1984 L345DT Refurbishment

[Russell King]

Which of the two Kubota orange colors are you using?

 

[DSDispatch]

Which of the two Kubota orange colors are you using?

Using the "old" Kubota paint. It's the top one on this Messicks color code chart: https://www.messicks.com/Kubota-Paint-Chart

Here you can see all "three" colors. I quote because one of them is patina!

Here it is mounted:

 

[DSDispatch]

There was a whole habitat behind the dash - included a few mud-dobber houses, a mouse condo, and other unidentified mud-balls. Yuck.

As part of removing the extra solenoid and cleaning up the electrical system, I purchased a new key switch.

Out with the old...

In with the new:

I switched the leads one at a time to keep them on the right posts. A 7mm socket was the ticket to easily remove each bolt and I scruffed each contact with 220 grit sand paper to remove any corrosion.

 

[DSDispatch]

The wiring at the fuse box and main 40a fuse were corroded and caked in 41 years of dirt. I still couldn't get the engine to turn over from the driver's seat, so I set to replacing the fuse box and 40a fuse.

Original box

Those fuses look good, but are they really?

Old 40a fuse and replacement:

It's made for marine applications, so should be fine for tractoring

 

[DSDispatch]

Turning the key to the on position yielded some promising lights! A quick flip of the start switch and the engine turned over - good. Now on to other connections and clean-up.

Red Wolf 4-fuse block - Amazon.com: RED WOLF 4 Way Blade Fuse Block Box Holder w/Standard Circuit 10V-32V DC for Automotive Truck Boat Marine RV Van Vehicle Power Distribution Panel Damp-Proof Cover : Automotive

Red Wolf 40A fuse - Amazon.com: RED WOLF 40 AMP Car Circuit Breaker w/Manual Reset Switch Inline Fuse Holder Inverter for Motor Trolling Vehicles Audio Radio Solar System Protection 12V-48V DC with Wire Lugs Copper Washer Screws : Automotive

 

[DSDispatch]

Pulled the rear mud-dobber houses and converted them back to stock reflectors this morning.

Yuck!

Cleaned and ready for paint and new reflectors.

 

[DSDispatch]

Tell me, what goes here by the heel of each foot? Was there an additional mud-guard on some models? There doesn't seem to be anything referenced in the parts diagram, but there are nuts for something.

 

[DSDispatch]

The left fender looks a bit worse than the right. They appear to be 12ga.

Has anyone had luck refurbishing this kind of damage by cutting out a rectangle, welding in a new piece of stock, and using a flap-disk to smooth and paint? That'd be my plan, but thought I'd ask for tips before diving in.

 

[Runs With Scissors]

The left fender looks a bit worse than the right. They appear to be 12ga.

Has anyone had luck refurbishing this kind of damage by cutting out a rectangle, welding in a new piece of stock, and using a flap-disk to smooth and paint? That'd be my plan, but thought I'd ask for tips before diving in.

Just for you consideration,

I was talking to an acquaintance of mine recently, and he said that "a lot” of body shops are switching to a 2-part epoxy instead of welding to prevent warping on sheet metal parts.

Not sure how true it is, but I did watch a video of a guy using epoxy to “splice in” part of a fender on his truck.

 

[TheOldHokie]

Just for you consideration,

I was talking to an acquaintance of mine recently, and he said that "a lot” of body shops are switching to a 2-part epoxy instead of welding to prevent warping on sheet metal parts.

Not sure how true it is, but I did watch a video of a guy using epoxy to “splice in” part of a fender on his truck.

More like "every" body shop. Panel bonding epoxy has been in widespread use for at least a decade now and is an OEM approved process.

Dan