Wheel Horse Paint Recommendations

[nylyon-(Admin) 8,567]

We have collected paint recommendations for Wheel Horse Tractors. The color changed in 1990.

1955-1989

Wheel Horse Red

- Valspar Restoration Series International Harvester Red (paint code: 3344)

- GM #81 matched at an auto paint store

- Rustoleum Regal Red (paint code: 7765-830)

- Krylon Cherry Red (paint code: 2101) available at Wal-Mart

- PPG Paint code

--- PPG Wheel Horse Red DAR 4021 ALT H

---- DMR 478 149.4

---- DMR 490 7.0

---- DMR 451 286.6

---- DMR 474 533.4

---- DMR 475 507.8

---- DXR 495 40.0

---- DMR 499 536.4

Wheel Horse Linen

- Duplicolor Wimbledon White (paint code: T205) (Autoparts stores)

- Valspar anti-rust Gloss almond (Paint code: 21935)

- Sherwin Williams - Controls Rust - Antique White (paint code 140-2486)

- Rustoleum gloss Ivory (paint code: 249110)

- PPG Wheel Horse Linen Beige DAR 8799

---- DMR 486 8.0

---- DMR 490 3.0

---- DMR 487 19.0

---- DMR 400 200.0

---- DXR 495 20.0

---- DMR 499 870.0

1990-2007

Wheel Horse Red

- Toro Red - New (eBay and Toro Dealers)

Wheel Horse Black

Wheel Horse Silver (Pewter)

[Retired Wrencher 6,182]

   Hi Karl Are you sure it is not Sunrise Red buy Rustoleum paint I have parts that never seen sun light and it is close match to SUN /R ?? thanks for the outer info Gary B.................

[TT-(Moderator) 1,169]

@Gary - there were at least four different "reds" used between 1946 and now - and that doesn't include formula variance, mixing error, application technique, and difference between brands/suppliers.

 

Modern aersol paints may be close, but none are an exact match to the actual paint used by Wheel Horse and/or Toro. (and that includes their own touch-up paint)

 

Choosing the "proper" red for a Wheel Horse is much like throwing a hand grenade...... all you need to do is get it close.

[Fun Engineer 860]

Karl

This paint code is more International Harvester White than Linen. You may want to remove this code from this post.

PPG Wheel Horse Linen Beige DAR 8799

Here's an example. I'm going to repaint in the spring.

[SPINJIM 1,986]

It appears that Rustoleum Ivory (off white) is no longer available for painting wheel rims. I searched a few stores and on the Rustoleum website. I tried their White Linen, and I like it better. It's just a hair lighter in color than the original. Their Almond is too dark.

Both Regal Red and Sunrise Red are very close matches to original WH. My unrestored C-85 has more variation in color from one panel to another than there is between Regal and Sunrise.

I have been getting better finishes in general with Rustoleum over Valspar IH Red. Seems more durable and spreads better (rattle can). Rustoleum also makes an IH Red that I haven't tried yet.

[stevebo-(Moderator) 8,601]

I picked up Navajo white from XO rust Ace for the wheels on my 854 and I would have to say it is almost an exact match. No pics right now as I only painted a small test spot. Fyi

[Fun Engineer 860]

I'm painting over the PPG Wheel Horse Linen Beige DAR 8799 with what I usually use. Krylon Ivory. It's not as hard as the automotive but its almost a perfect match for the original linen beige and very easy to apply.

[dwayneGT 6]

are there any sugestions or close matches for the workhorse silver/gray?

[Fun Engineer 860]

Dwayne

The GT used a Ford/Lincoln-Mercury gray from around the same year. I don't have my paint code here but someone should be able to help you. If no one responds, PM me and I'll look it up this weekend when I'm at my garage. Dave

[Hydro 131]

Is there any paint out there that would match or at least come close to the Kohler engine paint? I have a small touch up to one of the tins but the high gloss is too glossy and flat is too dull?

[COMMANDO6 20]

I just gotta say, when my dad and I did a partial restore on my Commando 6, we used Krylon Cherry Red and I hate it. When I do a proper restore over the summer, I'll probably use Valspar IH Red.

[rmaynard 16,700]

I just gotta say, when my dad and I did a partial restore on my Commando 6, we used Krylon Cherry Red and I hate it. When I do a proper restore over the summer, I'll probably use Valspar IH Red.

My first B-100 was started with Krylon Cherry Red. I found that it never cured hard, and all I had to do was barely touch it with a tool and it would scratch or chip. I sanded it down, put a coat of epoxy primer on it, and repainted with acrylic urethane.

[bountyhunter 2]

I just gotta say, when my dad and I did a partial restore on my Commando 6, we used Krylon Cherry Red and I hate it. When I do a proper restore over the summer, I'll probably use Valspar IH Red.

My first B-100 was started with Krylon Cherry Red. I found that it never cured hard, and all I had to do was barely touch it with a tool and it would scratch or chip. I sanded it down, put a coat of epoxy primer on it, and repainted with acrylic urethane.

Just curious, did you use KRYLON Primer under it? I had the same happen to me until I used the Krylon primer and haven't had that problem since.

Sam

[bountyhunter 2]

Dwayne

The GT used a Ford/Lincoln-Mercury gray from around the same year. I don't have my paint code here but someone should be able to help you. If no one responds, PM me and I'll look it up this weekend when I'm at my garage. Dave

Are the Models GT14 and the GT1100 from the same year? I need to find out what year mine is as it has no numbers on it.

Sam

[COMMANDO6 20]

We used Krylon primer, and it cured fine. But it does chip easily, and I don't like the color match. There are bits of the tractor with the original paint, and it is very different.

[rmaynard 16,700]

Just curious, did you use KRYLON Primer under it? I had the same happen to me until I used the Krylon primer and haven't had that problem since.

Sam

I used Krylon, Duplicolor, Valspar, and many others primers. None gave me acceptable results.

[glgrumpy 35]

I use the Case/IH paints on my Molines and others and like it best for finish. I use the 1250 red for my MM wheels and trims but would think the other Farmall red they offer would be more like Horse color. You can get the Cub Cadet type colors for the wheels there also. Paint dries in minutes, including the primer and can be done faster than others. Shine holds up good and good wear resistance. Biggest set-back is the nearly $12 price for rattle cans. Qts. can be gotten for $20 to $25 tho and good buy if you can spray. Need their thinner tho, is Xylene, reg thinner won't cut it at all to clean up.

[AMC RULES 37,251]

Good tip being that our Valspar IH red is going away.

[Ryan H 10]

This is my tractor that is painted with the valspar restoration series IH red

[bountyhunter 2]

All of the red colors look great, but I have decided to go with a Pewter color for my GT1100. Have already painted part of the hood, have pictures of it but left my camera at my shop.

Will post them later.

[546cowboy 302]

I have a GT1848 that I painted last month and it was supposed to be Pewter Grey when new and I couldn't find anything like that. I used Van Sickle Light Ford Grey and mixed in some flat black until it matched pretty close with some of the protected areas. Turned out pretty good but you better make sure you mix enough and some extra before you start painting. Of course if you think the color is off when you paint a coat, you can change the next coat. Add white to make it lighter and black to make it darker. By the way that Van Sickle is the best paint I've used and it's about $12 a quart or $25 a gallon at the farm store where I get it. The hardener is about $26 for the larger can and it mixes 8 oz. paint - 1 oz. of hardener.

[Rooster 192]

You will be happy with tha Van Sickle paint Cowboy! We have used it for years. It is very durable, does not scratch easy and when you harden it has a great shine. Sprays easy, covers well; just has everything you want out of a paint. I will be posting pics of the 856 I am about done with soon and the " case IH Red" looks great!

All that quality from a real American company to boot!!

Also, from past experiences the spray cans match the quarts very well!

[varosd 1,185]

International Harvester Red IH-2150-------------------71310

Wheel Horse Tractor Red-------------------------------72034

http://personalpages.tds.net/~thompson_wp/misc/PPG%20Tractor%20Colors.htm

trolling on the web and found these PPG paint codes. might be old or changed but FYI.

[TT-(Moderator) 1,169]

Food for thought.......

IH-50 is the code for the paint color that the Ponds wanted to match as closely as possible way back in the 40's. This is the red that was used on the McCormick Farmall "alphabet" tractors (A, B, C, H, M, etc.) up until mid-1949 and has more red pigment compared to later formulas that contain yellow pigment.

My neighbor, his dad, and his uncle collectively have about 40 of these tractors. My neighbor is a body & paint man by profession and he actually has a little extra purple toner added to get the "right look".

This is IH-50:

Yes - I know it's a Super C and it's newer than the cut-off time for IH-50. The owner prefers the true red and chose to paint it with the old formula instead of the "correct" lighter (orange-ish) red.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

IH-1102b was the next code used, then came 2150 - both of which get lighter and more orange as you go. 2150 is supposedly the formula comparable to the Valspar "IH red".

Catalyzed automotive paints are undoubtedly the best for a durable long-lasting finish. Look through paint chip books, at car dealers, etc. until you find a red that makes you happy and spray away. :handgestures-thumbup:

[Jake Kuhn 1,581]

Thought I would add one more to the mix...

What I use when I paint my wheel horses is code pr4,my dad matched this to the nos hood that we found for the tractor,this paint would be a 03 crysler red. You can get it mixed at most any auto parts stores. Here is a pic of the 401 that was painted with it.