Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

Before I finally get around to putting my 1988 ST824 project back together (just in time for Spring), I need to repaint the auger housing (I have one of the Ariens SnoThros that have the paint peeling off in sheets).  I figure that with all the work I have put into it, it might as well look good.  Has anyone found a suitable (similar color to Ariens orange) paint?  The previous owner used what appears to be a flat fluorescent orange marker paint.  As you might expect, it doesn't really match at all- it looks pretty bad. 

I will probably bring the housing over to my dad's house and use a few pounds of black beauty to get the housing clean.  It's sad to see how poor the paint was on a few year's models.  My 1974 still has great looking paint. 

Any suggestions/ recommendations as to what steps (prep, primer, etc)  to take to ensure the best paint "performance"?

Thanks for any and all suggestions.

Ralph

Fred- Marshall

Thanks for the compliments, just sorry you had to go to the link to view. I'll attempt to learn the process of posting pics properly with a commentary over each picture for ease of viewing. I see my friend Marty knows how to do it, he's my idol, when I grow up I want to be just like him.

Bill,

Sweet looking Ariens and I love the custom headlite  If the outside housing ever needs painting, you can try your hand at air brushing that cool flaming skull on there and sealing it in clear.  Again, great job

Richie wrote:

Richie

Thank you, doubt the headlight will ever need repainting, It's made for exterior use with a baked on finish, Besides the unit is stored inside and upon completion after every use  I put the quatz heater next to it to dry it, then towell dry it and spray with silicone spray. The wife thinks I'm sick and in need of medication, she calls me Felix Unger. As far as air bruhing that's a talent I don't have, can't even draw a straight line.

Regards

Will

Will-

You did a great job.  Did you prime the auger housing before painting orange?  Makes me want to get mine back together ASAP.  Unfortunately, I'll be gone for a week (missing a storm, too- see my post), so more important things have to be taken care of first.  Maybe I'll post pictures of the sheared pins I found when I get back.  I'm still amazed they sheared. 

My project has a sticker that says "this engine has provisions for electric starter and alternator/headlight", so I hope there is that 12v power wire in there somewhere- it would be nice to have that headlight when it is dark.  It already has the 120v starter installed. 

Ralph

Ralph,

I primed the inside of the auger housing only, the outside was in better shape so I just used fine steel wool, then PrepAll, and finally alcohol before painting.

As far as the starter goes mine didn't have one but did have provisions for the alternator\starter as your does. I bought a brand new one on Ebay that is the latest model (the one with red button) for 77.00, works great. The engine already had an alternator, check for a two wire plastic connector right above the right tire (passenger side), it should be exiting the shroud there if one exists. One of the wires shoul be fastened to a ground screw there. I'll go read your post now.

Regards

Will

Here ya go....

And may I say nice job!....

C

Will - That baby looks AWESOME!!!  I would like for you to come down to NJ to finish painting my Sears & don't forget to bring some of those "skull" decals with ya! NICE JOB MY FRIEND! Email me if you need some help with pic posting...

Guys - Will is a sticker for detail & his workmanship truely SHINES!!

Marty

Looks sweet...awesome job!

Richie wrote:

Hi there Bill,

I didn't notice I had a typo in my comment.  I meant to say if the Auger housing ever needed painting, you may want to try airbrushing the flaming skull onto that part of it, not the headlight housing.  Since you mention you don't airbrush, that cool sticker can always be clear coated so it can never peel. I remember my old Honda dirt bikes used to have the Honda logo's clear coated with the rest of the fuel tank. 

I like the custom cleanout pole.  All that machine is missing is a very cool set of drift breakers.  Since the attachment points are already there, you should come up with another great idea for those.  It'll really dress the machine up

BTW...folks, aren't the new snowblowers actually powder coated these days?  If so, and since us consumers don't have equipment like that, how does normal automotive paint hold up on these machines?

Chriss,

Thanks for posting for me , much appreciated.

Marty,

I'm sure you're more than capable of painting that Sears, I wouldn't be surpised if you had a spray booth set up somewhere and put my job to shame, you have just about every  tool known to man. I think I know what I did wrong in posting the pics, should I have another problem I will email you.

Richie,

Yes I plan to clearcoat the decal, the sides were already clearcoated when I appied it. I'll wait to the summer, much better environment to paint in. I'm sure no automotive paint will be as good as the factory  powder coat paint as far as duarbility, but I did spray paint my rear house door about 12 years ago with a white automotive lacquer using a borrowed compressor. Paint still looks decent aside from a few nicks, I believe I paid about 25.00 a quart back then.