JD 420 utility red paint

Dean H

New User
My 1956 John Deere 420 Utility tractor S/N 87974 was painted green when I bought it a few years ago. Upon removing the hood, I have discovered multiple spots of bright red paint underneath the green. The red is in places where it would be difficult to access and in several different locations throughout the tractor. In my experience, John Deere would typically use yellow, not red, as a primer coat of paint. John Deere also had some custom paint jobs for certain customers labelled as CJ codes as per JR Hobbs article in The Green Magazine. According to the Two-cylinder club documents, the tractor was assembled on March 21, 1956, finished on March 22, and shipped on March 23. I would like to return the tractor to its original paint color. Does anyone know if there is any way to prove or document that the tractor was originally painted red?
 
Possible it was red if the company wanted red equipment. I recommend that you do NOT do that. IH people don't like their tractors painted green, JD people will undoubtably express their opinions if it ever gets to a show.
 
In chapter 10 of the book "The Little Giants" written by JR Hobbs, Hobbs writes CJ (Custom Job)265 denotes that the tractor was painted industrial yellow. CJ266 is "believed" to denote a color other than industrial yellow or the standard Deere green & yellow.

Does your Two Cylinder Doc have any Custom Job listed?

From February 2000 GM article, JR Hobbs writes there were four (4) known 330 Utility tractors painted red. These four tractors were painted this way for an Ohio county road department. Besides the red paint, these tractors had silver gill screens, muffler & wheel rims. They used the same hood nameplates as the 440 model. The story goes onthe road superintendent was a diehard IH man & would only purchase the 330's if the looked as much like an IH as possible.

I hope this helps.
 
Unfortunately the two-cyl document does not mention any CJ code or any paint color. How/where would I find the CJ code for the tractor?

Perhaps the "Little Giants" book would also be helpful, do you know where I can get a copy?
 
Not sure how many red JD's are out there, but if I can find the documentation, it would quite unique. The red under the green is very bright, where as most primer colors that I have seen are typically a dull color.

Do you know what shade/type of red they would have used?
 
I definitely have green blood, but this bright red Deere is intriguing for sure! John Deere did actually paint some tractors red for certain customers, so it could be considered authentic.

If only tractors could talk, they would have quite a story to tell.
 
The book is out of print....try online auctions.

Is there any primer under your red paint? My experience with original paint tractors from this era is no primer was used. So if there is primer under your red, then most likely not painted by Deere.

To verify your tractor other than Two Cylinder Club, go to your local Deere dealer and ask the Service (not Parts) Department for the JD Territory Manager contact info & contact that person to get the ball rolling through Deere archives.

I have attached a photo of one collectors red 330.
a131709.jpg
 
Ok, I"m gonna jump in here. Regarding paint colors, it is now known as a "FACT" that John Deere would paint a tractor any color a customer wanted. In the 320/420 series there are traditional ag green and yellow, industrial yellow, orange, brown, blue-yes blue. I have not heard of or seen a red one "yet"! so don"t throw yours away. In the 330/430 series you had your traditional colors and then industrial yellow, highway orange and farmall red. Dean H, regarding your tractor you mention the build date and ship date, on your archive sheet do you happen to see a notation of a CJ number?

I think I am correct in saying that the archive sheet for one of the red 430"s did not have a CJ number listed but rather had an asteric followed by the letter R. It was well documented through pictures as it was being disassembled for restoration.

Let me know if I can help.
 
Still need to confirm if there is another color under the red, but there is bits of red showing up in several places from wear during its use such as under the transmission, belly housing, & under the hood, on the valve cover, & hydraulic lines.

I will try to contact our JD territory manager for more info.

Thanks for the info.
 
I have the "Two-cylinder club" document, stating the build dates and the options the tractor came with. Unfortunately the two-cyl document does not mention any CJ code or paint color.

Is this the same as the "achive sheet" you mention, or is that a different document?

How/where would I find the CJ code for the tractor?
 
Take plenty of pics, especially the hard to paint areas. I think Ray Mak in Michigan has a red 420? Might "Google" Red John Deere 420 and find a picture.
 
Call the folks at Two-Cylinder. They may have some ideas about red primer, or actually a red paint job. They're probably the experts in the restoration and history of JD's.
 

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