[ezatnova]

Figured I'd share some pics from my 345's hood restore project. My hood was crunched into a tree or something by a previous owner and patched with fiberglass. The fix was structurally strong, but not the prettiest. Took my time sanding and using some body filler, all while not touching the fiberglass patching in the inside of the hood, to retain the strength.

I'm happy enough with the results. Used the TSC Deere green paint. One spray can BARELY did the job. I did not clear coat over the color.

With the newly finished hood, cleaning and restoring the headlights, putting the new seat on, and taking a buffer to the body, I think it's hard to tell it has 1300 hours on it. Runs like it's brand new, too.

 

[jim335]

Good job. Very nice.

 

[ezatnova]

Oh. Forgot to say that, as you can see in the one pic above, I taped over the two large John Deere decals and took my time with an Exacto cutting around the perimeter. They were in good shape and they aren't cheap to buy new. The 345 decals were more beat up and were much cheaper, so those are new.

 

[mark777]

Nice repair - Turned out very well :fing32:

 

[Harryc]

Nice repair - Turned out very well :fing32:

:ditto:

 

[Oregon City X500]

Nicely done. Wanna do mine?

 

[KATT]

Great Job :fing32::fing32: wish I had a hood to restore !!

 

[ezatnova]

Thanks for the kind words, all.:greendr:

 

[think-mac]

Outstanding paint job ezatnova.

Just to clarify... you used the Tractor Supply rattle can?
Or can of paint that you used with a air compressor?

Either way, looks like a professional job!

 

[ezatnova]

Outstanding paint job ezatnova.

Just to clarify... you used the Tractor Supply rattle can?
Or can of paint that you used with a air compressor?

Either way, looks like a professional job!

Thanks!

Yes it was just their rattle can. I like the paint overall. The only thing I didn't LOVE was the lack of detailed instructions on layering/drying time. I wrote the company afterwards and it turns out I did not follow their recommendation (oops. Too late!). They wanted each coat to completely dry before the next. I've always been taught to apply the next coat with the prior one is still tacky (within a half hour or so). Unless it's all just going to fall off one day then I think it came out just fine. The downside might have been drying time. The paint was soft for a good month (i.e. you could dent it with a fingernail). In fact, it's still even a tiny bit soft, which is a little surprising.

 

[k91]

Turned out great nice work :fing32: