buckrancher 2,694 #1 Posted May 12, 2014 Wheel horse's are my first and most favorite tractor to collect and restore but having said that I find that I really like a few other brands and wanted to add them to my herd too the old round nose Bolens tractors are one of these I always thought they were cool looking I happened to be telling a coworker this that work one day and he looks at me and says I think there is one of them sitting in a hedge row at my moms house who'd a thought I have only been working with the guy for 30 years. anyway he promised to take a picture I went and picked her up the following saturday she was very rough that was a year ago in apirl I have been working on restoring her off and on for a year now. I wish I had taken some pics before I turned her in to a pile of rusty parts many parts were replaced with new pieces I built as they were very badly pitted some need repairing like this pulley's bad key way or totally rebuilt like this belt cover 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
buckrancher 2,694 #2 Posted May 12, 2014 the biggest problem was the motor a kohler K160 was missing the complete ignition system. one finally came up on E-Bay and I got it I assembled the motor and got her started I just wanted to see if the old girl would still run before I did a complete rebuild getting the painting done 9 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
buckrancher 2,694 #3 Posted May 12, 2014 The front frame half was badly broken so instead of trying to weld it up I got a frame from a 58 and and cut the spot welds off the front half and modified it to a 57 Brian 9 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jake Kuhn 1,556 #4 Posted May 13, 2014 Very nice work Brian! I always liked the old bolens ride a matics as well. Love watching your resto threads, looking forward to reading more updates. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fun Engineer 859 #5 Posted May 13, 2014 Love those Bolens. Nice work Brian. Sent from my tractor seat using Tapatalk 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
buckrancher 2,694 #6 Posted May 13, 2014 slowly getting the frame back together Brian 6 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Martin 2,133 #7 Posted May 13, 2014 (edited) Real nice work Brian. You are one of those guys on this forum that keeps pushing me to raise my standards higher...... Edited May 13, 2014 by Martin 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fireman 1,022 #8 Posted May 13, 2014 Smokin' nice Brian!!! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dclarke 4,034 #9 Posted May 13, 2014 I always liked the looks of the old Bolens as well, Brian. Nice job! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shallowwatersailor 3,213 #10 Posted May 13, 2014 Nice work! Just like you, I have interests in other tractors. I would like to get a Bolens Versa Matic someday. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
buckrancher 2,694 #11 Posted May 13, 2014 thanks guy's this has been a learning experience Brian Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
55rj35jr 623 #12 Posted May 13, 2014 Looks good Brian, I grew up right beside a Bolens dealership you would think Bolens would be the tractor I would collect, I'm like you I like the look of the early one like yours nice job... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
neil 2,410 #13 Posted May 13, 2014 superb Brian, Love those round nose Ride a Matics , they are pretty much non existant here in UK. nice work 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VinsRJ 723 #14 Posted May 13, 2014 As always Brian, superb work! We going to see it this June? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ken B 3,164 #15 Posted May 13, 2014 Back when I was about 14 I had a 57 Bolens. They are such a cool tractor. I sure wish I still had it. I really like the green they used, so much better than John Deere green! As always, fantastic work. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jimt1971 237 #16 Posted May 13, 2014 Brian where are the stainless parts? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AMC RULES 37,134 #17 Posted May 13, 2014 Looks really close to EN-66... same green AMC used to paint their engines. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 41,384 #18 Posted May 13, 2014 Back when I was about 14 I had a 57 Bolens. They are such a cool tractor. I sure wish I still had it. I really like the green they used, so much better than John Deere green! As always, fantastic work.you might have to look closely at his shoes to see the paint! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 41,384 #19 Posted May 13, 2014 (edited) Brian where are the stainless parts?Brian sent me a couple of "Insider Preview" pics! I blew them up on my puter and saw the stainless bolts. I thought I saw an imperfection in the paint and was going bust him about it until I realized it was a speck on my screen ! Edited May 13, 2014 by squonk 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rideking 32 #20 Posted May 13, 2014 I've got a restored 57 as well, the one show tractor that I own. A few years ago I stumbled across a sickle, moldboard plow, and cultivator, and snow blade (minus the frame) - around that same time I passed up the opportunity to pickup a front mounted mower, been kicking myself ever since! Great work keeping these old machines going! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
buckrancher 2,694 #21 Posted May 14, 2014 motor rebuilt and back together back on the frame pretty much done Brian 10 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Martin 2,133 #22 Posted May 14, 2014 that looks very nice, Brian. what a unique looking color and tractor. the color looks awesome. what material and/or finish is the starter pulley and screen on the flywheel? did i mention the color looks awesome? 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ken B 3,164 #23 Posted May 14, 2014 That is gorgeous, she really pops! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Martin 2,133 #24 Posted May 14, 2014 i don't know anything about that model tractor, did you do it close to how it was built originally? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
buckrancher 2,694 #25 Posted May 14, 2014 Done and home Brian 8 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
