Solenoid color from the factory

[wwheeler]

Can anyone tell me what is the correct original color for the solenoids on the engine. These include starting and fuel shut off solenoids on the injection pump and the cold start valve solenoid on the intake manifold. The throttle solenoid that increases the engine speed w/ automatics, is new and is kind of a dull, muted yellow cad. 

I know they are cad plated, but are they supposed to be the silver cad or the yellow cad finish? Most of the pictures I have seen are the silver cad color but the yellow is fragile and may have worn off. I know this is a bit picky, but just want to do it correctly while I am refinishing them.

Thank you!

[280SE Guy]

Here is a picture from my 1971 280SE, does this help?

[Dave Gallon]

The "starting and fuel shut off solenoids on the injection pump and the cold start valve solenoid" should all be silver. Do use care if you plan to have them replated. The acid dip and possible baking can cause damage to these parts. Perhaps you plan to spray them with "silver cad in a can".

[Jonny B]

The reference photo for (from the 280 SL sales brochure) the throttle solenoid shows this is as yellow cad.

[wwheeler]

I will finish my injection pump solenoids with a silver cad finish. I normally don't like to use spray paint to substitute for plating but, I don't have the guts to plate these solenoids and risk messing them up.

I will use an Eastwood "silver cad" paint that looks remarkably like the silver cad finish. Of course it is not anywhere near as durable, but it is the best I can do. Eastwood also has yellow cad paints that do a decent job of recreating the yellow cad plated finish.

I had to buy a new throttle solenoid from MB (for automatics and a/c) and it was a muted yellow zinc finish. I have no idea what was original.

[wwheeler]

Here's the finished product.

The color is a little blue for my taste but better than it was before. Silver cad has more blue than zinc does, but I think this is a tad too much blue. The overall look is actually a lot better about a foot away than with a close up like this. The metallic in the paint shows up too much this close, but blends together nicely when further away.