Willis's 74' Bolens (rolling thunder)

thanks! really, aise from a few little bugs, it is bulletproof

wow thats an intense looking frame there!!! thats most defiantly a heavy duty little tractor!!!

thanks man, idk how little it is though

I still dont understand why bolens categorized this as a "GT mower" because the axles are probably stronger then some car cv shafts and it weighs like x2 more then my rig. Probably x4 heaver the mini!   

super GT.. lol

that is strong! great base to start on!

Lawren Wimberly wrote:

Pretty sick lookin rig man... betcha can make it bulletproof!

allready looks bulletproof!

Good Luck Willis!

good luck will

I think you should strap your mower so it doesn't fall over lol

looks good, good luck!

I classify them as Mini Gt's.. Heavy duty Mini in other words.

theres nothing mini about it... and craftsman98' i would strap it but i dont have anything to anchor it to. idealily i would have a decent shop with a chain-fall or something

Does that have a tube frame? Neat old mower.

yessir, tubeframe

well boys, update. got my pully off the driveshaft on sunday. had to use the fire wrench to cut the race off the shaft, so now i have to use my flap disk on the angle grinder, so i can make the shaft smooth again. i will be ordering a 3/4 inch 2 bolt flange bearing with a locking collar from surplus centers. i think thats a better option rather than paying 40 bucks for the OEM bearings. i will update again once i get the bearings. might do a re-assembly video too.

fire wrench? is that a torch? good to see you making progress. I had to use a 60 ton press to get my pulley off.

1997 Murray wrote:

fire wrench? is that a torch? good to see you making progress. I had to use a 60 ton press to get my pulley off.

yeah, AKA blue tipped wrench. oxy/acetlene torches

well boys, update. i want to keep this thread as well as the build off thread. got my pully off the driveshaft on sunday. had to use the fire wrench to cut the race off the shaft, so now i have to use my flap disk on the angle grinder, so i can make the shaft smooth again. i will be ordering a 3/4 inch 2 bolt flange bearing with a locking collar from surplus centers. i think thats a better option rather than paying 40 bucks for the OEM bearings. i will update again once i get the bearings. might do a re-assembly video too. Possibly tires here in the next few weeks too. Im getting Kenda Bearclaws on the rear (24x8x12) and ags on the front (4.80x4x8)

hopefully some tires in the next couple weeks. Kenda bearclaws on the rear (23x8x12) and ags on the front (4.80x4x8)

heck yea!!! im thinking of running kendra bear claws aswell on my build but not 100% sure yet tho see 3-4 others running them aswell but they are some great tires tho so ud almost be dumb not to run them on ours u know for the price!!

yeah! i couldnt believe how cheap they were, even at rockmountainatv. i'll let you know how they do once i get them. i am aiming for the old ag look, without the ags.. something with more bite, and the bearclaws look similar, and have some serious treads

bearing order placed about 1 min ago

That thing is a beast! Maybe you could mount the jaws of life on the front and crush the competition   

STILL waiting on parts... ffs.. sometime this week would be nice. its been warm so the snow is down, mud is up and there is soooo much water

FINALLY GOT PARTS TODAY!!!!!!!!








hopefully tomorrow i'll get to mounting the bearing and put it back together. im going to bring everything to school and use the shop, we have a shop day wednesday so i'll work on it then, and then get hardware after school. so excited to get this hog moving again

WOOHOO!!! bolens is back in the running! got my bearings on, now i just have to get them mounted to the plate, and slam everything back together! hopefully tomorrow we have a shop day in school, i'll drill everything. maybe scrounge up some bolts. then get home, fire up the salamander out in the shelterlogic (0degrees out) and get it back together yall dont understand how bad i want to put it back on its wheels and go for a hardcore snow romp