Serial number tag cleaning

[JimT]

Hey guys,

Does any one have any suggestions about cleaning a serial number plate. Or should I just leave it alone and put it back on like it is. I thought about getting a new one, but I would like to stay with the original one.



JimT

[Rudi]

Jim:

I certainly would not use anything stronger than lacquer thinner. Lacquer thinner used sparingly and I mean sparingly on a soft clean rag will help clean the gunk and crud off of the Serial # Tag without harming the underlying aluminum or potmetal or whatever that material actually is.

However, lacquer thinner may also remove a little of the black paint. That is ok, cause you can then lightly paint the tag and then wipe off the excess after a minute maybe You would have to experiment a bit. Nice thing about thinners and paint, is you can redo to your hearts content and not destroy the tag itself. The black paint will also bring out the Serial #, RPM indication and will enhance the background. Wiping it will take the paint off of the high spots that are supposed to be bare.

One other option is to get a replacement and keep the original in a safe place of have it plasticized so it will not get eaten away. My personal preference would be to rehabilitate the original.

Now, as with oil, paint and other hot button topics, you may get a few dozen or more opininions. In the end, it is ultimately up to you how you proceed. Either way, please take good pics and document what you do. It may turn into an excellent How To or a not so funny How Not To..

[magnumpi]

Mother's also makes a mag/aluminum cleaner/polish that is great, but it will also take some the paint off as well. Will give it a nice. deep low gloss sheen however. Craig

[george]

I'd try toothpaste and mild elbowgrease first.
George

[JimT]

Thanks for your tips guys. Going to go the the tractor show tomorrow down in the Chichamauga/Rock Springs, GA area. It'll probably be Sunday before I can work on it again. Got to get up at 4:30 am and go to a friends to leave for the show. Wish I had mind done. O'well, plenty more shows this year, hehe.

JimT

[KETCHAM]

I like the tooth paste idea.I use it a lot.Very mild cleaner.I'm also with Rudi on this one.Kevin

[flag]

I used Mineral spirits to clean mine just the other day, then used a brass/crome polish that I had, comes in a can with cotton, its like a dry rub then polish off with clean cotton rag. I then used enamel clear areosol spray and it look real good even those brass studs!

[magnumpi]

As long as it's off the tractor, flip it over and try some ideas on the backside. Craig

[John(videodoc)]

I too found myself in that position with my demo cub. I took a poll on this site, and it was decided to reuse the old one. After some suggestions of the members here, and some friends, that is what i did, reuse the old one. I am in the process of writing a "How to Re-use that Old Serial Plate" I got a couple of pictures to go yet, hope to finish up this weekend, but here is a link to the start of it. Start at the end and move forward.

http://s16.photobucket.com/albums/b46/v ... l%20plate/

John

How's it looking?

[TexasTechsan]

Since he got his off, I'll ask in here... how do you get the tag off? I read the thread forumn thing about using putty knifes and tried it, but I got nervous when the plate started bending and stopped. Did I miss something?

[Rob in NH]

i center punched and drilled mine, it was real easy that way. i wish i would have tryed to get the rivets out first instead of drilling.

[JimT]

TexasTech,

I used the putty knife to get the tag off. At first I put too large of a slot in the putty knife (started bending the tag up around the rivet), so I cut the end off the knife and ground a smaller slot in it, about the width of the rivets. I worked the putty knife under the plate and around until it started to go under the rivet. It worked great with the smaller grove. When I got the putty knife up under the rivet I took two small screwdrivers and pushed them in under the putty knife on both sides of the rivet. The rivets came out good then (was able to save the rivets to reuse). Just work the putty knife around under the plate until you find a spot it will start going in under the rivet. Sorry I didn't get back earlier, but went to a tractor show in Georiga yesterday.

JimT