Bolens reliability

[CutTheHolesOut]

I have been thrilled with my bolens g274 TLB and recently found myself wanting to exchange my garbage craftsman riding mower for something by bolens. I am aware that anything built in the last two decades is junk, but how much further do I need to go back before they turned to garbage? I would be looking for something I could put a snowblower, mower deck, and tiller on, and am open to suggestions of some of your favorites. If you give specific models, please tell my why that one in particular takes the cake. Thank you!

 

[DJ54]

Speaking only for Cub Cadet and Wheel Horse. Models before MTD took over Cub Cadet, and before TORO took over Wheel Horse.

Speaking personally about Wheel Horse, Dad bought a pair of 310-8's in early '88. One himself, and one for my Grandma. His was used a lot more than hers. I inherited both several years apart. I still use both quite a bit mowing, hauling firewood from the storage building to the shop, hauling leaves to the garden for mulch, etc. Both have the original Kohler engines, other than the fuel pumps being replaced last year, new bearings in the PTO clutch on one, blades and belts, normal items like battery's, new tires etc. they still run/operate great. I'd say regular service on them has kept them going.

 

[nyone]

I have a 1980s Bolins tube frame. That thing rattles so bad even with no attachments on it that my feet went numb in about 20min. I have used the snowblower on it for aboit 75'..worked absolutely terribly. The mowing deck isnt much better. They make things that mow, till or snowblow way better now.

 

[Carl_NH]

The choices for a garden tractor like JD 318, Cub Cadet 1800 series built up to 2000 timeframe are decent machines. Then the newer JD 500-700 series today are nice but $$. Then finding all the attachments you want is a challenge as (blowers, tillers etc) are model specific.

IMO you would be best served to step up to a sub-compact Kubota BX, Massey,, Mahindra etc. with 4WD and a 3 PT setup which opens up a lot of options for snow blowers, tillers, and mower attachments. The Kubota probably has the most options for attachments at least here in the NE. You can find these for $6-10K range and under 5-600 hours.

 

[Bmantel]

There are some TubeFrame Bolens with hydrostatic drives .. look for that.

I had a geared 850 that I ran for almost 10 years after finding it at a local tag sale where the guy was going to junk it.

Finally after 10 years of my use the Engine blew the mains and toasted the crank too. It needed a whole new engine after that ... Not going to happen for a lawn tractor older than me! To the scrapper it went.

If you want a newer Lawn Tractor besides Bolens, look to the Kobota G2160 or older G-series models. I have added a 3pt class 1'ish hitch, tiller, snow thrower, and mower deck for my G2160. Love it!

Btw a G model will make a 360 degree turn tight enough to leave almost no uncut grass. A BX will leave 2'+ of unmowed area doing the same.... I have a 24D BX too, so I know. That tractors mower deck sits way in the back, in permanent storage.

 

[CutTheHolesOut]

I appreciate the suggestions. I ended up grabbing a medium frame 1668 with all the attachments I wanted. Mower, tiller, snowblower, wheel weights, and a cab. Guy took a strait up trade for my 15-20 year old plastic craftsman in pretty beat up condition. I got the 1668 running beautifully, and tested out all the attachments. Neighbors thought I was crazy for driving around on the grass snowblowing on a nice sunny day, and the wife isn’t thrilled about how much tilling I thought we needed in our yard, but it turned out great. The only thing it needs is one headlight. The foot pedal hydro is nice too.