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Moved the last two of John's scrap Marina's today from their long term place of rest. They are due to be collected on Saturday after being bought for spares late last year. No idea why the the collection was delayed for so long. With the Showman controlling his favourite NON RED machine ( John's digger ) he decided to take the scenic route around the barn although there wasn't much room to get between the barn lean to and trees, bushes etc. He just wanted to go the long way around so he could have extra play time. I had the pleasure ? of sitting in the cars and and following the digger around at the end of the tow rope. About an hour to move both cars to a more suitable collection position although the rear brakes on one needed freeing off with the help of a club hammer GENTLY tapping the wheels. We know you all like photo's so two included for you to drool over. The first GONE, the second HERE we are again. A few more little jobs done, including drinking Chris's usual beverage tea, before he had to head off home as he was under strict instructions from Mrs Showman NOT to be late or he wouldn't get his promised anniversary present.

Another good day had, and some time in the mini digger which i enjoy.

I bought this large frame 1970 Bolens 1476 from an auction sight unseen for 375.00. It has a the Wisconsin 14hp S14D engine on it ( I also have two excellent replacement engines I bought from the auction for 100.00 as well), and the Eaton 11 Hydro-static transmission. It came with a snow plow and I didn't know anything about its condition. Last spring I attempted to start it with no luck; I thought the starter generator was bad. Well a few days ago I put it on the battery charger. I removed the spark plug and poured Seafoam and Marvel Mystery oil down the spark plug hole and a half hour later I added a liberal amount of petrol in the hole for good measure and put the plug back in. She fired right up and purred like a kitten, a very large kitten. I removed the ratty hubcaps, gave her a wash and installed my really nice Bolens 1476 deck I got with my other 1476, which is going to be set up as a AG tractor and I wont be using the deck on it. Initial start up video:

I needed to put a curve on the back of a 3mm sheet 20inches long, after a bit of thought in the press and 10Tones or so, I had a nice curve!

Having rescued my Raider back in 2009, I gave the engine a quality Top End overhaul amongst the full Tractor refurb work. I thought I should just give it a check over and flush the Fuel system as well (I haven't cleaned the engine either)- It's always been good starting and running, but because I didn't sort the Throttle Shaft wear at the time, it has occasionally shown signs of uneven running. On removal of the Carb, I found very little rubbish in the Bowl and a tiny globule of water (2mm ball bearing size) I found traces of oil residue around the Carb inlet Choke Plate area and so I suspect the diaphragm in the Pump may be on it's way out. Having already played it safe, I had ordered 2 replacement Fuel Pumps to service both Tractors and as some of you may recall my Thread on Redsquare covering the Full #26 Carb rebuild, I shall be fitting that (on right in lower pic) while I rebuild the old one (original Muffler is going away for Bead Cleaning and I'll repaint it) . While I'm at it, I shall fit a Fuel drain point in the system so I can empty it for over wintering storage and to Prime the system again. Should save fiddling around trying to get fuel through.

Thanks Alain. In this case a previous owner has removed the ignition switch and replaced it with something that resembles a aftermarket car light switch. i think I will get the tractor running first and then tackle looking for a replacement switch Iain

In the uk our drinking water is collected in reservoirs, the water is filtered through large sand filter beds, these can be larger than football pitches in size. After a period of time the top layer becomes dirty and is required to be removed, originally this was done by hand, Ransomes developed this machine to skim off this layer and load it into a following dumper. Diff cover fitted and brakes set up, clutch relined and fitted today, I was unhappy with the strength of the engine bay floor, even though it is thicker than original at 5mm, I have added a peice of angle iron to stop it flexing.

I just love the LK, EK machines. Great score on a lovely well taken care of machine. You should be proud to own it! I have been involved with several GTT talk vendors about early Indak switches and possible reproductions and sources, However, on all but one switch I have bought in the course of this "hobby", the switch was not the eventual culprit of the problem, at least not entirely. I have had many with rusty contact points, I have had many other electrical issues that made me think it was the switch, but only once was it the switch. That said, I now have an ample supply of spare Indak switches for my tractors. Indak has a site as well.

An early start this morning seen me trial fit the engine, and decide on packer thickness this allowed me to fully weld in the floor, also cut side and patched that in aswell. Just waiting on a package today so I can rebuild Clutch and fit engine permanently.

Andrew, the parts list for the LK is even less detailed than the EK. If the wiring diagram for the EK is correct then I should be able to use most Indak switches Iain

Or what I did on my summer vacation. I found this 1971 Bolens 1256 about 170 miles north of me for 400.00 and since I had been really wanting this model I drove up and purchased it from the second owner. It has a 12 hp Wisconsin TRA12D engine and a hydrostatic transmission; it came with a deck and a sleeve hitch. It needed some work, but it ran great. After taking the deck off and attempting to replace the belt I found some more issues. The bearing seemed bad, they weren't, they were the wrong bearings, but they were half burnt up even though they appear new. One pulley had grease all over it and the area around it. I didn't think to much of this until way later, in fact too late. The tension pulley had spacers and washers that didn't belong on it and it was installed wrong (very common problem, no one seems to understand what a tension pulley does). Well after receiving the right bearings in the mail and the belt as well I also took the opportunity to sand it down and prime and paint. I used IH red with 2 ounces of gloss black Rustoleum to a gallon to recreate the darker Bolens red. I used Naptha for a reducer and poly converter hardener for gloss and color retention. Just before putting the pulley cover on I attempted to grease each spindle shaft through the top grease zerk, pumped the grease gun on the first spindle and nothing, it was solid, grease just came out all over the fitting. I now knew why (or at least I thought I did) there was grease all over one pulley, I removed the grease zerk thinking it was clogged nope, then I removed the blade, grease cup, snap ring, and pulled the spindle out the top. I used a small wire down the hole and could not get it go through. I repeated this several times until I noticed that with the spindle installed the grease hole would be UNDER the top bearing and would not get grease. It was then that I realized that both top and bottom spindle shaft were tapped with the same size and that the spindles had been installed upside down by a previous EMOTP (evil mechanic of the past), and grease only came through one way. I removed all the pulleys, bearings, and shafts and installed them in the correct orientation. I should be receiving my Bolens Deck Mechanic Certification in the mail next week. Also on the list was an electrical redesign by the previously mentioned EMOTP. In his infinite wisdom to overcome an electrical issue, to wit: tractor does not start. The EMOTP drilled a 1" hole in the dash and installed a push button starter, one wire leading to the positive side of the battery, one side leading to what was left of the the safety switch connection on the PTO. The original light switch had also been replaced with a ill fitting light switch from a Hoyt-Clagswell or some other archaic machine. Of course the tow large brackets that hold the batteries down on these Bolens tube frame was long gone, probably do to the owner not wanting to spend the money for the correct battery and opting for the 19.99 lawn and garden cheapo special, which the brackets did not fit on. I found an OEM set of battery from Bob's garden tractors in Ohio brackets for 24.00 shipped, Rick Show (BlackJacxJake?) got me a new ignition switch I got as a spare because my two large frame 1476's use the same hard to find switch and I ordered a new light switch and safety switch. The two front wheels were on backwards and hence the wheel grease zerk fitting prevented the greace cap going over the spindle shaft; won't hold much grease without a grease cap. I also found that the safety switch was not the culprit to the starting issues, having all the wires on the wrong post on the voltage regulator was. I have it sorted now and am just finishing the electrical rehab. After that I am installing the deck. It has taken me a little time because during this time I also rebuilt a 48" Wheel Horse deck, 42" Simplicity deck, and got my other 1476 running and the 48" deck installed on it. Video using the Brinly diamond cultivator as a driveway rake below pictures.

Thanks chaps, had a good day at Johns, finished off with a nice meal in our local pub

Actually FMC is Food Machinery Corporation. Founded in 1883 as the Bean Spray Pump Company based in Los Gatos, California by chemist John Bean. The company's first product to be manufactured was a piston pump. Bean invented the pump to spray insecticide on fruit orchards in the area. In 1928, Bean Spray Pump purchased two companies, one company manufactured a sealed can rotary pressure sterilizer[and the other company manufactured canning machinery. At this time the company changed its name to Food Machinery Corporation and started using the initials FMC. Here in the States it is widely reported that Bolens was a division of the Ford Motor Company, hence FMC, but that is nothing more than Appalachian legend. However do NOT try and convince them otherwise, it is akin to insulting their wives.

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

If you're looking for an excellent fun and action packed day out for all the family, you'll love the Great Dorset Steam Fair. Traditionally this English fair is held at the village of Tarrant Hinton, near Blandford Forum in the heart of the beautiful Dorset countryside.Further directions are superfluous. Just find the village on the map, head in that direction and follow everyone else to the show. From small beginnings this annual event has become one of the favoured places for those interested in how people lived, worked and played in bygone years and it is now widely recognised as "THE" National Heritage Show as well as being regarded as the leading show of its type in the World. The spectacle covers an enormous showground, at over 600 acres being one of Europe's largest outdoor event locations. 2015 saw the show in its 47th year. You can stand amazed at the variety of exhibitions and the sheer scale of the show means that there is always something new to see. For the first time visitor seeing the Great Dorset Steam Fair can be quite an awe inspiring and impressive site, a sea of marquees and attractions that can take your breath for a moment. The show has something for everyone, whatever your interests! Maybe you are a collector, a steam fanatic, an exhibitor, a heavy horse fan, an avid camper, a music fan or just on holiday in the South of England at the end of August/beginning of September and fancy an excursion to what is described as the most remarkable show on earth! Browse through our website and you will find everything you need to know about the show, whether you have visited it before or if you are a complete beginner. You can contact us with enquiries to with anything relating to the show by just clicking on the contact us button. You can see all of our features detailed on this site, and keep track of days to go, check trade stand prices, information on exhibiting, see details of tickets for visitors, advanced booking incentives, camping and entertainments amongst other valuable information. The Great Dorset Steam Fair is a typically British event offering a unique blend of nostalgia and entertainment. Come and soak up the special festival atmosphere whether as a day visitor or taking in the full five days by camping on site. There is no other event like it anywhere in the world which is why over 200,000 visitors attend each year both from the UK and from all over the World!

Hello I new to the forum and mini tractors, so be gentle with me! Here’s my little Allen Superior based on a gutbrod 1030 with a few of its toys(see photos), there’s a front bucket, forks, hydraulic pump and frame, hydraulic arms, a rotavator, snow plough(grader) and a sprayer and finger mower not in the photos. I’m the third owner, the tractor was bought second had by my father and kept in v good condition, unfortunately it was lent to someone who kept it for 18 years in very poor way and it is now in the condition you can see in the photos. I understand that the hydraulics should fit despite them never being fitted. I’ve had it started today in a cloud of white smoke. There may be some water in the fuel, or it may have oil getting passed the piston rings, hopefully its just because it hasn’t been run for a while and the oil has leaked through. I have a mountain of questions to ask, as I would like to get all the bits working, here’s a few just to kick things off. Few I’m in the market for a mower deck for it if anybody knows of one. Failing that either a bodged one from a different machine if anybody has any suggestions, or a pull one of some kind. Its exhaust is the worse for wear and it's very very noisy at the moment, where is the best place to buy a replacement exhaust? Thanks for any help Jon

Wow, someone must REALLY want this machine. The box blade alone is probably alone worth 450.00, but I don't see this as a 1600.00 tractor even with the implements. https://www.purplewave.com/auction/160803/item/K3203

they are the same as normall cc or farmall cub weights only difference is that they've put them on the inside of the rim. they are not specially made to be put on the inside of the rim

I don't know. Chris does your welding. Mr Deness, (whoever he is?) does your mechanics. I suppose you sup tea and watch?

Your doing well, Rhys. Nice job on getting the curve.

those aren't rare, ive got them in the wheel horse, they're just normall farmall cub front wheel weights

Previous owners are very "inventive" aren't they?

What's left of the old seat runners.....the NOS ones still fits on the rails!

crackin on!

I'll let you know how it performs in the winter!

It does, although when your skinning you knuckles and burning yourself with the plasma cutter, the pub seems much more appealing!

Awesome score Andrew, it is just a beaut!. Wipe her down with oil and show her that way. Hope you find some implements for her too!

Keeps you out of the pub as well.

Happy anniversary Mrs and Mr Showman.

Iain, will the ignition switch be the same as the LK? I will see if there's an original one on mine.....

Happy anniversary Pam and Chris. Thought I'd put Pam first.

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.....

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

I've fitted boat engine priming bulbs to mine, Richard. Just a squeeze is all you need.

Still no video, but a few more pics... I've done lots of chopping

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