UPDATE
Friday had most of the parts where they needed to be, waiting for the yay or nay from the motor re-winder and was in the process of buying all new bearings when I got a call from the re-winder. It was unfortunately a nay (my multimeter work was apparently not as thorough as theirs
)and their inventory of vintage 56 Frame motors were all three phase. I could buy new single phase 1hp Frame 56 for just over $300 at mates rates (Mr Grumpy, took your power rating into consideration) and haven't found cheaper especially for Aussie built with 2 year warranty.
I was ready to part the beast out, to contribute towards the cost of a more restorable Model 45.
Saturday morning was heading out and overnight the fairy motor godmother left a Frame 56 half hp motor (complete with switch gear) on front verandah.
Too bad that I had collected my bits and pieces from the blaster, electro plater, and powder coater on Friday arvo. Just glad didn't hand over the extortionate amount for the double row ball bearing that the last place I was at managed to force to bits and pieces and were not able to re-assemble (pretty damned cheesed off about that as no other bearing place tried to break bearing).
So, Saturday morning the plater, powder coater and blaster were closed. I had to make do with what was available to me and crack on with the resto.
I managed to source some Dark Green Hammerite Hammertone paint, that I have used with great success in the UK and SE Asia within the last 2 years. I also bought a flap disc for the tiny grinder I had access too. Less than spectacular results were achieved with application of this paint by brush (unlike UK and Asia), not sure if starting from bare metal surfaces or more likely that I over stirred the paint prior to application. Used exactly the same product on my front door and security grill in Malaysia and many people asked where I got the metal door from? The model 40's deck, side plates and front roller guides are a disgrace (although stripped, washed with detergent, water and then wiped down with wax& grease remover). There is only a patch of about 3 square inches that look hammertone. I am pretty certain I over stirred it.
Could take back to industrial blaster but might be more than a bit unfair considering paint wont have cured fully and likely to make mess for them.
One trick (shortcut) I discovered from Mr Google was that water on aluminum foil really does clean up the most rusted chrome. The chrome bits will all be back for plating after fathers day but I am blown away with the results as one of the bars was more surface rust than chrome. It is now shiny (enough) again and I haven't even touched it with a metal polish for protection. Perhaps this is good enough for a mower stored under cover once polished for protection.
Re-taped the baring surfaces and gonna drop all parts off to blaster tomorrow but will give them fair warning that paint isn't hard yet and leave it upto them if the want to take risk of contaminating their media with unset Dark Green Hammerite.
All new nuts and bolts have been sourced. Said to the guy at fastner place that I was one of "those customers" who came in with a very small order but a large variety of parts and that would be PIA to pick from shelf. They were very good about, it.
More updates and photos available but things I must do.
Night,
Cam.
