Leaderboard

Did not spot that Nick. You maybe onto something

You have what was originally called the Hayter 12" Rotary Mower that subsequently acquired the Hawk name. As supplied it would not have had front wheels but just a large diameter anti scalp roller. The wheels were an optional extra. Your comment about it not having any height adjustment is not strictly correct - as you say, there is no lever or other on the move adjuster but if you look at the sides of the chassis there are alternative mounting positions for the wheels and / or the roller. The original machine was then joined by the 19" Hawk Major , the Briggs 13 prefix to the model number signifying a 5HP engine instead of the 3.5HP engine on the 12" machine. Confusingly the Major parts list shows an optional 16" blade. Not sure why anyone would want to put a 16" blade in a 19" chassis. Why was it called a graveyard or cemetery mower? That is what the original machine was designed for ; narrow to get between the headstones, the anti scalp roller to deal with humps and bumps and the nylon rubbing strips to prevent damage to both itself and the masonry. I was told, but cannot confirm, that the original 12" machine was designed at the request of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission for maintaining the orderly and close packed cemeteries both in the UK and in foreign parts. Confusingly Hayter re-used the Hawk name on a light weight version of the 16" Harrier which was mainly sold through the sheds and by mail order leaving the Harrier model name mainly the preserve of the mower trade. https://www.dropbox.com/s/n0qgwb5nfcq725q/Hayter Hawk 12 and Major190001.pdf?dl=0

In the auto juble part someone has this for sale. Running and driving with trailer, rotavator and a few other bits. £700 negotiable. Wish I had enough cash on me to wave under his nose

Err as I hav 3 it should come my way Viking. Tell your mate I will kill Andrew & Harry to have the tiller

Hilux got fuel in, Ifor Williams trailer hitched up, jemmy bar in tool kit, all ready to go......... But don't know precise location

Me next in line please

I think that would be a good buy for someone. And before anyone says owt. NOT ME!

they are newer versions of Bolens tractors if you image search QT17 you will see what they look like

hi its basically a rotavator that fits on the back of the tractor the shaft on top is a power take off that takes drive from the engine via a shaft driven by pulleys off the engine theymake rotavating a happy chore as opposed to hard work

Sorry it was vague because I was just showing it to triumph66 - though I'm interested in what it does and what it fits on to - it belongs to my stingey landlord along with a blue Bolen garden tractor that he's hidden away - we were told it fits on but I wast convinced so I'm sorry it's not for sale

and that pto is longer than a tube frame i think its an XL,QT is it for sale

That is a very heavy flat top tiller to fit Tube Frame models Better than the lighter duty round hoods I have 2 of each. Dont know why?

Its a blue one - it apparently has a plough type thing that fits in but im not convinced - sadly just looked through the shed window it's covered in bird poo the tractor I mean, the plough thing is separate I can get a picture of anyone could help that would be great

Find out what interests the landlord has and ply him with a few favours, if done subtly and honestly, it may be a way to get your foot (and arse) in that shed.

Thank you for the information that's certainly interesting, sadly a little lost on me as though I appreciate the history I don't know anything about engines or machinery in general I can't even drive a car ! I have no ide the worth either but have now listed it on eBay, there was only one other hawk major on eBay listed which is a non runner at £45 so I've put £50 on it but obviously postage would be high so hoping someone local will be interested, I feel a little sad to part with it but I really don't have much use for it - now if only my landlord would let me get my hands on the bolens ride on mower that's been wasting away in a locked shed for more than a year that would be much more useful - thanks ever so much again for the info

I'd like to see them plough a stubble field at that speed.

Hi this is the mystery Bolens thing that attaches to a Blue Bolens garden tractor - sorry to be vague but have no clue

These Bolens are white in colour but often unsympathetically repainted in red and blue and sometime orange Not sure about the plough set up as I couldn't make it out in the photos but no matter I will know more when I collect it soon......

Any ideas on the plough bit? Shoddy photo I know - it's up against an old mini also going rot, my landlord is a joke ! It has that long bar bit and then separate metal plough bits that I guess attach somehow?

You guys are funny ! I'm sorry to have riled you all up - he's not my mate he's my wretched lying landlord who seems to like letting things waste to nothing .... If it were mine i would keep it most likely as it would be pretty useful here but unfortunatly it's not. Just been watching some videos of it, no wonder you lot want it - seems like a bit of beast! Are the normally blue? The others I saw were white or red

You should stick to tube frames Andrew

I had a 1050 which was in the trade stands from there last year. Was not sold & ended up on ebay It came with a deck & tiller but in worse condition that this one. I gave £400 to one of our traveling friends for it. That is a good example though

Got the chaps number. If it not sold over steam weekend he's going to ring me for an offer as he's very local to me

Bags I get first dibs after Viking of course!

Photos from Viking; thanks! This is a HT20 Large Frame Bolens.

Yes please! Leave the screws out ......

I would agree, it would be a good buy, its a solid machine and must have been well cared for to be in that shape. I rarely consider price alone when purchasing a machine, it has to be the right machine and in the right condition. This one appears to fall into that category

Thought it was wider. Even better if it was for a Large Frame tractor as I will be leaving now

its the type of bolens bolens xl series bolens qt series

i dont think thats a tube frame tiller it has 2 lift arms

Hope thats not smoke coming off those tyres If I was passing on the road I would just have to stop

PM sent!

What colour is the Bolens?

Erosion is quelled by contour farming here, you in the UK get strong and sometime relentless winds off the ocean, and while winds from the north plague our plains, the contour farming and the planting of cover crops takes care of much of the problem. The real problem here and in the rest of the world is not so much erosion, but desertification of the soil caused by fertilizer that adds salinity to the soil. Case in point, one of the largest inland bodies of water, the Aral sea, has been nearly drained to supply water to agricultural lands in nearby countries and regions, the lowering of the sea has exposed salt deposits which are carried by the wind and blown onto those agricultural areas and rendering them nearly infertile. Agriculture problems and issues are so varied from region to region and country to country it is nearly impossible to use the same solutions everywhere. When the plow was first developed in the fertile crescent of the middle east it was made of wood and worked well because the land and soil was easy to turn and was not of the density of European soils and did not contain much clay. When farming expanded to northern Europe iron plows were introduced to turn a different kind of soil.

For the tractor alone around these parts 300- 500 US would be a top price. In the North Eastern US they might ask more up to 700, but doubtful it would bring that. This is one of Bolens most collectible tractors. It arrived on the scene in the late 60 with ads of Arnold Palmer the professional golfer driving it. It was a big seller and consequently is a good collector due to production numbers. I would wager waving 500 under his nose, if you had it, would ensure a sale. It does appear to be in very good order. If the deck and tiller came with it, i really don't think 600 would be out of line.

I love history, thanks so much for sharing that

Just read your whole thread Ewan. Exceptional work standard. Vast array of practical skills required/acquired in these projects. You can be rightly proud of your effort (bet your Dad is as well ). Tractor looks as good as new!........ What's next then ?.

In certain parts of the agricultural USA areas you must have severe soil erosion as the hedgerows reduces solid erosion and acts as a filtered wind break. In certain parts of France, you can see miles upon miles of sweeping agricultural lands with very few hedgerows. As as a rule of thumb, the more species of shrubs and trees, within a given length of hedge, the older the hedge is. In theory, if you have 10 different species, then the hedge is approximately 1000 years old which is often evidenced by old maps dating back to the 15 century.

Population density, smaller geographical area, and an established society that dates back nearly a thousand years probably has a lot to do with stone walls and hedgerows. In the Western states cattle ranchers might kill a man that put up a fence, especially a barb wire fence in the later part of the 19th century. Americans don't like to be fence in or out. Its one of the problems with them, you cant keep them anywhere for long, easier to herd cats.

Thank you very much that's great i suppose dead folk aren't too fussed about the clippings although by coincidence I did used to work for a company gardening all the cemeteries in Somerset, I've read about the rubber patch to stop it bumping the graves which would have been really useful in that job but I digress! Bit of a pity it's not the original engine but then I suspect perhaps it wouldn't work so well if it was - I'm North Devon middle of nowhere really but not too far from Bideford. I will be selling it as it's interesting but I dont have a need for it here I have around 2 acres of grass to cut and it would take a long long time with this thanks again

This is how its done around here, but I am sure it is illegal in the rest of the world