47 replies to this topic

[Hukon]

Hello, I am Huibert from the Netherlands and doing a restoration of a little Bolens tractor. As I already got help from Stew here on the forum I thought it is maybe nice to share this project. How it started? Well, I noticed this little tractor at a friends place who just bought a new house (back in 2017). In one of the sheds I noticed a little steel tractor standing so I mentioned it to my friend and he didn't have any interest in it, there was already a new tractor so, I could have it for 1€    He even brought it to my place. Here a picture of how it arrived on 30 september 2017.  

 

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[Hukon]

Actually the tractor did run and you could even mow with it. But the engine was leaking fuel and under the tractor there was really a lot of worn bearing noises. Also a tire loosing air and a lot of play on steering and actually on all linkages.

So, I googled a bit around and found out that this little tractor is actually quiet rare, especially here in Europe. The thing I liked primary was how it looks and that it was complete build of steel parts. That is when I decided lets rebuild this little fellow. 

 

Because the engine was already not original anymore and I like diesels (also have done a diesel conversion of a speedboat years ago) and also here in the Netherlands petrol is pretty expensive I made up the idea to do a diesel conversion. 

So, I looked up a little diesel suitable for the Job, a 7HP Hatz 1B30V diesel.

Here a picture with the first step, the mower deck removed and the "new" engine next to it.   

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[Hukon]

Then the first disassembly started, the mower deck.  

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[Hukon]

The Hatz engine I found was from a broken generator. The setup of this engine was the generator straight in the flywheel, so it had a special extra high flywheel with and no output shaft at the bottom

The good news the engine seems like new. 

 

So job to be done was to swap it with a normal flywheel and normal build in alternator and find a output shaft. 

 

 

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[Hukon]

Disassembly...

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[Hukon]

First test fit of the diesel setup...

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[Hukon]

Stuck rear wheel problems...
the left eight wheels seemed never have bin removed from it’s axle. It was really, really stuck. Broke a decent kuko puller on it, tried with hydraulic press but rim inner got bend... finally borrowed a torch from a friend and made a custom puller with a m24x1.5 bolt and welded a nut in the center of the rim.
Had to use all 100mm thread of the big bolt with a serious big wrench in combination with the torch glowing in inner of the rim. Here some pictures of the process...

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[firedudetl1]

nice work - innovative solution to the stuck rim - good luck w/the rest of the project & welcome to the site - lots of help here

[Hukon]

After finally getting the rear wheel of the axle, it was possible to remove the gearbox. In the rear wheel removal process I sadly broke one of the axle bushings so that needs to be replaced.
Felt also play on the input axle of the hydrostat so that needs attention too.
First job was to remove it and clean her up. Again a few pictures... hope this doesn’t get boring...

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[KennyP]

Very informative thread! Carry on! We love pics!

[Hukon]

Progress on the 32” mower deck. One spindel and pulley needs to be replaced. All bearings and tension pulleys too. And of course some welding is needed. I totally stripped the deck and then had it sand blasted, then welded, scooped (zinc plated) and powder coated. Pretty happy with the result. Found a replacement spindel and pulley. I am still looking for a new set of 3 blades. Maybe somebody knows? Or is there a replacement model? Thanks in advance.

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[Hukon]

By the way, I wasn't able to find a part list of the 32" mower deck 18001-02 but I found through ebay someone advertising parts of it and noticed a picture where a part of the list was visible. So I kindly asked for a few pictures of it, here they are. Not the best "scan" but it is better then nothing if you are searching for it. 

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[Hukon]

Ok, finally only the bare frame. Every bolt and part was removed. Found out after a thorough cleaning job (she was real messy) that the engine mounting plate had some serious cracking due to all years of vibration of the Briggs.
So welded at both sides...
After test fitting the whole new engine setup the frame will be sand blasted and powder coated too, but first make all needed adjustments and repairs. The axle of the pedal control was pretty worn. The construction with a plastic bushing seemed not really reliable to me. So have upgraded this bearing peace by welding a bushing to the frame with a bronze bushing in it.
Also noticed this tractor really made hours. Look at the axle ends of the front axle and control levers...
So repaired front axle stumps and upgraded to ball bearings.

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[KennyP]

Ought to out last a bunch of us!

[Hukon]

First start of the Hatz Diesel on the Husky 775.