Starting a new project

[eblanks]

Hi folks, I've just opened up a new project and thought I would let everyone in on it. My Ford 3000 sits on a farm that's a couple hours drive so I only get to see it and ride maybe on weekends. So I've been dreaming of something I can have around my suburban house that won't take up much space, doesnt look so unsightly (to the city dwellers) and will provide endless hours of busted knuckles, cursing, grease stains and stripped bolts. I found it in the form of a partially dissassembled Bolens 1050 tube frame garden tractor. It appears to be maybe 90% complete. There are no attachments with it. It comes with a 10hp Wisconsin motor, the guy I bought it from thinks it's original to the tractor but we're not completely sure. The frame and all other structural metal appears to be in very good shape with only some minor surface rust. The sheet metal again has surface rust but mostly seems to be in good condition. At this point I'm stripping it down and cleaning cleaning cleaning. I'm amazed at the simplicity in the design and sturdiness in the construction of these machines. There is some really solid steel in this thing. Most parts are bolt on, so for those of us welding impaired folks can easily take it apart. I'll try to get some pics for you soon, there's not much to look at right now but I think she's gonna be a real nice project in a few momths.

 

[scgargoyle]

Sounds like a fun project! I've 'graduated' from bigger tractors down to lawn and garden tractors, because it's a much smaller task all around to rebuild one. Reduced to its basic components, you can at least pick up the various pieces without a crane!

 

[flusher]

Hi folks, I've just opened up a new project and thought I would let everyone in on it. My Ford 3000 sits on a farm that's a couple hours drive so I only get to see it and ride maybe on weekends. So I've been dreaming of something I can have around my suburban house that won't take up much space, doesnt look so unsightly (to the city dwellers) and will provide endless hours of busted knuckles, cursing, grease stains and stripped bolts. I found it in the form of a partially dissassembled Bolens 1050 tube frame garden tractor. It appears to be maybe 90% complete. There are no attachments with it. It comes with a 10hp Wisconsin motor, the guy I bought it from thinks it's original to the tractor but we're not completely sure. The frame and all other structural metal appears to be in very good shape with only some minor surface rust. The sheet metal again has surface rust but mostly seems to be in good condition. At this point I'm stripping it down and cleaning cleaning cleaning. I'm amazed at the simplicity in the design and sturdiness in the construction of these machines. There is some really solid steel in this thing. Most parts are bolt on, so for those of us welding impaired folks can easily take it apart. I'll try to get some pics for you soon, there's not much to look at right now but I think she's gonna be a real nice project in a few momths.

You're right. Bolens garden tractors are solid machines. Last year I picked up a mid-1970s Bolens G1453 with mid-mount mower and rototiller. Engine is a 14hp Tecumseh.

The tiller connects to the engine pto via a drive shaft so the mower has to be removed to use the tiller.

The engine started smoking pretty good a few months ago. Looks like I'll be doing an engine rebuild before long.

 

[eblanks]

A quick update on this project. Sorry to say but no photos at this time. I've enjoyed the project so much that I just don't think to carry a camera out to the shed when I work on it. I have the tractor mostly dissasembled and have begun cleaning and repainting the basic frame components. So far the only damage I have found is on the right side hub, the outer hub component had a crack in it. I've bought a few replacement parts and interestingly enough the replacement parts cost has soared way beyond what I paid for the tractor to begin with. I spent about 3 weeks with a broken bolt. I drilled it out and got an extractor in there which promptly broke off. So I spent quite a bit of time grinding out the extractor. Since it was hardened steel I couldn't drill it and a small dremel mounted grinding stone was the only thing that would cut through it. Now that is out and I'm back to cleaning and painting again. One question I would like to pose to the audience. The bolts I have removed seem okay, have some rust but nothing that can't be cleaned off. Do you buy new bolts to make your project really look good, or keep the old bolts to maintain the authenticity? Thanks for reading.