Building a FEL for a Bolens 19 hp diesel

davedj1 · Nov 4, 2012

I'm not sure if this is the proper place for this or not but I know a lot of you have experience that I do not.
I have a chance to buy a Bolens G152 two wheel drive twin cylinder diesel at a very reasonable price. It has a 3 pt hitch and that's it, I don't believe there are any hydraulics on it but I looked at a small old Kubota and the pump was v belt driven like an alternator or ps pump on a car. I only want the tractor to have around my garage (flat and hard) to move heavy stuff in and out and around the shop. I will build a FEL on it with a quick detach so I can have forks also. The least expensive 4 wd I can find is two days older than dirt and they want more than I think it's worth. I'm thinking I could put chains on it for winter use (moving some wood in the bucket for my outside furnace). I have the tools to fab the FEL and can get any material I need, time may be short but over the winter I could squeeze it in.
Do you guys think it's worth bothering with? Or wait and find one ready to rip?

mrcaptainbob · Nov 4, 2012

Hi, Dave. I have an HT-20. I believe it's similar. I have a fel on mine and love it. Basically build a subframe that ties the lower points from the rr axle to the front frame hangers. Those are the hangers that the mower deck and snowblade rack hang from. Power for the fel is provided by a dedicated pump mounted to a very short drive shaft driven by the front pto. Handy thing, as the pto is controlled by the dash lever. The fel towers act as hydraulic reservoir tanks. Before I got solid front tires, the standard turfs would flatten, even at 20psi, when the fel was over used. It's a beast. The fel is 4' wide inside dimension. Set at a good angle, I can drive that bucket about two feet under sod and raise it right up. This is with ag tires on the back. Weight-wise, I run fluid filled rr's, cast wheel weights, a home made box blade (90#'s) with cement filled cement blocks in it's weight-box top. LOTS of traction. The subframe was built so as to accommodate the tiller drive shaft. I will take pics this week of the undercarriage. It'll be messy, but this is a working tractor, not a trailer queen.1

CalG · Nov 5, 2012

davedj1 said:
I'm not sure if this is the proper place for this or not but I know a lot of you have experience that I do not.
I have a chance to buy a Bolens G152 two wheel drive twin cylinder diesel at a very reasonable price. It has a 3 pt hitch and that's it, I don't believe there are any hydraulics on it but I looked at a small old Kubota and the pump was v belt driven like an alternator or ps pump on a car. I only want the tractor to have around my garage (flat and hard) to move heavy stuff in and out and around the shop. I will build a FEL on it with a quick detach so I can have forks also. The least expensive 4 wd I can find is two days older than dirt and they want more than I think it's worth. I'm thinking I could put chains on it for winter use (moving some wood in the bucket for my outside furnace). I have the tools to fab the FEL and can get any material I need, time may be short but over the winter I could squeeze it in.
Do you guys think it's worth bothering with? Or wait and find one ready to rip?

For moving "stuff" around on flat ground, TWD will be fine. chains and steering brakes can get you around just about anything in any weather. And with that, for maximum lift capacity, it's hard to beat rear mounted tines on the 3 point. Pallets make a platform on that sized tractor. A load of fire wood cribbed on a pallet can be dropped in tight places. (load it once!)

IF you need additional height, a boom pole is cheaper than the materials to make one.

Twisting your head around may be somewhat annoying.

davedj1 · Nov 5, 2012

Thanks guys, good info. I looked at the tractor again today and I'm trying to talk myself out of it because of the twd. I can pick it up for 1500. That is the only reason I considered it in the first place.

Yandaddy1110 · Nov 5, 2012

The tractor sounds like a good deal. I am looking for a simular tractor for a friend to do the same thing reason you need one.

I have to say though: I use my Kubota B2400 4wd with loader and forks primarily for moving pallets of say 300-600
lbs in weight. Been doing this for a couple years with the Kubota. Using a front end loader on tractors of this size is not the most effective way to move around heavy items. Using a small forklift mast on the rear would be a much more pratical way, say one with 1000-1500lb capable lift with a 60'' lift height. No need for 4wd at all because all the weight would be riding on the rear tires. Manuvering is better with the steering on the opposite end of the load.

My B2400 would have twice the lifting capacity with a rear forklift mast, and would do it twice as safely.

davedj1 · Nov 5, 2012

I wouldn't be moving anything all that heavy but then again, once you have a machine you will always want to do more. As of now, I would use it for some building materials, jeep axles that I build and such. I just can't move them around alone. Also to move some split firewood.

GPintheMitten · Nov 5, 2012

I don't see the need for 4wd for your purpose. I was going to build a gel for my old B6200 Kubota with 15 HP. But I traded it before I got around to it.

I say go for it if the tractor seems in good shape.

CalG · Nov 5, 2012

mrcaptainbob said:
Hi, Dave. I have an HT-20. I believe it's similar. I have a fel on mine and love it. Basically build a subframe that ties the lower points from the rr axle to the front frame hangers. Those are the hangers that the mower deck and snowblade rack hang from. Power for the fel is provided by a dedicated pump mounted to a very short drive shaft driven by the front pto. Handy thing, as the pto is controlled by the dash lever. The fel towers act as hydraulic reservoir tanks. Before I got solid front tires, the standard turfs would flatten, even at 20psi, when the fel was over used. It's a beast. The fel is 4' wide inside dimension. Set at a good angle, I can drive that bucket about two feet under sod and raise it right up. This is with ag tires on the back. Weight-wise, I run fluid filled rr's, cast wheel weights, a home made box blade (90#'s) with cement filled cement blocks in it's weight-box top. LOTS of traction. The subframe was built so as to accommodate the tiller drive shaft. I will take pics this week of the undercarriage. It'll be messy, but this is a working tractor, not a trailer queen.1

The G152 is an Iseki tractor, NOT an FMC

They have little in common I'm afraid.

94BULLITT · Nov 5, 2012

I have you have the tools, knowledge, time and money to do it go for it. Does it have power steering. You will probably need a good ballast on the 3PH to hold it down.

davedj1 · Nov 6, 2012

Weell I decided against the tractor, I'll wait and find one that more suits my needs and wants. I could use one for work on occasion so a new one may fit the bill. I have my own construction company and have often thought one would be useful for smaller roof clean ups, small sheds and garages etc. etc.
Thanks all for the time to offer your opinions, I value them.
thanks,
dave