Cleaning Red Dust off California Tractor

Galen Houk · Mar 5, 2019

I bought a JD 6410 FWA in California and it is covered in very tenacious red dust. We are changing all the fluids and filters and it seems to be in pretty good condition. Has anyone had any experience with removing the dust? I have tried several window cleaners on the glass and not having any. My son says a razor blade will take it off but that is a lot of work. The red on the sheet metal / plastic seems to come off with hard scrubbing and a good wax job might clean it up. The wheels are very difficult to clean but the yellow paint is very good under it. All this can be cleaned with a lot of hard work but is there a surfactant or cleaner that will help lift it off?

flying belgian · Mar 5, 2019

Use auto was on the glass.

flying belgian · Mar 5, 2019

I meant auto wax. Stupid big fingers.

Jeff NWOH · Mar 5, 2019

I bought a truck from the steel mill I work at. We use a lot of lime, and it was all over the truck. The back window looked about like your picture. No amount of scrubbing with ordinary soap would touch it.

Long story short, toilet bowl cleaner and 0000 steel wool took it off. I also used it on the roof of the truck, although I wouldn't really recommend the steel wool on paint.

I even got daring with some diluted muriatic acid in the wheel wells. That lime winds up like concrete.

jeffcat · Mar 5, 2019

3M makes a whole line of detailing stuff. Try the clay bar stuff. Does a pretty good job. They make a surface restorer that is a quart bottle and is purple. Very good stuff. Might want to talk to a couple of guys who do detailing and also the guys at your local automotive paint mixing joint. Explain to them.

Madisonbob · Mar 5, 2019

I would give the whole tractor a bath with soap and water from a pressure washer. Then go over all the tin work with Meguiars Cleaner Wax. This will do a great job of removing oxidized paint and restore the paint. Have used it for years. On the glass, get some paper filters used in your coffee maker and use them to clean the glass. You will be amazed how your glass will look. I also use it to remove the film the gets on the inside of your windshield in your car, works super.

Geo-TH,In · Mar 6, 2019

Red is color of Iron oxide which you could get at a steel mill.

Red soil has iron in it.

Toilet bowl cleaner removes iron.

So put all your dots together, it's possible the red is iron.

Jeff NWOH · Mar 6, 2019

The haze on my truck was white, but about the same amount as on the Deere.

Either way, the acid in toilet bowl cleaner will dissolve iron oxide, lime, etc..

Surprisingly, didn't bother the clear coat paint at all.

Adirondack case guy · Mar 6, 2019

Are you sure that all that stuff on it is not spray residue?? I find it hard to believe that dust could adhere like that.
Loren

Tony S. · Mar 6, 2019

Acetone or MEK. Be careful.

Ellis Kinney · Mar 6, 2019

One time I worked for a while installing hardwood floors. The windshield in the company truck was hazy like your picture. Both guys that drove the truck chain smoked. It took me over an hour to clean the windshield on the INSIDE. Maybe that is part of your problem. Ellis

russ1 · Mar 6, 2019

Clay detailer. Can be purchased at any auto parts store.

Galen Houk · Mar 6, 2019

I never thought of that. Good possibility. Any ideas for getting it off?

showcrop · Mar 6, 2019

I would want to go after it chemically like vinegar or toilet bowl cleaner before trying an abrasive. The chemical won't attack glass but most abrasives will and then you have a lot of polishing to clear it up.

Cleaning Red Dust off California Tractor

Galen Houk

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flying belgian

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flying belgian

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Jeff NWOH

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jeffcat

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Madisonbob

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Geo-TH,In

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Jeff NWOH

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Adirondack case guy

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Tony S.

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Ellis Kinney

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russ1

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Galen Houk

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showcrop

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