Paint Worth the Effort?

[Jack Murray]

I recently acquired an old Case 310B to do the dirt work on my lot. figured a lot better to buy and then sell when done with the house.

My question is whether I should bother to repaint this tractor backhoe? Previous owner did a bad job repainting it, no prep obviously, and it is peeling all over. I do plan to sell this thing, it isn't a piece of history in my view, but a functional backhoe loader, so is it worth the time and effort to make it pretty looking? I want to do it just because I don't like ugly things, but should I just get over it, and not worry about what it looks like?

Or will a buyer pay another thousand or more if its got a nice paint job?

 

[luv2wrench]

Paint sells....in my opinion. And the fact it still has a full time job, it doesn't need to be perfect, just protect from rust.

 

[Unruh]

'be nice if it had some dirt/use on that new paint job.

 

[Stephen Newell]

The only reason I'm painting my tractor is because I have to dismantle it anyway to repair the clutch. I'm wanting to keep my tractor. If I had one to sell, I sure wouldn't dismantle it and paint it. It's too big a job.

 

[Jack Murray]

well, I can't resist and am going to repaint it, but I will not do a tear down.
I have removed the easy panels, the rest I'm putting stripper on and will then try to take off as much old paint (it has three layers) using a pressure washer. Then carefully spray it. At least it won't look all peeling, if not perfect.

What color? I don't want it yellow or orange, or even the tan.


I'm thinking military green would work for me, or a dark brown. BTW when I stripped off a couple layers, the hood had a 530 on it, so it seems it is a 530 not a 310B, looks to be a 530 tractor/loader that had a backhoe added sometime in its life.

 

[rustyfarmall]

(quoted from post at 20:34:29 10/11/11) well, I can't resist and am going to repaint it, but I will not do a tear down.
I have removed the easy panels, the rest I'm putting stripper on and will then try to take off as much old paint (it has three layers) using a pressure washer. Then carefully spray it. At least it won't look all peeling, if not perfect.

What color? I don't want it yellow or orange, or even the tan.


I'm thinking military green would work for me, or a dark brown. BTW when I stripped off a couple layers, the hood had a 530 on it, so it seems it is a 530 not a 310B, looks to be a 530 tractor/loader that had a backhoe added sometime in its life.

If you paint it any color other than what would be original, folks will know it has been repainted, and will be very suspicious when it is time to sell it.

 

[CNKS]

I think that people that really know about the equipment you want to sell won't give you a dime more for your quicky paint job.. You can't afford to do a good job because it will take a long time and a lot of work, UNLESS you really like doing it and want to restore it mechanically and cosmetically. Even then you won't get your money back. My advice is to sell it as it is. I have seen too much equipment at auctions that were "painted to sell". In general they looked awful.

 

[Ron Grother]

I rather just see some thing steem cleaned so you can see what is wearing out. a cheep paint job over greese makes me think you are hiding some thing.

 

[millman52]

(quoted from post at 18:20:35 10/15/11) I rather just see some thing steem cleaned so you can see what is wearing out. a cheep paint job over greese makes me think you are hiding some thing.

I agree, I'd much rather have a machine that has primer patches all over it as opposed to the kind of job the OP has to deal with. 2-3 coats of peeling paint.

To directly answer the original question. If I were to check out a backhoe that had good paint & mechanically checks out well. & over in the next county there is another with not so good paint & mechanically the same shape. I'd spend extra for the good paint so long as it isn't just another coat of peeling paint. In that case I'd save the extra.


I've painted equipment before. If it's disassembled far enough to do a good job on the sheet metal etc. Then steam cleaned repeatedly with some digging, scraping, brushing in between. a decent paint job is doable without a complete restoration.

Will you regain enough money for all the time spent? Probably not. However there is the satisfaction you'll get from owning a nice looking backhoe what time you have it.

I bought my old Ford hoe just to build my house & improve my property nearly 20 years ago, with the plans of having it 2-3 years & selling it. Well I still own it & have no plans of parting company. True it's probably a $6000.00 machine on a good day, but from what I am seeing to get anything better I'm probably looking at $15,000 or more.