Toro recycler 1990-95 rebuild

[Lawnboy18]

Got an old Toro recycler from the 90'. It needs a really good paintjob. My question is that the deck is magnesium and there is some white stuff on it. How do I go for preping and painting this deck? Will Tremclad do the job? It has a Briggs quantum motor.

No serial or model number on deck. Completely stripped.

 

[Rivets]

Look under the handle for model and serial numbers.

 

[Lawnboy18]

The only I found so far is P/N 46-5180 5. Below that it is written Windom. It has a magneisum deck. Very light and easy to use.

That's it for now.

 

[Lawnboy18]

It looks exacly like this, but uglier (no paint)

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/8FWLRDbyT-0/maxresdefault.jpg

 

[Rivets]

There is no tag under the sheet metal on the handle which holds the throttle and speed controls?

 

[bertsmobile1]

Got an old Toro recycler from the 90'. It needs a really good paintjob. My question is that the deck is magnesium and there is some white stuff on it. How do I go for preping and painting this deck? Will Tremclad do the job? It has a Briggs quantum motor.

No serial or model number on deck. Completely stripped.

The white stuff in Mg Oxide, very similar to Al oxide and treated exactly the same way.
You paint it exactly th same as if it was aluminium using aluminium paints.
Best stuff is the aircraft grade material which you can get mail order from Aircraft Spruce
Close second best is the POR 15 Aluminium paint.
Both are as tough as nails and will withstand years of mowing.

 

[Lawnboy18]

I will check more tomorrow on that Rivets.

Would Tremclad do the trick to paint the deck?

To treat the oxydation, can I simply hit it with a rust converter?

 

[bertsmobile1]

NO NO NO
You treat it with aluminium primer.
Magnesium oxide is not rust ( iron oxide ) and phospheric acid tratments will do nothing but eat holes in the surface.
Also do not use mag wheel cleaners as they all leave silicon compounds on the surface which will prevent the paint from bonding to the magnesium.
Magnesium, like aluminium developes a very tough, coheasive, chemically inert, alkaline ,abrasive, oxide, which can be anodised with a little difficulty to give a beautiful finish.
This ozide is chemically different to the loose flakey iron oxide ( Fe2O3.6H2O ) we know as rust which must be bonded to prevent it from falling off.
Magnesium oxide will not flake off but can powder ( white dust ) and once this happens the corrosion product is very chemically stabe so will not "convert" into anything but worry

 

[jp1961]

I sandblasted the deck of my Toro 10547. Sandblasting leave a nice matte finish that holds primer well. Plus you can remove the paint in all those nooks and crannies.

Jeff

 

[Lawnboy18]

Ok, I will get some rust-oleum primer then.

I don't have access to a sandblaster, but it would probably be the best.