New Case Fenders.. Observation/question

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and

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Both of these pictures have me questioning if the fenders are hand hammered.. I also fear this, as it seems that most of the first shipment is advertised as flawed and not having the correct curvature on the top.. Anyone have any input as to wether to purchase these, or keep looking for a good quality used set?

I can put your question to rest because I oversaw the production. I'll post a picture of the dies, top and bottom.

You can take the original Case fender, in the picture, and lay it in the die and they fit like a glove. The only reason there are some marks is the kids trying to take out occasional wrinkles from the pressing process.

They are not serious problems, a little bondo and they will be fine. The top curvature is ok too, but in the edge rod rolling process some have a slight curvature contraction. If you buy a pair you will never notice it. I've got several original fenders and I mix and match them with the new ones on tractors and cannot tell the differsnce, except the new ones are a lot easier to make look nice. Try a pair, you'll like them or John will give you your money back.

Also, we are running a new batch, they are perfect. We learned some things, like using a 300 ton press, oiling the dies, and some tricks on the rod roll, that make them look flawless to me, but between us, I'd buy the cheaper ones, even for a restoration, because chances are you will paint the tractor anyway and a few sploches of bondo will fix you up.

Just to specifically answer your question re: the pictures you question in the above links. The guy with the hammer is attaching the base bracket (pictured) to the pressed fender. This bracket is about 1/4 inch thick and takes another set of dies to press. They are them spot welded onto the fender skin, so what you get is a complete fender, not just a skin. The other picture is of fenders that have had the rod rolled into them, after being pressed.

If Don is having the fenders made here in the US, I am sure they will be a quality product, and best of all they will be giving someone a job and helping the US economy....

You will need to use your old fender brackets (if You have them) he just reproduces the sheetmetal. Also makes new hoods for the rc. I believe he is listed in Old Abe's news.