Radiator Paint

[Harold R]

When the cubs left the assembly line, were the radiators painted red, or black. (1950) ???

[John *.?-!.* cub owner]

When a cub left the assembly line everything was red, radiator, spark plugs, plug wires, etc. The only non red item was the rear rims.

[Jim Becker]

There were a few things masked off, darned few.

The radiators were sort of red. I think the radiators were generally black when they were bolted on the tractor. Then the entire tractor was painted red after assembly was complete. You would probably find most of the upper tank was still black. There was probably a big vague shadowy black X on the back of the radiator where the fan happened to be when it was painted.

[Harold R]

Red it is then. Sounds as if they didn't spend a whole lot of time painting it. Most of it is out of sight any way, so it makes sense not to waste manpower....or paint. I'll spend a little more time, since there is only 2 on my assembly line.

[Bigdog]

Every layer of paint is like a layer of insulation. Too many coats of paint and the efficiency of the radiator is decreased.

[Carm]

even though it may not look factory, I loke the contrast of things like a black radiatio, natural colored carburetor, etc.

[Steve Butram]

Red on the sides and OVERSPRAY on the fins. Steve

[johnbron]

I painted the filler tank Gloss Black and everything below it Flat Black cause the radiator man told me that glossy high pigment paint on the fins can affect the cooling on any radiator.

[Jim Becker]

I painted the filler tank Gloss Black and everything below it Flat Black cause the radiator man told me that glossy high pigment paint on the fins can affect the cooling on any radiator.

If it was pointing straight up on a cloudless night.

[johnbron]

If it was pointing straight up on a cloudless night.

What ever that means

[Steve Butram]

found a Pix of the 49. Steve

[Jim Becker]

If it was pointing straight up on a cloudless night.

What ever that means

All this color, glossiness stuff only relates to radiation. In spite of the name, it has almost nothing to do with cooling a radiator. A 180 degree radiator pointing out at some 100 degree terrain isn't going to loose much heat by radiation no matter what color you paint it. Pointing out through a cloudless sky at the absolute zero of outer space would unless the sun is shining on it.

[Harold R]

Well, I'm going to stick with the red. While I'm sure there is some difference in the heat dissapation <sp> of radiators painted with one or two coats of gloss, flat, black or red, I can't see it being enough to change the way I/H did it originally.

[johnbron]

HR, I think you should paint it any color that suits that color scheme in your mind. If you remember a few months back Donny had a poll out on this same subject about painting his radiator Red-er-Black and I think he ended up painting it Black. __Speaking of Donny, Where the heck is that Guy?. He hasn`t posted in quite awhile.

[Bigdog]

JB, he had a job in Houston and then went on to CA to meet up with Merry and the boys. I believe he should be getting home soon.