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I took some time to drive the Bolens H16 and then wash it up after sitting in the shed for a few month, also scrubbed and sanded the deck. It's got a first coat, next it will get a vigorous sanding, filling primer, and finish coat with poly converter added for hardness and gloss retention. The white specks are ash from the burn barrel, paint was more than dry

Seems there is a new addition to the herd As far as I know this is one of the earliest Westwoods. If you look at the foot rests they are very different from the later ones which rise up near the front of the mower, and have some pretty nice sharp angles The gear selector is in the same sort of place in front of the seat as a classic Wheelhorse instead of being column shift. The whole mower also seems to sit a couple of inches lower than my other Gazelle. It is basically exactly the same as my other one but everything is slightly different. As far as I know this is from the late 1970s, but I shall check tomorrow, and get some better photos. It does not run currently, the carb needs some attention and the deck needs a new belt to mow with. I plan on keeping this Gazelle as original as possible, I have rarely seen ones of this age about, and it isn't in bad condition at all, only some surface rust. It needs some TLC but overall is very solid. I think it would be a shame to repaint it but I wouldn't want it to eventually rust away, is there any product I can use to preserve it whilst keeping it with an original look?

First of all I'd like to say a massive thank you to Iain (slf-uk) as I wouldn't have been able to get it home without him. He very kindly offered to collect this wheel horse for me as my father is currently ill and is unable to drive. I am overwhelmed by his generosity, so thank you Iain. I have been wanting an auto wheel horse for a while and this one popped up advertised as not having a spark but it looked very tidy in the pictures. I liked the look of it a lot as it was original. I spoke to the owner and he was very honest and said that the wiring needed going through, I set my limit and luckily I won it. My plans are to try and source a hydraulic lift assembly for it and plumb it all in, it's definitely going to be a keeper. Anyway, I know you all want pictures so here it is: It also came with some weird sort of frame under the hitch, anyone know what this is and whether it's original? After I got it home I couldn't resist having a play and to see if I could get it running. I tested the coil, condenser and spark plug and they were all OK, cleaned and reset gap on the points but still no luck. I then ran a temporary wire giving the coil constant power from the battery and turned it over and we had a spark, put the plug in and off she went, a fair bit of smoke but it soon cleared, it hasn't been run in about 5 years so it was expected. The lack of spark was down to some awful wiring, here is an example of a join in the wire: This was just covered in insulation tape, the wiring is totally gone and I have decided I am going to make a new wiring harness. The only problems I'm having is finding a plug for the ignition, also what connectors do these plugs use? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for looking, Tom

Finally something other than red!

My 30" Ransomes TB engined mower was in my garage/workshop, I turned on the petrol, tickled the carb. turned the crank and it started first pull after 6 months !! Decided that whilst it was running I better cut the grass. If any one needs a crash fitness programme buy one of these, open the throttle the slightest amount and it takes off with you at the run. The machine is a Ransomes Mk 11 30" mower which dates from late 1930's

The other day I received a letter purporting to be from the Post Code Lottery. It said my ticket had won a considerable sum. I was a little suspicious as I don't have and never had a Port Code Lottery ticket. It also said in had been drawn in Spain and also asked for a registration fee. Which of course would need me to give them my bank details. No chance! Be warned.

Alain, Can you take a photo of your sleeve hitch decals please as I just bought one myself. Be good to try to get one made up if possible. Thanks Andrew .

Thanks Andrew. Those tires ARE the business. They are ITP 589s, no lugs bigger or better, I have them on my Massey 1650 and it pulled a full size truck out of a muddy ditch without slipping. The Massey and Bolens tires are 10" (26cm) wide. All are 25" (65cm) tall. I also have them on an Ariens GT14H, but in the 25x8-12 (20cm) width for plowing and garden work. I got a good deal on them, just under 100 US a tire delivered to my door. They are 189.00 a piece now, if you can find them.

I agree, keep it original and preserve it patina. Once it gone, it gone.

Alain, You done a superb job on the H16 and those tyres look the business. Cheers

Nice!

Yep, if they were holes, I would have had to use JB Weld, instead of Bondo. Matt

Cant beat a bit of bondo mate, lucky they were dings and not holes

Well, nothing went bang so out came the grinder.. Strange baffle thingy.. I guess it's there to stop dirt from entering the carbs.. About to go under the knife grinder After fuel tap pipe enlargement surgery.. I had to lower the fuel tap to give me a fighting chance of getting some sort of air filter fitted! Yes the fuel tap outlet is lower than the carb fuel inlet, but as the tank is above the inlet gravity should still do it's thing and fuel the carbs up. The old fuel tap hole was blocked up by screwing in the end of this bolt and some welding. I still need to make some brackets to bolt the tank down but as it will need to go in and out a lot while I sort the induction side of things out that job can wait a little while.. Speaking of induction, this was the carbs to air filter box pipework.. I only needed the carb ends.. Which were a perfect fit over this 2 inch diameter pipe, or part of a Reliant prop shaft to give it it's full name.. The plan is to plumb this pipe into both carbs and stick and air filter on both ends.... This time I will make sure I get the right size filters

Thanks guys! A couple more, I think Ewan will be joining and posting pics.