Engine ideas

[Oneaxepony]

I have changed my plans from this
and put the Kohler adapter next to the L transmission
then the spacer adapter with a oil seal
like I use on the C10a, 500,5000 and the 400 rider tractors
The adapter would be the same thickness as if you used the Late model Gears.
For the L model gear you will need a different thickness.
About twice as thick

In this approach what would be the total distance between the L transmission case and the new engine (i.e the distance taken up by the Kohler adapter and other adapter plate(s) that sit behind it? Just wondering.

 

[gravelymay]

In this approach what would be the total distance between the L transmission case and the new engine (i.e the distance taken up by the Kohler adapter and other adapter plate(s) that sit behind it? Just wondering.

It depends how long you cut the old gravely gear.
Say you cut 1 inch before the gear.
and the engine crank is 3 3/4 long
Then you have 4 3/4 inches plus the gear is 5/8 thick =5.375
So 5.375 from where the engine mounts to the end of the gear
not counting 3/4 dia. end that goes inside of the bushing.
The gear sticks into the transmission 2.135.
The Kohler adapter is 1/2 thick and the part that stick into the Transmission.
2.135 plus .500 =2.635
So 5.375 mins 2.635 =2.740
Or make 2 adapters 1.370 thick each

Now you cut your gear 1.625 plus the gear is .625 = 2.250.
So your engine is 3.750 plus 2.250 = 6.00 long.
6.00 minis the part that sticks inside of the transmission 2.135 =
-2.135 =3.865
So you would need 3.865 spacer out side of the transmission.

I hope this helps double check my figs I can be off.
Thanks Bruce g

 

[Oneaxepony]

Slightly off-topic but many people re-power their Gravelys with Chinese built engines. Yesterday China announced it would not peg its currency to the U.S. dollar as tightly as it had been doing in the past few years. This policy change means Chinese exports to the U.S. will cost more and importing goods into China will cost less. This also means Chinese engines will probably cost a bit more in the future, although how much more remains to be seen. If you've been thinking about pulling the trigger on one of these engines, now might be good time to do it.

 

[tulenutn2o]

Ya and a 500hp CAT would be cool also, but neither would be very functional.

Actually, it pulled sled quite well, was very fun driving down the street too. Heck, have been to the mower races lately? It's a hoot.

 

[2manyrocks]

It would be a no-brainer to put a chonda on a gravely if the adaptors were something you could just buy and install. But this business of having to fabricate an adaptor is a deterrent to doing it.

If I am remembering this thread correctly, you can narrow it down to four posters who've actually done it or are doing it: OldMech, GravelyMay, May, and Oneaxepony. Elsewhere on the internet, I'm having trouble finding anyone else who's actively even talking about making an adaptor and installing any kind of modern engine.

 

[js5020]

I think the major issue is the adapter, cost to convert, and the fact that both the T head and Kohlers have an ample supply of parts readily available, and are good engines. If the parts ever dry up for those engines it might become another story. There use to be quite a bit of information on engine conversions, gearing changes and other items on the web, but unfortunately the sites that held all that information have shut down and the info was effectively lost. I do remember a fellow converting a Com 10a to a 23hp Briggs Vanguard using ALL off the shelf parts from Gravely, it wasnt cheap but it was a sweet factory looking conversion when he was finished. There was for a time a fellow in NZ who was doing L conversions, I think he even went as far as having a bunch of sun gears made and was selling them. Seems I also remember something about putting 400 rider gears in a swiftmatic machine to slow it down, then there was some talk about using the entire rear out of a 400 series and adding some handlebars for a wider and taller machine,,, the info use to be out there but now its all gone.

 

[2manyrocks]

I don't know of any other site besides this thread where there is an active discussion on Gravely engine conversions right now. I remember the Briggs Vanguard conversion that was on a Gravely site that had lots of Gravely info, but it shut down a couple of years ago. It's a shame that all that information has disappeared.

 

[oldmech]

Hi! I think They are no adapter and sun gear available from Gravely for fit others engines on L model. This is different for newer as Com. and 5xxx serial. The Gravely tranny casing and sun gear are not the same. They are a lot of Gravely L model with used engine and with very good transmission. Good Luck ! Oldmech

 

[gravelymay]

Excellent Bruce,,, simple and not a bunch of spendy machine work by the looks of things. Sooooo,, have you got a running machine yet??

I am working on a C10A that has been apart for 10 years (Basket case).
I have got all the parts and a new 13 Hp Honda manual start.
except the clutch cone.( back ordered from Gravely)
Got most of the stuff painted.
While I have a engine I plan to make the 2 spacers and drill a old Kohler adapter to fit the old L transmission I already have my crank adapter.
So I am kindly slow.
If I get it done I will post Pictures
Thanks Bruce g

 

[js5020]

Hey Bruce,, looks like its coming along nicely by the last pic,, I just robbed a clutch out of the basket L for the Com12,,, see your not the only one who "takes his time" with things LOL, Im just putting the 301 back together this weekend, had a bunch a work to do on that,, crank was fine just smeared with alum, had to drill out a broken head bolt, then had to remove a broken tap, totally frustrating as I have never broken a tap over 10-32 but I got it out thankfully. Maybe by next weekend I'll have mine back together again.

 

[gravelymay]

I only got the parts this spring.
No I not the one that let set that long.
I have been working on it off and on for about a month.
It belongs to someone else.
Thanks Bruce g

 

[gravelymay]

It depends how long you cut the old gravely gear.
Say you cut 1 inch before the gear.
and the engine crank is 3 3/4 long
Then you have 4 3/4 inches plus the gear is 5/8 thick =5.375
So 5.375 from where the engine mounts to the end of the gear
not counting 3/4 dia. end that goes inside of the bushing.
The gear sticks into the transmission 2.135.
The Kohler adapter is 1/2 thick and the part that stick into the Transmission.
2.135 plus .500 =2.635
So 5.375 mins 2.635 =2.740
Or make 2 adapters 1.370 thick each

Now you cut your gear 1.625 plus the gear is .625 = 2.250.
So your engine is 3.750 plus 2.250 = 6.00 long.
6.00 minis the part that sticks inside of the transmission 2.135 =
-2.135 =3.865
So you would need 3.865 spacer out side of the transmission.

I hope this helps double check my figs I can be off.
Thanks Bruce g

Well as they say we can make mistakes so I did
Here is the new figures

Say you cut 1 inch before the gear.
and the engine crank is 3 3/4 long
Then you have 4 3/4 inches plus the gear is 5/8 thick =5.375
So 5.375 from where the engine mounts to the end of the gear
not counting 3/4 dia. end that goes inside of the bushing.
The gear sticks into the transmission 1.500.
The Kohler adapter is 1/2 thick and the part that stick into the Transmission.
1.500 plus .500 =2.00
So 5.375 mins 2.000 =3.375
Make one adapter 3.375
Or make 2 adapters 1.687 thick each
Can't get a 1.687 adapter out of 1.500 material so that runs the price up.
But ant it fun??????

Bruce g

 

[Oneaxepony]

OK today I finally got the engine mounted and the tractor ran. Special thanks to Gravelymay who machined the gear I sent him perfectly. Below are some pictures to give you an idea of what it looks like. I noticed I have three small oils leaks to deal with. 2 are from the tractor axles and have nothing to do with the new engine. One small leak (a drop an hour) is coming from one of the bolts which goes into the universal bolt pattern. I think I can stop this fairly easily. By the way the 13 hp Blue Max engine started easily and ran great.

 

[oldmech]

Hi! Congratulation! You can be proud. It not easy to fit a new engine on L model. But you make it! Good Luck Oldmech

 

[Oneaxepony]

Hi! Congratulation! You can be proud. It not easy to fit a new engine on L model. But you make it! Good Luck Oldmech

Thanks, Oldmech. I appreciate all the suggestions you made via PM early in my project. A couple more pics below. One is the gear ready for installation. Note the piece of aluminum foil next to the gear. The gear came from an old L and the 1" shaft was so worn I wrapped the foil around it before inserting it into the sleeve. It then fit snugly with no wobble. The other picture shows how I cut off the L fan housing so the gas tank would fit. The other half of the fan housing is connected to the adapter plate as shown in the previous pictures. Half inch threaded rod connects the two fan housing pieces together for a secure fit.

 

[gravelymay]

Looking Good

 

[2manyrocks]

Got to love the red, white and blue on July 4th.

 

[Oneaxepony]

Cant call this 100% success yet. Noticed the groundspeed even at low rpms is much faster than what I remember (tractor hasn't been run in at least 5 years). High-Low appears to make no difference. Service manual indicates this is due to a frozen high-low planetary. Now the question is - is this due to the new engine and gear orientation or is it because the tractor sat so long. Would like to get your ideas. If due to frozen planetary, may have to post on Yahoo Gravely Club since I have no experience with fixing planetary.

 

[oldmech]

Hi! First look for bands adjustement . But I think! May be sun gear input shaft is too tight on planetary . May be add some spacers between engine and tranny for add clearance. Good Luck! Oldmech

 

[Oneaxepony]

Hi! First look for bands adjustement . But I think! May be sun gear input shaft is too tight on planetary . May be add some spacers between engine and tranny for add clearance. Good Luck! Oldmech

Thanks, Oldmech. What is 'bands adjustment' ?