I have run two Bolens mowers now 43 years, and rebuilt the decks a few times, I went to replace the bearings and found they are a odd size, one firm said couldn’t I get the housings turned out to take a standard bearing, well they are not that strong to start with, so I tried Hayley’s Norwich, they have other branches. they said we keep them specially for you old boys. However I could have machined down a standard bearing and then ground to the finished size. as have done several for replacement obsolete bearings for early cars. The Bolens bearing sizes are, bore 3/4” OD 1.780 width .608. photos of Bolens, 1905 Rover gearbox bearings being turned down to size.
