Painting the Entire Tiller!

After yesterday's success in painting the engine (and what a difference that made!), I decided to tackle the WHOLE tiller.  I just couldn't have the engine outdo the tiller itself!  But first I had a BIG problem.  I had to get the years and years and years of dirt and dust and grime off the cast-iron frame.

That involved old-fashioned elbow grease.  I had powerwashed the loose stuff last week, but this was CAKED on the frame.  I had to scrape, chip, scrub, and chisel the remaining dirt.  It was almost as if it was part of the frame!

That dirt was CAKED on there!



It required old-fashioned scraping and sanding.

After that was all done, I taped and taped and taped.  I wanted to make sure that red paint didn't end up in places I didn't want it!  I taped the handlebars, knobs, engine accessories, axles, linkages, and belts.  I also removed the tine shield as it was already in near-perfect condition being somewhat new.  Now it was time to paint.

Taping off all the extremities.

I made sure to cover up my garage floor (but time would tell me I didn't do THAT good of a job of that!) and started spraying.  The hardest part was waiting in between coats, but because I wanted the paint job to last, I waited in between.

I was amazed at how the tiller transformed before my very eyes.  I mean, all of a sudden this "ugly ol' beast" became a mostly-modern tiller!  It still looked old, but it looked old in the best of ways!  It looked old as in "built right," but it now had a sense of pride to it!

Painting the tiller!

She is looking great!

The tiller is transforming!

The new girl!

I am beyond thrilled!

I was quite simply thrilled.  I obviously painted the tires, too.  Unfortunately, all this work did is make me want to keep the tiller for good!  I simply don't have a garden big enough for the tiller, but I called up Dad and told him I want to have first shot at tilling his 20 tomato plants!

Needless to say, I am very proud of this restoration.  I just can't wait to use it in a real garden!!!

The beautiful 1977 Troy-Bilt Horse!

She never looked so good!

I never realized just how much bigger the Horse was than the Pony!  Maybe the Pony next?!

Now...if I can only find a way to transform that ugly gas tank!