bolens G11xl

I found a Bolens g11xl for $250 with a snowblower and mower deck. the guy says that it all works. I'm going to see if i can get him down to under 200. Is it a good deal though? What are these worth usually?

I dont know much about bolens. are they good tractors? well it be able to handle the snow well?

thanks. any advice greatly appreciated.

Try this web site for Bolens info.
I had a Bolens G9 some years back,Built like a tank.
Sounds like a good deal to Me.
Good Luck with it!
Steve A W
Sonnys Bolens

I believe the G11 XL is a gear tranny, belt clutch, 11 Hp Briggs single cylinder engine. Check me out on this.

I have had a 1978 H11 XL which I believe is the hydrostatic version of the same tractor. The Briggs single cylinder engine was always low on power for the 42" mowing deck. The tranny is powered from a driveshaft direct to engine, and the deck is powered by a belt from the front side of the engine (with electric clutch). I am still mowing with this tractor as it is very maneuvearable, but I went through 4 of the single cylinder engines and never did have enough power. The original Briggs engines did not have a steel sleeve, and seemed to have a life of about 250 to 300 hours. Finally, I gave up and put a Vanguard 16 Hp engine in and it has plenty of power. But that conversion requires modification of the front tractor frame, flaring out the top 1.5" of the frame around the engine area. The mounting bolts are the same as well as the electric clutch. I did make a custom hub to drive the driveshaft. The electricals were a bit challenging, but I got them to work. Since this tractor was new in '78, the hydro has never needed repair. The steering on both the G11 and the H11 can be a problem if the PO did not find the hidden grease fitting on the steering cross shaft. I think those parts are NLA. Somebody gave me a free H11 XL with bad steering and tired engine, but it is a source of parts.

Look carefully, it might be a good tractor for you.

Paul in MN

PS. Throw away the engine side panels, they hold too much heat in the engine.

thanks Guys. Sounds like all I need to make sure of is if the engine is good and if the steering is good.

Can you explain the side panels and heat in the engine though? Why does that matter?

And thanks for the website. I appreciate it a lot.

Pete,

It seemed that the side panels reduced the cooling air enough to cause the engine to run excessively hot and possibly shortening its life. I am not referring to the sides of the liftable hood which come down about 6" from the "flat" top of the hood. The side panels are separate panels that do not lift with the hood. They completely close both sides of the engine from the hood down to the green side frame members. The engine gets its cooling air from the driver's side of the engine, and so it must suck air up from below, along with grass clippings and dandelion fuzz kicked up by the mower deck. I think the dandelion seed fuzz and some fuzzy tree seeds (basswood or cottonwood?) are most responsible for blocking the engine's cooling fan screen. Without the side panels much of the cooling air comes in from the sides and has much less fuzzy seed with it.

Paul in MN