Restored Articulated Bolens Looks Like New

Restored Articulated Bolens Looks Like New People who see Stan Krolikowski’s bumblebee yellow Bolens Groundskeeper (GK) at shows often think it belongs on the cover of a Bolens company brochure. The flawless GK looks showroom-ready because of Krolikowski’s meticulous frame-off restoration. Krolikowski says the nearly 50-year-old GK had been worked hard and not well-maintained in recent years when he acquired it. It needed front-to-back and top-to-bottom attention, so he stripped the machine down to its frame to clean and repair parts. Overhauling the THD Wisconsin 18-hp 2-cyl. engine brought it back to a smooth-running condition. A coat of blue paint gave it a factory-new look. The center pivot point and steering assembly on the articulated GK were loose and well-worn, so Krolikowski rebuilt and tightened them. The mechanical shoe brakes and electrical system also received much-needed attention. Krolikowski says his restored GK starts and runs well, operating with rear-wheel drive and a 3-speed transmission. He mounted a factory optional 45-in. snow blower, which his son says would be much more useful if the GK had a differential lock or 4-WD to handle slippery conditions. Other optional equipment for the GK model, which Bolens built from 1966 to 1975, included a front-mounted 54-in. dirt blade, a 72-in. flex-wing blade mower, a reel mower, and a cab with windows all around, lights and a mirror. Krolikowski found a usable cab and installed it on his machine, learning during the process that it also had a heater, which pulled warm air from the engine to a small fan inside the cab. It came with a decal stating an important message: “Warning, Exhaust System Should Be Checked for Leaks Before Using Cab Heater.” Krolikowski says the heater isn’t a very good design, and he doesn’t use it. However, that doesn’t stop him and his wife from taking it to shows where people always admire the machine. Like others who own the rare GK machines, he says it’s fun to own, drive and take to shows. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Stan Krolikowski, Amsterdam, New York.

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