Does a Bolens make a good puller?
Well, there are a few talented folks out there that would say so.
One of them is John Schedler. He is a first class Millwright and his trade comes in handy for doing stuff like this. It shows! Also assisting him is his 13 year old son Ian. John and Ian run two Bolens as their main pullers. A G-14 and a G-9. A G-12XL is also currently under construction. They are located in Hudson Valley Region in New York State
John and his son usually pull where the majority of pullers run Cubs.
Some comments from John...
"They usually pull up on each side of me, rev their loud open pipe engines and giggle about my Bolens. We enjoy kicking their butts. The giggling stops at the end of that classes pulling. We only pull Stock Class which is stock engine and rear end.Our 1453 wimps out between 2400 - 2800 lbs. Depending on track surface while pulling a transfer sled. We consider this good and usually take first place in that class. No Cub has beat us in this class, ever. Other makes give us the competition we look for, namely Wheelhorse and Roper/Sears.
The G-9 we run is only a single belt which we run on the low pulley and it took a cub with 10 and 12 horsepower to beat it. We didn't run out of HP with its 8 HP Briggs but ran out of traction. She's getting a tire upgrade this year."
G14 specs-
- This Bolens model G14 or 1453 tractor weighs 1000 lbs. Wet, without a rider.
- The machine weighs in at about 1200 lbs with rider, pull ready.
- Rear tires are 26" X 12" X 12".
- Rear tires weigh about 138 pounds each and are filled.
- 200 pounds of removable belly weight that mounts on a custom belly bracket.
- The engine is the stock OH140 with NO internal modifications.
- The clutch has been totally re-trued and relined but is essentially stock.
(Running a stock clutch at a tractor pull is something Cub Cadet pullers only dream about.)- The engine runs on regular pump gas.
- There is no trickery to the engine and transmission.
(They are both stock configuration with NO internal modifications.)
- Engine exhaust uses a custom tuned header.
- This tractor was a total take down and rebuild structurally.
The engine and transmission needed no teardown and rebuilding. They were in good condition.
- The frame tubes are 7" longer in the front. They have since cut it back to stock length.
The hood, also custom is being reworked this coming pulling season due to the return to stock tube length.- Time to construct - about 120 hours
There are a few things you should do to assure that you are
competitive.
- One is to run Mobil 1 synthetic gear oil in the rear end.
- Another thing is to make sure your clutch is in in at least
stock condition and your belts are new and properly adjusted.- Of course the engine should be in top running condition.
- You will have to do some rear tire work and depending on your club, wheel work.
Is there a association web site to link to? rules, etc.?
No Association. At present, we're pretty much renegades!
Questions or comments to John, please contact him at -
John Schedler (remove the spaces before sending)
