1956 David Bradley

[s1120]

<font color=red>I swear they used to measure HP differently </font color=red>

I think you are right. The kholer 14hp in my Ingersoll is a lot stronger then some of the motors they put in the new garden tractors. Nowadays with the hp race, I think the manufactures are rating the hp a deferent way to make them look better. I think any one who has used one of the old “k” model kholer singles will agree with me.

 

[geneP]

Paul, speaking of the "K" model Kholers...I have a Gravely with a 8 HP K181s that I bought in 1977. I've used it for about everything around the place, and had it overhauled (bored, crank turned, etc) about 8 years ago. Last summer it started using oil quite suddenly. I check around, and the opinion I got was that Kholer was going to stop making the K model. The cost to overhaul it again was quoted at about $600, and I'd still have the 24 yr old carb, governor, alternator, etc. I orderd and picked up yesterday a brand new engine complete with all the accessories. Cost was $1080 including tax. I was afraid I would get caught a few years from now with a junk motor and no way to get a new one.

I looked all winter for a replacement for the Gravely to mow grass with, and couldn't convince myself that anything short of one of those $5500 zero turn radius front mower zoomies would do what the gravey does in my yard. Not that it is so fast, but it is so versatile. I don't have to follow up with a weed-eater because it cuts up under bushes and fence rows.

 

[Thomas]

For yesterday iron she in darn good shape.
I believe Allis Chalmer,Case also had tractor setup like the D.B. but a little larger.

I bet she would bring home some ribbions if you enter her antique tractor show. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif


Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[TraderMark]

That thing is just TOOOOO cool!
/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[fxrupr]

Are you sure Harley Davidson didn't have something to do with the design?
That is some Hog!! And I'll bet it's paid for itself many times over.

 

[2manyrocks]

I think David Bradley was well known in farm implements maybe in the 50's and early 60's. I still have one of their walk behinds. I sold the plow attachment, but used to turn our garden with it. They had a basic model with no hood and then a fancy model that had a hood over the engine. The higher end models had a reverse on them and a variable pulley to change drive speeds plus a locking differential. I agree with the OP that David Bradleys were well made--I'm sure my walk behind would still work if I decided to use it.

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

The David Bradley allowed you to plow your crop when it was too small to plow with a larger tractor. I think an Allis Chalmers model G is a jewel also. My Grandad truck patched a forty with a David Bradley. He had converted an old mule planter to fit the walk behind. He had a tractor that he broke and disced with, but he used the David Bradley until things were big enough to plow with the larger tractor, letting the crop get a head start on the grass. I have two riding DB's, and one walk behind with the reverse. There are maybe a dozen of them parked in and around grandpa's barn. He had a three wheeled one like that one but it was all apart. I never knew what that thing was until now. An indispensible tool for the truck patcher.

 

[rreidnauer]

If anyone is interested, I saw a guy has a restored one of these for sale on Craigslist just outside of Philadelphia.

1954 David Bradley tri trac

 

[MtHam]

My father bought a David Bradley 2 wheel walk behind tractor with a 5hp B&S engine in the early 50's when I was about 6 years old. I used the heck out of it over the next five years, and burned up the engine due to asking it to do more than it could, coupled with my negligence in letting the oil get too low. He was very stoic, and simply said I was going to rebuild it, and I did. It was a great lesson, a very educational experience, and one of my fondest memories of him.