Cleaning up a Craftsman GT5000

[MFDAC]

If you have been reading my "and more junk" thread You know about the freebie GT5000 I hauled home a month or so ago. I got it free if I bought a rough JD110 for a hundred bucks. I got the GT5000 in mowing condition yesterday. My wife has already claimed it since it has early Dale Earnhardt Jr. graphics on it. Anyway this afternoon I rubbed it down with Penetrol and it helped much better than I expected. Even the plastic parts look better, and sometimes it doesn't help much.

Pic time.

The left half of the hood has the Penetrol on it.


The left half of the plastic dash done here.


The cutting deck looks way better than I expected too.


Before
and after

Couple more angles with it done. Yeah I forgot to clean the wheels---LOL!


It came out well enough that one of these days I will cut new stickers for the top of the hood. Side ones aren't too bad.

DAC

 

[Sawdust]

Looking good Doug. I’ve never used Penetrol other than for a leveling agent. It sure made a big difference.

 

[MFDAC]

Looking good Doug. I’ve never used Penetrol other than for a leveling agent. It sure made a big difference.

Thanks, Jim! Old sign painter trick to freshen up oxidized signs! It is a great leveling additive in enamel paint, like you said. It also helps paint flow off a lettering brush tremendously!

DAC

 

[olcowhand]

Just make sure she doesn't drive like she's racing! Maybe a good time for a roll bar add on! Lol

 

[olcowhand]

Thanks, Jim! Old sign painter trick to freshen up oxidized signs! It is a great leveling additive in enamel paint, like you said. It also helps paint flow off a lettering brush tremendously!

DAC

Will this stuff help prevent orange peel? And can it be used with acrylic enamel as well?

 

[MFDAC]

Will this stuff help prevent orange peel? And can it be used with acrylic enamel as well?

It should help with orange peel, Daniel, but I would test it first. Can't remember if I ever used it in acrylic enamel before, but I know it can be sprayed.

It is called a "flow enhancer".

DAC

 

[MNGB]

That's a good looking GT5000 they are good tractors and mow well

 

[Toomanytoys84]

Did somebody add the decals or was this a special edition?

 

[steve b]

acrylic enamel as well?

Flood does make one specifically for acrylic paints.

 

[MFDAC]

That's a good looking GT5000 they are good tractors and mow well

Thanks, Gary, in my other thread I posted about my mowing experience on Sunday. The tractor itself is quiet, but the cutting deck sounds like B-17 throttling up for take-off. Very loud! It did decent mowing but can't compare to the MF12G.

Did somebody add the decals or was this a special edition?

The PO said they bought it new at the Sears store that used to be here. Around 2006 is my guess. I googled the Dale JR. edition and it turned no results. It makes me wonder too if they were added on after purchase. Don't really know, to make a long story short, Aaron!

I don't think this tractor has a ton of hours on it as the tires look original and they still have most of the t!t's on them. I think it probably just sat outside for most of it's life with a dog peeing on it a lot.

DAC

 

[Toomanytoys84]

I was thinking I remember seeing these at sears with the decals but I just can’t quite remember. it tickled a memory but not sure.

When we had a sears in our mall i always parked on that side and walked through sears to get to the main concourse. The tractors were alwaya on that path

 

[4getgto]

I was thinking I remember seeing these at sears with the decals but I just can’t quite remember. it tickled a memory but not sure.

When we had a sears in our mall i always parked on that side and walked through sears to get to the main concourse. The tractors were alwaya on that path

I thought so too.
"EricFromPa" over on GTT had this to say about them a while ago..

Craftsman Indy 500 Garden Tractor

www.gardentractortalk.com

Though Doug's looks newer than what Eric talks about.
I do think the side decals on Doug's fit awfully good for just some guy wanting to spruce up his tractor..

 

[Sawdust]

I’ve seen the Indy edition before but never the Dale Jr. one. I still like it though it’s unique. Since I can’t find the original hood for Hoopdy maybe I should do a #48 Jimmy Johnson theme. What do you think Doug.

 

[MNGB]

Thanks, Gary, in my other thread I posted about my mowing experience on Sunday. The tractor itself is quiet, but the cutting deck sounds like B-17 throttling up for take-off. Very loud! It did decent mowing but can't compare to the MF12G.

DAC

Hi Doug I'd check the spindle bearings and the deck idlers, the GT5000 I sold last spring run so nice and many times I'd push up on the throttle thinking it wasn't wide open, it had a 54 ich deck and mowed nice deck was fairly quite. FYI if you go to work on the spindles word of caution they can't be removed with out breaking them the steel mt bolts free solid in the alum spindle I just remove the pulley and drive the spindle shaft out replace the bearings and reassemble

 

[KennyP]

Hi Doug I'd check the spindle bearings and the deck idlers, the GT5000 I sold last spring run so nice and many times I'd push up on the throttle thinking it wasn't wide open, it had a 54 ich deck and mowed nice deck was fairly quite. FYI if you go to work on the spindles word of caution they can't be removed with out breaking them the steel mt bolts free solid in the alum spindle I just remove the pulley and drive the spindle shaft out replace the bearings and reassemble

Good info. I have a place to get new bearings and spindles, but they changed their web site and it's a bitch to find what you want.

 

[MFDAC]

I was thinking I remember seeing these at sears with the decals but I just can’t quite remember. it tickled a memory but not sure.

When we had a sears in our mall i always parked on that side and walked through sears to get to the main concourse. The tractors were alwaya on that path

It is possible, as I think Craftsman was one of the smaller associate sponsors of Dale Earnhardt Inc. DEI and Sears both went belly up!

I’ve seen the Indy edition before but never the Dale Jr. one. I still like it though it’s unique. Since I can’t find the original hood for Hoopdy maybe I should do a #48 Jimmy Johnson theme. What do you think Doug.

Heck yeah, Jim! Why not! Send me dimensions and I can cut the graphics! I always thought this was one of the most beautiful race cars ever!


DAC

 

[MFDAC]

Hi Doug I'd check the spindle bearings and the deck idlers, the GT5000 I sold last spring run so nice and many times I'd push up on the throttle thinking it wasn't wide open, it had a 54 ich deck and mowed nice deck was fairly quite. FYI if you go to work on the spindles word of caution they can't be removed with out breaking them the steel mt bolts free solid in the alum spindle I just remove the pulley and drive the spindle shaft out replace the bearings and reassemble

Yes, Gary, all I did was try to wiggle them around with belt tension still on them Pretty slick belt tensioner on that deck, but I didn't try to release it yet.
I put 20 pumps of grease into each spindle, but didn't see any oozing out any where on top. The blades, by the way look brand new too shining a flashlight in through the deck discharge. I'll probably mow one more time with it then pull the deck off for a winter overhaul. Complete spindles are available for a fair price but i can't remember how much right now. Forgot to bookmark them.

Good info. I have a place to get new bearings and spindles, but they changed their web site and it's a bitch to find what you want.

I usually end up getting bearings from various epay stores.

DAC

 

[MFDAC]

I thought so too.
"EricFromPa" over on GTT had this to say about them a while ago..

Craftsman Indy 500 Garden Tractor

www.gardentractortalk.com

Though Doug's looks newer than what Eric talks about.
I do think the side decals on Doug's fit awfully good for just some guy wanting to spruce up his tractor..

Interesting read, Bill, thanks for sending that link! Hopefully when I get retired I will have time for TF and GTT again. Was at GTT for a long time!

It does appear to be a pretty well planned graphic layout that corporate would approve of. There are no registered or trade mark symbols anywhere though. That throws up a red flag. They would have been tiny enough that they may have lost adhesion and fell off through the years.

DAC

 

[MFDAC]

Still will be doing sign work for the rest of the weekend so no tractor work to speak of.

DAC