f-30 color

rusty faubion · Jan 26, 2011

I need help!!! Our family has owed since new an f-30, SN. 17315 or according to here a 1936. I am presently restoring it. In 1988 Dad had it sandblasted and we painted it gray and red wheels. I latter painted it again. Dad has passed away but, he always said it was gray when it was new, I have found nothing but red in hard to get at places. I really think it was red new. I need proof of color. Where can I find it? ph.712-542-7006 or e-mail

DeltaRed · Jan 26, 2011

Somewhere in '36 is when IH changed to the red color.we need the sn. to be sure.I personally dont know the 'break',maybe someone does.If the 'hidden' places are red,thats a pretty good bet

Athol Carr · Jan 26, 2011

1st November 1936 (start of 1937 production year) is when they went from gray with red wheels to all red. Check the Wisconsin Historical Society IH Paint Committee Decision 100 (dated October 30, 1936)
Wheel Tractors:
Entire tractor except ground wheels: Harvester Red No, 50 motor truck synthetic enamel.
Wheels: Harvester Red color varnish

Oldiron29 · Jan 27, 2011

Rusty, Athol is right! gray with red wheel till Nov. 1st 1936. I have a 1935 F-20 all serial # were goodand I redid it, I could not find any old gray any where. Some one had done a very good paint prep job and painted it red before I got it! you never know. oldiron29

rusticredacres · Jan 27, 2011

Rusty, your tractor was built in the month of July 1936 and they changed from grey to red on or shortly after Nov 1,1936. Your tractor should be grey with red wheels and to ad to you guys discussion the paint quality was not at the standards of todays and the paint did not last as long being grey so you probably might not find any traces of grey in the hidden places plus rust can be decieving sometimes to be red paint. With the knowledge of your dad being lost and knowing he said it was grey I myself would pay tribute to him and paint it grey so he can see it from up above.Great to see you have kept a great piece of history in the family.

36F30 · Jan 27, 2011

Your tractor was grey
There are a few good reasons you can't find any grey on that tractor. These tractors were fully assembled except for the wheels (they were dipped in red varnish) and then the sediment bowl and gage faces were masked off and a bag put over the mag and the entire thing, spark plugs, wires, everything was painted by hand held spraygun without primer. The draw bar was also red but not its mounts. There is no hidden paint because hidden area's were not painted. There are records in the archives that state the original paint lasted about 6 months on a dealers lot before needing a repaint. These paints were organic enamels and did not hold up well at all.
IH after Nov of 36 had a repaint program to help keep their shops busy in the off season they would paint the old grey ones with the new synthetic enamel red. I have yet to find a pre 36 F series that wasn't painted red at some time in its life.

The last thing is the old grey paint looks exactly like clean cast iron and is very easily overlooked. It usually looks like black scale.

rusty faubion · Jan 27, 2011

Thanks to all replys. The block ser.no. is about 220 less than the 17315 number and the upside down block date is 6-2 36 . the steering tower no. is close to that. I know you guys are correct on your dates , but, I can t see why I am finding so much red. Red under the oil filter canister base thats bolted on the block, the back side steering tower , just in all places you would think a regular paint job would not get. And it is a very red color, I wish you guys could see this. I have restored a family owned late model 8n ford and my moms dad H. I try to get them orginal as I can. But on this 30 I am leaving on the 6-volt batt. and distributor off an M the old folks put on, witch works great and never kicks. I know I am lucky to have these family tractors but now that I will have all them done I am going to buy some old tractor and paint it purple with flames and chrome wheels.

36F30 · Jan 27, 2011

later F30 block #'s normally don't match. The motors came down the line and then went into F or W 30's. It is thought that the blocks were numbered and then the suffix was added for the W or the F.
Nothing surprises me on a 75 year old tractor. They usually have lots of modifications and upgrades, paint and parts from other tractors. I have a F30 block with yellow paint under red that came from a grey tractor. I have also taken apart final drives of grey tractors and there is a red coating inside.

I think family tractors need to retain their modifications and character. If it was red when grandpa owned it, paint it red.

f-30 color

rusty faubion

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DeltaRed

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Athol Carr

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Oldiron29

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rusticredacres

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36F30

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rusty faubion

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36F30

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