[nglauer]

I think I found a decent deal today. Its a pretty rough bolens HT20 with a loader. The bucket is really rough, but everything else like the lift arms and pivot points seem solid. The tractor runs, but runs slightly rough. Guy bought what he referred to as the "rear pan" from the Bolens Boneyard and was going to finish putting it together for his dads use. I actually saw it, and wanted to take pictures and measurements so I could make my own...


However he told me he wanted rid of it and offered the whole setup to me for 650!!!! Is that a decent deal? I don't really have the cash.. but i'm going to try and stretch the funds together and try.

Also, can the mower be mounted while the loader is on? this would be my biggest issue since I plan on using this to mow once my resto is finished.
Please advice because this will make a big difference on the purchase.

Thanks again for all the help. This truely is the best tractor forum around.

 

[Ken in NJ]

I think I found a decent deal today. Its a pretty rough bolens HT20 with a loader. The bucket is really rough, but everything else like the lift arms and pivot points seem solid. The tractor runs, but runs slightly rough. Guy bought what he referred to as the "rear pan" from the Bolens Boneyard and was going to finish putting it together for his dads use. I actually saw it, and wanted to take pictures and measurements so I could make my own...


However he told me he wanted rid of it and offered the whole setup to me for 650!!!! Is that a decent deal? I don't really have the cash.. but i'm going to try and stretch the funds together and try.

Also, can the mower be mounted while the loader is on? this would be my biggest issue since I plan on using this to mow once my resto is finished.
Please advice because this will make a big difference on the purchase.

Thanks again for all the help. This truely is the best tractor forum around.

Beg .. borrow or steal .. The loader alone (If working) is worth more then twice that

 

[JustinR]

I'd do it. Have had to stretch funds before in cases like this and never regretted it. Do it before he puts it on CL or it's gone in no time.

 

[LPBOLENS]

Absolutely do what you need (legally) to get the funds together to buy this one. If you kept the loader, fixed and sold the tractor, you'd still be money ahead.

 

[nglauer]

I went back and looked at it today. Still trying to figure out where to pull the funds from. I thought the loader was a johnson model... but I took another look at it and it is a ARK 500 loader. The bucket is shot, and the pump is driven by a pulley off the front of the motor. They have removed all of the PTO pieces including the engage lever. Its not as nice as I though... but still looks like a steal. The frame of the tractor, along with the motor still have nice paint. The hood is really rough and the fenders are so so. It has a wild looking seat bracket that someone fabricated on their own. The front tires are like new... but monster sized. They are 19.5x9.5x8 if I remember the tires correctly. They look like the rear tires from an el cheapo lawn mower.

This tractor is located in SE Ohio right outside of Marietta 45750. If I can't pull off getting the funds, perhaps someone else will be interested. I don't picture this guy listing it forsale online, but I will gladly pass it on to another member if I can't get it.

Does anyone know who made ark? and what they were made to fit on?

Thanks again guys,
Nick

 

[LPBOLENS]

The ARK 500 loader was also aftermarket for Bolens Large Frames. I have a brochure for one, showing it on a Bolens. If you get this one, let me know, and I could send you a copy (or an original if I have two)

 

[wilberj]

I may take it if you cant. can you take a pic and post them

 

[nglauer]

I definetly will. If I can't find a way to get this.. I want someone on here to have it. I will try to snap pictures next time I talk to this guy. I have a feeling if someone has an older wheelhorse he'd probably trade even for it.

Looks like the brackets system has been modified heavily. The bucket is in horrible shape, and the cylinders are fairly rusty where they have been left extended in the elements. I would love to see a picture on an ARK loader on a bolens.. i'm curious if this is the correct model, or one someone modified... since it looks so. I found out that ARK was bought by this company. http://www.kmwloaders.com/co_profile.html

I tried to contact them to get information... but no answer when I called.

Also.. can a mower be used with a loader attached? I need a way to leave the mower on most of the time...

Thanks again.

 

[Ken in NJ]

I definetly will. If I can't find a way to get this.. I want someone on here to have it. I will try to snap pictures next time I talk to this guy. I have a feeling if someone has an older wheelhorse he'd probably trade even for it.

Looks like the brackets system has been modified heavily. The bucket is in horrible shape, and the cylinders are fairly rusty where they have been left extended in the elements. I would love to see a picture on an ARK loader on a bolens.. i'm curious if this is the correct model, or one someone modified... since it looks so. I found out that ARK was bought by this company. http://www.kmwloaders.com/co_profile.html

I tried to contact them to get information... but no answer when I called.

Also.. can a mower be used with a loader attached? I need a way to leave the mower on most of the time...

Thanks again.

Yes it can .. but I have not done so

 

[wilberj]

I have a feeling if someone has an older wheelhorse he'd probably trade even for it.

If you dont get it i have a older wheelhorse in my junk he may take.

cant wate for the pics. thanks

 

[nglauer]

Well.. went back again last night and got a much more detailed story...from the DAD.

Apparently the tractor was a father-son project. The dad has a couple of wheelhorses that he mows with, but thought it would be handy to have a loader on one. I guess the son found this bolens and thought it would be fun to restore the loader and modify it to fit one of the lil wheelhorses (looked like it would break one of them). However the son is in his early 40's and busy all the time. The father is in his 60's and to tired to do much with it.... and thought it looked to much like junk to bother with.

I asked the Dad (the son was out) if he cared if I took pictures, he told me I couldn't... that it wasn't forsale??? I told him I had talked to his son and had inquired about buying it... He told me his son didn't want to sell it ???? so now i'm confused. One day forsale... one day its not? When I stopped it technically wasn't forsale... but I figured asking wouldn't hurt. The son told me it was.. and that he was tired of messin with it that its been a problem child since they got it. however it runs smooth, hydraulics all work? Only this missing other that 95% of its paint is the PTO parts off the motor and front spline shaft that goes to the front, along with the PTO lever in the dash.

I will keep everyone posted. I'm wondering if the guy got it for cheap or free... and had no idea what he had until I started sniffing around it? He probably saw the loader on ebay a few days ago (i think it was from a Q series?) It looked very similar to that one... VERY.. minus the nicer paint. I didn't catch the final numbers but I think it broke 1000.00 for the loader alone. I have a feeling he quoted me 650.00 to soon and is back peddling. I will try to catch him, and not the dad next trip through (if another bolens guy hasn't beat me to it). Its surprising how many bolens collectors are down here. Years ago we had numerous bolens dealers in this area.. the tube frame tractors are everywhere!!!! I have no idea how many my great grandpa sold over the years... but he sold alot of them. I believe he shut down the shop shortly after the HT20 came out.... so he's probably responsible for the huge number of them in this area

Any plans of a plow day in OHIO? or WV? I'm on the border and would love to go to some type of show where I could see other restored bolens tractors.

Thanks,
Nick

 

[LPBOLENS]

The ARK 500 loader was also aftermarket for Bolens Large Frames. I have a brochure for one, showing it on a Bolens. If you get this one, let me know, and I could send you a copy (or an original if I have two)

I checked, and I do have two copies of a single page sell sheet, showing the ARK 500 series loader on a Bolens 1455 Large Frame. The specific model for the loader is listed as 506.

 

[nglauer]

It didn't have anything number wise stamped on it... just the remains of a sticker that said ARK 500 Series... so I would say this is the right model. It has a brace the goes between the uprights.. and it crosses between the dash and the steering column. Looks like a horrible design.. and could be changed easily. Would you be able to post a picture of the ad?

I will keep everyone posted as I find out more. I plan on stopping to talk to the son. I have a feeling he won't budge on it now... so i'm thinking about trying the swap tactic.. if money won't work, perhaps I have something he needs?