted it all. Chains and pads, too. Probably by dipping in a tank. The main machine was painted by running the entire thing into a pit of paint prior to putting the final bits (gauges, seat, tin, etc) on. Yup. They plugged the holes and submerged the thing.

What is interesting, is my Phase 3 5103 wheel tractor from 2008 was painted the same way. They shipped the main parts to India and put them together and dipped it. The filters were on, and painted over. There were drips here and there. Then, they shipped the main assembly to Augusta, GA and put the rest of the bits on.

Anyway, slap paint all over the track frames, rollers, chains and pads. It won't stay on the chains and pads long anyway. Maybe not even as long as the Deere Logo on the front of the blade. ;)

Stan
There's No Such Thing As A Cheap Crawler!

Useta Have: '58 JD 420c 5-roller w/62 inside blade
Useta Have: '78 JD350C w/6310 outside blade
Useta Have: '68 JD350, '51 Terratrac GT-25
Have: 1950 M, 2005 x495, 2008 5103 (now known as 5045D)

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Lavoy
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Re: how to paint a crawler

Post by Lavoy » Mon Sep 24, 2018 9:15 am

Pretty sure crawlers were gun painted, I have pics of them some place being painted, but can't find them now of course. Lindeman tracks were dipped for sure.
Lavoy
Parts and restoration for antique and late model John Deere crawlers.
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bookman51
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Re: how to paint a crawler

Post by bookman51 » Mon Sep 24, 2018 10:01 am

Thanks for the information on painting. I am still using mine so never intended to paint the tracks, but I just wondered how they ever painted the rest of it. I had a professional paint the sheet metal a year ago, and I am not working on painting the undercarriage (some of it anyway), the cast metal, and the dozer blade. I suppose after a few hours of use, those parts may not look newly painted anyway. Still have not gotten the brake and clutch peddles completely unfrozen, but I keep exercising the old girl from time to time. Thanks again.

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Stan Disbrow
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Re: how to paint a crawler

Post by Stan Disbrow » Mon Sep 24, 2018 12:46 pm

Hi,

I have a pic in a Deere book somewhere showing the main assembly of vertical 2-cyls running down a ramp, into a pit of paint, and back up a ramp. On a conveyor line, of course. Not that I know which of many books that pic was in.

The Lindemann machines were BO wheel tractors minus wheels and stuff. They were sent on rail cars to Yakima WA to be made into crawlers. Doesn't surprise me that they dipped their bits. It certainly is a quick way to paint larger stuff.

Me, I paint the iron stuff with a brush and the tin with a rattle can. I know some folks go the way cars are painted right down to the shiny super paints. Heck, I have painted many a car using tractor paint methods. And, tractor paint to boot. You know, Lotus racing green and yellow looks quite like John Deere green and yellow. I even helped a racing buddy paint his Ferrari with IH red paint one time. We always say to follow the 100 rule: Looks good at 100 feet or 100 miles per hour! :P

Stan
There's No Such Thing As A Cheap Crawler!

Useta Have: '58 JD 420c 5-roller w/62 inside blade
Useta Have: '78 JD350C w/6310 outside blade
Useta Have: '68 JD350, '51 Terratrac GT-25
Have: 1950 M, 2005 x495, 2008 5103 (now known as 5045D)

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Stan Disbrow
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Re: how to paint a crawler

Post by Stan Disbrow » Mon Sep 24, 2018 4:42 pm

Hi,

BTW, the yellow stripe and the green 'John Deere' were not painted. They were screenprinted using ink. This is why that yellow fades so badly. Ink pigment is much finer than paint pigment so it can pass thru the mesh of the screen. It is thinner to boot, so the sun wreaks havoc on it.

Before the yellow stripe, they screenprinted the John Deere in yellow. So, the screenprinting shop already existed which is why they chose to do it that way for the yellow stripe. The green painted hoods and nosecones were already coming into that shop.

Stan
There's No Such Thing As A Cheap Crawler!

Useta Have: '58 JD 420c 5-roller w/62 inside blade
Useta Have: '78 JD350C w/6310 outside blade
Useta Have: '68 JD350, '51 Terratrac GT-25
Have: 1950 M, 2005 x495, 2008 5103 (now known as 5045D)

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ddaxe
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Re: how to paint a crawler

Post by ddaxe » Sat Oct 06, 2018 1:11 pm

just wondering.. is there a special primer to use.. or will a good automotive epoxy primer do before laying down the JD industrial yellow top coat ??
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Jim B
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Re: how to paint a crawler

Post by Jim B » Sat Oct 06, 2018 1:21 pm

Short answer. Primers are like paint, some better than others. The biggest thing is to make sure your primer and paint are compatible, you don't want a reaction between the two of them. The data sheet for the top coat you plan on using likely has info on the primer or primers to use under it for best results. Likewise check the primer data sheet. A good automotive primer should work but check the details on both of them.

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Stan Disbrow
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Re: how to paint a crawler

Post by Stan Disbrow » Sat Oct 06, 2018 5:01 pm

Hi,

Ag paint goes on just fine with no primer at all. Just wire brush off the rust, wash and dry, and paint. I have done many a machine that way. The paint stays on as long as it did from the factory. I painted my 1950 M that way in 1988 and it is all still where I brushed it on. ;)

BTW, anyone see that German Lanz/Deere 440 loader with the gray track frames (in a post in another section here)??

Stan
There's No Such Thing As A Cheap Crawler!

Useta Have: '58 JD 420c 5-roller w/62 inside blade
Useta Have: '78 JD350C w/6310 outside blade
Useta Have: '68 JD350, '51 Terratrac GT-25
Have: 1950 M, 2005 x495, 2008 5103 (now known as 5045D)

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ddaxe
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Re: how to paint a crawler

Post by ddaxe » Sat Oct 06, 2018 5:33 pm

I read JD paint can and they recommends their thinner..
though I don't remember the mention of primers.. I'm not sure if the colour I'm seeing is a primer on the frame rail or if it was a repaint.. but it's kinda the same green that's inside the pinion/diff case...(440) why I thought maybe a a primer was used ... having painted serveral vehicles, I know bare metal can't be left exposed long as oxidation starts almost immediately after its been stripped...

Thanks for the insight... maybe a little experimentation is in order.. as I now have 3 gallons of JD yellow with my lastest machine I've bought... or a Stan mentions.. paint it bare...
Yes Stan.. I did see that.. it's a pretty nice machine...

Darin
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Jd450/6-way
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Re: how to paint a crawler

Post by Jd450/6-way » Sat Oct 06, 2018 6:23 pm

You will save on yellow paint if you prime it then put a coat or two of ivory off white paint down before painting it yellow. Then 3 coats of yellow will work instead of 9 see thru coats of yellow :evil: when spray painting with automotive paint.
That's what my new paint supplier got me to do. And it works :lol:

Stefan W
If you dont second guess yourself your not doing it right.


John Deere 450 with modified outside 6 way blade.
Massey Ferguson 35 diesel loader
Clark ranger 664 skidder
Bunch of other stuff

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ddaxe
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Re: how to paint a crawler

Post by ddaxe » Sun Oct 07, 2018 7:20 am

Jd450/6-way wrote:
Sat Oct 06, 2018 6:23 pm
You will save on yellow paint if you prime it then put a coat or two of ivory off white paint down before painting it yellow. Then 3 coats of yellow will work instead of 9 see thru coats of yellow :evil: when spray painting with automotive paint.
That's what my new paint supplier got me to do. And it works :lol:

Stefan W
I have the actual JD paint.. 3 gallons of it.. I'll probably try an epoxy automotive primer.. and the shoot the JD colour over it in an inconspicuous spot.. to see how it works... if not... I'll paint it bare as I go ... as Stan states
Chrome don't getcha Home

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Lu47Dan
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Re: how to paint a crawler

Post by Lu47Dan » Sun Oct 07, 2018 7:56 am

ddaxe wrote:
Sun Oct 07, 2018 7:20 am
Jd450/6-way wrote:
Sat Oct 06, 2018 6:23 pm
You will save on yellow paint if you prime it then put a coat or two of ivory off white paint down before painting it yellow. Then 3 coats of yellow will work instead of 9 see thru coats of yellow :evil: when spray painting with automotive paint.
That's what my new paint supplier got me to do. And it works :lol:

Stefan W
I have the actual JD paint.. 3 gallons of it.. I'll probably try an epoxy automotive primer.. and the shoot the JD colour over it in an inconspicuous spot.. to see how it works... if not... I'll paint it bare as I go ... as Stan states
Paint a random bit of steel, using the same processes that you will on the crawler than see what happens.
This was told to me by one of the best car palnters in the area here. If the paints are not compatible then all you have to do is test the the primer, etc, on another bit of steel.
1956 420C with GSC blade
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Used diesel engines are an adventure any way you look at them !!

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