Homelite RM-7E restoration thread.

Looks like a neat project. The RM7E was a good little lawn tractor. The closest paint color to the original is Ford Implement Blue and Arctic White. When it comes time for new decals take closeup pictures of all the decals and check with clickitandstickit.com for new ones. You will have to measure the size of the decals for him. He does a great job. I will be looking forward to the progress on this. It looks to be in good shape still. :thThumbsU

hamman said:

Looks like a neat project. The RM7E was a good little lawn tractor. The closest paint color to the original is Ford Implement Blue and Arctic White. When it comes time for new decals take closeup pictures of all the decals and check with clickitandstickit.com for new ones. You will have to measure the size of the decals for him. He does a great job. I will be looking forward to the progress on this. It looks to be in good shape still. :thThumbsU

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Thanks hamman. I am glad I can get decals for it. I was thinking that I was just going to have to mask over them and hope they don't stick out with the new paint. Thanks for the tip on the paint colors. I was wondering what the closest match would be.

I will be taking more pictures as I go along. My moma is glad she now has her own tractor. Right now my dad is talking like he needs his own. I guess I will have to find him one as well.

Very cool! The Homies are hard to find around here, especially the LT Homies like yours.

I've taken decals off for obscure machines like that, and sent them to Nate at clickitandstickit.com, and he can then make identical reproductions for you, and others who may be intrested in the future. They are more than fair when you're helping them to add to their offerings.

Talntedmrgreen said:

Very cool! The Homies are hard to find around here, especially the LT Homies like yours.

I've taken decals off for obscure machines like that, and sent them to Nate at clickitandstickit.com, and he can then make identical reproductions for you, and others who may be intrested in the future. They are more than fair when you're helping them to add to their offerings.

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This is the first Homelite I have seen around here period. Out of my collection this might be the neatest machine I own. This machine is in very good shape. The steering is tight and smooth. The belts are brand new so I will reuse them. The brakes don't work but brakes are not that important right now.
I am going to have to keep Nate in mind when I get to that point of the resto. I might have to have him make me a set of decals for my 990 as well.

Nate is very good. Very patient, very detail oriented, and is quick to respond. I bet I had 25 emails back and forth with him, using pics to describe what I needed, and sending him some of the decals I had that were decent. We built a complete, accurate set for a early Squire 9 in about a week. I have it here at the house now...so excited to put it to use. =]

I'm looking forward to this thread. Now that I have mine dialed in and running reliably, I hope to do a more in depth refresh on my tractor. But reading about yours will tide me over nicely, I think. :fing32:

I used Ford Blue on mine:

Dayton_King said:

Your dad may be hinting be wants your cub or your 990 lol I have to say i like the looks of that tractor. It is unique and will look great when done. Have you thought about getting a sand blaster?

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Dad knows he will never get the 990. Besides he has a thing for those red tractors with horses in their name. I have told him he can have the cub if I ever get the parts to fix it but he says its not a Wheel Horse so it won't be any good.:dunno:
I have thought about getting a sand blaster but I just don't have a good place to keep one. Right now I am working on the Homelite out in the drive way. My shop is so full I don't have room for any more tools.

What I am thinking about doing is getting a wire wheel to put on my drill to see how it does removing the old paint. I don't care how long it takes because all I have to do is take the tractor apart and put it back together. Moma gets to do all the painting and prep work.

Talntedmrgreen said:

Nate is very good. Very patient, very detail oriented, and is quick to respond. I bet I had 25 emails back and forth with him, using pics to describe what I needed, and sending him some of the decals I had that were decent. We built a complete, accurate set for a early Squire 9 in about a week. I have it here at the house now...so excited to put it to use. =]

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It sounds like I need to go to him for all my decal needs then. It sounds like he does amazing work.

Cat385B said:

I'm looking forward to this thread. Now that I have mine dialed in and running reliably, I hope to do a more in depth refresh on my tractor. But reading about yours will tide me over nicely, I think. :fing32:

I used Ford Blue on mine:

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Scott I am speechless. I don't think there are words that can describe how well your T15 came out. When I show moma your T15 she is going to fall in love with it.

Please let me know if my rebuild isn't enough for you. I can always take some detailed pictures.:thThumbsU

Did you get a book on the tractor with it? If not I will check and see what I have that would be relevant to it if you want. It is packed away for the moment but I will get it out here in few days. Using a hair dryer and a blade scraper to peel the decals off works well. Just make sure not to get them to hot. Make sure to take pictures of them as you take them off.

hamman said:

Did you get a book on the tractor with it? If not I will check and see what I have that would be relevant to it if you want. It is packed away for the moment but I will get it out here in few days. Using a hair dryer and a blade scraper to peel the decals off works well. Just make sure not to get them to hot. Make sure to take pictures of them as you take them off.

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I did not get any paper work with the tractor. I wish I got something with it. I have found some stuff on Simpletractors.com but that is it.

I would love to see any info you can come up with. You can take your time with finding it.

Work done today. I finished stripping the deck down. I removed every thing possible.

On with the pictures.
What I started with.


I first removed the chute. This is one solid piece. I wish the one on my John Deere was built this well.


Next I removed the underside deck brace.


I then removed the spindle and blade assembly. The bearings are in very good shape. There is no play or chunky sounds coming out of them. I will reuse them.


Afterwards I removed the rear deck roller. See above picture. I was having problems with the nuts getting stuck inside the socket. Nothing a phillipshead screw driver and a BFH can't fix.

The finished product.



Let me know what you think. Also please let me know if its not enough pictures.