the showman 4,074 #1 Posted April 16, 2017 Now ive got the Bolens running i want to put it to work so the first job is to make a rear hitch. hunting round in the shed for suitable material i came across a camshaft locking kit for an Audi A 6 so being that I won't be doing anymore of those i cut it up. Heres today's progress and photos 9 ACman, slf-uk, Cub Cadet and 6 others reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stormin 4,458 #2 Posted April 16, 2017 Nice work. 2 the showman and ACman reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
slf-uk 914 #3 Posted April 16, 2017 Looks great Chris. I have a genuine Bolens hitch, let me know if you need any measurements from it. Iain 2 Triumph66 and the showman reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the showman 4,074 #4 Posted April 16, 2017 2 minutes ago, slf-uk said: Looks great Chris. I have a genuine Bolens hitch, let me know if you need any measurements from it. Iain Thanks Iain, I downloaded a plan from Gt talk but went my own way with the metal I had in stock 2 slf-uk and Triumph66 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
slf-uk 914 #5 Posted April 16, 2017 55 minutes ago, the showman said: Thanks Iain, I downloaded a plan from Gt talk but went my own way with the metal I had in stock I think your version is much better than the original. I use mine a lot and it is far too wide at the hitch end and it gets in the way. It looks like you have done a fantastic job of overcoming that problem. Iain 2 Triumph66 and the showman reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Triumph66 1,256 #6 Posted April 16, 2017 Tidy work Chris; wish I got the skills to knock up something like that. 1 the showman reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chris 642 #7 Posted April 17, 2017 That looks factory Chris 1 the showman reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the showman 4,074 #8 Posted April 17, 2017 Got a bit more done today. the lift bar i had to offset to miss the foot rest and i made it adjustable at both ends incase i want more lift or more downwards movement depending what attachments I'm using. heres some photos that tell the rest 8 Stormin, meadowfield, slf-uk and 5 others reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stormin 4,458 #9 Posted April 17, 2017 Neat job. 1 the showman reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
harryt 281 #10 Posted April 17, 2017 Looking good, be interesting to see what ploughs best, Wheelhorse or the Bolens 1 the showman reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the showman 4,074 #11 Posted April 17, 2017 11 minutes ago, harryt said: Looking good, be interesting to see what ploughs best, Wheelhorse or the Bolens Bolens got a diff lock Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stormin 4,458 #12 Posted April 17, 2017 Good ploughmen don't need diff locks. 1 the showman reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the showman 4,074 #13 Posted April 17, 2017 1 minute ago, Stormin said: Good ploughmen don't need diff locks. I'm not a good ploughman yet 1 meadowfield reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cub Cadet 613 #14 Posted April 18, 2017 Top job Chris! 1 the showman reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
slf-uk 914 #15 Posted April 19, 2017 Finished job looks great On 17/04/2017 at 7:57 PM, the showman said: Bolens got a diff lock May have some bad news for you on this one. The Bolens 600 is one of the only Bolens without diff lock unless someone has changed the rear axle in the past. If they have, you will have this round control knob in the centre of the left hand hub: Bolens claim that precision transmission and automotive-type differential (Bolens terms not mine) give you a traction advantage over other brands even without diff lock. I have no idea if that is true or not as I have not done a direct comparison. Please don't shot the messenger Iain 2 the showman and Triumph66 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the showman 4,074 #16 Posted April 19, 2017 Thanks Iain, whats the pin for on the o/s rear hub for ? I hav'nt had a chance to drive it yet but seem to drive round the garden centre ok without it engaged. it says that it enables you to push the tractor when disengadged and works like a handbrake when engaged ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
slf-uk 914 #17 Posted April 20, 2017 19 hours ago, the showman said: Thanks Iain, whats the pin for on the o/s rear hub for ? I hav'nt had a chance to drive it yet but seem to drive round the garden centre ok without it engaged. it says that it enables you to push the tractor when disengadged and works like a handbrake when engaged ? Chris, the short version is that Bolens rock but they don't roll The longer version, Bolens rear ends have a worm gear shaft and worm wheel which is the reason the tractor will not roll unless the transaxle input shaft is turning. That plate on the back of the axle is to allow the removal of the worm gear shaft, often people mistake it for a PTO output. Apparently the worm drive is what makes them great tractors for pushing and pulling heavy loads. When you pull the pin on the o/s rear hub the tractor can be pushed, with the pin in it should not be possible to push the tractor unless the transaxle is badly worn. It should not be possible to drive the tractor with the pin out as the drive hub will turn but the hub (which has the wheel attached) will not. As you can drive it with the pin out this means one of two things. Firstly it is possible due to lack of use the drive hub has rusted onto the hub and as soon as you load the tractor it will free off, then you will have to use the pin as normal. The second reason (and most likely) is that the play in the axle has been incorrectly adjusted. The hub on this model has a single narrow bronze bush inside (6 speed transaxles have two bronze bushes) and it does not take long before the single bush develops a crown and the O/S wheel develops lateral movement. It does not take much wear on the bush for the moment to appear and it looks worse than it is. The way to resolve this problem is to replace the bush but many people over adjust the axle end play instead, which is clearly a very bad idea and the first outcome is that you can drive the tractor with the pin out, the second is that you shorten the life of the diff. Here is the instructions for adjusting the axle end play. Bolens Rear-Axle End-Play Adjustment.pdf If you adjust the rear axle and find the bush is badly worn I think I may have a spare new one which I can hunt out. Alternatively, you can wait until I retire as one of my many retirement projects is to develop a solution to overcome this problem. Probably a very bad explanation so let me know where it does not make sense. Iain 4 Stormin, the showman, Triumph66 and 1 other reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the showman 4,074 #18 Posted April 20, 2017 Thanks for all that information, i think i need some more seat time with it and give it something to do then i can play with the pin in and out and see what it does 1 Triumph66 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Triumph66 1,256 #19 Posted April 20, 2017 Chris, an extract from GTT from Brian's article on Tube Frame Bolens. The Bolens Husky 600 did not come with a locking differential. A good way to tell if you have a true original transmission in your 1962 Bolens 600 is look at the hitch on the back. It will be a cast iron hitch molded right into the transmission. 62' was the only year they did this. Another important thing to know is that in order to be able to push the tractor in "free wheel", you must pull out the cotter pin and slide out the free wheeling pin. You can see the pin in the area circled in the picture above. 1 the showman reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the showman 4,074 #20 Posted April 21, 2017 Got a bit more done today. As i use the auto caulto plough with good results I decided to make the hitch adaptable to take most of my attachments. i got a length of channel bent up and drilled some holes, its held on with 2 nuts. ive also welded the tube on to make more like a clevis. heres some photos 6 ranger, Triumph66, Cub Cadet and 3 others reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Triumph66 1,256 #21 Posted April 21, 2017 Look very professional Chris. When will you be trialling it out ? 1 the showman reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the showman 4,074 #22 Posted April 21, 2017 6 minutes ago, Triumph66 said: Look very professional Chris. When will you be trialling it out ? Maybe next week if i have time 1 Triumph66 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stormin 4,458 #23 Posted April 21, 2017 Take it to Johns place on Tuesday. Ideal place. 1 Alan reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Alan 1,273 #24 Posted April 21, 2017 35 minutes ago, Stormin said: Take it to Johns place on Tuesday. Ideal place. Yes, Keep you out of the digger for a while. 3 pmackellow, the showman and Stormin reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the showman 4,074 #25 Posted April 22, 2017 Got the Barford plough fitted today after making up the mounts and plns, I'm not happy with the way it swings from side to side I might do a small modification later 3 Cub Cadet, pmackellow and Stormin reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
