The anti-horse

[Ifixoldjunk 778]

So for most of my time tinkering with garden tractors I’ve always done wheel horse stuff. They’re all so straight forward to work on, everything’s where it should be and there’s nothing extra. 
 

And then we get to this thing…

My 68 bolens 1050. Nothing makes any sense whatsoever on these things.

so I fired it up to move it out of the way and it immediately shreds one of the drive belts. Not really a huge issue since FMC decided it needs two of them.

But the interesting part of this is that the two drive belts lead down to a automotive style plate clutch attached to a shaft that runs straight into the gearbox. 
which means in order to replace the belts I would have to remove the clutch and disconnect the driveshaft to even get to them.

Ive heard of others having to unbolt the engines and slide them forward on the frame to get enough room to even touch the belts.

[Ifixoldjunk 778]

so basically this thing here needs to be removed or loosened to be able to replace the belts.

that shaft at the end of it ends up leading into the gearbox with a big worm gear on the end. Which is also known to explode under heavy loads because everything inside the gearbox is made of brass.

(For this reason I have a spare gearbox ready to go)

[Ifixoldjunk 778]

Just to give you an idea of how tightly packed together all this nonsense is, when you turn the steering wheel the steering shaft rubs on the clutch pedal linkage making the whole clutch petal kinda shake up and down.

[Jeff-C175 7,199]

3 minutes ago, Ifixoldjunk said:

worm gear

 

Always worry me.

 

Tremendous loads on small contact patch.  I've had multiple failures of walk behind snow thrower auger drive gearboxes.  

[Ifixoldjunk 778]

And the cherry on top? The underside looks like this…

 

So many things in the way of a simple belt change… 

 

maybe I should trade it for a lawn ranger at this point😅😅

[oliver2-44 9,573]

Well I can see your having way to much fun wrench time!'

Having the "other brands" to work on makes a person appreciate the "Wheelhorse Design" even more.

[Jeff-C175 7,199]

13 minutes ago, Ifixoldjunk said:

So many things in the way

 

Yeah... but that are strong little buggers!  Guy I got my C-125 from has a water cooled model.  Quite the machine!

 

"The Anti-Horse"  That's funny!

 

[Maxwell-8 4,275]

Be carful buddy throwing on two belts, they have a different ratio's. One is low gear the other is high gear.

And the belt just slips on. not having to take anything apart. But all the rest, is indeed like to must unlogical way of doing something

 

That is how it is on my G10

 

 

 

EDIT: question: has the gearbox a High and low? or is it done by the 2 pulley options like on mine? 

 

Edited March 9, 2022 by Maxwell-8

[Ifixoldjunk 778]

@Maxwell-8 Mines the slightly more complicated 8 speed with the diff locker.
 

how exactly does the belt high low work? I’ve never seen one in person. 

[Maxwell-8 4,275]

6 hours ago, Ifixoldjunk said:

@Maxwell-8 Mines the slightly more complicated 8 speed with the diff locker.
 

how exactly does the belt high low work? I’ve never seen one in person. 

Where you have to put on two drive belts. I only have to put on one, my second pulley on top is smaller, and the second bottom one is bigger.

If you want low range, you turn of the engine, and just switch over to the other pulley set.

Will get a picture when I can

[WHX?? 48,586]

Interesting thing to look at Ifix but yeah a PIA to work on. Some day I have to get on this one and going to be an interesting one to open up the gear box, 

An Amigo

 

There was another brand that one had to switch pullies for high/low range. I thought is was Panzer? 

Edited March 10, 2022 by WHX??

[Maxwell-8 4,275]

16 hours ago, Ifixoldjunk said:

@Maxwell-8 Mines the slightly more complicated 8 speed with the diff locker.
 

how exactly does the belt high low work? I’ve never seen one in person. 

When to take a few pictures

Currently in High gear..  belt

The highest pulley-set is the engine , the lower is the driveshaft 

 

 

 

 

And the deck is driven by a belt driving a shaft; the shaft goes in a gearbox to the deck, and then you have a belt driving all the spindles

[Ifixoldjunk 778]

@WHX?? holy smokes, I’ve never even heard of an “amigo” tractor. Looks great.

[WHX?? 48,586]

17 hours ago, Ifixoldjunk said:

@WHX?? holy smokes, I’ve never even heard of an “amigo” tractor. Looks great.

Thanks.... almost as rare as a tractor as a McLean. Not too much is known about them and a very sought after tractor. Engine is a K161 but the rest is all proprietary and parts are made of unobtainium. Also has shuttle shift and turning brakes. Speed control is by throttle.

The only oddball in my herd. 

 

If you would like to know more....

AARON DAVIS.pdf

Edited March 11, 2022 by WHX??

[Ifixoldjunk 778]

So here’s the good news, I have two new Kevlar belts installed. They should be good for the next 10 years. The bad news? 
I got a little too excited testing out my new 1/2 ratchet. Gave the nut on the end of the clutch one Ugga dugga too many, and the threads decided to call it quit. So now the tractor is completely incapable of switching gears. I’m not entirely certain how a bolens clutch works so hopefully I can take the stud out and try to replace, or thread it down some. Hopefully it’s not integral to the clutch itself.

[Handy Don 12,040]

2 hours ago, Ifixoldjunk said:

one Ugga dugga too many

It was after one of these that my children gifted me a nice torque wrench. Don't know how I got along without it for so long.

[Jeff-C175 7,199]

22 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

torque wrench

 

I don't really use them to tell me how tight the bolts are, but to keep from BREAKING them!  I know when they're tight.  I don't know when they're TOO tight until it's too late!

 

Banjo bolts are the worst!  Don't even approach them without a torque wrench!  They will snap if you sneeze while tightening them!  Just had a run-in with this VW fuel distributor... lookit all them banjos!  You'd think this was Flint Hill !!

 

 

Any y'all know how to get rid of a banjo picker on your porch?

Pay for the pizza and close the door.

 

 

Edited March 23, 2022 by Jeff-C175

[Ifixoldjunk 778]

Well, using some borrowed taps and dies I managed to put the nut on whatever was left of the threads. I had to forgo the lock ring and swap it for a regular washer to give myself enough thread.

 

Clutch pedal is a little tighter than before, but it’s shifting normally with no smells or sounds so I think I’ll leave well enough alone. Besides the clutch pedal has always been a little floppy.

[Ifixoldjunk 778]

I opted for tractor supply’s finest Kevlar belts. So hopefully I won’t have to touch this belt setup for another 20 years. Working on this is one of the harder things I’ve done as a small engine mechanic.