Bolens Diablo Rouge and Hus Ski Discussion Forums

Hi all,

Randy H from Richfield, Ohio told me a few years back he had a 500 (and he was damn sure it was a 500), that had some of the same characteristics of a 502. As we talked on the phone and trying to explain back and forth the differences, I speculated maybe Randy had a 502 as he discussed how it was constructed.

Today, I stripped down a chassis and now realize for sure that Randy knew what he was talking about but may not have understood why. Take a look at the 500 chassis pictures below.
Note that from the topside, it sure looks like a 500 chassis. One thing to note however is the longer tube steel under the gas tank. The 500 would have a shorter tube toward the front instead of the longer tube shown.
From the bottom side, the chassis looks like a cross between a 500 and a 502. It still has the brass bushings in the bogie mounts like the 500, but has the anti-flip stop welded on like you see on all 502's.
The area where the double bogies mount is a fully tubular design like the 502. The 500 would have a piece of angle iron here. It's also hard to see, but the chassis has the angle iron supports where the bumper brackets mount which is a 502/3 design and not on any of the 500's.
The track support bars are installed like the 502, but the side supports are still a flat bar design like the 500 instead of the round stock style support used by the 502/3.
One last difference is the addition of this stabilizer rail to the backside of the chassis edges. This rail is riveted to the chassis side.

I believe this chassis to be one that was built late in the production year and may have been one that Bolens was experimenting with designs. It could also be a part that you could buy after your original 500 chassis self destructed. The serial number on this chassis was 15449, but I don't know if that serial number is original to the chassis or was transferred to the chassis if it was truly replaced after the first failed.

Comments?

Bruce

It's a 501?

Ok, My curiousity got the best of me. I have a 500 serial # 15558. It is the same as this one in every way except that it is not riveted on the sides.The rivits were probobly added by the previous owner and if I was restoring it ,I would remove the rivits and fill the holes. It has the braced handlebars with slots in the dash. One thing I noticed too is the front double bogie mount on both machines actually had a piece of angle iron added to the existing to create a "box".

I questioned the rivets too, but this is at least the third same modification I've seen like this so I do believe it is a factory installation.

Interesting that they boxed in the piece with another angle. I may have to look closer at mine and see if that is what they did and maybe I just thought it was a tube

My "original" 500 with serial number 15310 also has the side pieces riveted to the body.