Chris 642 #1 Posted February 27, 2015 Right then, time to show off this very rare beast of a Bolens tractor which has joined my collection. My thanks go to Iain who pointed out to me & I beat him to it on a deal then a long distance transport problem I had in getting it brought over from Co Down, Northan Ireland to Sussex I did in the end found an Irish machinery haulier who had room on a lorry which was heading for Oxford. I ended up meeting it at a engineers in Warwickshire who had a telehandler suitable to lift it out of the lorry trailer & onto my trailer. Its a very poorly HT20 c/w rare front loader & Brantley back hoe. Its been sat as a wreck for approx 20 years according the the guy I brought it from. Various parts missing inc rear fender & hydrostat unit for the back axle. The tractor engine is a mess & is stuck solid. Its going to be a massive project to under take as all hyraulic rams need overhauling due to rust & pipe work rotten & wont be cheap to replace. The plan will to be fit the loader/digger onto my other tractors & the tractor will be broken up for spares as its too far gone to restore in some areas in rear axle which is full of mud & rust. Now this has got to be rarer than a D200 wheel horse 8 Triumph66, OldBuzzard, meadowfield and 5 others reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pmackellow 2,738 #2 Posted February 27, 2015 Ooh I bet Liesa was dead chuffed when you turned up with that... not !! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chris 642 #3 Posted February 27, 2015 No I have not been flavour of the month, hence the sell of of a few other machines Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Triumph66 1,256 #4 Posted February 27, 2015 Chris, Well done for getting this back home in one piece. I think your photo/ post of your tractor will be located on other forums due to its rarity. At least replacing the tyres will be the easy job! Cheers Andrew Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chris 642 #5 Posted February 27, 2015 I dont even know how I am going to get it off the trailer yet I do have some spare rear tyres, not mutch good when the wheels dont turn cos the back end is full of muck 1 Triumph66 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
slf-uk 914 #6 Posted February 27, 2015 Well done Chris for making this happen. I know it took an incredible amount of effort but worth it. It looks so much better in your pictures than the sale advert. I can't imagine another Bolens backhoe exists in the UK and I believe they are really rare in the US too. I am really looking forward to seeing this project progress. 1 Triumph66 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Triumph66 1,256 #7 Posted February 27, 2015 Can you unhitch the front loader and the back hoe so that it's in 3 parts. Perhaps a farmer with a front loader can then lift it off? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chris 642 #8 Posted February 27, 2015 The front loader should not take mutch to remove Andrew. I do have 3 loader tractors which I look after at work just up the road, so may have to see if I can borrow one for the job to unload 2 Triumph66 and pmackellow reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Triumph66 1,256 #9 Posted February 27, 2015 That's excellent Chris if you can borrow something from work. As Iain say, it worth all the work to get this baby back on the road or in the garden! The photos in Ireland didn't do it justice and I think you have got a really good project there. Looking forward to seeing it up and running at Rural Pastimes or if you need a bit more time at Biddeden! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
slf-uk 914 #10 Posted February 27, 2015 I know I am sad but I just can't stop looking at the picture of that loader and backhoe. That backhoe is huge, I love it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stormin 4,458 #11 Posted February 27, 2015 Looking forward to seeing it up and running at Rural Pastimes or if you need a bit more time at Biddeden! No pressure then. 2 slf-uk and Triumph66 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pmackellow 2,738 #12 Posted February 27, 2015 Good find anyway Chris I bet as a complete machine all up and running that would be quite a tool !! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
meadowfield 1,900 #13 Posted February 27, 2015 What a great find, thats gonna be such an awesome project Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OldBuzzard 186 #14 Posted February 27, 2015 Very nice find They aren't super rare here, but not that common either. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
neil 524 #15 Posted February 28, 2015 wow Chris that is awesome. What a great project to get your teeth into. I bet you were pretty excited waiting for her to arrive home. Great find Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tom 215 #16 Posted February 28, 2015 Wow great find Chris, I have never seen one of those before. I look forward to seeing this project develop Tom Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chris 642 #17 Posted February 28, 2015 (edited) Very nice find They aren't super rare here, but not that common either. Must be rare in the UK, Iain knows of one other HT20 in the UK with a Front End Loader. Sure there must be some more rotting away else where. Just been watching some in action on youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLnDExyXiYA Edited February 28, 2015 by Chris 2 Stormin and Triumph66 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nigel 1,876 #18 Posted February 28, 2015 if you bring it over here chris we can unload it with the telli handler and i can look after it for you for ever and ever Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the showman 4,074 #19 Posted February 28, 2015 Simon Cole had one with a front loader, don't know if he sold it on or kept it Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Triumph66 1,256 #20 Posted February 28, 2015 Chris, good video. It's an Impressive machinery that back hoe. Bet you can't wait to try yours out one day. Simon Cole had one with a front loader, don't know if he sold it on or kept it Chris, who's Simon Cole? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the showman 4,074 #21 Posted February 28, 2015 He used to be on the old forum under land surveyor Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Triumph66 1,256 #22 Posted February 28, 2015 Ok thanks. How did the auction go today? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the showman 4,074 #23 Posted February 28, 2015 There's a topic under shows Andrew Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Triumph66 1,256 #24 Posted February 28, 2015 Thanks Chris, just seen the thread. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stormin 4,458 #25 Posted February 28, 2015 It's an Impressive machinery that back hoe. Very! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
