slf-uk 914 #1 Posted February 8, 2016 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 9 Alan, 4x4forks, Triumph66 and 6 others reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Alan 1,273 #2 Posted February 8, 2016 Gone but not forgotten. 1 slf-uk reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Triumph66 1,256 #3 Posted February 8, 2016 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. 2 Alan and slf-uk reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Alan 1,273 #4 Posted February 8, 2016 Iain was lucky to get it on Friday Andrew, as Chris was helping with the loading. As you know anything red finish's up in a red Sprinter van. Iain's Sprinter was white and was easier to find in the semi darkness which saved the day. 1 Triumph66 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Triumph66 1,256 #5 Posted February 8, 2016 Iain is a true Bolens enthusiast; he hired a Bolens White van. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stormin 4,458 #6 Posted February 8, 2016 Anyone else noticed the way the names are spelt on it? 2 slf-uk and wurzel reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Triumph66 1,256 #7 Posted February 8, 2016 Yes the Husky spelt wrong with an e 1 wurzel reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tom 215 #8 Posted February 8, 2016 Looking good! 1 slf-uk reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Alan 1,273 #9 Posted February 8, 2016 Yes the Husky spelt wrong with an e All the years I have been around that Husky and I've never noticed the e. 3 WestwoodW8Gazelle, slf-uk and Triumph66 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Triumph66 1,256 #10 Posted February 8, 2016 All the years I have been around that Husky and I've never noticed the e. That's why I didn't buy it.....Don't do spell in' mishake! 2 slf-uk and Alan reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chris 642 #11 Posted February 8, 2016 Well all the tracs which came out of Johns were a little odd any how 2 slf-uk and Triumph66 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
slf-uk 914 #12 Posted February 8, 2016 Glad you guys picked up on the spelling, with my spelling ability I would have never noticed. Very odd how it is spelt correctly on the sides but not the front, or at least I think so I had another look at the tractor tonight and I noticed that the throttle/choke controls are different to my other 1054's. The others have a pull/push arrangement but this one has up/down controls. I am wondering if this was an engineering change on the later 1054's or if the dash and controls have been swapped from another tractor. A bit of investigation is required. Iain Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Triumph66 1,256 #13 Posted February 8, 2016 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. 1 slf-uk reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Alan 1,273 #14 Posted February 8, 2016 Never heard John saying anything about a swap while he had it. I'll ask him next visit. Doubtfull if he would remember though. 2 Triumph66 and slf-uk reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
slf-uk 914 #15 Posted February 8, 2016 My 1254 got up and down controls and it's the same age as your tractor I think. Mine a '71 I think. 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 1 Triumph66 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Triumph66 1,256 #16 Posted February 8, 2016 I just edited my post Iain which confirms your and mine theory. 1 slf-uk reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Triumph66 1,256 #17 Posted February 8, 2016 [quote. Andrew, if your 1254 is a 1254-01 then it is 1971, all other versions were 1972 Iain I will have to check the serial # when I get it back from Daniel. It could be an 1254-05 from memory but I will check. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
slf-uk 914 #18 Posted February 9, 2016 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 1 Triumph66 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Triumph66 1,256 #19 Posted February 9, 2016 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. 1 slf-uk reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Triumph66 1,256 #20 Posted February 9, 2016 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. 3 slf-uk, wurzel and Alan reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
slf-uk 914 #21 Posted February 5, 2017 The Bolens 1054 previously owned by John is still doing well and currently fitted with wheel weights. This is a picture from Saturday morning when we were clearing up a few pallets. I think we need a bigger trailer 4 Triumph66, Alan, Stormin and 1 other reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Alan 1,273 #22 Posted February 5, 2017 Good photo Iain. As Joseph looks like a Cossack with that hat and boots, he should be riding a horse. Wheel horse of course. Think I might know the location of a bigger trailer. 2 Triumph66 and slf-uk reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Triumph66 1,256 #23 Posted February 5, 2017 Fabulous photo! i wonder what that trailer load weighs? 1 slf-uk reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stormin 4,458 #24 Posted February 6, 2017 8 hours ago, Triumph66 said: Fabulous photo! i wonder what that trailer load weighs? About 6cwt at a guess. No bulk in it. 2 Triumph66 and slf-uk reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
slf-uk 914 #25 Posted February 6, 2017 13 hours ago, Triumph66 said: Fabulous photo! i wonder what that trailer load weighs? 4 hours ago, Stormin said: About 6cwt at a guess. No bulk in it. The pallets we get weight 20-25kg each. I weighed some a while back to make sure I was within the weight limit if I had a hundred on the Ifor. These days they get cut up rather than moved. So, if you count how many blocks you can see on the trailer, divide by 3 and multiply by 20-25kg that will give the answer. OMG, just realised I have gone all metric Iain 1 Triumph66 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
