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Just arrived today - a fully restorable Electro Flow Pump. I wonder where they got that name? The pump's rubber primer bellows is pretty well petrified, so I won't try to move it! I recently finished restoring an Orline hedge trimmer, came out pretty good.

Greetings from Denmark! After messing around with engines and stuff most of my life, I decided that now was the time for a Tiny Tiger. Although my main interest is vintage motorcycles (50 years old or more), I do a little in generators as well. My pride is this WW2 Zündapp KS 600 generator, but to be honest, it's not very handy: So now it's joined by this one: Being a novice in these small jewels, I have a lot of questions, but few answers. I will tear it down and clean it up. I will keep the original condition, but will replace gaskets, seals, diaphrams spark plug etc., so the main concern is getting parts. I have figured out that replacement diaphrams are available, but have forgot who the supplier is. Then there is seals and gaskets. Are these available anywhere? Can you say anything from the numbers? The engine number is 034616 and the serial number on the generator is 23409. Does these numbers say anything on the build-year? The gas tank is cracked, possibly after a drop so I have to weld that. It might have happened early, as both the piston and the spark plug is shiny and without any carbon build-up. The cross hatch pattern is also clearly visible in the cylinder, so my hope is that the rebuild will be easy. So guys - meet the new chap from Denmark :-) /Steen

New floor pieced in, tacked ready to try engine on. Someone has also cut away the side for the kohler oil drain pipe, I think I'll have to replace the cardboard with steel though.....

I've taken some time away from visiting the forums to engage in a little self reflection and assessment of my life. As some may know I have had some health issues of late, but I really don't worry about that a bit, I'll be here until I'm not. I tend to let little things bother me, I need to work on that, its probably because I have so much time to think. I don't work (job)much, just enough to get by, I don't believe in working for other unless it is absolutely necessary. These and other beliefs I have sometimes put my in a sort of conflict with society and people in general. All that said, I think its safe to say I am intrinsically motivated and that character trait causes more difficulties than physical ailments. Thanks for letting me let off a little steam. Alain

Alain! Good to see you again on here. Iain and I were saying yesterday how much we miss your valued experience concerning garden tractors and, of course, your opinions on the world at large (as in our recent respective emails). Always good to let off steam. Cheers Andrew

I thought it was Flipping machines cr- p

On Saturday I bought Tom's Bolens Estate Keeper from him. I have not really had much chance to look at it properly yet, however I it looks like a EK7 and largely original except that box under the seat and the angle iron on the engine cover. It is not currently running and needs some love. Iain

A tip off from my mate Chris about a 600 for sale with a spare engine and another set of tyres got my pulse racing. The seller, fortunately for me, have misspelt the tractor hence why I got it for a very cheap price. I said a year ago that Bolens 600s are rare as hen's teeth in the UK which is why I bought one from the USA which is now docked at Southampton, U.K. which will be delivered sometime this week. It's strange that I bought two 600 in the UK within a few months of each other......The seller of the U.K. one, bought it from a nursery in Honiton, Devon some 20 years ago with the intention of restoring it. It has sat in his barn in Berkshire since then. My good friend Chris got a friend, Mark, (he got more than one..) who lives a stone's throw from the seller and is happy to help me out with collecting it from the seller. Chris and I have agreed that he can have the spare B&S engine for his 600 project as he will at some collect it from Mark. At some point, Chris will deliver the 600 and my 850 down to Devon to collect his 600 that I collected for him a few months back.It's great that the UK Bolens Boys are happy to help each other out and make this hobby more enjoyable with like minded individuals plus saving some hard earnt dough too.The US 600 will be delivered to me sometime this week so I will have two 600s in my collection by a quirk of fate. Happy Days!

So I just picked up a Tiny Tiger generator for a pretty good price. It supposedly runs good, but I haven't tested it yet. Is there any place I can get parts for it? I know it's missing the handle, so I need one of those, but I'm not sure if it's gonna need anything else.

Thanks fellows, I appreciate the kind words. Like I said, I'm working on not letting the little things bother me, but my mind has difficulty with that. I'm always very concerned with the details, because they determine an outcome (probably more of a self desired outcome), sometimes you just have to let things go.

Thanks for the info Andrew, I will follow up on that. Dr Bolens has a fantastic example too. I have been going through the parts list today and struggling with the ignition switch. It is a Bolens part number I have never come across before and does not appear to be used on any other Bolens I have. The ignition switch on the tractor has been swapped with a switch for on/off and a micro switch (which looks like something I have seen on a building lift) for the starter. Iain

Andrew and Chris have got the definition of FMC spot on. I think some of you were thinking of other brands

Great to see you back Alain. I have missed you too. Iain

We have all missed you Alain

Finaly got the timing set up today after nearly a week of trying! I ordered some new pullers to try and get the sprocket off the mag, but no matter what I tried, NO! Simply wouldn't shift. In the end using some brute force on the drive on the cam end I got the bottom sprocket off and used this instead to time everything up. Hopefully wont be to long till she fires up for the first time.

I should really slow down a bit but once I get started I can't stop! Keeps me busy on my holidays.

Looking very good and you are cracking a fast pace with this project.

Making good progress!

I agree with you that it's in good nick for its age. Good to see an early example here in the UK too. . There's a guy on GTT (BrianEK7&EK10) that got a collection of EKs; might be worth contacting him for advice or spares.....

Just back from this years gathering. I'm rubbish and didn't take nearly enough pics, however here are a few for your enjoyment...

With some advice from the Bolens experts I have been reliably informed that the Estate Keeper is a EK7, model number 930-01. It was made in 1964. I think it is in great condition for a 52 year machine. Iain

Tracks back on, one track snapped as I was freeing them up, hopefully no more will snap when driving as bolts are in unknown condition as the are covered with the rubber pads. Off to get some steel today so I can move forward with engine and brakes.

Food Manufacturing Company I think Iains got alot of grass to cut. I have just got to make some time to help drive it How many one owner from new machines crop up these days??

Opened the workshop today and found a squatter. Had the cheek to complain that his bed was hard. He wanted some breakfast, so I told him to go catch his own.

Yes you are correct Norm, FMC does stands for Fantanstic Metal Creation!

What does the FMC stand for? Probably not what I'm thinking.

Now I can see what he looks like.

At long last the 600 is now in it new home in the UK along side fellow Bolens and a rogue Ford. It was meant to be delivered on Friday but they couldn't do it then so re arranged it for Monday morning. Whilst waiting for the delivery, I connected up the 1050 air filter unit plus a new air filter element. I turned the fuel tap on and it fired into life after several attempts. It was a wee bit smokey though. I also had a good look through it too. I am always amazed at how well built these little tractors are. The 600 is just as good in the metal as it were and I wiped off accumulated grease and dirt to reveal gleaming paintwork! There was some subtle differences to Chris's 600. The three differences I noticed to date were that mine got a white steering wheel whereas Chris got a black one, the throttle lever was mounted at the front of the steering column not on the side like the other one and the foot pedal on mine is just a simple bar whereas Chris one is a more elborate pedal. I will be interested to see my other 600 to compare the differences. I think someone mentioned that this one from the US is an early example. My thanks to Dave (Old Buzzard) for his time to check it out and collect it and storing it. Also to my consultant, Iain, for his encouragement and knowledge. I contacted several shippers but in the end I went with Chris Sutton's (The Showman) recommendations using DLR Shipping. Is it worth it? Was it worth the angst? To me, yes, as I have picked up a really early example and an original one as well of the 600 with a belly deck and a front plow plus a Brinly sleeve hitch for roughly £150 plus shipping. It was also saved from the scrapie too...... Would I buy another garden tractor again? Yes I would but it got to be in it original paint job with some attachments too and also one that you can't get over here. A Bolens Deluxe Ride a Matic from the late 50s would be an example or a Copar Panzer. For the moment, I won't be buying anything from the US for the moment......