Correct color for wheel weights

Dave Cook · Nov 9, 2011

I have a 1949 C that was my grandfathers. I don"t believe he ever painted it--not in my recollection--and the wheel weights have been silver (like the rims) as long as I can remember. Every other letter series tractor I"ve seen in photographs show weights being the same red as the wheels. Could the (only) previous owner have painted them? Does anybody know the correct color for the weights? I"m assuming they came on the tractor as delivered, but I can"t be sure. I"d appreciate any help you fellas can offer.

mike1972chev · Nov 9, 2011

I have HEARD of them MAYBE coming different colors from the factory,but have never seen them in anything but IH red.(I have seen "military farmalls" in the color of whatever branch the tractor was "inlisted" in,but the whole tractor was that color.)

Some others that are MORE knowlegable will "chime in" on this.

Tom Fleming · Nov 9, 2011

Red, Red, Red.

by the way, did I mention they are Red? :wink:

JRSutton · Nov 9, 2011

You say silver like the wheels.

are the wheels painted silver?

I'm FAR from an expert, but I believe the wheels shouldn't be painted at all - they should be galavanized.

If your wheels are painted silver, then it'd be my guess that whoever did it also painted the weights to match.

I've never seen silver weights.

(but also can't stress enough that I'm NOT an expert!)

Tom Fleming · Nov 9, 2011

F Series tractors had red rims. Letter series tractors had galvanized rims. Wheel weights are red for both series.

jbp · Nov 9, 2011

Have my Dads 53 cub that he bought new, even have the sale bill for it. The wheel weights on it were never painted, just primer. Cubs were popular in this area as tobacco was a crop on most farms, and the weights were never painted from the factory, just primer. The primer was red though , just not the 2150 red. Yeah, they were red, red and red. Joe

Dave Cook · Nov 9, 2011

I meant to say rims, not wheels. Sorry and thanks to all who replied.

JRSutton · Nov 9, 2011

actually my bad - you DID say rims - I kept calling them wheels!

But my point stands - the RIMS should be plain galvanized steel - not painted silver, or any other color.

rhtx55 · Nov 9, 2011

Weights were an attachment, installed or sold by the dealer. They came from the factory primer red, the installer would paint them to match the tractor prior to sale.

Nebraska Cowman · Nov 10, 2011

probably. If it were me, I'd paint them the way grandfather had them. Just because.

Nebraska Cowman · Nov 10, 2011

I disagree. We (dealers and farmers) have been painting them with cheap aluminum paint for 50 years so to me, that IS a correct restoration.

Anonymous-0 · Nov 10, 2011

I go along with Nebraska Cowman with the aluminum paint. When the wheels start to rust how many guys can aford to dismount tires and sent wheels away to be regalvanized.

Livin the Dream · Nov 10, 2011

(quoted from post at 06:52:24 11/10/11) I go along with Nebraska Cowman with the aluminum paint. When the wheels start to rust how many guys can aford to dismount tires and sent wheels away to be regalvanized.

I have been restoring my Super A and I too was wondering about the rims. Mine were in pretty decent shape but wanted to get rid of the rusty area's. I did find a spray paint that is a galvanized repair paint with 93% zinc in it. I believe it was called a cold process galvanized paint. Wheels turned out nice but I didn't like the flat gray or siliver whatever you want to call it....they looked unfinished like they had just been primed. So I decided to use the zinc paint as a base paint to stop corrosion and covered with a enamel aluminum...wow now they look great.

Tom Fleming · Nov 10, 2011

interesting point was made. If these came from the factory primed and not painted, and if the dealer painted them whatever color they (or the customer chose) then in my opinion, there is no "right" or "wrong" answer.

I have a pair of F&H rears that were/are red. I have other IHC weights, all red. Now, my cub rear weights are silver and the fronts are red. Go figure. My cub BTW, was dealer repainted in the early 60's. Only reason I know that is that I bought it from my neighbor and he bought it new. His widow told me he had in repainted at the dealer.

Howard, I am with you for the most part on your comment "if that is what Grandad did, then stay with it". If this was up to the dealers, the sky is the limit on color choice.

CoopertownBob · Nov 10, 2011

Weights came primed or not painted at all from the factory. According to a paint committee memo dated September 24, 1946, that states from then on all tractor weights are to be painted the same color as the rest of the tractor. Now that means it depends upon what color the tractor was to begin with, as if it was part of a large enough order, IH would paint it any color the customer asked for. Usually though, in actual practice, the weights were probably painted with what ever the painter had in the gun at the time, as I have seen red tractors with original color yellow weights on them, and we all have probably seen the pictures of the famous white tractors from 1950 with red weights on them.

I too agree though that I would just repaint it like I remember it when Grandpa owned it.

Jim Becker · Nov 10, 2011

I was thinking we had just talked about this topic. I had to look some to find it.
http://ytforums.ytmag.com/viewtopic.php?t=835689

JRSutton · Nov 10, 2011

Not to beat a dead horse - but my point was that the original poster said the weights were the same color as the rims.

To me, that means the rims were painted.

THAT had to be done later in the tractors life - and since they're the same color, I would assume the weights were done at the same time.

So if the sentimental value is worth keeping them how you remember them, nobody's going to fault you for that. But if you want the tractor closer to what it originally looked like, you should paint them red.

Anonymous-0 · Nov 10, 2011

Hello. What was the brand that you used for the zink primer and they final Alum coat? I have a 1945 A that I want to do the same thing do but didnt know that brand to use. THANKS

Tom Fleming · Nov 10, 2011

Napa sells a zinc based primer, called cold galvanize. Watch out for sticker shock.

Livin the Dream · Nov 11, 2011

(quoted from post at 19:52:53 11/10/11) Hello. What was the brand that you used for the zink primer and they final Alum coat? I have a 1945 A that I want to do the same thing do but didnt know that brand to use. THANKS

The galvanizing paint I used was "Rust-Oleum" brand "Cold Galvanizing Compound" 93% Pure Zinc...it's a very flat gray paint, cost was under $8.00 a can, purchased it at Menards. Then I went over that with a "PlastiKote" Aluminum Engine Enamel had just the right sheen, they look great. The PlastiKote paints was also $8.00 a can. Spray cans....sorry.

Dave Cook · Nov 11, 2011

The weights and the rims were both silver, not red. Thanks,

Livin the Dream · Nov 11, 2011

Dave, I realize you said both your weights and rims were silver. And I think whatever you decide to do is great. I wanted to include a pic of how my rims and wieghts turned out. I have more to finish as you will see the inside of my wieghts have not yet been painted....it's a work in progress.

Correct color for wheel weights

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