Bolens G154 / Iseki tx1300f

[TomSeller]

I have learned something from you men. The problem was the battery. I am glad that I did not take off the starter. Thank you very much.

We men usually learn a lot more from you girls. Glad you got it going.

 

[NHmitch]

Glad that you were able to get it running! What type of work do you do on your Bolens? I truly hope that at 73 years young, I am still working on my tractor! Besides, 73, is the new 53! Last year a 73 year old woman from Japan climbed Mount Everest. A task that very few healthy people in their twenties could achieve. Don't ever let anyone ever tell you that you are too old, they are just jealous. 73-year-old woman scaling Everest proves you can age well Take care, and stay out of the heat you are experiencing in the PNW. I lived in Idaho, and Washington State for 7 years, so I am very familiar what the heat can be like there..

I have learned something from you men. The problem was the battery. I am glad that I did not take off the starter. Thank you very much.

 

[NHmitch]

Thats actually a pretty good idea for your A-frame. I was looking at the beams in my garage when I recently needed to split mine, and my house was built pretty solid in the 1952, however I was a bit hesitant and all I could image was my wife coming out when the ceiling collapsed on my tractor, so I scraped that idea. How is your tractor coming together?

Here are a few pictures after I cleaned the differential housing and the axle bearings. Also a few pictures of my train wreck of a garage
and my home made A frame to hoist the engine when I split
the tractor.

 

[fxrs55]

waiting for parts.

 

[fxrs55]

I did some assembly of transmission and some adjustment of clutch.

 

[TomSeller]

Studying those pictures is like reading a book the way you lay them out and annotate them. Very nice documentation.

 

[Ilikeurtractor]

Looking good. Nice and clean, your gearbox will be happy. Looks like you'll be up and running again as good as new in no time :thumbsup:

 

[fxrs55]

So the tractor is setting in the garage mocking me while I'm waiting
for gaskets. I talked to Leonard at Sheaffers Tractor parts and he
told me he is waiting for the axle housing gaskets to come in
and he would been mailing all of the gaskets and parts I've ordered.
I have been working on this thing since February. This thing
has had one problem after another. This has been the most
expensive free tractor I have ever been given. So while
I have been waiting for parts I decided to remove the radiator
and sand blast the radiator housing and shroud. I also
scraped the rust and loose paint off of the radiator brackets.
I painted the housing,shroud and radiator. With the radiator
removed I was able to clean and prime the front part of the
tractor frame. I spent about 3 hours tonight scraping off the
old gaskets from the differential housing. Boy those old gaskets
on the housing are really bonded on there. It takes a lot of
time to scrape old gaskets off being careful not to
gouge the aluminum housing.

 

[Ilikeurtractor]

... This has been the most
expensive free tractor I have ever been given...

I think this falls under "there's no free lunch". I've come across what appears to be "good deals" initially that wound up costing me as much or more than the "not so good deals" that would have saved me a bunch of time had a just cut-to-the-chase and bought them. But buying one that doesn't need any work doesn't give you as much "appreciation" as one that does. I can't wait until I go to sell and the first guy says "gee, that's pretty high for that tractor I can get one for much less...". My words will be to suggest they go buy the broken, rusty one and spend the small fortune in time and money to fix it. I have pretty much concluded you get what you pay for. There are the instances someone inherits something great or finds the once-in-a-lifetime deal but in my life that's pretty rare. The good news is once you're done you'll have a great tractor and the frustration, work, and waiting memories will fade and it will all be worth it.

 

[TomSeller]

Well it could been the most expensive to repair tractor you ever bought. I have one of those.