bolens 1600 hydro ????

[sawz all]

I was given a bolens 1600 hydro today. The engine runs but it's blowing smoke....it must have got hot at some point. I drove it a mile home and all seemed to work well though.

This tractor is new to me and I was curious how much towing I could do with it? I.E. hauling a small trailor around the yard full of wood, my log splitter and up hills and such. It's a hydro drive and I've never owned one so I don't know how durable it is.

Kevin

 

[sawz all]

Thinking on doing a rebuild on this 16 hp briggs twin in detail with pictures...

Would anybody be interested?

I've never done one before, would people be willing to give advice/point me in the right direction along the way?

Is this tractor worth it....judging by my first post?

Kevin

 

[sawz all]

Anybody have an IPL or a breakdown of a 16hp 656cc briggs eng?

 

[tomnky]

My advice would be to go to the Briggs and Stratton website armed with Your numbers off the motor, You can download most manuals for the engines and parts breakdown as well. The repair manuals will cost You.

There should be a metal plate on the engine itself with the model, type etc.

 

[oliver28472]

The engine should be no problem if you have to rebuild it. But what do you do if you've rebuilt the engine and the hydro pukes? Will it be repairable or affordable to repair? I got a 16 hp Wheel Horse free one time. The hydro went out on it and it was going to cost over $2,500 to fix it. I let it go.

 

[sawz all]

I pulled it all apart and found one of the exhaust seats loose. That's the main reason it had no power. Good news is, I brought the block to my local machine shop and they can fix it with an oversized seat. Also, I got an eng kit with .010 over pistons.

oliver28472..... I know what you mean but I just have to make the old girl run again. I get into things and cant let go.

Kevin

 

[sawz all]

This is a picture of the exhaust.

Kevin

 

[bontai_Joe]

I don't know much about Bolens machines, but that one looks like it is probably worth fixing up. The rough rule of thumb is a tractor can safely tow it's own weight. In actuality, they can usually tow more, it's the "stopping" that gets dangerous. Example: 2000 pounds rolling behind a 500 pound machine and you try to stop suddenly, especially if you are going downhill even slightly, add in some moisture on the grass, and you have an accident in the making.

 

[sawz all]

Machine shop called me and are going to install two new exhaust seats, new valves, bore it .020 over, and give it back to me to assemble then I can take it back over and they will adjust the valve hight.

I think this is going to be a nice machine when all's said and done .

Kevin

 

[sawz all]

Anybody ever use a bolens 1600 with a snow blower attachment? I have a chance to get either a plow or a snow thrower attachment.....can't afford both. Any info would be nice.
Thanks,

Kevin

 

[sawz all]

Bump........

 

[sawz all]

Got it (16 hp briggs I/C twin) all back together and it's running strong but I have one problem....

No matter what once the oil thins out after a wile oil starts to spit oil out the breather tube on the left. I thought it was a faulty breather so I replaced that with a known good one (and made sure the drain hole in the case was clear) and still the same problem

The machine is so nice and this problem has me scratching my head. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[amigauser]

Sounds like bad compression rings and blowby causing pressure in the crankcase which pushes oil out the breather.

 

[oldmech]

Hi! For oil from breather. When we put new rings set WE MUST Hone cylinder with stones tool for best rings fit . I think your engine exhaust or make pressure in oil pan. May be rings will fit better with time. Good luck ! Oldmech

 

[sawz all]

Guys,
I brought this block to the machine shop and had them bore and hone it .020 over, new valves and guides (they adjusted the valves). So it has new pistons and rings in it now....thats why it's bothering the **** out of me because the problem I'm having is indicative of bad rings.

A couple of people told me that maybe I had to seat the rings (break it in some) and it would clear up. I Ran it today for a wile and just worked it and it seems to be getting better to my surprise. I've built a lot of engines and never had one that was this hard to berak-in if that's indeed what it is. Has anybody here ever had this problem and it cleared up after a couple of tanks of gas??


Kevin

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Anybody ever use a bolens 1600 with a snow blower attachment? I have a chance to get either a plow or a snow thrower attachment.....can't afford both. Any info would be nice.
Thanks,

Kevin

Go with the blower.

The plow may be easier the first snowfall, but by the time the season is over you'll appreciate the blower more.

 

[sawz all]

Follow-up,

I figured out the problem (with the help of some friends) with the blowing oil out the breather tubes....someone had installed the wrong spring on the carb linkage at some point and I just assumed it was correct and put it all back together the same way. So I was over reving it! I haven't had a problem since I've tamed it down.

Kevin

 

[sawz all]

I ended up getting the single stage snow thrower. Works very well in both heavy and light snow. I'll try and get a video next time it snows.

Kevin

 

[bontai_Joe]

Glad to hear it is working well for you. Since you are in deep snow country, the blower was probably the best choice. If you get a lot of snow, you soon run out of places to push it if using a plow.

 

[smith2]

Follow-up,

I figured out the problem (with the help of some friends) with the blowing oil out the breather tubes....someone had installed the wrong spring on the carb linkage at some point and I just assumed it was correct and put it all back together the same way. So I was over reving it! I haven't had a problem since I've tamed it down.

Kevin

Glad you got it fixed. I was wondering if you put the .010 pistons in .020 bores as previously mentioned.