Any tips for restoring paint on John Deere Mower?

AdrenalineJunky

AdrenalineJunky

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Would like to restore the paint on a John Deere riding lawn mower. The paint is heavily swirled and quite dull.

I would like to correct the swirls and restore a glossy finish, if possible.

Currently I have M105,M205, Wolfgang T.Swirl Rem. Orange, white and red pads.

What would be an ideal way to attempt correction?
 
Without seeing it, I'd probably start with M105 on an orange pad.
 
AeroCleanse said:
Without seeing it, I'd probably start with M105 on an orange pad.
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Now of the three compounds I listed, that is the most aggressive. Correct?

I'm afraid of taking too much paint off, how can I judge this?
 
105 is the most aggressive. You will have to do a test area to see what process to start with. From the sound of the condition of the paint I would start with the orange pad and 105.
 
sounds like a great project to play with ... just remember at the end to dress the wheels and wells. (smiles)
 
If this is a real JD and not one of the newer Home Depot JDs, you have some of the best paint you can find and plenty thick.
 
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Oooh I'd love to see the after pics once it's done.
 
I believe the hood is injection molded plastic, no? Color is all the way through. My JD looks similar...scratches everywhere. Since I got the GG buffer, I've been eying the mower as another project.
 
Great job capturing the before pictures!

IF the hood is injection molded plastic, it might be kind of tricky to buff out... be sure to do your Test Spot on the side to see how it buffs instead of smack dab in the middle of the hood.

Dial in a process, (pad and product combo), that works on the side then tear into the rest of the hood. (Just to be safe)


:)
 
Here are a couple pictures of a 50/50 section of the plastic hood on my John Deere riding mower that I buffed out last year. The scratches were really deep. Buffing alone did not do much. I ended up wet sanding the scratches out of the plastic hood with 2000 sand paper and then buffed the hood out with a rotary buffer, Meguiar's Solo Heavy Cutting Wool Pad and M105. After M105, I went over it with M205 on the rotary with a white foam pad.


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Very cool!

I just picked up a 1992 John Deere STX38 on Sunday for $200 and I plan to buff her out too. The deck needs to be painted on mine though as well as a few other areas I may just spot in. ;)


Can't wait to see the after pics! :props:
 
This is my first attempt at buffing anything. I was able to restore a gloss finish, but not able to correct 100% of the spider-webbing. Not sure if it was lack of proper technique, or lack of proper products to correct more of the webbing. Overall for it being a working tractor, I am satisfied. I hope when I get to my vehicles they will come out web free. All constructive criticism welcome.

Steps & Products:
1. WASHED
2. CLAYED
3. (7424 XP DA)
4. ORANGE PAD W/M105
5. BLACK PAD W/M205
6. RED PAD W/DP FINISHING SEALANT

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Great job there for a first run. Did you try working more section passes to get some of the deeper scratches out? Also, you might want to try the 205 on white instead of black. :) You might see some changes.
 
rohnramirez said:
Great job there for a first run. Did you try working more section passes to get some of the deeper scratches out? Also, you might want to try the 205 on white instead of black. :) You might see some changes.
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Thanks. What is the idea behind trying the white vs. the black?
 
black has no cut, and will not remove much of the fine scratches (of course depending also on the compound/polish used), it is considered a finishing pad. Please visit this - Autogeek Buffing Pad Comparison Chart

White will give you a little cut and remove fine scratches way better. You can leave the finishing pads for applying LSPs. But some use the black/gray for jeweling, you're in essence just leaving the work to the polish by using the pad as a means to deliver. :)
 
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