Hi mikeo,
As far as parts are concerned for a 20 inch machine and all other sizes as well there is absolutely no new panel work available.
Also secondhand 20 inch stuff is really rare, but most stuff is common to the 17 inch machine apart from the reel, soleplate, handle bars, grass deflector and chassis along with front and rear roller assemblies. On the earlier 20 inch machines the reel bearing carries are a different size but this is not the case with yours as it's a very late one.
I must admit that it wouldn't be very hard for a sheet metal shop to make up a replacement if you can supply a original as a template.
As far as the sole plate is concerned as you are going to resharpen the reel and bed knife you could remove the bed knife and give it and the sole plate to your machinist to reassemble but and I say this with some warning, why would you even consider powder coating the sole plate as powder coating is Hygroscopic and will allow moisture in between the powder coating and the cast iron. It won't take long for it to become rusty under the cosmetic surface. Many of the later Kermit Green and Red Rovers have been turned into rust buckets as they were Powder coated and not painted at the Rover factory in Brisbane. No powder coating was ever done at the Thebarton factory in Adelaide.
Also as far as removing the sole plate, I would leave it in place for / while the rail repairs are being done as it's part of the structural integrity of the chassis.
Hope I've given you some insight as to what you are asking.
Cheers,
BB
My strong advise would be to paint it using the same Hammertone as the body panels and chassis etc. as that's how it was from the beginning.
