OK, double posting for the price of one. Re-motivated that I've finally sorted the Top Link Rocker Bush my attentions have turned to the link arms. Originally removed during the dismantling process and stored. The first job being to replace one of the Link Arm Ends. When I first got Tillie, one of the 'ball joints' was missing from one of the arms. I decided to replace this with a replacement weld on end. If this is successfull, I will proberly end up replacing both ends on both arms as they are all fairly badly worn. However for the meantine I decide to just replace one and leave the others for next winter.
Replacement end welded in position ready for fettling.
I now turn my attention to preparing the arms for painting. I favour using the two types of abrasive impregnated grinding wheels shown in the photos below. The solid wheel being very effective at rapidly removing paint and rust, with the orange coloured flexible brush good at producing a good finish and a getting into corners etc. These aren't cheap but I find more effective than traditional wire bushes.
Arms prepared I decided to prime both arms, fit to the tractor and then brush apply a top coat as shown below.
Whilst I have the paint to hand and after painting the Link Arms, instead of throwing the supplus paint away I decide to very roughly and without to much preparation bush paint the front wheels. These like the rear wheels are coated in various coats of grey, white, and green paint (see inside of rear wheel above and front wheels on the Blog header picture). Frankly, making Tillie look very shabby. I had originally planned to wire brush the wheels reprime and spray paint a top coat.
Anyway although only a quick botch job, just having the front wheels all one colour is a big improvement.
Not good on close inspection but from a distance a big improvement.
