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.

 

[Ilikeurtractor]

...And I didn't mean to imply Sams prices were unfair, I'm sure he's right on...

I'm not picking any one side, but I find myself questioning the value of parts too and need to remind myself of what I stated previously at times. When you get a tractor for cheap which I have also, it's hard to justify spending what appears to be significant amounts on parts for it. But you have to keep it in perspective which it looks like you are. The main thing is that you now have an opportunity to enjoy fixing it up and having some fun with it. If you're willing to take the time to find parts or pick up another machine these can definitely be cheap (i.e. good value.)

I wouldn't worry about running it with the wheels it has, just keep it out of 4wd unless you're in some slippery stuff.

 

[DaffyJeffy]

Yeah I completely agree. My Johnson resto is the same; I really start to question the money/time I'm putting in it. But at the end of the day, I really enjoy working on mechanical things and I don't think there is a modern equivalent in terms of quality. I love old stuff.

 

[Ilikeurtractor]

To your point, I just bought a 1974 Yamaha snowmobile that has nothing mechanically wrong with it. I paid $500 and felt like I got ripped off when the guy, who was asking $600, jumped at it. In the world of snowmobiles I probably did get ripped off but when I consider what I bought it for which is to pull my kids around the yard on inner tubes, it seems like a steal. A new sled runs $7k+ and really isn't designed to do what I want (go slow). Yes, there is no comparison between what I bought and a new sled, but I can't stop and feel bad about spending $500 for it. I collect and use vintage chainsaws too. They work fine for what I want and I enjoy learning the history behind them. I can see how the outboards would be the same and have heard a lot about them from others who follow them.

 

[DaffyJeffy]

That's pretty funny. I was given a Polaris 1989 Indy Trail Deluxe with a hole in one piston. I was going to do a full resto because the Fuji 488 fan-cooled engine is one of the most reliable snowmobile motors ever made. But I currently have it on craigslist for $300. I just don't have the time...and now with this tractor...

I also own a 1952 Homelite chainsaw which was one of the first ones they made. Engine is not seized and I want to get it running for fun. I live very close to the Maine forestry heritage museum Maine Forestry Museum located in Rangeley Maine and they have a great collection of old saws. I've talked with many old timers who took part in the last log drives on the rivers around here. I find logging history very interesting. Used to own a wood/work a wood-lot myself.