My new G154 tx1300

[DaffyJeffy]

I got this freebie Bolens G154 (Iseki tx1300) recently. It runs but needs a lot of work. I'm trying to track down a shop manual. Anybody have any idea where I can find one. I'm no stranger to rebuilding mechanical things but I'm very hesitant to take a wrench to her without exploded view drawings.

 

[ballaterach]

Hi I have a TX1300 manual quite large file I can put it on our website possibly for you to download if thats any help?

 

[DaffyJeffy]

Thanks for the response and offer. I found on ebay a download of the service manual, owners manual, and parts catalog. All 3 for $20 so I'm going to just get them all. Really looking forward to getting to work on this tractor!

 

[Ilikeurtractor]

Nice catch - you'll find it will clean up easily and be a dependable tractor. Always great to get a good deal on one and looks like you have

 

[suntreemcanic]

Those front tires appear to be to big. In four wheel drive the tire diameters for front and rear are critical. The front tires are 5.00-12 and the rears are 8.00-16. If they are not of this ratio the front will be fighting the rear and putting extreme pressure on the drive train (parts will break).

 

[Ilikeurtractor]

I would second the notion of replacing the front wheels/tires. Unfortunately used front wheels are somewhat hard to come by. Kubota rims will work according to what I've read in this forum in the past:

Kubota 5X12 Front Wheel (12X5X4KU)

You can find 5.00-12 R1 tires fairly easily for them.

 

[DaffyJeffy]

Thanks for the responses guys/gals. Someone on a different forum pointed that out to me also - about the wheels/tires being an issue. The tires on it are labeled B78-13, which, after digging around a bit on the internet, are 24.1" overall diameter. The original 5.00-12's are only 22.8" overall diameter. Good eye Suntree! I'll need to correct this (and cross my fingers that no damage was done. And thanks for the Kubota wheel idea!

 

[DaffyJeffy]

So I contacted Samsbolens and he has the transmission case I need for $500 (ouch) and front wheel with good tires for $225 a piece. The wheels/tires seem a bit steep to me, what do you guys think?

 

[Ilikeurtractor]

I'd buy the wheels I posted and find tires off eBay. I think you should be able to get tires for $50 ea. (shipped) last I looked. Parts pricing is usually all over the board depending on where you go. In many cases, you're arguably better off picking up a complete (or mostly complete) tractor for parts in the long run, IF you can find one. Otherwise, I can't really blame dealers for the prices they charge as they are essentially storing parts, in some cases for years, for someone to maybe buy them some day and usually they don't get the parts for free to start with. Plus there is a fair amount of time and effort involved with the transaction especially if they have to take things apart to get to what you want. Also, check out parts for a newer Kubota, John Deere, etc. and you'll be amazed. It is usually a financially humbling experience. By the way, last time I priced a used front axle for your machine I found one for $1200 from a dealer. So spending $300 to get the correct wheels/tires may be a worthwhile investment now to minimize its failure in the future.

 

[DaffyJeffy]

I completely agree Ilike. I'd love to have a parts machine (I'm restoring a vintage Johnson outboard and I do in fact have a parts motor for that resto). Kind of what I was thinking with the wheels. I'm real glad you passed the Kubota tip on to me. And I didn't mean to imply Sams prices were unfair, I'm sure he's right on. I've parted out things on ebay and sometimes the satisfaction of knowing I got a part to someone who needed it is much greater than the money, because, as you pointed out, it's a lot of work. I'm not going to run her until I get the right wheels on it.