Wheel Horse Paint

[rmaynard 15,715]

Hello All. I am a newbie to the board, but have been a Wheel Horse owner since 1993. I have a 1977 B-100 8-Speed, and am about to begin a full frame-off restoration. My question is about paint. I see a lot of posts that seem to indicate that Valspar Restoration Series IH Red is the paint of choice. I guess that is because it is reasonably priced, available from most TSC stores, and also has a spray can size available.

However, in my opinion, IH Red is a little too bright. Does anyone else share my opinion? If so, what is your choice for a true Wheel House 1977 red? A spray can for touch-up is nice, but not necessary for me.

Thanks in advance. I will be posting progress pictures as things move along, and I hope to have it ready in time for the WHCC show in June.

[Save Old Iron 1,566]

:thumbs:

If you would like an exact match to your current original color - peel back a decal - undo a seat support or some other unweathered area of the sheet metal and have the paint matched at an auto paint shop. You will be a darn side closer to the original color than anyone's opinion.

Otherwise, pick your poison from the previously mentioned colors.

Like the song says - "you can't please everyone so you gotta please yourself".

Contrary to popular assumptions, there are no "WheelHorse police" to tell you that you are using an incorrect shade of red. There are no demerits given out like concurs events I used to take my Porches to. You could get slammed for having incorrect stitching in your seats or not having your screw heads aligned on your license plate frame. I gave that up a long time ago. I don't believe that level of criticism is awaiting anyone at the WHCC show.

Enjoy the hobby. Listen to your "inner child", pick a shade of red and try to color within the lines as much as possible !!

Love to see the progress pics :notworthy:

[stevebo-(Moderator) 8,362]

Chuck,

Great advise. I always use IH resto red for my restores and they come out great. Like Chuck said pick you poision. if you chose to color match at an automotive store be ready to spend $$$. Good luck and happy Tday !!

[Suburban 550 28]

:thumbs: Like Chuck said the only one you have to please is yourself. The two I restored have paint from a GM and a Chrysler. Incorrect colors on both but it only has to satisfy me. Good luck on your choice of paints. :notworthy:

[rickv1957 72]

There are a lot of pros and cons about the correct color as factory wheelhorse paint varied over the years,but evan a shade off,restored tractors still look very nice,Rick

[rmaynard 15,715]

Thanks guys. And Happy Turkey Day to you too.

I am a "hobbyist" antique restorer, and I restore old Hoosier cabinets. I have always been true to the original colors (as much as possible), and really frown on those who take a classic and try to turn it into something that it was not meant to be. I have a website, where I recount the entire process of saving and restoring a cabinet that someone had tortured with the wrong paint.

My thoughts at this point are to use the IH Red. A little touch-up now and then with a spray can is a lot easier than setting up and cleaning the spray gear.

Bob

[Duff 206]

Bob, !

Glad to have you among us!

I visited your web site and it's apparent that you, sir, are a craftsman. I'm sure the restoration of your tractor will reflect the same attention to detail. Please keep us posted and we'd love progress photos as the project moves forward. You are in good company here!

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

Duff :notworthy:

[rmaynard 15,715]

Duff,

Thanks for the compliments on my work. That was a fun project, and since then I have done about 8 more. Time to try my hand at something different. I will post my progress.

Have a great Thanksgiving as well!

Bob

[buckrancher 2,694]

Hi Bob

all I can tell you is the new old stock WH parts I have match vaspar's IH red restoration series perfectly setting them on top of each other

but it's your tractor paint it what you like best

:thumbs:

[can whlvr 993]

i use tremclad regal red which is the canadian brand of rustolium,but years ago i did my 308 and used a cheap brand and it was really close to orig,cant find it now though.

[rmaynard 15,715]

Well I did my own test. I took a new (NOS) shift pattern plate for a 61-10K801, B-100 8-Speed Tractor, 1976, (part #103547) with original factory red paint, unweathered, and untouched. I then sprayed 1/2 of it with Valspar Restoration Series IH Red.

After letting it cure for 24 hours, I took it to my local paint store and had them put the original paint on their computer analyzer. Then I had them scan the area painted with the VRS.

The results...NO DIFFERENCE.

The only difference that they found was that the Valspar paint was slightly glossier than the original paint.

I am going with the Valspar as my restoration paint on my 1977 B-100.

Thanks for all the responses to my original post.

[rmaynard 15,715]

So now it's 13 days later. Geez, I'm as fickle as a school girl. I just had to go out and get some more paint to experiment with. So here is what I have purchased since my last post on this thread.

Valspar Restoration Series IH Red

Valspar Premium Enamel Berry Red

Plasti-Kote (made by Valspar) Cherry Red

Krylon Cherry Red

Krylon Farm & Implement IH Red

Rustoleum Regal Red

I liked the VRS IH Red to start with, changed my mind after I saw the Krylon Cherry Red. Man does that stuff dry fast. Found the Krylon F&I IH Red to be too purple. The Plasti-Kote looks like the VRS IH Red or was it the Berry. No it was the Cherry...Oh Gosh am I confused. I forgot to mark my samples. Thought I could remember. Oh, that's right, I'm getting old. I have trouble remembering what days my wife works much less which side and which corner of that shift plate did I paint with what color.

Okay. I'm starting all over again. I have a dozen pieces of sheet steel all die-cut to 2" x 3". They have all been primed with Krylon gray primer.

I am going to mark the backs with the paint name. Then I am going to paint them all again. Why didn't I think of that the first time?

After they dry, I'm going to visit one of you guys that has a big collection of NOS tractors and see what's the best match. Then I will probably come home, throw them all into a hat and pick one.

Dagnabit, these paint fumes are gettin too me.

It's 28 degrees outside. Think I'll go get me an ice cream cone.

:notworthy:

[Save Old Iron 1,566]

Then the squares are off to Ebay as official Wheel Horse flashing for chimneys thru out the free world

:notworthy:

[dgjks6 6]

Just a quick question. Doesn't toro still make the original red paint?

http://cgi.ebay.com/RED-Wheelhorse-paint-F...=item518d4ee571

[rmaynard 15,715]

Good question. The Toro paint in spray cans (361-1 Apple Red) which is supposed to be for all Wheel Horse model prior to 1990 (I think), is not even close. I dare not spend nearly $100 for the eBay gallon of paint just to find out that it too is wrong.

Bob

[rickv1957 72]

Along with the apple red they have the new red which I have used and the color matches very well,Rick

[rmaynard 15,715]

New red. Well, maybe I will give that a try. Thanks Rick

Bob

[rick 237]

It is my understanding that "New Red" matches the Wheel Horse red, the "old red"

is what Toro used prior to the "merger". New red matches well as far as I can tell.

It is probably pricey, though. My supply of new red is 10 years old in rattle cans. Still works well.

[rickv1957 72]

Ive used the new red and matches a 1968 model very well,Rick

[linen beige 14]

The Toro paint in spray cans (361-1 Apple Red) which is supposed to be for all Wheel Horse model prior to 1990 (I think), is not even close.

As has been posted several times before.....

Apple red is for TORO products prior to circa 1986.

Once again,.... NEW TORO RED is as close a match as TORO could get to OLD WHEEL HORSE RED. It is called new Toro red because when Toro bought Wheel Horse the WH red became new to Toro. :notworthy:

[bobert94 38]

you can still buy toro new red in quarts #5340 or gal #361-11 this is actually wheel horse red. toro switched colors when they bought wheel horse because they liked it better than there own red. I get mine from Sohars out of Ohio www.rcp.com. costs about 50.00 a gal and it matches much better than IH red. :notworthy:

[rmaynard 15,715]

you can still buy toro new red in quarts #5340 or gal #361-11 this is actually wheel horse red. toro switched colors when they bought wheel horse because they liked it better than there own red. I get mine from Sohars out of Ohio www.rcp.com. costs about 50.00 a gal and it matches much better than IH red.

Thanks for that info.

Bob

[Iggy68 28]

I just used some Valspar Restoration paint(the darker red). I am extremely happy with the ease in which this paint sprays. It is not factory color but boy does it shine.

[rmaynard 15,715]

When you say 'the darker red', which red are you referring to?

[Iggy68 28]

I used #4432. The TCS I went to only had it in quart and gallon size, no rattle cans. That was ok for me, using my devilbiss gun for everything.