Paint - Working tractor

[feg7846]

I have a 1947 cub that has been my garden working tractor. It is an awesome working tractor, but not a show tractor at all. It has several scrapes, scratches and bruises at various places. I am now 75 years old and my wife has been diagnosed with ALS. So, I am going to start downsizing some things. Not going to be gardening any more, so, the cub will be one of the items that I am going to sell. Hate to see it go, but it is what it is. There is a lot about this life that we don''t understand, but, we have to play the hand that we are dealt, and we don't get to pick the cards.
I want to "treat" some of the scrapes and bruises with some type of paint that will come close to matching the faded, dull paint that was applied back in 1947. I guess this is a stupid question, but does anyone out there have any idea on how to match old, farmall red coloring.

Thanks for all of the advice and help that all of you have given to me through the years. Old cubers never die they are just put in the ground like the many seeds that they have planted down through the years.

[newtattoobob]

My opinion is if it is original I would leave it alone. I like to see the original tractors in their work clothes. Personally when I'm looking at purchasing a tractor if it has been "touched up" I won't even look at it. I look at it like a band aid, makes me wonder what else has been band aided on the tractor that I can't see. The bumps and bruises show an honest tractor to me.

[Don McCombs]

I agree with Bob. Any attempt to match old, faded paint will be really obvious.

[inairam]

I would suggest just oiling it to protect the metal and improve the look. as newtatoobob wrote "toughed up" or a poor paint job does not look as good as the original paint. A working tractor should show its battle scars.

Some members use diesel. I personally like fluid film, it is lanolin-based and lasts a long time. It is my go-to general surface lube. A good description is here https://www.grainger.com/product/10N784. If i remember correctly It was developed for the Navy during WW2 as a general surface protector. You can get it at home depot and lowes and other places and you can get it in a bucket if you really want to use a lot of it.

I spray the metal or spray rag and wipe the metal down. I just used it on the pins and moving/ sliding parts on my grader/ snow blade. I also sprayed the nuts of the new bolts to help keep water out. I like this because it is lanolin based so few solvents. It does not dry out like other lubes so it lasts. I also like it because if you or the next owner decide to paint, just give the metal a good washing and it will be clean.

[BSR]

I found this EARLY ORGINAL 1948 about 2 mouth ago, at a very reasonable price, if it was repainted or touched up it would NOT of folded me home. NOTHING BEATS ORGINALALTY!

[Eugene]

Don't touch up the paint.

I would give the tractor a good wash/cleaning and a tune up.

All parts to an implement in one location. Manuals on hand to go with the implement.

[ricky racer]

I know if I'm buying a tractor, I'd much rather not have to remove paint applied by the previous owner if doing a restoration. It's just added work.
I'm sorry to hear about the ALS diagnosis. That's just a cruel disease. My prayers are with you as you care for your wife.

[Clemsonfor]

You could always keep your tractor. You don't have to sell something just cause your not useing it to garden.

I too if it's just a few little scratches on an original tractor I would also leave it and use fluid film or a light oil rubbed over it.

[Greenthumbfarms]

Ahh fluid film...the stuff works really well, I coat the bed of my snowplow/salt truck in it before I put the salt spreader in. Works really nice, but smells something awful like cat urine...

I'm a sucker for originality, but that's just me...

[Dale Finch]

I treated the first of my "work clothes" cubs with Fluid Film, and was very pleased with the rich patina! I plan to do another one, too.

[Clemsonfor]

Ahh fluid film...the stuff works really well, I coat the bed of my snowplow/salt truck in it before I put the salt spreader in. Works really nice, but smells something awful like cat urine...

I'm a sucker for originality, but that's just me...

Have you smelled cat urine?? We have cats...that smells nothing like cat urine!!! I wouldn't say it's a pleasant smell but definitely not a bad smell like cat urine!!

[Greenthumbfarms]

Ahh fluid film...the stuff works really well, I coat the bed of my snowplow/salt truck in it before I put the salt spreader in. Works really nice, but smells something awful like cat urine...

I'm a sucker for originality, but that's just me...

Have you smelled cat urine?? We have cats...that smells nothing like cat urine!!! I wouldn't say it's a pleasant smell but definitely not a bad smell like cat urine!!

Thats how we always described it. We have barn cats, and I can easily tell you where they like to do their business...
It may not be cat pee exactly but I never liked the smell of fluid film and we put it on our truck beds awful thick, so you can smell the truck across the lot with all that coating on the bed. It has a distinct smell to say the least, our neighbor always called it the can-o-cat pee

[Gary S.]

Tough crowd- When dad bought the '49 in '60 the IH dealer had repainted it. You could see where they didn't bother to feather sand where the paint had peeled on the hood. I guess he should have just kept his 600 bucks and I would not have to be worrying about tires now

[Gary S.]

Who here can say their house has never been repainted or roofed

[Clemsonfor]

Who here can say their house has never been repainted or roofed

My house has never had the exterior painted, it's brick.

My Aunt's house is over 20 years old. It's never been painted. All natural wood on the inside and brick exterior. It has been roofed it is now a metal roof. Actually I think the trim on the exterior on the soffits and stuff is painted a dark red. That would be the only paint in the entire house!