Engine ideas

[2manyrocks]

I was very fortunate to find a working L8 with the original Gravely engine.

Still, it seems a terrible waste to see any Gravely sitting without power.

 

[gravelymay]

I have been trying to come up with a cheaper way but I don't know.
May be something could be done with a 3/4 dia shaft
I think only 9 Hp is the largest HP with 3/4 crank you can get.
Bruce g

 

[2manyrocks]

Repowering a Gravely with a Honda isn't cheap. The engines aren't cheap and the gears, etc. aren't cheap, either.

 

[gravelymay]

No not cheap.
Do you have a 8 speed If so then it is worth it.
But if not then that is a different animal.
Some guys are going with recoil start Honda.
As a matter fact the last two that I sent kits to are using recoil start Hondas.
Because the engines have proven them self.
I can make a adapter for the small gear Transmission
But the shaft is so long .
Now we might use a Briggs with a short shaft would work a little better
It is only about 3/4 in shorter
The problem with the little gear the shaft has to be 3/4 to go thru it.
Then you get into the speed problem.
I do a lot thinking out loud some times.
Here is a link to the last one I did http://www.mytractorforum.com/showthread.php?t=75386&page=3
Bruce g

 

[2manyrocks]

My L8 is running fine, but I have a plain L and an intermediate geared L that have engines that are "supposed" to run that I haven't gotten running yet. I haven't had the patience to keep cranking with the belt strap.

I tried out the L8 with the rotary plow a few days ago, and the lower gear plus the original gravely engine make a huge difference in being able to control the machine compared to my 12 HP Kohler powered gravely two speed. It was actually too wet to be plowing, and I had to stop after a couple of passes, but now I understand why people say that the L8 with the original Gravely engine has great balance.

 

[gravelymay]

Hi two many

The one big thing people liked about a lighter Engine
Like Honda was the balance.
A lot of people think the Kohler engine was too heavy.
I know it is exp to put a new engine on like Honda.
But you get every thing new .
So your tractor responds like new.
The 10A- 500-5000 tractors are easer to repower.
because the speed of the engine
The L and the 10 will be fast if repowered
With out changing the Hi & low Plantary gears.
But with a new motor and it like a new tractor
Worth 20 more years of service.
Bruce g

 

[gravelymay]

I was very fortunate to find a working L8 with the original Gravely engine.

Still, it seems a terrible waste to see any Gravely sitting without power.

You could repower and use the small gear Run at half throttle
and mow with it and just pull a trailer behind it
not much good for anything else.
Too fast
Bruce g

 

[oldmech]

Hi! Congratulation Gravelymay. You make very good jobs. Gravely trannys are the BEST we can find on Two- wheels TRUE shuttle Live PTO Etc.
LS and better L with reduction wheels or L8 are valuable for New engine.
I use L model with reduction wheels I repower it with 10 hp diesel engine. Reduction wheel(1 to 3) give about 10% more slow speeds than LS or L8
I am very happy with gearing . I use first gear for rotary plow and snowblower. Second gear for mowers.
Last year I have sell my L8 . I prefer my L Diesel with reduction wheels.
May be a four speeds can be useful.
Here Very hard to find afordable NEW Gravely serial as 5600 .
I am not crazy about K serial engines. These take a lot of gas have bad balancer gears, you cannot adjust timing. parts are expensive. Honda GX serial are better Take 10-20% less fuel. more quiet and smooth.
I dream somebody or Company make a conversion kit engine for Save the thousands valuable GRAVELY tractors.
How much more slow are New serial Vs LS or L8 model
Good luck! Oldmech

 

[Oneaxepony]

Hi folks. I'm a newcomer around here. After reading this thread last week I ordered a 13HP Blue Max (Chinese clone) from Tulsa Engine Warehouse for $US 250 which included shipping. The engine just showed up tonight. I plan on putting it on my 1973 Superconvertible, which is of course a model L at heart. I wont be able to work on it until Spring but I'm trying to decide the approach I'm going to take. I've already PM'd Oldmech who filled me in on some details of his method. There are many great ideas for making adapters on this site. For now, I'm wondering if anyone has a dimensional drawing of the tranny gasket which shows the bolt pattern and the distance between the bolts. Also, if someone has such a drawing, where is the location of the drive pinion shaft relative to the bolts? If someone knows this and could post it, I'm sure many would be interested. Also, does anyone happen to know the overall length of the drive pinion bushing? The bushing i.d. is nominally 1" - does anyone know the nominal o.d.? Sorry for all the questions. I'm just just trying to gather some information so I can plan out what I want to do.

Thanks.

Rich

 

[oldmech]

HiI The first step is the MASTER adaptor plate Pict one. Dim. about 6 1/2x12in. x 5/16 .look 3/4 pins(2) for fit in camshaft hole crankcase They are four 3/8 holes for engine bolts. pict 2 is LC100 on tranny shaft. Pic 3 is adaptor plate on engine they are four spacers between the adaptor plate and the crankcase. two steel plate was add. for renforcement. all was bolted on engine Pict 4 The oil galeries I drill two 3/16 holes. I add other pic later. Oldmech