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BRAD1975
Canada
1562 Posts |
 Posted - 08/20/2010 : 20:08:22
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I got the bug again
some of you may know I have always liked Bolens tractors
I found a decent 1556 hydrostatic for $300 and am picking it up tomorrow..does not run but the guy says its just from sitting...hopefully he is not a rip off guy because its a heck of a drive
this will be my first Bolens Hydro..all my previous ones were just gear drive...hopefully I dont get too attached to it ..my plan is to repair and flip it |
Edited by - BRAD1975 on 09/01/2010 23:23:20 |
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ATF
USA
1892 Posts |
Posted - 08/20/2010 : 20:17:44
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| I don't know how you can do it, I've sold a few, but it hurts every time. I never bought one really intending to flip. Good Luck |
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larry8200
USA
3166 Posts |
Posted - 08/20/2010 : 20:45:30
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| Bolens made some great GT's hope to see some pics. |
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ATF
USA
1892 Posts |
Posted - 08/20/2010 : 21:19:32
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| They really did. They had shaft drive decks way back when, hardly anyone does shaft drive decks till you get to 20 hp or larger. I like the 1886, The QT's, and the Eliminators. I've got 2 Bolens QT17's I'm repowering with M18 Magnums. Supposedly a friend is buying them, if his wife lets him, we'll see. |
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larry8200
USA
3166 Posts |
Posted - 08/20/2010 : 21:52:48
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quote:
Originally posted by ATF
They really did. They had shaft drive decks way back when, hardly anyone does shaft drive decks till you get to 20 hp or larger. I like the 1886, The QT's, and the Eliminators. I've got 2 Bolens QT17's I'm repowering with M18 Magnums. Supposedly a friend is buying them, if his wife lets him, we'll see.
They had shaft drive decks, but the decks internal belt was a bit of a..... And puttiing the deck on and taking it off is a bit of a....
And then there's the kohler... |
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B-16_IC
USA
2823 Posts |
Posted - 08/21/2010 : 13:01:17
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I had a QT-17 that I used one season and then sold the next year. I found myself scared of that two hole toilet under the hood. It was a series two, but still not as good of engine as the single cylinders or the later Magnums. I will say, that thing was a tank! Very heavy, I know, I had to push it a little too often. |
Life is all about paying. Pay attention, or pay the consequences, the choice is yours. Rich |
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olcowhand
USA
5115 Posts |
Posted - 08/21/2010 : 16:04:13
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| I've owned Sears, Wheel Horse, Ford, Massey, Bush Hog, Kubota, Case, MTD, John Deere, Allis Chalmers, Cub Cadet, David Bradley, Huffy, Snapper and more, but never seen a Bolens around here for sale! Owner's must wanna keep them for life! |
Daniel in Ky -- So much to do, so little time!
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BRAD1975
Canada
1562 Posts |
Posted - 08/21/2010 : 20:00:59
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Ive never had a QT...all my Bolens have been the 69 70 and 71 old style with the shaft drive ...I agree withe pain for belt change but I use gates power rated and never have to change them twice..the reason they are a pain change is because of the automotive style clutch plates...but thats a great system and well worth the extra work it causes
Im curious now about this one..it doesnt seem to have clutches ...it has an Eaton 10 rear with a treadle pedal
Its still on the trailer ...Ill post pics tomorrow
it came with a crapload of surprise spare parts...the guy showed me a box and I thought great....then I noticed he also meant the pile of boxes that the first box was sitting on ....plus he threw in a good spare seat for free |
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BRAD1975
Canada
1562 Posts |
Posted - 08/21/2010 : 20:02:33
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quote:
Originally posted by olcowhand
I've owned Sears, Wheel Horse, Ford, Massey, Bush Hog, Kubota, Case, MTD, John Deere, Allis Chalmers, Cub Cadet, David Bradley, Huffy, Snapper and more, but never seen a Bolens around here for sale! Owner's must wanna keep them for life!
Bolens seems popular up here and in the northern states...I guess because they were made in wisconsin |
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ATF
USA
1892 Posts |
Posted - 08/21/2010 : 20:17:19
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| Let me know if you need manuals, I've got a bunch on attachments and quite a few on tractors. The QT used the same rear end and foot treadle gas pedal |
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Cvans
USA
4406 Posts |
Posted - 08/21/2010 : 22:07:55
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The foot operated hydro is always a plus in my book. I've had 2 Bolens tractors here and they both were based on that format. On the negative side. I have not seen a Bolens deck that can cut anywhere near as nice as the Simplicity decks do. I am very seriously considering remodeling a Simplicity deck for my Bolens GT2000. Just to prove this point to myself I mowed last week with the Simplicity 7117 and sure enough the wife comments on how nice the yard looks again. She has no Idea what I mow with but if I mow with the Bolens I never hear a compliment so it isn't just me. Bolens does make some mean tractors though.
Chris |
East Central South Dakota
The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.
Thomas Jefferson
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BRAD1975
Canada
1562 Posts |
Posted - 08/21/2010 : 22:17:44
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quote:
Originally posted by ATF
Let me know if you need manuals, I've got a bunch on attachments and quite a few on tractors. The QT used the same rear end and foot treadle gas pedal
sweet ..Thanks
I'm seriously hoping the hydraulics are good...the guy says the previous owner said they were (the guy I bought it from never used it )...I notice it has hydraulic lift too...I really don't mind fixing engines but have no want at all to start tearing apart hydrostatic stuff
on the plus side this guy admitted to me he knows absolutely nothing about fixing stuff and always had to pay to get things repaired so Im hoping this one is not real bad...it does have compression and no hole blasted out the side of the block (its a tecumseh 15hp)..it looks rough but still has the original decals
He had two 1556 for sale...He trying to make room to park his brand new husquarvarna |
Edited by - BRAD1975 on 08/21/2010 22:19:55 |
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tractorjoe
USA
381 Posts |
Posted - 08/21/2010 : 22:33:19
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I had an 850 to start off with.
As part of the deal of me getting the 7120 I had to get rid of it.
The guy who bought it said that it was actually a 600?
I dont know.
seemed like a decently well built piece of machine
Carb leaked though.
decent set of attachment options. |
- Joe
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BRAD1975
Canada
1562 Posts |
Posted - 08/22/2010 : 21:06:05
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my other ones had just a few attachments...the G12 had a deck only...and the one I used the most had a snowplow and a snowblower...I wrecked the gearbox on the blower the second time I used it (caught the pressure treated wood separating the driveway from the lawn)...i think it was a 1254 model..basically I used for plowing the yard for like ten years
This 1556 came with just a deck...If I keep it I plan on finding a tiller but my back really limits my tractor use ...which is why I sold the other ones and bought a truck plow
I been tinkering with it already...the deck gearbox feels really nice and smooth with barely any wear but one spindle will need new bearings...the engine runs without smoke but has a definite knock so I will be tearing it down to see why...it feels and sounds like rod wear..it moves forward and reverse so thats a good sign and the hydro lift seems to work well too but there was no weight on it when I tested
I looked through the parts and found two spare hydraulic cylinders...two valve bodies..spare brakes..what appears to be a complete spare hh150 engine but I didnt see a piston and there is extra heads (these are overhead valve engines)
here is some pics..
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ATF
USA
1892 Posts |
Posted - 08/22/2010 : 23:07:39
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| Too bad you weren't closer, I just sold a HH016 overhead valve, new carb, with a complete rebuild for 150.00 |
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Cvans
USA
4406 Posts |
Posted - 08/23/2010 : 09:32:59
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If you get that thing running it will be a beast. I bought my Son inlaw (sp?) one of those at a garage sale when we were visiting them. He thinks the world of it. He uses it to push, pull and drag just about anything around his property. It doesn't look pretty but it sure does a nice job for him.
Chris
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East Central South Dakota
The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.
Thomas Jefferson
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Bolens 1556
