Zinc rot

[SVcummins]

Has anybody ever seen that? I have probably 300 1/16 scale tractors never seen one rot away have you ? Heard it on Facebook so it must be right
 

[J Hamilton]

I haven't seen it either. But if it's on Facebook it's gotta be true! Lol
 

[tractorguy2]

I have heard of it and seen it with my own eyes. Most of the toys that have this problem are in the Precision Key line and the JD heritage series made for John Deere collector center.

The toys were made in China with little to no quality control. The mix for the diecast didn't have the correct amount of lead.

Toys having this problem will simply fall apart while sitting on the shelf or even if it's NIB.

The first sign is when the surface of the diecast metal starts to change and looks like the surface of an egg shell. Later you will start seeing web like cracks covering the entire surface. Then finally they toy just crumbles into little tiny pieces.

My favorite toy in my collection was the 1937 heritage model D. It started to crack so I put it on facebook and sold it rather than watch it fall to pieces.

There are more toys than I can remember that have this problem. I know the toys I listed below do.

Heritage 1937 D
Heritage 620lp gas high crop
John Deere bull dozer

Precision Key

JD 140 garden tractor
JD 4020 wheatland
All IH 86 series Precision Keys
2+2
1468







 

[SVcummins]

Thankfully I dont have any I guess. Kinda looks like a cummins 53 block
 

[Robert (ID)]

Yes i have seen it.. not on toy tractors tho.. seems back in the late 60's -early 80's lots of cheap hand held things that go bang were zinc diecast.. ive seen more then a few that the zinc has rotted/ deteriorated..
 

[SVcummins]

I have a key 4010 but its fine
 

[SVcummins]

That would be a good feeling
 

[Buckeye Oliver collector]

You mentioned the 2+2 but they made two of these. Have you seen this on the 3588 or 6588, or both? Reason I ask is I've got a 3588 but haven't had issues with it. Pretty nasty decay on the D that you pictured. Sad part is a lot of these tractors are high dollar pieces!