DougC

Side of the road, $20. Runs great, guess I "needed" another mower.
21" self-propelled older mower. Cast aluminum deck.
 
 
 
 

A friends Mom flipped his Work Horse on it's side 10 years ago.
Horse went to the dealer, repaired and a new 48" SD deck. Parked in his barn after repairs. Never used again.
Cleaning out his barn I offered, "I'll haul the tractor away 'No Charge."  Leon Redbone agreed.
 
After cleanup, a bit of paint,  added the Dial-A-Height, machine is excellent.
Didn't care for all gray, belt guards are now Rustoeum Regal Red. Coarse skateboard grip tape on the foot rests, new seat.
 
 

 

Thought it had been done with Owatrol. Should have known he'd not want to spend any money on it.

That ought to give you a lot better plowing ability. 
And a sore back from installing all the weights.

That ought to give you a lot better plowing ability. 
And a sore back from installing all the weights.

Happy belated birthday Sparky, hope you had a good day

Got my working wheelhorse out today, first job was to fit the refurbished rear wheels, change the standard seat for a heavier one and fit the wheel weights.
taken off.
two standand wheels 52lbs.
standard seat.............11lbs.
fitted on.
two narrow wheels 48lbs.
seat........................37lbs.
two rear weights.....100lbs.
so total extra is 122lbs, I'm pleased with that and should help with traction 

New addition to the collection from deepest Norfolk
 
1965 Lawn Boy Loafer, can either be used as a ride on tractor or with the front axle removed will attach to a Lawn Boy mower,
so it can be a mower pusher
 
Apparently only 6 of these were imported to the UK.
 
The previous owner has a restored one and works for E.P. Barrus who are modern day Lawn Boy importers and he has researched its history
 
Apologies for the poor photos, but it has been raining all day, I'll get it out of the trailer and get some better photos when the
weather improves
 

That's quite a nice find and a Bolens as well and with wheel weights........
Was it that clean when you loaded it up or have you been busy with the soap and water.   

One of my first chores, after the rider is runnin', changing from wheel "bolts" to "lug nuts."
 
Although we have cast wheel weights, made some using discarded brake drums.
Weld bolts in the drums, then fill with concrete.
 

Rear wheel weights are something I've been wanting for some time. Now and then various ideas have crossed my mind, but I've never got around to actually doing anything.
  Art, (Old Tankman), put up a post on some he'd made. That was the kick I needed. The other day I acquired a pair of rear discs/drums off a Land Rover Freelander, out off the scrap bin at my local Land Rover specialists.    
 
  The disc fits nicely into the outer edge of the Wheel Horse rear wheel.
 
  Today, while visiting a local engineering workshop, I left with two of these pulleys.
 

 
  The pulleys also fit nicely into the inside of the wheels. 
  If you look closely, you will see two small holes in the drum. There's actually four and they are pilot holes for bolt holes to fasten disc/drum to pulley. You can see the four corresponding punch marks in the pulley. They are now drilled and ready for bolting together.
  Next I drilled four more holes in the pulleys for studs to bolt the finished weights to the wheels. These were spot drilled using a spare wheel as a jig. They were then drilled for tapping out 10mm. Here I hit a problem. I've a fair collection of taps, UNC, BSF, UNF, Metric and BSP. Believe it or not, NO 10mm taps to be found.  
  

I am a 520 Onan owner as well but mine are both Hydros.  Keeping my eye out for a 520-8. Perhaps in time a beauty like yours will turn up in my area and I will jump on it in a heartbeat!!!   

Thanks for all the details you've posted, all very helpful to a " newbie ".
the idea is to get it up and running properly and then make a hitch for the plough

Wow Chris, that Bolens 600 looks fantastic and is in really good condition. The best bit is that it looks 100% complete and I could not spot any missing parts. Looking at ID plate it looks like a 181-04 which would make it 1964 and one of the last batch of 600's. If I have read it incorrectly this is the details for all of the 181 models:
 
1962 - 181-01 & 181-02
1963 - 181-03
1964 - 181-04
 
181 signifies that it is electric start, it would be a 180 if it was manual start.
 
This is the parts manual for a 181-04, I have the parts manuals for the other models if it turns out not to be an 04
 
600 180-04 181-04 - Parts Manual.pdf
 
This is the owners manual
 
600-800-900 - Owners Manual.pdf
 
My Bolens buddies and others have commented about colours however here is the 1964 sales brochure which should help
 
58131-Bolens 1964 Brochure.pdf
 
As a suggestion, I would put the wheel weights back on and try ploughing with the Bolens.
 
 
If think you may have misheard Alan. I am sure he would have said he that he has found a lovely Bolens which needs to come to Norfolk. I'll wait for the call
 
Iain
 
 

Nice Bolens! Great find.
Be sure to update any progress but, looks great as-is.
 
Had a couple tube frame Bolens years ago. I couldn't ever get over the cast steering column.

a Bolens 600 
 
That's a great find Chris  and with wheel weights too 
 
Yes wheels should be white and I think yours was gold at one time if you look closely at the photo of the rear axle. I can't make out the serial # but that will confirm date etc.
 
Enjoy!

Nice find Chris.... I might know where you can get decals.....

He wouldn't take it out of the van at home.  Can't think why.

Having seen it today in the flesh, or metal, I can say that it is in very good condition.  Chris did say though that he was going to start collecting Bolens so that they don't all end up in Norfolk.

Well done Chris
 

I agree Chris. I am not qualified to comment on original paint colors but if it was mine the steering wheel would be black...... Or at least it would be after I had my greasy dirty hands all over it for a while...... 

That's exactly how I found it, the hood has been repainted at some point, I'm just going to get some decals and leave as is, I think the wheels should be white but will wait for one of the Bolens boys to tell me the correct colours 

That's quite a nice find and a Bolens as well and with wheel weights........
Was it that clean when you loaded it up or have you been busy with the soap and water.   

I went up to a friends place on Saturday not 20 miles from here to collect a set of rear wheel weights and while i was there i saw the little tractor they came off.
It was hiding in a dark container looking all forlorn to be losing part of its rearend so a deal was struck and it was loaded in my van.
Its in good condition and will enjoy its new home with the Horses.
Heres a few photos for you to look at and i need a new coil if anyone has one.