slf-uk

It came in a BIG envelope that measures 13.75" x 18".
 
Inside that was yet another envelope that has a Bolens Parts Number sticker on it.
 
Inside THAT envelope was an OEM set of the Bolens Bi-Centennial Decals.
 
Now I know that they wouldn't be of use for you UK blokes, but for us in the colonies, it's quite a find.
 
 
 

Yes, big smile on getting it running, thanks for the support Andrew and Tom. My aim is to sort out as much as possible on it this week and then have it as a running mechanical restoration project. Next on the tractor table is the HT23 as I need to sort out a few issues before the grass cutting season.

I had lots of fun with the carb. The float needle would either not shot off the fuel or would get stuck closed. Lots of cleaning made no difference so in the end I did some work on the float seat and that solved the problem.
 
The engine fired up and it is running well. The tappets are very noisy which is unusual and the exhaust is blowing which was expected. 
 
It is great to have it running and it has given me enhanced enthusiasm for the other jobs.
 
I am very pleased with the progress as I have had very little time on it over the weekend.
 
Iain

Here is the link, you have to type your serial number in and it gives month and year.
http://www.wiengines.com/support_serial_search/

Wow, I love it. It sounds great. Firing it up must be a real boost. You are doing a fantastic job.
 
I thought you were looking over your shoulder because you heard what my wife said
 
BTW. Andrew, we must have been at the same Motorhead concert if it was the Bomber tour. 
 
Iain

That's a good solid looking engine Matt, what age would that be?
 
Iain

Hello all. I thought I'd share my most recently acquired project. Its an old International LB 1 1/2 - 2 1/2 hp stationary engine. I have been collection old air cooled engines for awhile now, but this is my first of this type engine. Its getting a full restoration.
 The engine wasn't in to bad a shape when I got it. No compression, but it wasn't stuck, and it was complete. Here are a couple pics of it before disassembly.  
 
Matt

Wow, I love it. It sounds great. Firing it up must be a real boost. You are doing a fantastic job.
 
I thought you were looking over your shoulder because you heard what my wife said
 
BTW. Andrew, we must have been at the same Motorhead concert if it was the Bomber tour. 
 
Iain

A bit more this morning.
 
First coat on underside of fender. Not the best of photo's.
 

 
Foot plates cleaned up this morning then underneath primed with red oxide.
 

 
And a bit of bling..
 

Evening all, well after the shock of finding a fully grown tree outside my workshop when I arrived!
 

 
 
I started to sort out this mess of wiring..
 

 
 
And by the end of the day, the Beast has awakened
 

Hi All
My new plough now

Just need depth handle straightened and adapt to fit Gutbrod
Hope you like      

lol, it must have been REAL slow news day
 

Good call Andrew, I had forgotten about the diff lock, clearly I have been spending too much time with tractors that don't have one
 
First job this evening was to fit the new engine bolts. For this you need the patients of a saint and the hands the size of a five year old and I have neither, so I spent a fun time getting the bolts through the chassis tubes, through the spacer and into the bottom of the engine whilst at the same time lifting the engine slightly.
 
I then freed up the diff lock and free wheeling pin, in much the way described by Andrew and Dave. For the free wheeling hub I used a hammer and drift after removing the wheel. The diff lock was seized in the off position which is what you would expect for a tractor that has been predominantly been used for grass cutting duties. Both now working as expected and an "R" clip fitted to the free wheeling pin.
 
Iain

I have been servicing a customer's mower this afternoon and while waiting for the oil to drain, I gave the Bolens transmission hub lock several sharp taps with a hammer and it slowly turned. I had soaked it over the last few weeks as well as soaking the free wheeling hub/ pin on Sunday. The transmission lock now turns freely after wire brushing the rust and crap out of the grooves and sprayed liberally with WD40. Another little job done. I will try OB's technique on the free wheeling pin this weekend.
Hopefully the Wisconsin thread will be fixed.

In the past I have found that the technique Dave suggested works very well for the freewheeling pin. When they are really rusted I have also removed the roll pin from the rear axle so the pin can come completely out for cleaning. This will be the first job tonight.
 
My new engine bolts arrived today, really fast service as I only ordered them Monday night. I did feel they were a tad expensive, can anyone recommend a good online seller of imperial fixings?
 
Thanks
Iain

Something that will help in getting that freewheeling pin out is to remove the right wheel, and give the pin a couple of sharp raps.

I am soaking the free wheeling pin on the 1254 as well. Hopefully it will free up to enable moving around a tad easier. I think once you get all the bits and bobs you need on your G14 , a few evenings of uninterrupted tinkering to fire her up will be a massive step in the right direction. Fingers crossed that the engine doesn't need rebuilding but a damn good service.
Keep us posted.
I made some room in my garage last night as I sold my tower scaffolding which I no longer needed and was taking up too much space. Interestingly that space could accommodate a snow blower............

Andrew, I remember reading something about dating Wisconsin engines.
 
I am pleased you asked about the outstanding jobs on the Bolens, it made stand back and reflect. I want to get to the point when I can try to fire it up to see if an engine rebuild is required. Before I can try to fire it up I need to remove the PTO and the bracket that is attached to the rear axle, so I can replace the engine and axle oil. I then need to rebuild the carb, free up the throttle cable, repair the hood and buzz out some odd wires. I also need to free up the freewheeling pin on the back axle.
 
No progress tonight because it was parents evening at the kids school.
 
I am impressed by the amount of wear on the front spindles and front axle, it is worse than any of my other tractors. A full rebuild is required on the front end. The bronze bush on the non diff lock side of the rear axle is toast too, but not unexpected given the wear on the front.

Not too much to report on the G14. I have made the replacement engine spacers but then found that I do not have any bolts of the correct length so that is on hold waiting for the postie. I have pulled the carb off in preparation for a quick rebuild, pulled the hood off to straighten the hinge area and also replaced more missing fixings.
 
I noticed that I had another Tecumseh engines tractor in the workshop so I couldn't resist popping the hood to check the engine serial number. The tractor is a Bolens G10 but the engine ID tag on a HH100 is partial hidden behind the carb. I managed to get my phone behind the carb and take a picture. Using the formula kindly supplied by OldBuzzard is looks like a 1973 engine made on the 284th day, which suggest that this G10 is a 1974 machine.
 

 
This is really additive.
 
Iain
 
 

Iain,
 
I can only take credit for relaying information given to me.
 
Proper credit should go to a fine, fine young gentleman named Ben Wagner of Old Paths Equipment. He is superaben over on the GTTalk forums.
 
http://oldpathsequipment.com/
 
He's an "Old Iron" lover and is the fella the did the refurbish on my Bolens 1886 forklift, and is now doing one on my HDT1000. 

Bolens called them "Allied Manufacturers".
 
The made attachments that were 'approved' by Bolens to be sold with their tractors.
 
In some cased they were 'universal attachments, like the towable sprayer pictured above, and others were designed to use the Bolens mounting system and PTO drive system.
 
I actually have 2 big 4" binders full of brochures, literature manuals, parts lists, and even some communications between Bolens and the manufactures.  It apparently came for the head of the Allied Manufactures department at Bolens. There are letters and bulletins in it signed by at least two different heads of the department.

I agree. Bolens had a nerve to even think they had the better machine.

I just noticed this very interesting tractor comparison brochure on the auction site, link below. Some may find it an interesting read
 
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Extremely-rare-1969-Bolens-tractor-comparison-brochure-original-/291401646898?ssPageName=ADME:SS:SS:GB:1120
 
I am very tempted to buy it and post sections on this forum so we can all learn together however I think that might result in a shorter life expectancy.
 
Iain
 
 

Digging up an old thread.
 
On Saturday I had the joy of cutting the hedge around our garden which is approx 8 foot high and well over 700 foot long. I hate doing this job because I am left handed and most hedge cutters appear to be designed for right handed people, which results in having the exhaust in my face. I also suffer from sinus problems so I am usually ill for three days after each cutting session. It normally takes me four days to finish the job, which I spread over four weekends.
 
I decided to give this Aspen fuel a try and I managed to cut the complete side of the hedge in one day without feeling ill afterwards. Just about every muscle in my body aches but I feel fine, the rest is just old age. I used a gallon of fuel so it was not a cheap cut but worth it. Next weekend I will get some more fuel and tackle the top.
 
Thanks for the recommendation guys.
 
Iain

I just noticed this very interesting tractor comparison brochure on the auction site, link below. Some may find it an interesting read
 
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Extremely-rare-1969-Bolens-tractor-comparison-brochure-original-/291401646898?ssPageName=ADME:SS:SS:GB:1120
 
I am very tempted to buy it and post sections on this forum so we can all learn together however I think that might result in a shorter life expectancy.
 
Iain