I bought it last year before I actually had my bus done and it was complete but the legs were rusted solid.
Here it is in the state it was when I got it...
Earlier in the year I tried to get some of the leg fastening bolts out with WD40 and a hammer but managed to break the head off one in the process due to my impatience.
I was about to cut the legs off and weld some mounting tubes underneath when my brother shouted me down and told me to have a go with WD40 again.
So I had another crack but used INOX instead.
Here are the tools of, well, lack of a trade.....
They the rest of the bolts and legs were out within 5 days and this was the result.
I can't recommend INOX enough.
It's easily available from that mob Russell Ingall drive for and it doesn't evaporate.
If you spray a bit on you find the same amount there the next day.
It got right inside and turned the rust into a clay like sludge that was easy to shift.
Then I got to the rack with my grinder and a wire wheel.
Takes the paint off like water but the vibration over extended periods of use make it feel like there are spiders crawling all over your hands.
An interesting experience.......
Here I am at work and the finished product.
Then it was a light rub with a wire brush to remove the last of the paint in odd places and a wipedown with acetone to get the last of the metal filings and paint off the metal before painting.
I could've chosen a whole stack of finishes including powder coating but This rack is only 3/4 length and I might decide to have it lengthened at some point so I decided to go a matt black finish.
I'm using a straight forward engine paint that cures harder and harder with heat.
Sitting out a few days in the sun should have it hard as a rock.
If it doesn't it's easy enough to remove.
Here it is after the first coat......
Now, as you can see the legs have been painted too.
Aside of the gutter feet they are not the original legs.
The originals were about 3" too short for the roof so I had new ones made up.
I won't say here how much it cost but I based on the price I think the guy must have a special deal with the steel distributors.
It was disgracefully cheap!
More to the point they are now solid bar to prevent bending.
The only possible problem will be the leg bolts not being able to tighten on them enough.
But I'm using high tensile bolts so it may over come that issues.
Anyhow, I need to put another coat on it over night before I whack it on the bus for the trip to Sydney tomorrow as I'm staying there for 4 days before heading to Old Bar.
The only thing I'm lacking is all 6 of the gutter clamps so I'll have to nick some off my short rack.
I actually headed to the local wreckers today in search of an old rack or bars with some clamps on them.
No luck unfortunately but I did come home with this........
It's missing one suction cup and the other 3 need replacing but it's complete aside of that.
Sure, there are some bent bars but a gas torch can fix that.
Just as well those guys at the wreckers don't have much idea how much this sort of thing can fetch.
