Bolens 1256

[HeadExam 1,783]

Or what I did on my summer vacation. I found this 1971 Bolens 1256 about 170 miles north of me for 400.00 and since I had been really wanting this model I drove up and purchased it from the second owner. It has a 12 hp Wisconsin TRA12D engine and a hydrostatic transmission; it came with a deck and a sleeve hitch. It needed some work, but it ran great. After taking the deck off and attempting to replace the belt I found some more issues. The bearing seemed bad, they weren't, they were the wrong bearings, but they were half burnt up even though they appear new. One pulley had grease all over it and the area around it. I didn't think to much of this until way later, in fact too late. The tension pulley had spacers and washers that didn't belong on it and it was installed wrong (very common problem, no one seems to understand what a tension pulley does). Well after receiving the right bearings in the mail and the belt as well I also took the opportunity to sand it down and prime and paint. I used IH red with 2 ounces of gloss black Rustoleum to a gallon to recreate the darker Bolens red. I used Naptha for a reducer and poly converter hardener for gloss and color retention. Just before putting the pulley cover on I attempted to grease each spindle shaft through the top grease zerk, pumped the grease gun on the first spindle and nothing, it was solid, grease just came out all over the fitting. I now knew why (or at least I thought I did) there was grease all over one pulley, I removed the grease zerk thinking it was clogged nope, then I removed the blade, grease cup, snap ring, and pulled the spindle out the top. I used a small wire down the hole and could not get it go through. I repeated this several times until I noticed that with the spindle installed the grease hole would be UNDER the top bearing and would not get grease. It was then that I realized that both top and bottom spindle shaft were tapped with the same size and that the spindles had been installed upside down by a previous EMOTP (evil mechanic of the past), and grease only came through one way. I removed all the pulleys, bearings, and shafts and installed them in the correct orientation. I should be receiving my Bolens Deck Mechanic Certification in the mail next week. Also on the list was an electrical  redesign by the previously mentioned EMOTP. In his infinite wisdom to overcome an electrical issue, to wit: tractor does not start. The EMOTP drilled a 1" hole in the dash and installed a push button starter, one wire leading to the positive side of the battery, one side leading to what was left of the the safety switch connection on the PTO. The original light switch had also been replaced with a ill fitting light switch from a Hoyt-Clagswell or some other archaic machine. Of course the tow large brackets that hold the batteries down on these Bolens tube frame was long gone, probably do to the owner not wanting to spend the money for the correct battery and opting for the 19.99 lawn and garden cheapo special, which the brackets did not fit on. I found an OEM set of battery from Bob's garden tractors in Ohio brackets for 24.00 shipped, Rick Show (BlackJacxJake?) got me a new ignition switch I got as a spare because my two large frame 1476's use the same hard to find switch and I ordered a new light switch and safety switch. The two front wheels were on backwards and hence the wheel grease zerk fitting prevented the greace cap going over the spindle shaft; won't hold much grease without a grease cap. I also found that the safety switch was not the culprit to the starting issues, having all the wires on the wrong post on the voltage regulator was. I have it sorted now and am just finishing the electrical rehab. After that I am installing the deck. It has taken me a little time because during this time I also rebuilt a 48" Wheel Horse deck, 42" Simplicity deck, and got my other 1476 running and the  48" deck installed on it. Video using the Brinly diamond cultivator as a driveway rake below pictures.

 

 

 

 

[Triumph66 1,256]

Another fantastic find and great video too. Looks like it been well cared for too.

 

Wish I could find one like that in the UK.

[slf-uk 914]

Fantastic machine you have. Very annoying when previous owners drill holes in the dash.

 

Iain