slf-uk

Very thoughtful of you Alan but I feel the need to decline that kind offer
 
Iain

Whilst idly browsing through Gumtree UK, I came across this H16 titled Garden Tractor. It's an hour away from me in Cornwall, just across the border. After a phone call I did quick trip to Cornwall to view the GT. The seller, an elderly but sprightly gentleman, recovering from a triple heart transplant, owned it for 25 years. He was the second owner. The previous owner traded it in for a newer machine in Exeter, Devon. He used it to mow his paddock which was grazed by donkeys. A deal was struck. His wife made me a cup of tea and made a lovely cheese sandwich with pickle. A lovely couple who lived there coming on 50 years. I asked him to write up some amusing antidotes about using the H16. It developed a starting fault some 10 years ago. He then bought a Toro which he said "isn't a patch on the old Bolens". He showed me a few other horticultural equipment that he given me first refusal. I also got the original receipt for the H16 when he bought it. He was pleased and thrilled that I am a Bolens enthusiast and that it would be looked after. I told him that I got 7 Bolens all together. That's when he invited me to have a cup of tea! I then told him that I knew several UK Bolens owners who got this particular model and that it was highly rated. That was when the sandwich was made! He told me that he was considering repowering it with a Honda engine but he couldn't bear the thought of 'ripping out the heart of the old girl'.
Can anyone tell me a but more about this H16 which is a 1656-01 # 0183284? (difficult to read the numbers). I believe it's a '73 model? It's all there and the surface is just surface rust but all original.the rear wheels are off his Toro whilst his Toro got the Bolens wheels as they are shored with Agri tyres. They will be swapped over when it's collected.

Nice to see Chris again today.  After staying away he came back for another play and had a great day. OK, I'm not the best poet.
 
After an earlier than usual cuppa,  we decided to drag two of John's Marina's from out from the barn lean to, their home for the last ten years.  As the ground was still wet and muddy, plus an upward incline to contend with, the digger was used which gave Chris the chance to perfect his lever twiddling skills.  He's getting good at this and is trying to think of a way to tell Pam that he needs a digger as a playmate for his horses.
 
The first car out was the estate which was towed around to John's garage so that it's soon to be new owner could work on it in comfort. A few bits had been removed from the engine.
 

 
Eagle eyed viewers might spot a well known red van in the background.
 
The difficult part was getting the car up and over the step at the garage entrance.  Bits of wood as a ramp didn't help much, combined with rough ground, sticking brakes and not enough muscle power.  A rethink was needed and the end result caused Chris to say  "That's the first time I've got a car into a garage through a window".    How ?  Various ropes and chains from the car, across the garage, through a window at the rear of the garage, then attached to the digger.  Problem solved.
 
The second car was a lot easier.  Not so far to go this time.   The digger to start with, then pulled / pushed into the shed.  This one could have been driven if a suitable battery had been available.
 

 
Rounded off the day by loading the Sprinter with wood for Chris's fire plus a final cuppa.  Got to keep the old boy warm.
 

Good photos Alan, it was a job that we've been talking about for a while. The red car i had running a few weeks ago that ran very well and on the fuel that was in it !!!.
Its only got 17 k on the speedo but i dont know if thats right.
In all a very constructive day with plenty of tea and good banter.
Thanks to John and Alan for an enjoyable day

Great looking tractor Tom. You could always sell me that EK if you need the space :-)
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
 



 
 
 

Very interesting. Look like our respective theories were on the right track.
I checked through my photos of my 1254 and it's a 1254-05 making it a '72 model as you suggested. Be interesting to see if the earlier ones had the old style levers.

In between decorating and allowing the paint to dry, I had a bit of time and I found a photo of a 1054 with the push/ pull levers.

This is a 1254 photos with the push/ pull levers. Interestingly the dash has the wood grain effect style. I am sure mine is Matt black. I am guessing both are early examples.

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
 



 
 
 

According to the Bolens experts the up/down controls are correct for a 1054-03. I know one of my other 1054's is a 1054-01 with in/out controls but I am unsure what version of 1054 the others are. Apparently this page was added to the operators manual to show the change in controls
 
Iain
 

 
 

I think it was an engineering change. My 1254 is a 1972, same year as this 1054 and that also has up/down controls. The Husky (or is that Huskey  ) was replaced by the G and H series in 1973 and they all had up/down controls.
 
Andrew, if your 1254 is a 1254-01 then it is 1971, all other versions were 1972
 
Iain

I just edited my post Iain which confirms your and mine theory.

Never heard John saying anything about a swap while he had it.  I'll ask him next visit.  Doubtfull if he would remember though.

My 1254 got up and down controls and it's the same age as your tractor I think. Mine a '71 I think.
In fact when I ordered the new controls for the 1254, Bolens1000 off GTT wanted confirmation of the year which suggests that there may have been a change around in the early 70s. I just looked at my 850 (made in 1965) and that got the push/ pull levers.
Be interested to know what you find out Iain.

Very nice tractor, I like that.
 
Iain

I got this last week. I bought it off the second owner from the restoration, it was restored in late 2013 to an extremely high standard, one of the best i have seen, all it needs is a choke cable fitting, i was given the before pictures as well. Here are a couple of pics  

Well all the tracs which came out of Johns were a little odd any how

That's why I didn't buy it.....Don't do spell in' mishake!

All the years I have been around that Husky and I've never noticed the  e.  

Looking good!

Anyone else noticed the way the names are spelt on it?

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
 



 
 
 

Glad to see it got to you safely. As you know I saw it at John's place last summer and it was up and running very well. The Bolens pushed a trailer connected to the front hitch and manoeuvred it with my wheelweights and round back tiller on it with ease to my car. I got a video of it on my mobile which I will post on to you. Another good find Iain and another saved too especially from Chris aka The Showman who unnerved me totally by saying it was a WheelHorse...... Poor old fella obviously confused by the fact it was painted red and of course it is running as well! Plus the fact he been desperate to find a working WheelHorse at John's place.

Gone    but not forgotten. 

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