Joseph

It has been a while since we have have posted. We have started a new project which is to build a replica of the Bolens large frame snow/dirt blade, Bolens part number 18085. The simple rule is that it is not allowed to snow until we are finished
 
This is a very rare attachment and realistically our only chance of owning one is to make a replica. Chris Stoneman recently purchased one of the few know to exisit in the UK and we picked it up for him which gave us the chance to take lots of measurements.
 
Chris's blade did not come with the lift push rods and we need some help with those. In the manual, it says that the distance between the centre line of the holes in the clevis rodes is 26-1/2" which gives a bit of an insight into the lengths of the rods. We did some searching on the Internet and that highlighted that the push rods are 20" long for the early large frames and 22-1/2" long for the HT's. We will be fitting this to our HT20 which suggests we need to make 22-1/2" rods. If someone has this attachement I would be grateful if you can measure the length of the push rods and confirm if they are 22-1/2". Also it would be helpful to know the length of the threaded part of the rod. Thanks in advance.
 
At the moment we get one tractor day a week so this project will take a while but it should be fun and I hope you follow along. I am making some notes of the work we are doing and making videos of the progress. In today's video I cover the preperation and cutting of the metal.
 
 

It has been a while since we have have posted. We have started a new project which is to build a replica of the Bolens large frame snow/dirt blade, Bolens part number 18085. The simple rule is that it is not allowed to snow until we are finished
 
This is a very rare attachment and realistically our only chance of owning one is to make a replica. Chris Stoneman recently purchased one of the few know to exisit in the UK and we picked it up for him which gave us the chance to take lots of measurements.
 
Chris's blade did not come with the lift push rods and we need some help with those. In the manual, it says that the distance between the centre line of the holes in the clevis rodes is 26-1/2" which gives a bit of an insight into the lengths of the rods. We did some searching on the Internet and that highlighted that the push rods are 20" long for the early large frames and 22-1/2" long for the HT's. We will be fitting this to our HT20 which suggests we need to make 22-1/2" rods. If someone has this attachement I would be grateful if you can measure the length of the push rods and confirm if they are 22-1/2". Also it would be helpful to know the length of the threaded part of the rod. Thanks in advance.
 
At the moment we get one tractor day a week so this project will take a while but it should be fun and I hope you follow along. I am making some notes of the work we are doing and making videos of the progress. In today's video I cover the preperation and cutting of the metal.
 
 

Thanks for the birthday wishes.
For presents I got some tools and a tripod for my YouTube videos
Thanks
Joseph

Thanks for the birthday wishes.
For presents I got some tools and a tripod for my YouTube videos
Thanks
Joseph

Happy birthday Joseph, hope you have a good day !
 

Happy birthday Joseph.
 
I hope you enjoyed your cards and presents and today was not too difficult at school
 
Dad

Happy Birthday Joseph.    

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOSEPH!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JOSEPH.
 
Red letter day now you become a teenager.

We have been looking for a rare side mounted shredder for ages, to fit on our Westwood D1200. One appeared in our local auction and we managed to get it for a great price. The shredder had been modified to run from an electric motor and the mounting bracket was missing. We were going to make a mounting bracket but managed to get one.
 
The challange was to turn the shredder back to standard and fit it onto the tractor. I think the attachment bracket was designed to be factory fitted because it was a lot of work to fit. Once we got the attachment fitted to the tractor we hit a problem. The idler has been modified and the belt it came was was incorrect, which is one too many variables.
 
A replacement belt is proving to be very difficult to find, a number of Westwood dealers claim the attachment does not exist and I don't know anyone who has the attachment who can help. Does anyone know what the belt size should be?
 
A quick video on progress, even my cameraman got in on the action!
 
 

Unfortunately the guy that I gave the charts to has dumped them. However I’ve spoken to a friend who worked for both Westwood and Countax. The shredded was made by Countax before they made tractors of their own but made most of Westwood ‘s accessories.
The mounting brackets etc were a dealer fit and he recalls that there were two or possibly three brackets to suit different configurations of tractor. He thinks that the belt could have been a B section cogged one.
 
 

We used to service one or may be two tractors that had the bracket etc but never saw the shredder itself. I gave a former employee all my Westwood belt charts but I will ask him if he still has them.

Didn’t know they were rare, I’ve seen many Westwood ones for sale over the years

Something different Joseph.   Sorry I can't help with the belt size but nice to see your cameraman at long last.  I see you are training him to get dirty too.  

Looks a useful piece of equipment, Joseph. And rare as well. Be interesting to see how well it works.
 
Can't you use a piece of rope to give an approximation of belt length?

We have been looking for a rare side mounted shredder for ages, to fit on our Westwood D1200. One appeared in our local auction and we managed to get it for a great price. The shredder had been modified to run from an electric motor and the mounting bracket was missing. We were going to make a mounting bracket but managed to get one.
 
The challange was to turn the shredder back to standard and fit it onto the tractor. I think the attachment bracket was designed to be factory fitted because it was a lot of work to fit. Once we got the attachment fitted to the tractor we hit a problem. The idler has been modified and the belt it came was was incorrect, which is one too many variables.
 
A replacement belt is proving to be very difficult to find, a number of Westwood dealers claim the attachment does not exist and I don't know anyone who has the attachment who can help. Does anyone know what the belt size should be?
 
A quick video on progress, even my cameraman got in on the action!
 
 

When we are asked about Bolens tractors, it is often a question about the rear axle drive pin on geared Tube Frame tractors.
 
The usual question are, "why can't I push the tractor?", "I put it in gear and let up the clutch and nothing happens?" and "what do I do if the pin is seized?".
 
I am sure others get asked the same questions. I decided to cover this in a video as it is easier to show people a video than explan the details
 
 

Forgot to insert the 1054 pin a few times at John's after we had removed it to push the tractor around in the shed.   Didn't want to fumigate ourselves with the engine running.  Never had that bother with the Wheel Horses.   Another good video Joseph.   And Dad ?

When we are asked about Bolens tractors, it is often a question about the rear axle drive pin on geared Tube Frame tractors.
 
The usual question are, "why can't I push the tractor?", "I put it in gear and let up the clutch and nothing happens?" and "what do I do if the pin is seized?".
 
I am sure others get asked the same questions. I decided to cover this in a video as it is easier to show people a video than explan the details
 
 

When we are asked about Bolens tractors, it is often a question about the rear axle drive pin on geared Tube Frame tractors.
 
The usual question are, "why can't I push the tractor?", "I put it in gear and let up the clutch and nothing happens?" and "what do I do if the pin is seized?".
 
I am sure others get asked the same questions. I decided to cover this in a video as it is easier to show people a video than explan the details
 
 

It is very handy to be able to take the seat cover off when it is raining, saves the embarressment of a wet bottom

It is very handy to be able to take the seat cover off when it is raining, saves the embarressment of a wet bottom

Another good video Joseph.  although I couldn't hear what you were saying.  Might have been at this end.   That seat was bad at John's, now it looks WELL past it's use by date.  Next job maybe. 

Good quick fix, Joseph.

The 1054 is still in regular use and it's main job is towing trailers. Over the winter it developed an oil leak and it was time for a repair