Farmall A part colors.

Dandy Dave · Mar 7, 2010

Restoring a Farmall A Cultivation tractor. It was used on an apple orchard and fruit farm since new and still has some of the original paint left on it. I took the nose and hood off of it and noticed that the fan is black. The original owner, (The tractor has been in the same family since new and has never been repainted.) thought he may have replaced the fan at one time but was not sure. Should it be black, or red? I notice that the lights are also black. If I remember right, the rims should be silver? Correct me if I am wrong. Also Starter, generator colors? Also would like to know where to get the most correct to original set of decals. Thanks, Dandy Dave!

Dave H (MI) · Mar 7, 2010

Fay's book on letter series tractors would be of great help to you on this and other issues in restoring your project. Great reading too.

ScottyHOMeY · Mar 7, 2010

Dave's advice about the Fay/Kraushaar book is a good one. The basic rule of thumb for the letter series is that the rims are silver, the radiator is black with red overspray, and everything else is red. The only things masked off are electrical connections, the serial number plate(in repainting), the rubber on the steering wheel, the lenses of any gauges, your distributor cap, and plug and coil wires.

As for decals, the mylar sets are the truest to original, in that they have clear film between the lettering. The cut vinyl do look sharp, and for what they say, they are as accurate as the mylar, but there is no clear film between letters, so there's nothing to yellow or turn white in between over time. They're all sold on the site here. Maple-Hunter offers probably the widest selection to accommodate the changes as the decals evolved over the years of production (i.e., the hood decals from plain McCormick-Deering/Farmall to McCormich-Deering/Farmall with the IH logo, to McCormick/Farmall with the logo.)

Jim Becker · Mar 7, 2010

The fan and lights were all purchased parts and could have come out of the parts box black rather than red. The electrical equipment could have been field installed, which could have resulted in several parts being black even if never replaced later on.

An early tractor with no generator would have had no generator belt pulley on the original fan hub. This all depends on when the tractor was built and when the electrical was installed.

Dandy Dave · Mar 9, 2010

Thanks, I believe the tractor is a 47, But I will have to look at the serial number again to be sure. Thanks, Dandy Dave!

Dandy Dave · Mar 10, 2010

I looked up the serial number, FAA 82315. The list that I have says that it is a 1942. Being build durring the war years, I would think that it came as a bear to the bones tractor. I bet that the lights were indeed field installed after the war, hence the color black. the starter and generator are both red, and do not appear to have been changed. Even the regulator looks original. Given the year, what can you fellows add? Thanks, Dave!

Jim Becker · Mar 10, 2010

That serial is '42, actually pretty early in '42. I don't think supplies were very tight yet at that time. We have no way to know for certain, but it is reasonable to suggest it may have had a starter and generator from the factory with lights added in the field. The lights could have been added by the dealer when new or any time later. Your fan could have been replaced with a black one at some later date due to the bearing going out. That sequence of events could have produced your color combination.

Dandy Dave · Mar 11, 2010

As I suspected. And yes, the owner did conferm that he changed the fan. If it is early in 42, I can see your point about comming though with a starter and generator as we were not yet in full swing with war production. Our dealer back here at that time was Wilson Bashford, Claverack NY. (Hollowville) which is where this tractor was bought new. Thanks fellows. Dandy Dave!

Farmall A part colors.

Dandy Dave

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