When I get back to my parents house in a few weeks I need to figure out what is making my Bolens 1468 shake. It is a 1993 model in the eliminator series with a 16hp Briggs Vanguard. I don't think it is the engine, when the clutch is not engaged the tractor is fine. When I slowly engage the clutch it will start to shake the tractor. It is very noticeable and not normal. Does anyone know what I should be looking at? I am going to see if there is a bent pulley or something but not sure where to go from there.
Anyone know about Bolens tractors?
- Thread starter PB
- Start date
I would start at the motor mounts and work back. Seen several engines loose in the cradle. Next check the PTO shaft and U joints. Many times the coupler gets worn around the flywheel output shaft. And so on...it could just be a bad belt off the gear case or the gear case its self. Good luck
I was gonna suggest lookin at the pulleys or maybe a belt with a chunk missin or worn /thin spot , but I think those older machines are shaft driven so go with mweba"s advice lol :wave:
Thanks guys. I checked the mounts previously and I don't think it is the drive shaft. We replaced a bad u-joint on the shaft this past summer and it didn't make a difference. When the engine is running, the drive shaft is spinning, and there is no vibration. When I let off the clutch pedal it starts to shake and vibrate. It does not do it when it is in neutral, only when in gear. The shaft connects to the angle drive box which connects to the peerless transmission via a belt. Would the added torque on the drive shaft (when in gear) make it shake at the engine, or should I be looking farther back?
Well I had some time to look at the Bolens this week. The motor mounts look good, belts and pulleys look good but still had a shake when I let the clutch off. I drained the gear oil out of the rear end and it looked like grease with metal filings in it. Drained it all out, replaced with new oil and it is a whole new machine now. I was talking to my dad and we don't think it was ever changed in the 19 years that my granny had it. We are going to run it with the new oil until summer and then change it again so we can flush out any old oil that is still in there. When I pulled the plug it looked like someone was filing a chain and dumped the filings in the crankcase, then I realized the drain plug had a magnet in it. No big chunks, so I think we are safe for now.
