Yellow paint vs Black paint

[JCS]

Hi everyone! This is my first entry in the discussion board although I have enjoyed reading them since I because a member. I was thrilled when I found this site!!! I am only disappointed that everything I want to buy is so far away! 1. When did AC change from white handle grips on the lift handle and front PTO to black? 2. When did the change occur for yellow trans to black trans? 3. Does anyone have white grips or can new ones be purchased? 4. I got some DUPONT #29048 D (old number) (YS278 new number) this converts over to PPG 2539 (I think) yellow paint and it seems too dark. I don't think with would fade to the yellow we know and love. 5. I got some of the paint that is posted here mixed up and it seems TOO BRIGHT! (I contacted David Sigmund and he is going to send me the original numbers he used and suggested I use base/clear like he did instead of acrylic enamel) 6. The DUPONT #29049 D (old number) is YS385 new number for creme/white paint and I am very happy with it! I mowed with a B-10 with white grips when I was a kid and then Dad traded it in for a FORD. I looked long and hard for a B-10 and after a year or more bought the first one I found.... Of course I paid toooo much but I thought they were really rare. Then I got the internet at work a year after that and found this club and now there are B-10's for sale everywhere!!!! OH well!!!! P.S. One more thing THANKS KENT!!!!!! for all the work you do. I didn't bid on the Christmas Reindeer or the belt buckles but I'm thinking of sending Larry (treasurer) a donation for my For Sales Items. Should we raise $$ this way or charge a flat membership fee and restrict more features to members only?

[ecarter]

My big ten is yellow with a black axle tube.

[Kent]

To all, let's pitch in with what we all know collectively (or are guessing) and see if we can answer some of these tough questions. I've been wrestling with many of them, and JC & I have traded several E-mails on the subject, and am still left with lots of questions. But, those of us interested in restoring these great old tractor certainly need this information -- I'd like to have more answers posted on the web site. Here's what I've found out, and that's not much.... a. Del Allen provided the info on the paint codes above. The codes of DUPONT #29048 D (old number) (YS278 new number) are for Lexington-manufactured (B-110 and up) B-series, it appears. Is this truly a good code for these late models? It also looks like we now have a good paint code for AC creme used on these (and I suspect also on the later 300/400 series from Lexington). This code, DUPONT #29049 D (old number) is YS385 new number for creme/white paint. Is it the same color used on Simplicity-manufactured B-series (B-1 through B-12)? b. I haven't personally used Dave Sigmund's yellow paint formula posted on the site. JC had some mixed and says it's too bright. Dave has also stated later (in response to that JC's emails) that this formula is incomplete, since it lacks quantities. Further, he used base coat/clear coat instead of mixed acrylic enamel.... c. I've noticed also that the older B-series (including my recently-purchased Big Ten) have yellow transmissions, bevel gear boxes, and even some "tin" around the engine. However, the late-model B-10/B-12's from Dave Christensen's catalog show black... Was the Big 10 the last ones with yellow? Does anyone have a B-12 with a yellow tranny? Or, a Big Ten with black tranny and bevel gear box? d. The same question holds on the change from white to black plastic hand grips. What about steering wheels? Note that the late-model B-10 from Dave Christensen's catalog shows black hand grips on the lift lever, but a white steering wheel. The B-12 pictures from the same catalog show the black hand grips but also a black steering wheel. All the Lexington tractors I've seen have round, black steering wheels... e. I still have no idea what's a good yellow paint code for the early (Simplicity-made) models.... f. I'm beginning to suspect that there's no "clear breaking point" when some of these things changed, and they simply used up all the old parts in stock, then changed.... Any ideas from anyone else?