 |
This is the first Bolens 1050 I purchased in 1997. I bought it from a 70 year old friend who really abused it for almost 30
years. I paid him $150.00. I had to replace everything from the tube frame up,
clutches, transmission, rims, tires, 14 hp Tecumseh engine, seat and steering
wheel. |
 |
This is the second Bolens 1050 I purchased in 1998. I bought it from several fellows who had planned on going into the lawn mowing business and had changed their
mind. It had sat outside in the weather for at least 1.5 years. I paid the fellows $100.00 even though the tractor hadn't been running for several
years. I replaced the Engine with a 18 hp Briggs & Stratton Industrial
twin. I also replaced the seat, tires (front & rear, steering
wheel, and I rebuilt the 6 speed transmission. |
 |
This is the first Bolens with the 14 hp Tecumseh
engine. At first I installed (Sears) front and rear electric lifts. These proved to be too slow and time
consuming. When working, I would have to wait for the lifts to cool off before continuing pushing
dirt. I did however love the tractor and it proved to be a
workhorse. |
 |
This is the second Bolens with the 18 hp Briggs & Stratton
engine. As you can see, I added hydraulics and built a front end loader.
(The plans are CADLoaderLT Model 507). The hydraulic pump is attached behind the left engine
exhaust, it is driven by belt off the middle pulley on the
engine. The diameter of the pulleys must be the same so as to drive the hydraulic pump at the proper
rpms. This tractor with the front end loader works great, however I got ambitious and decided to add a back
hoe. |
 |
This is the 18 hp Bolens after I had added the front end loader and the back
hoe. As you can see, the seat swiveled so I could use it for loading and back
hoeing. Performance of the machine was better than expected, however the weight of the back hoe
(approximately 400 Ibs.) proved to be too much. I busted 4 axle drive collars before I was convinced to remove the back hoe and make it a
stand-alone. |
 |
This is the 18 hp Bolens as it appears
today. The front end loader works great, however I had to add antifreeze to the tires and add 55
Ibs. per rear tire to give the tractor stability. Also there is a 45
lb. weight on the left side of the tractor to counter balance the bucket
arm. The bucket will lift approximately 300 Ibs. |
 |
This is the modified CADigger as a stand
alone. The 10 hp Wisconsin engine was originally on the second
Bolens. This project was completed in late 1999. I use this digger almost every
weekend. talk about fun! My understanding wife and I built the building you see in the background just to store the tractors and back
hoe. |
 |
This is a picture of my original 1050 Bolens (14 hp Tecumseh) pulling the stand-alone back hoe to the job site. As you can see I have added hydraulic front and back. I also designed and built a center scrape blade which works
great. We have a lot of gravel and dirt roads. This little tractor is really dependable and probably my favorite. |
| I am responsible for all design modifications and
welding. I like the Bolens tractors so well, I have purchased 3 other Bolens for use as parts. By the
way, I also own 2 Sears 18 hp garden tractors. The Sears tractors are used almost exclusively for
mowing. One here in Charlotte and the other up in the mountains on
weekend. By the way, did you know that TNN television network, has garden tractor races during the winter
season.
Ron Phillips |
Ron
L Phillips 
