(ET) Day 1: Damage doesn't look as bad as all that

[Chris Zach <cz alembic crystel com>]

Ok, it does. Specifically the E15's box and fenders are toast. I managed 
to get the 4 screws out of the fender-foot well assembly (hint: Just 
break rusty bolts) and the rear box lifted off. Yep, not a rivet was left...

Underneath it was a pile of rust. However after sweeping it off into the 
vacuum and looking at it I can say that it's not quite as bad as all 
that. Yes, I can see the flex at the rear because there is weakness 
behind the rear wheels on the non-harness side, but that's a 
pencil-sized hole and should be weldable with some angle iron. On the 
harness side (the wire harness) it actually looks pretty solid.

The screwdriver test resulted in no holes, and the hit with hammer test 
resulted in solid rings instead of tinks and crunches. So although I 
haven't checked the front, it's possible this might be salvageable.

With the wreck of the rear box off and in the weeds, I then rolled the 
tractor on it's side. Simple enough. Fortunately the paint is still on 
the bottom, so as a result the bottom of the frame is still sound. Which 
is once again good. The steering assembly is intact, as is the metal 
around the pillow bearing. Once again, positive.

There also seems to be something rusted-metal like clogging up the rear 
stab slots. Not sure what that is, but I'll drill and dig it out.

However all 4 tires are shot and all four wheels are rusted. Getting 
those off is going to be fun, however I need to get the wheels off so I 
can remove the fearless peerless. Oddly enough this tractor does have a 
later model brake assembly, and there is a very large spring *ahead* of 
the brake pedal. Is this normal; on the E20 there is a narrower spring 
behind the brake assembly.

Anyway, interesting wreck. Is the best way to remove rivets to drill 
them out?

Chris