Bolens Tractors???

It is a bummer. I went down and took it for a ride. I could get used to that I’m not a diesel guy, don’t really know much about them to judge is this thing clapped out or still feeling it’s oats. I know driving it around if you jump on the throttle it’ll belch some black smoke but that’s probably normal,,,,,,,,?
Another option I’m considering is buying another older ATV that has less computer crap on it. An old Honda or something. Parts can be tough for some of those too tho.

 

Yup.

Good plan.
The TRX 300 were almost bulletproof...could get either 4x2(TW) or 4x4(FW) but it was full time 4x4 unfortunately...Warn made a nice kit to convert to part time 4x4, but last I looked they are long gone. Honda sold a bazillion of those TRX 300's! (Besides the sporty EX model, plenty of those out there too!)
There are plenty of other newer models that can be had without too much electronics on them though.
Many models have electric shift, but it was an option, so you could get pushbutton electric shift, or foot shift.
The electric shift models came with a shift lever that could be slipped on the bare shift shaft to operate it manually if the ES failed.
The made some automatics too, but you have to do your homework on those, some were good, some not as much.

 

TractorData.com Bolens G174 tractor information

Some info.

 

I have an ATV and a tractor and there's some overlap in use, but not much. ATV is far superior for long hauls, rough/soft ground, and tight spaces. Tractor makes the ATV look silly for moving anything of size or weight or running any ground engaging tools.

What are you wanting to do with the new machine?

 

I have one of the automatics (2006 model). It is the hydrostatic transmission and has been 100% reliable. The only downside is you have 5 qt oil changes.

 

Take the place or at least part of the place of my ATV. The ATV does a fine job. It pulls a log arch with much more weight that it’s rated for. On the front hitch I move my splitter around. It’s not a huge behemoth splitter but it’s not a box store splitter either. It’s got some weight to it. I’ve become so accustomed to the splitter in front I don’t want to go backwards anymore.
My only issue with the ATV is it throws computer codes, goes into limp mode and Polaris has no idea what is really going on. The codes arent even in their book And the parts they throw at it hoping to fix it aren’t cheap.
I take enough breaks from firewooding, When I’m in the mood to do it I need equipment that’s ready to go. I might not see that ATV back till the end of September.

 

Sounds like a bad connection.
Would take a real tech to find that, not many of those around at most shops these days...plenty of "part swap monkeys" though!
I was just talking with the owner of a large local ag dealership this past weekend, he said it is getting to be a huge problem finding techs that can actually find and fix what is wrong with modern equipment...it is ever increasing more technical, and the techs are less n less capable of thinking through a diagnostic path/process.
He said they have one guy they hired that had some experience and was making good money where he came from, but he said they have to give the guy mostly warranty work, because that generally has to be approved by the factory first, and it usually involves replacing assembly's, rather than actually "repairing" things.
Turn him loose on a customers machine and the owner said he all too often gets irate calls from them about why exactly it is gonna cost $10k (just for example) to fix the issue!

 

Buy a Japanese machine. You'll be much happier.

 

☝️☝️

 

Just FWIW…..If that were a Perkins diesel it would probably be a no brainer. Perkins (UK IIRC) was used in a lot of small and midsize tractors like Massey Ferguson that were brought into US. If nothing else and you could buy it right it could potentially be re-powered with a Perkins or other engine if it came to that.

 

Didn't they have a lot of problems with some of those?
I know growing up our neighbor ran Massey's and he had one that was forever in the shop seemed like...IIRC it was a Perkins diesel

 

Only can go by my personal experience.

 

Couple of suggestions. How many hours on the engine and who was previous owner and how was it used, personal or business. Also likely that there is a Bolens tractor group out there that you could research?

 

Id still take the chance if its in great shape and the price was right.

 

fits Bolens Iseki G152 G154 G172 G174 TX1300 TX1500 TRACTOR CLUTCH W111309 | eBay

 

Ive found clutches abd water pumps so far.

 

Products

G174 parts

 

https://www.stevenstractor.com/home/shop-brand/bolens.html

This place has gasket sets, rings and a bunch of other parts.

Bolens G174 Tractor Parts | All States Ag Parts

Another place....they offer reman crank assembly and other parts. Glow plugs are available from both.

https://www.samsbolens.com/search?q=G174

 

That last site has a lot of parts. 56 pages for the G174...

 

I’m not much help, but I had a 1966 Bolens 1050,
Nothing like what you’re looking at. 2WD, 10hp, twin tube frame, but it was an Honest Garden Tractor, Not a Lawn Tractor.

6spd transmission, locking hub, front and rear PTO’s. I had the 42” mowing deck, 33” tiller, 36” side mounted sickle bar mower, front dozer blade.
Later the dealer I bought it from got a snow blower attachment in and I believe the trash pump too, their was also a front PTO driven generator and I believe a sprayer available as well.

It didn’t set any Land Speed Records, but it would chug along all day, especially with the tiller.
It wasn’t anything Fancy, but I was impressed by what it would do, considering what it was


This isn’t my tractor, just an image stolen off the net, but other than the rear tires the same tractor



I had forgotten about the logo between the headlights, and I didn’t know how prophetic it would be, but it was a fitting logo, I just didn’t know it at the time

I sold it more than 20 years ago, but I would have loved to have had it with the snow blower attachment that I passed on years ago, even the front blade would be nice to a couple times a year here, but it would sit pretty much 13 months of the year

Doug