Posted by Fred Olsen on March 30, 1998 at 00:37:53:
In Reply to: NEED HELP Bolens 850 posted by Darrin Quinter on March 28, 1998 at 11:52:28:
:Darrin: Rocky's right, the parts are expensive. Be careful! This is a worm-gear final drive. DO NOT push or tow without pulling the axle lock pin at right(?) rear hub. This trans is a bit of a can of worms for lash adjustments and axle end-play, so you almost have to have a factory manual. (I may have SOME info). I happen to have a stripped 850 cluttering the shop, including a complete 950(?) trans with a bent axle (the 850 trans went in the 950 after the 950 took a swan dive off the back of the truck at 50, but I'm rambling) so you can have whatever for shipping cost. State your needs. When repaired and adjusted right, the "medium tube-frame Bolens" are good and tough for their size. Oh, you must use factory worm-gear lube in that trans. FMC (Food Machinery and Chemical Corp.) WAS the parent of Bolens (of Port Washington, WI). It's now owned by Garden Way (Troy-Bilt tillers) of NY, but they recently closed the plant and pulled out to NY, p*****g off most of Port Washington; so I don't know what the parts situation will be in the future. There is still plenty of NOS around here (WI) at dealers. Per your request I am also e-mailing this.
Regards, Fred.