63 replies to this topic

[wilberj]

Were the Ridemasters the same green in 57'?

What are you guys using for paint?

 

 

In 57 they very well could be but I dont see many 57 Ridemasters.

I am still doing what your doing with your paint trying to find the best match. My Ridemasters are from 52 and older and I dont think the paint is as dark as it was in 57.

[Bolens 1000]

They seemed to have started out light green in the 20's. Then somewhere between 30' and mid 40's they appear to have went  darker green.

Then somewhere around mid 40's light green came back for the power Ho  and early versa-matics which lasted till about 56' then they switched to the darker metallic green.

 

Atleast thats what I have been able to put together

[Bolens 1000]

Here's the latest Trial Run with metallic added

 

1st one is the NOS part I used to match the paint with a sample from the Ride-a-Matic Chassis

 

 

2nd is the NOS part lined up with another NOS part from the same era

 

 

 

3rd is the NOS part lined up with a sample from the 58' power tiller.

 

 

To me, there's no doubt that this is the correct color on the nos part for 57'-60' after matching up NOS parts you can clearly see the similarities even after they faded a bit

 

Now for the actual new Paint:

 

 

NOS part lined up with a test piece painted this morning

 

 

What do you guys think?

[Nato77]

I think you might have gotten it figured out. In the pic it looks good, but would have to see it in front of my face to give it a 10. I'll give it a 9.27 by looking at the pic

 

Will you be able to replicate the same color when it comes time to do the actual painting or are you going to scan the custom color?

[Bolens 1000]

Its the same paint  I had made last week but just added metallic to it.

Should be able to just use the code for the paint to make it flat color then add the correct amount of metallic in it.

 

 

I'm still trying to decide if this is really a good color... Maybe I'm just used to seeing the faded Bolens green all these years and still cant get used to the fact that this was the shade when they came out or I am just going insane since I have been working on this for about 2 weeks now

[wilberj]

Its the same paint  I had made last week but just added metallic to it.

Should be able to just use the code for the paint to make it flat color then add the correct amount of metallic in it.

 

 

I'm still trying to decide if this is really a good color... Maybe I'm just used to seeing the faded Bolens green all these years and still cant get used to the fact that this was the shade when they came out or I am just going insane since I have been working on this for about 2 weeks now

 

 

No your just nuts.....

 

I like it, look like it is 95% like the color you need!

Now what are the nos parts from?

 

How close is this to the 1952 color?

[Bolens 1000]

No your just nuts.....

 

I like it, look like it is 95% like the color you need!

Now what are the nos parts from?

 

How close is this to the 1952 color?

 

Thanks I feel better

 

 

The Nos parts were from a mix of Versa-Matic and Versa-Matic attachments

 

I know the 1949-1956 used a lighter shade of green.

The 1955 Versa-Matic I have has all original paint and is alot lighter green than the green used on the 57' and up. Also Metallic was not in the paint in earlier years

[Bolens 1000]

Here's a NOS 50's Power Ho Idler Pulley

 

 

You can see its the same shade as the 55' Versa-Matic

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[wilberj]

Do you have any good NOS from 1951/52/53? I could use a code to base my color for my Ridemaster off.

[Bolens 1000]

Do you have any good NOS from 1951/52/53? I could use a code to base my color for my Ridemaster off.

 

I dont think so.

I think they stayed light though as I've seen early 50's power ho's a similar  green as that pulley.

[Bruce Dorsi]

I think there's something else to consider.

 

Replacement parts may have been painted at a later date (year) than when production parts were painted.

 

There is no guarantee that a NOS part will match the color of the tractor/attachment it was made to fit.

 

Brian & Jerome:  Have either of you opened those original cans of Bolens paint I gave you to see which colors they are?  .....Unless they are dried 100% rock-hard, I'm sure they could be remixed and used as samples for color matching.

[Bolens 1000]

Yes thats  good point and didnt think of that....

The can I got with the green paint was kind of like a Jello Substance. When you stuck the paint stick in you got some chunky plastic like globs.

It looks to be a darker green with no metallic added to it.

 

Part# on quart 160136

[Bolens 1000]

A service Bulletin dated 1952 I have shows touch up enamel paint available with Part Numbers starting at 170.... I'm guessing the paint you gave me must be earlier than 1952 since it used the old 6 digit numbering system.

 

It appears to be the dark green I have seen used on the early Gardener and possibly Ride-Master?

 

Sample from the NOS can on top row

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[wilberj]

My can looks the same as yours color. I even put it in a paint shaker to mix it that did not work.

[Bruce Dorsi]

Enamel paints can usually (unless they are hardened) be brought back to life by adding solvents. 

 

The correct solvent for enamel paint is turpentine or mineral spirits.

 

My memories (I can't always trust them) are that the Power Ho's, Ridemasters, and Gardeners were a darker green than the Versa's.