[JDBrian]

When I restored my 317 I cheated at the end and borrowed the fender deck off the 314. I now want to get the 314 operational again so I dug out the 317 fender deck. I knew it was rough but it's in pretty bad shape and has been patched and painted at least once before. I decided to try using a chemical stripper to remove the paint. This worked well, just used Circa 1850 that I had around for stripping cabinet doors. I'm not sure how well this would work on the factory paint but it made short work of what was on there. The whole thing had been bondoed in the past and there are 2 welded in patches in the footwell area. I think this tractor spent a lot of time outside.

One side of the back end was dinged and pushed in about 3/4 of an inch. The impact kinked the side fold of the fender deck. To fix this I decided to cut the side fold at the kink and pull the back end back out, then pound the side fold back into position. I ended up with a pretty much straight saw kerf to weld up and it only took a few minutes to do. With the fold intact it would have taken a lot of force to straighten it.

Heres what I'm talking about here. This is after re aligning the back corner.

 

[JDBrian]

Next, I took it outside and within an hour or so had the decals and foot pads removed and the top side completely stripped of paint. Most of it came right off with a scraper, but I needed to use a second coat of stripper and a wire wheel to get a few spots.

My wife named the 317 Jethro but I might have to rename it to "The Pink Panther" or "James Bondo"

Next I'll need to strip the paint off the bottom because there is some work to be done welding a patch under the seat area and looking into the rust around the existing patches.

 

[gopher]

To bad your so far away I could get a pan with the slot in back that's in excellent shape.

 

[JDBrian]

Thanks gopher. I'm in GT wilderness here. I'll try fixing this one up and see how it turns out. These tractors, like most older GTs are hard to find up here let alone get spare parts for them.

It would cost a small fortune to ship something that large and heavy from the central US to here.

 

[Trav1s]

Looking good Brian!

 

[gopher]

Went down to get some pictures and it was gone. A guy brought in 3 pans 2 with slots and 1 I swapped my 318 pan for. I try to put things off to the side that I think someone can use. The operator at that end of the yard lets me know if any one is wanting to buy any thing I've got set to the side one of the workers must have let a customer take it. leaving this one. The other one I had set back didn't even have a scratch that I could see. As long as it went to someone that needed it alright by me.

 

[JDBrian]

Went down to get some pictures and it was gone. A guy brought in 3 pans 2 with slots and 1 I swapped my 318 pan for. I try to put things off to the side that I think someone can use. The operator at that end of the yard lets me know if any one is wanting to buy any thing I've got set to the side one of the workers must have let a customer take it. leaving this one. The other one I had set back didn't even have a scratch that I could see. As long as it went to someone that needed it alright by me.

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That one is in a little better shape than mine but still looks to have some rust in all the same areas. Looks like the foot wells have been patched and the seat mount holes are cracked like mine. Good thing the metal is quite thick on those pans!

 

[JDBrian]

Well, it's been a busy summer. I did get the fender deck finished a week or so ago. Took a couple of pictures of the final result. Not perfect by any means but it is green and shiny. This thing was pretty ripe. It was full of body fill which was an issue when I went to weld the patches on under the seat mount area. A couple of coats of filler primer and then a couple of cans of JD green.

I thought I had taken pictures of the patches I welded on but can't find them. I welded 2 pieces of 1/8" sheet metal under the areas where the seat spring mounts. I also had to weld up the saw cut I made when I straightened out the bent rear corner.

 

[JDBrian]

Next up will be to get some wax on it and then install new tail lights, and the seat. Then it will go on the 314 so I can get it operational again. It's been sitting in the shed in the way since I robbed it's fender deck for the 317 last year. I wonder ow much work it will be to get the old darling running again!!

 

[Texas Deere and Horse]

Looks really nice Brian. Hope you can find the time to finish out.

 

[Trav1s]

Glad to hear progress has been made.