Finally got a chance...
 

To get back on the 126 refurb. I built two electrolosis tanks and have a ton of small parts soaking. Tomorrow I will be making a makeshift tank to soak the frame, hood, rear and tower in. I don't necessarily want to strip the paint but really want to neutralize the rust and get the parts super clean so I can get some new color on them. I've used electrolosis for a while and it does a fabulous job cleaning the dirt and grease off the parts. They will be soaking at least a day or two. I'm really thinking on leaving them for 3 or 4 days as these are very nasty with surface rust and dirt. I'll try and get a pic tomorrow if I can remember...I can see some primer in the very near future...:popcorn::Woo:

Please explain the electrolysis tank process for us newbies. Advantages/disadvantages, warnings, tips and tricks.

Thanks!

Appreciate the update, Earl! Looking forward to your pics.

SSD, it works really well. The basic setup is a plastic tub to submerse the part you want cleaned and some rebar or other hunk of sacrificial steel. Dump in some washing soda (not baking) and hook up a one cable battery charger to the rebar and the other to the part. I cannot remember which is +|- . Google it, lots or tutorials on the net and even YouTube that spell out the specifics.

Negative goes to the parts to be cleaned positve to the sacrificial metal. Probably the biggest advantage is no dust. Also the amount of elbow grease used is minimal. You can use other chemicals in the bath but washing soda is safest, its not caustic and bio-degradeable. One disadvantage is setup time, ir takes a while to build a tank for large items but the bath can be used over and over again. The process neutalizes any rust on the parts turning the rust black. I still recommend a light sanding after rinsing and drying and be prepared to prime quickly as surface rust will form in just a few days

Here's some links for ya!
http://www.onlycubcadets.net/forum/s...ad.php?t=12500

http://www.onlycubcadets.net/forum/s...ad.php?t=12733

Epic fail
 

Spent the better part of the day building an extra large tank. I used a waterproof tarp for the liner. This tank will fit the hood, rear and frame so its perfect, with one exception. When i water tested all was good until about 1/4 full when the leaks started. Apparantly this old tarp isn't waterproof when it stretches. About 20 gallons of water had to be evacuated, so now i will venture off to lowes for a length of epdm pond liner. Hopefully soon i can start paint and reassembly..

Thanks for the update and pic, Earl!

No problem Alan, the two coolers there are filled with small parts once I get the big tank set up I can stop using these. Hopefully by next week end I can start priming and painting...

What type of power supply are you using? And how many amps?

I use a 12v battery charger mine is just a low end charger with auto feature. I use copper wire for the leads because I have a couple rolls of it.

Got some time today, used a spray paint stripper on these parts. It worked pretty well. After stripping they took took another swim in the electro tank.

Where does one find washing soda??

Looking good, Earl!

Readily available at Walmart, kmart and so forth. Arm and hammer laundry powder does the trick do not get baking soda get it in the laundry department.

Thanks EarlJ!!

Now you all have gone and done it. After a bunch of time with a wire wheel and mask I am going to build a tank. My son ericR and I have several tractors that we want to refurb and mechanical removal of paint and rust gets old really fast. Question: When using the tank with the washing soda are there any fumes or smell that would not let me use it in an attached garage.

Got some paint sprayed today, it's cold out but the kerosene heater in the shed kept it toasty enough to dry in nicely. I know it's not cub yellow but when it's all done it will be evident where I am going with the orange..:bigthink:

Let me guess, a 126K?

I like orange, too.

Great job, Earl!

This reminds of of my one and only waterbed experience waaay back when.

It turned into the worlds largest trash bag. (No, the trash guys did NOT pick it up or think it amusing)

John

PS: I don't think electrolysis will take off paint?

It takes off some paint, the longer you let it soak the paint gets easier to sand blast. What im really using it for is its cleaning properties and neutralize thevrust.

Got my large tank up and running, patched the one hole I had and now the frame is cooking in the mix....Also started stripping the engine down, need to get a gear puller to finish. Heck even got some seat time on the 107 today, after mounting the rear lift from the 126 on her. Got some much needed driveway work done and garden prepping started..

Looking good, Earl! Please keep us updated.

I'm really liking that big electrolysis tank. Just trashed an old Jacuzzi that would have been great for a tank:bash2: I've always heard as soon as you throw something away you need it...they probably don't have a wife:biggrin2:

Great job on the refurb! Keep it coming:beer2:

The old jacuzzi would have been nice, the design of this one (initially) allows for a dozen screws to be removed and folded up and slipped in the corner, if I can find an empty one, lol

Clemson Orange..... Ugh! :ROTF2:

Orange and Maroon - better!

Orange and navy, even better! Wahoo-Wa!

Cubfixer I think we had this discussion a while back when I was contemplating colors.. I'm not a Va Tech guy at all... Bill Clemson orange is the most beautiful color in the universe, even God thinks so...

Finally pulled the rear end out of the electrolosis tank yesterday. After letting my lift tip over, with the rear I was able to roll the whole setup out on the porch. I got out the pressure washer and nearly all of the factory yellow came off the rear. What I discovered the paint on steel doesn't come off all that well but that on the cast will flake right off. All thats left is the red factory primer, I had hoped to get some grey primer on the rear today but the rain has the humidity at around 1000%. Hopefully this weekend affords the opportunity to spray both the frame and rear...:biggrin2: