Hood peeling

[MrChris]

I noticed on the hood of my 3215 that there are three spots that are starting to peel. It looks like the clear coat is coming off. I also included a pic showing the stripe decal under the Mahindra logo on the side of the hood. This has always had a film which has been peeling off since new. Always thought this was just the protective cover for the decal. The tractor sits outside 24/7. What do you all think?

 

[brin]

Acid rain and weathering will take it's toll. Do you have it covered with a trarp or anything ? If not I would do that for sure and the few times I have had to leave my tractors outside overnight I always worry about mice getting in under the hood or cowling and chewing wires that could cost a fortune to find and fix.

 

[wallace]

How old is the tractor?

 

[ray66v]

The technical term for the hood problem, is delamination of the top, (apparently clear), coat. If this is indeed the original factory paint, there was a defect in the product. This type of delamination, (between the color and clear coat), is more common in a part that was repaired incorrectly. An area which was not repaired, but clear coat was applied over part of the existing finish. The bond between the color and clear is very difficult to break when the products are applied properly and together. Even if you bought this tractor new, it is still possible, even at the factory level, this has been repaired before you received it. Which would be another possible explanation.

The decal does look like it had a clear liner that was supposed to be removed, but was not. That, or it was very poor quality.

 

[MrChris]

It's an '06, bought 12/06. I've never seen peeling like this before so wasn't sure if it was the clear coat or some other type of finish. The paint underneath is duller in comparison. I've had many cars older than 3 years that sat outside 24/7 and have not seen peeling like this. Took the photos this morning. Sorry about the wrong picture dates again. Really need to fix that.

 

[ray66v]

I am actually quite surprised that it may have been clear coated. It is really not necessary on a tractor. And in the end, it has actually created a problem.

It is going to have to be stripped, and refinished. Spot repairs won't stop future peeling.

 

[MrChris]

Since it's occuring on both ends of the hood I'm thinking it was just a poor factory finish than a refix later. The whole hood surface would have had to been redone. I'm more inclined to say the finish is flaking off now rather than peeling. It's more brittle and flakes rather than a thin cohesive skin that can be peeled. Wondering if there is something to aid in removing this without hurting the paint underneath? Or should I just apply some carwax to the exposed areas and let nature remove it little by little. I don't forsee me entering the tractor in a beauty contest any time soon.
Any trick to removing the skin over the decal completely and easily? It's never seemed like it wanted to be removed completely. It sticks real good in some spots and other areas is just begging to be removed.

 

[ray66v]

Since it's occuring on both ends of the hood I'm thinking it was just a poor factory finish than a refix later. The whole hood surface would have had to been redone. I'm more inclined to say the finish is flaking off now rather than peeling. It's more brittle and flakes rather than a thin cohesive skin that can be peeled. Wondering if there is something to aid in removing this without hurting the paint underneath? Or should I just apply some carwax to the exposed areas and let nature remove it little by little. I don't forsee me entering the tractor in a beauty contest any time soon.

Peeling like that, (sorry, that is what we call it), is exactly what would happen, if the hood was say repaired and painted with color in the middle, and a clear coat finish was used, (improperly), on the whole piece. I have seen, and repaired this on cars, hundreds of times.

Unless the clear blows off entirely, with a pressure washer, or air hose, (this almost never happens), you will have to strip it. Even if it all comes off, you will still need to sand the color, and very likely reapply color, or the same thing could happen again.

 

[Sergei]

Maybe you've already mention this but have you also noticed that you also have cracks in the front plastic (silver) part of the hood. My tractor is also an 06 model but mind is keep inside a building and I have developed a couple of cracks but no paint issue, I 'm think just shutting the hood has caused the cracks to appear, has anyone else seen these.

 

[LAWALLSTRACTOR]

Peeling like that, (sorry, that is what we call it), is exactly what would happen, if the hood was say repaired and painted with color in the middle, and a clear coat finish was used, (improperly), on the whole piece. I have seen, and repaired this on cars, hundreds of times.

Unless the clear blows off entirely, with a pressure washer, or air hose, (this almost never happens), you will have to strip it. Even if it all comes off, you will still need to sand the color, and very likely reapply color, or the same thing could happen again.

I see I have run into a fellow auto body tech, I will have operated my own shop for 30 years, this coming April 1st. Back in the late 80's early 90's, the early days of base clear, I have seen clear peel off in sheets to where you could strip it from a whole hood with a air hose.