Anyone like old Gravelys ?

[Mike T]

My Dad really liked Gravely so he had collected quit a few of them over the years. From what I remember I has been about 10 years since any of them have been started so I decided to put gas in one a give it a try. Some of these are from the 40's and most of them were started with a pull strap so I figured that there was about zero chance of it actually starting but on the 3rd pull it started and ran perfect! After watching it idle for a couple of minutes I decided to see if it would mow and boy did it!! It mowed through an overgrown field of chest high weeds for an hour straight without missing a beat ! It's a shame but they really don't make stuff like this anymore.

 

[regan j]

brings back a few memories

 

[Mike T]

brings back a few memories

I does for me too. When I got the first one running it was also the first time I ever used one....Dad ran the Gravely and the kids used the push mover .

 

[INEEDAGN]

http://gardentractortalk.com/forums/forum/8-gravely/

There's a forum on this internet devoted to just about anything you can imagine.

 

[TTA976]

It's a shame but they really don't make stuff like this anymore.

/QUOTE]

X2

Joe

 

[TexasT]

One of mine.
Looks like you have some nice iron there.
Gravelys aren't for kids.

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[Mike T]

One of mine.
Looks like you have some nice iron there.
Gravelys aren't for kids.

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What your are seeing is only about half of what my Dad left behind. He had a few like yours (5200 or 5400 series I think) that have Kohler motors on them and one of those started right up as well. The photo below is one of the older one's (covered in about 10 years worth of dust) that didn't want to start but it turned out the points were dirty inside of the magneto and a jet was plugged in the carb .

 

[Mike T]

http://gardentractortalk.com/forums/forum/8-gravely/

There's a forum on this internet devoted to just about anything you can imagine.

Hadn't found that one yet thank you for the link.

 

[TexasT]

What your are seeing is only about half of what my Dad left behind. He had a few like yours (5200 or 5400 series I think) that have Kohler motors on them and one of those started right up as well. The photo below is one of the older one's (covered in about 10 years worth of dust) that didn't want to start but it turned out the points were dirty inside of the magneto and a jet was plugged in the carb .

View attachment 239322

By the hubs that is one from the 50s. If it has the tank tag and the serial number is legible it can be dated. Could have an SR denoting it was built at the southern region plant.
Cool stuff. My grandfather was a dealer(started with allis chalmers and picked up gravely in the 50s) and my uncle runs that ope dealer today . They also sell simplicity and bobcat and some other brands.


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[79transam]

wow talk about classic. used the red with blue strip one pictured on my neighbors property. to this day works great and starts with one pull.

 

[Mike T]

By the hubs that is one from the 50s.

Hadn't even noticed the difference in the hubs but now that you mention it I think that's the only one that He had like that. Most of the others have an exposed axle nut.

Did anyone spot the regal roof cut in the background ? I had forgotten that it was stored at his house years ago.

 

[regan j]

Make sure you only use non ethanol gas in your small engines along with some type of ZDDP additive.

 

[Mike T]

Make sure you only use non ethanol gas in your small engines along with some type of ZDDP additive.

Yes I'm sure the ethanol would be hard on these. We just got a new station that sells ethanol free gas and that's what I've been using. I think my Dad may have been wise to some of this stuff also because I found a shelf full of different oil additives and lead for the fuel.

Something interesting is that after setting all of these years some of the fuel turned and some didn't leaving behind either a near spotless tank or a mess.

 

[fitz3820]

I have 2 early 70s C8s. Will post pics after it stops raining.


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[Mike T]

I have 2 early 70s C8s. Will post pics after it stops raining.


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I would like to see it. If you can post a picture of the carb and air cleaner set-up.....I have a guy asking me about parts and I don't know what the c8 looked like.

 

[TexasT]

Does the air filter reside under the hood or up on the side?

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[Mike T]

I have some under the hood and some on the side. A couple are electric start without two speed axles and vice versa. One appears to be a super convertible with two speed axle and electric start but the air cleaner is under the hood and it has the old angle plug head.

 

[TexasT]

Could be a C8. What does the tank tag have stamped on it? The serial number can give it a year of manufacture. These are old so things can be swapped around. Some have front facing inlet carb with short rubber hose, some rear facing with long j hose. Some have cartrige air filter and some have the oil bath. Just depends on how they were ordered when new and what someone might have swapped on.
I'll see what I can come up with for pix.
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[TexasT]

screen shot on windows


windows 7 screenshot


how to screen capture

Here are a few. I'll see of I can find some closer stuff to see about the carb.

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[TexasT]

http://www.turbobuick.com/forums/attachments/img_0592-jpg.239322/

Now that I am on a desktop i can see much better. It looks to have a spark plug that stands straight up. This would be a later model 7.6 head, though it does have the oil bath air filter and no remote pto control. Looks like a wico magneto, and I see a tank tag there next to the fuel filler cap. I cant see the fan shroud. If it has four large pie shaped cut outs it is an earlier piece, the newer shrouds have smaller holes to prevent injury I suppose. Two speed and the tank tag would indicate L , LI or LS(with the two speed axle it would have an L8), of course this is as the factory put it together not as it might be now. That is the newer model 106 six bolt deck. There are several 4 bolt decks and some spin left handed, not a big deal unless you put the wrong blade on. And not as "robust" as this deck pictured.

I guess I am kind of obsessed with the Gravely, but then again I "like" my Buicks too. Let me know if you need help identifying anything. Ebay is a god place to start, but as with anything don't get too excited about the pricing there. Local sale rules with most of this stuff as it is rather heavy.

http://gravelytractorclub.org/
http://www.mytractorforum.com/forumdisplay.php?s=6ecece4542a4ee66f3b94e91b0977330&f=24
http://www.faracresfarm.com/jbvb/gravely/gravely.html
http://www.gravelyparts.com/
http://www.gravelyyard.com/
http://gravelymanuals.com/

Some links. I would like to throw in a RIP for the last one started by fellow enthusiast Chip Old who has passed. In his memory it is being maintained and updated.