Engine ideas

[oldmech]

Yes! This engine are chinesse clone of (Yanmar L100A ) They are more two different factories in China. Mines are Dek-Diesel F420. The dealer sold me the first one for 1 in. PTO but with bushing was 25 MM. This engine are good for the price. But metal Alu. and steel are soft medium quality
Some bolts loose in threads. I find a lot of aluminium powder in motor oil change but less now. I adjust regulator. Engine was over speed. Yanmar L100v is a better engine but 2k . I pay last one $480cdn. This engine take 1-1.5 liter hour very powerful. They are not small diesel engine made in America. Good luck! Oldmech

 

[2manyrocks]

Which of these engine choices do you like? Oldmech, would you put a diesel clone on yours again or would you go with the Honda?

 

[oldmech]

You know Here gas is .919 a liter diesel.959. I live in country. Yanmar clone are Direct injection diesel VERY NOISY as 88-91 db. Vibration are high as Old Gravely engine . Last year I buy a new Grillo 107d with GX340 Honda engine I discover Quietness (69db) and Smoothness . This engine take 10-20% less gas than K241
If you live in town dont buy Diesel for your neighboors go for original Honda.
If you use a lot as me (+100hrs year) and live in country Go with diesel. This engine pay itself by fuel economy
Honda GX are very good engine. Good luck! Oldmech

 

[2manyrocks]

I've been thinking about this today, and somewhere I think I read that farmers used to remove the jug and somehow put a new motor on top of the old block. Then they'd drive the existing crankshaft with a belt drive.

I haven't honestly tried very hard to get this L1 to run yet. It's a pull strap engine, and it's frustrating to keep cranking it trying to figure out why it won't run. If I buy a bunch of parts and waste my time on it, I'd end up wishing I had just replaced the engine--probably with a Honda for the reasons Oldmech has said. I do have a running Kohler engined Gravely so the L1 has not been a priority.

 

[gravelymay]

You can repower with the small gear but it will run petty fast.
If you could fine a Engine with a short shaft then you would not have to make the adapters so long.
But if they are too short then you have another problem.
Mostly it is a cost question.
Is it worth it.
Bruce g

 

[oldmech]

Hi! Put or fit one engine on old crankcase LOOK as very easy and a cheap way. You can choose ratio with pulleys. With Gravely we dont need clutch Only one V-belt (B) and two pulleys. Honda engine are light and low gravity
For FUN. I Look for possibility. Good Luck ! Oldmech

 

[2manyrocks]

It is probably not worth the cost since I have a running Kohler powered gravely, but seems a shame to let it sit there. I would like to have it for the garden and have it geared down because what I have is too fast for me.

 

[gravelymay]

Hi Guys

Well took more pictures for e-mail.

Now we try again.???

gravelymay@yahoo.com

mmmmm

 

[gravelymay]

If you could find two pulleys like a drill press
One up and one down you could change your speed.
By just moving the belt up and down.

 

[gravelymay]

I though I would brake the ice
And show what the Honda looks like ready to be put on a gravely in place of the 12 Hp kohler.
Thanks Bruce g
P.S.
My e- mail has changed to gravelymay@yahoo.com
IF need help or if you have questions

 

[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