OldBuzzard

Yeah the old girls does look a bit rough. I've heard it said that "If it casts a shadow, it can be restored". One good thing is that the hydraulic stabilizers on the hoe indicate that it's one of the later ones, and they made improvements in them over time.

When in Rome..... Or in this case, "Jolly Olde"... :D

HE, no offence taken whatsoever. :D

It's a Bolens 600. It's shorter than the 800 and 900. Also doesn't have the Hi/Lo change rod on the dash.

Yeah, the Small Frame Manuals section is pretty thin, but it's at least a start. The Small Frames just aren't as popular as the TFs and LFs, so it can be a problem finding manuals the them and the attachments. I have a big binder (6" thick) full of tractor and attachment manuals. I''ll look through it to see if I have anything one the Small Frames in there. If I have anything not on the GTT site, I'll scan it and upload it here and there.

Sonny's is out of business and has been for a couple of years. That's two guys working out of a 'Garage in a Box' in their back yard and trying to capitalize on what's left of Sonny's name. They just ripped off what was on the old Sonny's site The best source on the internet for Bolens, and other GT manuals as well, would be the GTTalk forums. They have 2201 files related to all of the various Lawn and Garden tractor equipment manufacturers, 567 of which are related to Bolens. They include Operators and Parts manuals for tractors and implements, Service Bulletins, advertising brochures, etc.

One note of caution guys. With the older GTs you have to be careful of WHICH EP90 gear oil you used. The newer oils that meet GL5 spec are a no no in our old GTs. It has additives that do not play will with any 'yellow metal' that may be in the gearbox. You need to use GL1 spec. I don't know how readily available it is over there, but we can find it fairly easily here in the Colonies.

It has rear wheel steering. Here are a couple of vids of the Westchester: Westchester https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuJmK_sTAcs Westchester II https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_DvmOUPFCE

It looks like that ground is awfully damp to be plowing. Is that normal over there?

I think I'll be keeping them as they are. There is a fella here un the States that had a batch of them reproduced, so if/when I get a 1976 model, I'll most likely get a set from him.

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.

There is indeed a thread on the Bolens forum over there about dating the Wisconsin engines. Unfortunately, that link now seems to be broken.

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.

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.

They were all the same. Unfortunately my main computer is 'down' with a failed CPU cooler, so I don't have access to my pics. However I did find one on eBay here in the states. Good thing is that it gives the center to center dimension of the mounting holes, That should give you enough to make your own if you are so inclined. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bolens-Trailer-Hitch-/121590325957?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c4f5922c5

Iain, Believe me, I know the feeling I get that with just about any tidbit I can find on the HDT1000. Dave

Right then, being a 1976 engine would make your tractor a 1977.

Iain, I got a reply from my engine guy :D H also posted a thread over at the GTTalk forums as well: http://gardentractortalk.com/forums/topic/43247-how-old-is-my-tecumseh-engine/

Iain, I just sent a PM on another forum to a fella that is VERY well versed in Tec engines. He may be able to help us determine the year of mfg. of your engine.

Gentlemen, I've seen a number of posts where Owatrol has been used to preserve the 'patina' of older GTs and it seems to be a well excepted practice there. Since I am a fan of the older GT that are still in their "working man's clothes', it has peaked my interest. So, I did a bit of Google searching, and found that Owatrol is marketed here in the Colonies. http://www.owatrolusa.com/index.php?langue=en&page=contact-points-de-vente However, I also found that Owatrol make a plethora of products, so I'm at a loss at to which "Owatrol" that you lot are talking about. Would one (or more) of you fine gentlemen please educate me as to which Owatrol product you are using, and a bit on how it is used/applied. I would also like to know if it is a one time solution or just a temporary one which has to be applied at intervals. Any and all information and advice will be gratefully appreciated.

In the 1996 Service Seminar, they reference the OH140 for the 1977 and 1978. The earlier models referenced the HH140. So, that narrows it down to two years. There was a MAJOR difference between the 1977 and 1978 which was the PTO. If you can determine which type PTO it had you can pretty much pin point the year. Especially if it is the one that has the PTO brake which was exclusive to the 1978. If you can date the engine, the model year would be one year NEWER than the engine. So if it's a 1976 engine it would be a 1977 tractor. On the attached G14 Parts manual, on page 4 you can see in the loser right the difference in the two PTOs. Now if your PTO is not there, all is still not lost. If you look on page 8, part 10 is different for the 1978. It would have a tab and hole that part 55 would fit into and be retained by a cotter pin. 1453-G14 Parts.pdf

As with a lot of "Things Bolens did", no one seems to know. Now this is just conjecture, but I think there may be some shred of truth in it.: The G11 was produced in 1978 which was the last year of the tube frame production, and it was the last new tube frame model produced. I think that the decal colors, which just happen to be the colors of a sunset, were chosen to represent the sun setting on the tube frame line. That is why I prefer to call it the "Sunset Bolens" rather than the "Rainbow Bolens". Whatever the reasoning, the G11 really stands out with it's striking decals which are unique.

I have a Dodge 4x4 pickup truck, and pickup's are notorious for bad traction in the winter due to the lack of weight on the rears. I have a Brinly 3-PT plow in the bed right now and it does help :D

I LIKE the way you think I would like to do the same, but with as many attachments as I have, that many tractors wouldn't fit on my property :D