slf-uk

I am not sure if I have introduced my HT23 on here before. I bought the tractor in 2009 and I mainly use it for grass cutting duties
 

 
Last year I lifted the deck and one of the deck lift bolts broke, I then managed to rip up the wood threshold on the door of my workshop trying to drive it in with the deck dragging on the ground. I have been a bit busy so it has taken me until now to get around to fixing it.
 
First I remove the old lift bolts, looks like someone has been here before as they should not be made out of M12 threaded rod
 

 
I then pulled one off my HT20 so I could see what they should look like
 

 
I then made some replacement parts
 

 
then I made a quick frame to hold the parts in place for welding
 

 
I even gave them a quick coat of paint before fitting
 

 
I can't believe what a difference it makes, the deck lift has never been this good. Another job done.
 
Iain
 

I am not sure if I have introduced my HT23 on here before. I bought the tractor in 2009 and I mainly use it for grass cutting duties
 

 
Last year I lifted the deck and one of the deck lift bolts broke, I then managed to rip up the wood threshold on the door of my workshop trying to drive it in with the deck dragging on the ground. I have been a bit busy so it has taken me until now to get around to fixing it.
 
First I remove the old lift bolts, looks like someone has been here before as they should not be made out of M12 threaded rod
 

 
I then pulled one off my HT20 so I could see what they should look like
 

 
I then made some replacement parts
 

 
then I made a quick frame to hold the parts in place for welding
 

 
I even gave them a quick coat of paint before fitting
 

 
I can't believe what a difference it makes, the deck lift has never been this good. Another job done.
 
Iain
 

I am not sure if I have introduced my HT23 on here before. I bought the tractor in 2009 and I mainly use it for grass cutting duties
 

 
Last year I lifted the deck and one of the deck lift bolts broke, I then managed to rip up the wood threshold on the door of my workshop trying to drive it in with the deck dragging on the ground. I have been a bit busy so it has taken me until now to get around to fixing it.
 
First I remove the old lift bolts, looks like someone has been here before as they should not be made out of M12 threaded rod
 

 
I then pulled one off my HT20 so I could see what they should look like
 

 
I then made some replacement parts
 

 
then I made a quick frame to hold the parts in place for welding
 

 
I even gave them a quick coat of paint before fitting
 

 
I can't believe what a difference it makes, the deck lift has never been this good. Another job done.
 
Iain
 

I am not sure if I have introduced my HT23 on here before. I bought the tractor in 2009 and I mainly use it for grass cutting duties
 

 
Last year I lifted the deck and one of the deck lift bolts broke, I then managed to rip up the wood threshold on the door of my workshop trying to drive it in with the deck dragging on the ground. I have been a bit busy so it has taken me until now to get around to fixing it.
 
First I remove the old lift bolts, looks like someone has been here before as they should not be made out of M12 threaded rod
 

 
I then pulled one off my HT20 so I could see what they should look like
 

 
I then made some replacement parts
 

 
then I made a quick frame to hold the parts in place for welding
 

 
I even gave them a quick coat of paint before fitting
 

 
I can't believe what a difference it makes, the deck lift has never been this good. Another job done.
 
Iain
 

On Friday I had a quick trip to see Alan, John and Chris (The Showman), stopping off on the way to drop off a Bolens to the other Chris (Bolens Chris as my lad calls him). It was fantastic to meet up with them all again.
 
I picked up a Bolens 1054 which I am sure a number of you have seen before. A couple of pictures of the tractor after it arrived safe in Norfolk, the home of Bolens tractors in the UK
 
It is a 1054-03 which I believe means that it was made in 1972.
 
Iain
 



 
 
 

The 1054 has been my firewood tractor all winter and has performed well. Joseph decided to take it for a spin around the garden, he is really getting the hang of driving these GT's. I like the way that he does not go mad with them.
 
 
Iain

The 1054 has been my firewood tractor all winter and has performed well. Joseph decided to take it for a spin around the garden, he is really getting the hang of driving these GT's. I like the way that he does not go mad with them.
 
 
Iain

The 1054 has been my firewood tractor all winter and has performed well. Joseph decided to take it for a spin around the garden, he is really getting the hang of driving these GT's. I like the way that he does not go mad with them.
 
 
Iain

Found my old Spedeworth race license, i think the photo is a bit out of date now. 

Happy birthday Ian, best wishes and I hope you have a great day.
 
Iain

A good video Joseph and good to see you and your dad working out the issues between you two. I am sure in time you will have a gem of a tractor soon.
 
Keep those updates coming! 

The engine in my WH C-125 had a slightly warped head. Sometime with a mirror, and wet and dry sorted it.
 

I agree Iain that the colour on the engine is the correct one and it will be interesting to see if you can get a match on that. I was thinking if my 600 is the same gold as the RAM? 
 
Hopefully the roll pin you ordered will be the rebirth of this RAM.
 
i will be watching this post with interest.  

We finally got around to making a quick video about this tractor. We had a few problems with the microphone
 
 

Well done Joseph.  

Good video Joseph.    The Showman likes Bolens now so keep yours locked up.

Picked this one up today, Martin Markham colt deluxe. Came from over the border from Wales, long journey but definitely worth it in my opinion. I have already got the 7hp version but this one had some tempting attatchments, so I had a deal with the owner. It was from a lady who's husband had passed away about 2 months ago and she was selling it, although she liked it, she wanted to let it go to a new home. It was restored around 10 years ago ( not the best restoration) but has kept the rust away and I have been told the gearbox was overhauled which is a bonus😀. Does not run currently but going to have a go tomorrow, should not be much. As you might be able to make out it was road registered, last in 1970😬, but I have the log book and original manual. It has the loader, trailer, plough, rotovator and the rear topper, all surprisingly in good condition for there age and purpose of use. Will get some more pictures tomorrow and hopefully get it running.

As some of you will know Nigel bought a Wheel Horse GT-14 the other week, quite why he is not sure, I just think Nigel wanted to copy me
 
A few photo's from Nigel's first drive..
 

 

 
 
A good place to park
 

 
 
Nigel insisted that I had a drive to see what I thought, and of course Nigel blamed me for the "cough cough splutter" as the engine started to run badly and then cut out
Lot's of swearing followed by a carb clean out, a coil and fuel pump swap and eventually fitting a one way valve to the fuel line to help the pump prime (the replacement fuel pump is a bit lazy too) and the GT was back into life..
 
Oh, Nigel did make a new exhaust for the GT, but as the only way to fit it was to drop the front axle off we shall gloss over it
 
So... What do you do if you have two running and driving GT's???   You go for a drive of course
 
 

Some machines just like to fight you, and the RJ has picked the very last stage to er.. Pick a fight!
 
With the fuel tank sealed up inside and painted, and the carb passing the leak test before it was installed the time had come to fire the RJ up and have a drive/adjust the shifter linkage..
I'm not sure if he didn't like coming off the bench or is just scared of being at ground level but the fighting started!
Problems with the pull start not being able to keep hold of the end of the cable and the re-coil wasn't!
Cable and re-coil eventually sorted only now the jaws bit that grabs hold of a hexagonal shaft on the engine wasn't grabbing any longer!
When the pull start is off the engine it works fine, but once fitted!!   
 
Sometimes walking away is the best option and go back to the problem with a fresh head.. Which will be happening tomorrow..
 
The dull weather makes the paint look darker than it actually is..
 

 

 

 
 
I almost forgot!!!
 
 

This wasn't a planned thing, but as we had 5 Wheel Horses in our workshop we thought it would be nice to see them all lined up
 

 

 

 

I love the look of your tractor Chris and it just keeps getting better with every change you make. Have you considered adding washer fluid to the rear tyres to add even more weight?
 
Iain

Tractor boy and I sneeked into the workshop for a couple of hours on Saturday to do a bit more on this tractor.
 
It has become clear that a PO has been playing with this tractor and we are finding lots of problems, in fact more problems than I have ever encountered on one tractor before, but we like a challenge So far we have noticed that the ignition components no longer had wires going to them, the carb was missing some parts, the ignition switch wiring is very odd (and does nothing), it has the wrong belts fitted, the governor is wrong, the exhaust studs are missing or have been attacked with vice grips, the gearbox is locked solid and the Versamatic lever has been attacked with vide grips plus a roll pin broken. I am sure we will find other problems
 
We have reconnected all the ignition parts, replaced all the missing carburettor parts, bypassed the ignition switch and fitted a new fuel pipe and got the engine running. It ran for long enough to realise it has a head gasket issue. I think I have managed to capture three of the problems with this one picture
 

 
The 1962 Ride-a-matic in the background should be the same colour, I believe the engine on this tractor is the correct colour.
 
I have been doing some research into the roll pin for the Versamatic. The easy bit was finding the Bolens part number (1185256), the harder bit was working out what size it should be. I know I have seen a similar pin on a Bolens mower deck so I started checking parts lists looking for that part number. Eventually I found it and within that parts list it identified the part as being a 3/16"x7/8" roll pin, which sounds right. With a smile on my face, I found an online seller and ordered the roll pin. All was fine until the seller contacted me a couple of days later and said they were unable to supply, were unable to confirm the size I ordered and I had thrown away the bit of paper with the dimensions on  I did the research again, ordered from someone else and put the details in this post for mine and everyone else's reference.
 
Iain
 

Bit of progress today. All bolted together and studs fitted to fasten to the wheels.
 

 
And they fit. Gap at the top is because no nuts are fitted at the back.
 

 
  They each weigh about 25lb. Next job is to add more weight.
 

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 

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.