I know absolutely nothing about Bolens tractors as I collect mainly Gravely tractors. I ran across a Bolens Ridemaster that looks to be in good condition. It probably was restored several years ago. I think the owner said it is in running condition. If not it was because it had been in storage and it simply needs a fuel system cleaning. What is one in good runnig condition worth? Has anyone seen one sell recently? How much more would it be worth if it had say a plow? It is a neat looking machine to say the least! Any information is greatly appreciated.
Bolens Ridemaster value
deerecharles
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I know absolutely nothing about Bolens tractors as I collect mainly Gravely tractors. I ran across a Bolens Ridemaster that looks to be in good condition. It probably was restored several years ago. I think the owner said it is in running condition. If not it was because it had been in storage and it simply needs a fuel system cleaning. What is one in good runnig condition worth? Has anyone seen one sell recently? How much more would it be worth if it had say a plow? It is a neat looking machine to say the least! Any information is greatly appreciated.
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I dont have any pics but it looked like it had really good paint and if I am not mistaken he said it ran good. My memory fails me so lets assume it runs good what is its value? Is it still in the 300 dollar range?
Good condition Ridemasters on the open market go for upwards of $1000 with an attachment or two. If you are willing to wait and hope you run across a steal deal, you might find one for $300, particularly if the current owner has no idea that it might be collectible. Jerome hunts for deals; so do I. But for a good one if I really wanted it right then, $800-1000 is the expected price.
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It's going to come down to what the engines are worth to you and whether they run. I think without the engine it is worth a couple hundred. With the original engine in rebuildable shape and a bonus engine, 3-600 in my opinion. The other thing to look for is whether it is a single or triple pulley above where the engine mounts. Single's are rare. Look at the cable system also. By this I mean, are the throttle controls and cable guides there? That toolbar doesn't look square, looks a little weird....or maybe I am looking at the blade, need a better picture. Are the front rims solid? They are pricey to replace. Original attachments also add to the value. What it really comes down to is what to idiots agree on for a price:ROF.There is what looks like a Bean Cutler in my local Craigslist for $950 asking price, looks a bit rough, and has wrong engine in it, but has what looks like the original engine with it..
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Now $1000 is a good price for one thats in great shape and has a good number of attachments.
Its still hard to sell a nice one for that, for being a 50+ year old tractor $1000 is alot to be asking for it when most times the back rims are junk and who know what else you'll find when it gets home.
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There are some good ballpark value assessments given here but it really is hard to put a value on one of these without photos and more information.
For example ..
Does it have 16 inch or 18 inch front wheels ?
Does the ID tag say "Bolens Division" with a round emblem between the two words, or does it say "Husky" in large letters with a man standing to the left of the word ?
Does it have a Wisconsin or a Briggs & Stratton engine and is it the original engine ?
Does it have a lever down between the two front wheels that can be reached from the seat ?
Does it have the original gas tank, air cleaner and muffler ? ( these three items can be hard to find )
Does it have the original wheel weights and if so, how many ?
Does it have any implements with it ?
What are the implements ? ( some are worth much more than others )
The answer to these questions can greatly affect the value.
One thing that you will find when looking for a Ridemaster is that just about everyone out there that has one for sale thinks that their Ridemaster is a 1947 model.
Most of the Ridemasters are actually in the 1949 to 1954 year range.
For example ..
Does it have 16 inch or 18 inch front wheels ?
Does the ID tag say "Bolens Division" with a round emblem between the two words, or does it say "Husky" in large letters with a man standing to the left of the word ?
Does it have a Wisconsin or a Briggs & Stratton engine and is it the original engine ?
Does it have a lever down between the two front wheels that can be reached from the seat ?
Does it have the original gas tank, air cleaner and muffler ? ( these three items can be hard to find )
Does it have the original wheel weights and if so, how many ?
Does it have any implements with it ?
What are the implements ? ( some are worth much more than others )
The answer to these questions can greatly affect the value.
One thing that you will find when looking for a Ridemaster is that just about everyone out there that has one for sale thinks that their Ridemaster is a 1947 model.
Most of the Ridemasters are actually in the 1949 to 1954 year range.
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That one for $1250 in Ohio has been listed for about 8 months now.
There is one for sale in Canada that is fully restored for $2500 that has been on the market for over 3-years.
If it was a 47 or early 48, it would be worth that but it is 52 and is worth about $1000 to $1200 restored.
Most of these sell in the range of $200 to $800 in running but unrestored condition.
Naturally, the more implements - the higher the value.
If it has the 18 inch front wheels than it is going to be a 1947 or early 1948 and would have a Wisconsin AKS engine.
The information that I have shows that the factory switched to the 16 inch wheels per engineering change dated 6/23/48.
The 1948 Ridemasters with the 18 inch front wheels are harder to find and the 1947 Ridemasters are very hard to find.
In the last three years I have bought two 48 and one 47 Ridemasters with the 18 inch wheels and these have cost me $400 to $575 in unrestored and not running condition.
The 55 thru 58 Ridemasters came with a Briggs & Stratton engine and you could get them with a 2-speed transmission.
These are also harder to find and are worth more.
The late 48 thru 54 Ridemasters with the 16 inch wheels are not that hard to find and there are generally half a dozen or so on ebay every summer.
They are more common around Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin.
They are very hard to find west of the Mississippi.
The photo that was posted be Steevo is a 1946 FMC Bean Cutler.
These were only built one year and is the predecessor to the Ridemaster.
They are easy to find out on the west coast but almost imposable to find east of the Mississippi.
Hank Watkins ( the Ridemaster expert ) has compiled a list of Ridemasters and he currently has over 300 serial numbers on it.
There is one for sale in Canada that is fully restored for $2500 that has been on the market for over 3-years.
If it was a 47 or early 48, it would be worth that but it is 52 and is worth about $1000 to $1200 restored.
Most of these sell in the range of $200 to $800 in running but unrestored condition.
Naturally, the more implements - the higher the value.
If it has the 18 inch front wheels than it is going to be a 1947 or early 1948 and would have a Wisconsin AKS engine.
The information that I have shows that the factory switched to the 16 inch wheels per engineering change dated 6/23/48.
The 1948 Ridemasters with the 18 inch front wheels are harder to find and the 1947 Ridemasters are very hard to find.
In the last three years I have bought two 48 and one 47 Ridemasters with the 18 inch wheels and these have cost me $400 to $575 in unrestored and not running condition.
The 55 thru 58 Ridemasters came with a Briggs & Stratton engine and you could get them with a 2-speed transmission.
These are also harder to find and are worth more.
The late 48 thru 54 Ridemasters with the 16 inch wheels are not that hard to find and there are generally half a dozen or so on ebay every summer.
They are more common around Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin.
They are very hard to find west of the Mississippi.
The photo that was posted be Steevo is a 1946 FMC Bean Cutler.
These were only built one year and is the predecessor to the Ridemaster.
They are easy to find out on the west coast but almost imposable to find east of the Mississippi.
Hank Watkins ( the Ridemaster expert ) has compiled a list of Ridemasters and he currently has over 300 serial numbers on it.
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Great info Ray!
This must be a odd one to make it to the other side.
http://fresno.craigslist.org/grd/2830489964.html
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I have one original .
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