Export thread

Hey I'm on here to look to see if anyone can help me with parts or a mower not working it's a Bolens ST 180 with a 10 year old motor that works but the body needs so so much work and because its American its highly unlikely I'm going to find anything but I'm keeping my fingers crossed,I got this ride on lawnmower for my dad hoping I could do it up but looking at it there is so much it needs,my dad is 64 yrs old and has a very hard time pushing a lawnmower around as he has a very bad heart and lives on half an acre so I'm hoping that someone on here can help me out as I am stuck and can't afford very much but want to help my dad

Maybe the following user can help: View Profile: custom1 - Lawn Mower Forum

He has similar Bolens mowers and might know where you can locate some parts for cheap.

You can email him here: http://www.lawnmowerforum.com/sendmessage.php?do=mailmember&u=10957

You can look at one of the threads he made showing his Bolens here: http://www.lawnmowerforum.com/bolens-forum/14916-theyre-multiplying.html

Hey, I just saw this thread. I'm not sure anything fits your ST180 from a ST120. There is not much good left on my parts one. Where are you from donks? There are a couple Bolens near me on craigslist.

John

custom1 said:

Hey, I just saw this thread. I'm not sure anything fits your ST180 from a ST120. There is not much good left on my parts one. Where are you from donks? There are a couple Bolens near me on craigslist.

John

Click to expand...

Hi John
I am from penrith NSW, thanks for responding with some help,yes I realize that now that there is not much out there witch is making my life hard
Donks

donks said:

Hi John
I am from penrith NSW, thanks for responding with some help,yes I realize that now that there is not much out there witch is making my life hard
Donks

Click to expand...

Craigslist?

Craigslist?

I just looked at the photos of the 3 bolens you have and they are very similar

I think the shipping charges would be prohibitive. I put your location into Google maps and this is what it said.


15,928 mi, 506 hours


Driving directions to Penrith NSW, Australia
This route has tolls.
This route includes a ferry.
This route crosses through Japan.

HAHA!

I was going to copy and paste the entire directions, but it is way too long. Really funny though. I would have to learn Japanese!

I can't believe you don't have Craigslist in Australia. It's like an online swap meet or yard sale. We could not live without it in the states.


From looking at your pictures, it seems you have most of the stuff you need to make a tractor. You said it runs, but does it move and cut? Looks like someone was taking it apart. It might have major drive line problems or something. Looks like a Hydro drive. I never had one of those. Give us some more details about what you know about it. Maybe we can give you some advice on how to get it running. Maybe post this in the general forum. Most tractors are basically the same so tell us what it does and doesn't do and we'll go from there.

Hahah yeah it would take a bit to get to your place.. Sorry I am only very new to this app, I signed up that day that I got in touch with you sooo i I have no idea how to post things and find people and do different things on this site lol, so sorry, mate u sound like a really awesome guy thankyou so much for your help, there aren't many people like you around any more ok hear goes... It's a long story witch I wouldn't mind telling you about so u get an idea on why I want to do it up.. And also I think it might be a long story of parts lol so ill let you know what I know.. But saying that this is the first time I have had a ride on and havnt ever played around with them so you will have to bare with me lol... Ok so my dad witch I got the lawn mower for he lives on half an acer witch is a pretty big block of land around here lol, and he is 65..so my dad about 7 years ago had a triple by pass on his heart and was told to take it easy after that. He loves mowing his lawn and has always had push lawn mowers and never new ones either he has 5 I think lol he swaps and changes and when they die he fixes them and has always had fun with them so anyway my dad goes to church every Sunday and met a guy that is paralyzed in one side of his body and can't do much so dad went over to his house and mower his very long grass for him and actually passed out for 15 minutes and was by himself so as u could understand I got a but worried after that so I have been looking around for a long time for just a cheap ride on for him going or not I wanted one and I'd fix it... So one day went to these markets at this guys house and that's we're I found the lawn mower it had a sign on it saying free lawn mower with new motor so I said straight away yep ill be back with a trailer to pick it up. Ok the guy told me that did own it that he used it last about 2 years ago, that's when it was started last BUT! It was running but was very ruff,Lao he put it away and his mate said he would take it and fix it up for him and bring it back....the guy bought it back worse then he took it.. He took parts off didn't put them back and some of the wiring is apart so I don't know we're it goes back and yeah so anyway that's were I'm at... I hope ur still awake lol, but I just wanted you to know why I want to do it.ok so now for that parts ect. The motor! The guy said its 10yrs old and done next to nothing in hours. And the original was a Briggs and Stratton, he said the last time it was started was 2 yrs ago, I havnt started it yet myself yet that's just taking his word.i have to take the fuel tank off and drain and put new fuel In it before I can do anything with it though,but looking at it I would need parts before I can get it started.the battery for one I need to charge or get another,the ignition doesn't have a key,but I'm thinking that's all for the motor to get it running.unless you can think of anything? Ok.as I said the wiring is pretty messy, the front bar that holds wheels together is off but as far as I can see all that is is a ball joint that I need to push it back on. The steering wheel when u turn it it just keeps turning. I had a look at the bottom of the pole and it looks like it has come off a disc witch makes it turn it's like a half disc but it has a lot of dirt witch I have to scoop out to have a proper look to see if its all there, the front lights it's missing one but don't even know if there just for show or are meant to work but there is no wiring to go to it, the deck is off another mower the guy said it is a better one then the original because this one is a slasher witch chops the grass finer, he showed me how to adjust it but that looks dodge because you actually have to get under the mower to adjust it up and down, the back tyres are ok still in working order, the front two are blown but as u can see he gave me two new tyres and one tube so I have to buy another one, and the rims on the front are rusted on the inside and out are rusted, I'm not really worried about the rust on the outside but the inside I wanna get off because it might pop the tubes,also the C clamp on the two front tires is missing that hold the wheels on so I need them, and the hardest part is the dash it's cracked and the knob that u can see in the picture is broken, and I think there are a couple of others that are as well,the seat is all torn but it's not important, so u can get an idea of where I'm at with it, it is pretty much all there as u said but the parts that aren't are going to be hard to find I think and as far as I know Bolens dosnt exist anymore either? And because it was made over we're you are it's even harder to get though's parts and I have looked on EBay and there is 16 listings for Bolens, so what do you think I should do? I really want to get it going but I'm stuck!

Ok, That is quite a story. Interestingly enough I have these tractors for the same reason. Trying to keep a cheap tractor running for my dad. He is 75.

Anyway, I think the first thing we need to do is get the battery charged or changed. Then we need to find a wiring diagram. I think there is some posted online somewhere. I am at work right now so I will look around today as I get time. You may have to find some kind of ignition switch to hook up to at least get it to crank. Do you have a voltage meter? I can try to take some pictures of the wiring on my parts tractor so you can see where the wires need to go. I am not sure if they are exactly the same on my ST120, but it will be a start.

The clips you need for the front wheels should be a standard size and available at any local hardware store.

I don't think the ball on that front steering rod is suppose to come out of the socket, so you may need that part. Try popping it back in there and see if it stays.

I wouldn't worry about the headlights. My 110 has them and the 120 does not. In fact I would take the whole hood off for now. It only has 6 bolts (2 up by the dash and 4 down at the sides) holding it on and it will be a lot easier to work on with it off.

Take some close up pictures of the wiring. Some of the other pictures are blurry, so try and take them as clear as possible so we can see what is missing.

We are 13 hours apart so we will probably only get one message a day. It is 10:30 am here now.

John

Here is a link to some good Bolens info.

Bolens ST Series

I think your model is 3018G or 3018H. It should be on a tag by the gas filler when you lift the seat.

When you click on your model number you will get the parts diagrams and a wiring diagram.

There are also mower deck diagrams. There should be a tag on top of the deck, toward the back on the right side.

That's all for now.

John

Hey you do have craigslist. It's not very active there though.

craigslist: sydney classifieds for jobs, apartments, personals, for sale, services, community, and events

Hey John you don't have Facebook by any chance do you?

No, I don't have Facebook. I have a hard enough time keeping up with the forums I'm on and my work and projects.

I took some pictures last night of the wiring. Hard to tell what's what in the pictures, but I'll post them up later today anyway. Probably easier figuring things out from the diagrams.

Just wondering where the OP went??

custom1 said:

Just wondering where the OP went??

Click to expand...

He hasn't been on since 4-26-13. :confused2:

Hi guys sorry havnt been on for a while been a bit busy with starting a new job but I am around sorry John

Hey, No problem. New jobs are always fun. Let us know when you get back to the tractor.

John

donks said:

Hey I'm on here to look to see if anyone can help me with parts or a mower not working it's a Bolens ST 180 with a 10 year old motor that works but the body needs so so much work and because its American its highly unlikely I'm going to find anything but I'm keeping my fingers crossed,I got this ride on lawnmower for my dad hoping I could do it up but looking at it there is so much it needs,my dad is 64 yrs old and has a very hard time pushing a lawnmower around as he has a very bad heart and lives on half an acre so I'm hoping that someone on here can help me out as I am stuck and can't afford very much but want to help my dad

Click to expand...

Just saw this thread - I have a ST180H (3018H) with a model 30048S mower - just retired it out of service - if you're still looking for parts, let me know.
thanks,
La Gasser

Go to Sonnysbolens.com and download a free manual .