Engine ideas

[oldmech]

Hi! I want add new pic 1 is engine and adaptor crankcase ready to go . all parts are with silicone gasket cement. pict 2 is engine bolted on tranny look spacers between adaptor plate and crankcase. Good luck ! Oldmech

 

[gravelymay]

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

Hi Rich
I guess since you have your engine the next step is what speed do you want to run?
You can get a set of late model gear set up with cross over arm and go back to the speeds that you used to.
If you have a old engine half use it when you make your adapter then transfer the holes from it .
When you make the adapter you will need a seal or a surface to put a gasket on.
The other question is what equip do you plan to run?
If you run mower or snow blower will work great but your ground speed will change.
What model do you have?
Thanks Bruce g
gravelymay@yahoo.com
423 716 4611

 

[Oneaxepony]

I have what I believe is a standard L8 tractor. While I have several attachments like the rotary plow/cultivator and sickle bar, I'll really never use anything other than the mower. I have the tractor for fun, not work. I want to put on a new engine for a project - more fun. I'm in no particular hurry and cant do anything until Spring when it warms up a little, so I'm just gathering ideas for now. Thanks.

 

[2manyrocks]

The rotary plow really does prepare a seedbed in one pass, but throws dirt everywhere without a dirt shield.

I've never seen the exact way of how it was done, but I've read that people used to remove the top of the old Gravely engines, and then bolt another engine to the top of the crankcase. They they'd drive the crank with a belt and pulley arrangement.

 

[gravelymay]

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

Hi Guys
I guess I am asleep I just through.
You can set your top gov speed at 2700 Rpm.
The 13 Hp has enough torque .
And it would not be a problem.
So the engine sticks out a little so what.
Get a short shaft engine.
I finally see the light.
We make a adapter for the transmission
And add donuts to take up the extra shaft length.
Between the adapter and the engine.
I think this may be able to do for about $200.00 plus engine.
We would need the old input crank end that goes into the trans.
We would have to drill through and put a counterbore in the end .
Also have to cut off 1 inch before the gear and mill a key in shaft
So we can use a cap screw through to the crank shaft to hole together
I can get a bushing 1 X 1 X 3 in long 1/4 key through
From Applied Industrial tech
well guys that is the plain that I think will work.
So speed don't matter set the gov so it wont over speed the equipment.
Thanks Bruce g
gravelymay@yhoo.com
423 716 4611 Free Sat and Sundays and after 9 O' clock at night
Verizon to Verizon free anytime

 

[js5020]

Has everyone taken notice that there are 16hp clones on ebay lately? Hmmm always wanted a 16hp machine,, since the com12 is lacking an engine at the moment it has me thinking and they are not much more than the 13hp ones.

 

[gravelymay]

Sounds like worth looking into
Plenty power
Bg

 

[gravelymay]

Is this the Engine that you was talking about?
That is a great engine and made by Fifan.
They make a good engine.

NEW 16HP Gas Engine Electric Start Side Shaft 16 HP - eBay (item 170461508621 end time Mar-22-10 13:23:33 PDT)

This will fit better then Honda because the air cleaner is down low.
If you are going to use in a lot dirt or dust I would Recommend a remote air filter.
For $369.00 Free shipping that Engine is a buy.
Thanks Bruce g

 

[js5020]

Is this the Engine that you was talking about?
That is a great engine and made by Fifan.
They make a good engine.

NEW 16HP Gas Engine Electric Start Side Shaft 16 HP - eBay (item 170461508621 end time Mar-22-10 13:23:33 PDT)

This will fit better then Honda because the air cleaner is down low.
If you are going to use in a lot dirt or dust I would Recommend a remote air filter.
For $369.00 Free shipping that Engine is a buy.
Thanks Bruce g

Yes thats what I was talking bout Bruce, heck of a deal in my opinion. I dont think I can buy the rebuild parts and have the machine work done for that money and as you have said everything is brand new. I saw that air cleaner and thought it would be pretty easy to go to a remote filter assembly if its not up to the task.

 

[gravelymay]

Hi Guys
Well today I was thinking again.or a brain fart.
The Kolher adapter fits on the old L transmission.
Just drill new mount holes
The top hole won't be used.
Then we can put spacer 008 adapters for the length of the
crank shaft on like I do the C10A and up.
Then all we have to do work on is the crank shaft.
They sell a coupling 1 dia. that will fit over the
forward part of the model L crank shaft.
Cut the crank into 1in before the gear mill 1/4 key slot up to the gear.
Drill the gear though and counter bore the end.
To fit a 3/8 X 24 cap Screw.
long enough to go all through to hold it all together.
This is my latest Cheapest Idea.
Any Ideas welcome
Thanks Bruce g
423 716 4611

 

[Oneaxepony]

For the GX390, what size bolts are used in the universal bolt pattern?

 

[oldmech]

Hi! For most four M8 x 1.25 treads check for length may be 30MM Good Luck! Oldmech

 

[Oneaxepony]

Thanks, oldmech. There are two sets of 4 mounting holes around the crankshaft on the Honda engine. One set of holes are 90 deg apart just behind the circular ring. I believe these are M8 X 1.25. The second set is further away from the ring and only the bottom two holes are 90 deg apart. The upper two holes are 60 deg apart. These bolt holes appear to be larger than M8. These are the ones i'm wondering about. I believe these are the holes Gravelymay uses when he mounts his adapter.

 

[Oneaxepony]

Answered my own question. Found a drawing on-line for a Briggs engine with the universal bolt pattern. Says the bolt holes are 3/8 - 16 UNC. Tried one at home and - voila! - it fits!

 

[gravelymay]

How is your conversion going.

 

[Oneaxepony]

I am slowly progressing on the conversion of my L8 to a Honda clone. The approach I have chosen is to use the front half of the Gravely crankcase to connect to the tranny and use an adapter plate in place of the rear crankcase half to connect to the new engine. I am using a 1/2" thick aluminum plate to cover the crankcase with a smaller 1 1/4" plate behind it as a spacer (total thickness 1 3/4"). These plates are pretty much done. Need to get final dimensions on drive gear and get it machined. Gear will need to be cut to size, have keyway cut, and be bored to connect to crankshaft via long bolt. Am not ready to post pics yet but will do so later. I've been PMing oldmech & Gravelymay and each has given me excellent advice.

 

[gravelymay]

Hi One
We need to talk
I have been on another trail.
I am not sure which way you are going ?
So my advice may be wrong??
I though you where going a different way?
Thanks Bruce g

 

[stevem5215]

Wow, an engine kit to replace the L8 would be the ticket. I'd consider putting that on. That L8 was good in it's day but the time has come to consider a better engine for it.

Steve

 

[oldmech]

Hi! GravelyMay is a Master engineer and make very goods jobs You can trust in him.
My system is very cheap. My cost was less $200. Run very well now more 300hrs.
But I think you go to as Belos site. . The shaft adaptor gear can be very expensive and you need a 112mm spacer adaptor between engine and tranny.
Some years ago a NZ Man make a Kit for Honda to Gravely L about $400 as the Belos site . I Write him No more available. Good Luck ! Oldmech

 

[Oneaxepony]

My approach is not unique but a combination of several already used. I like the idea of using the crankcase as an adapter but I'm only using the front half (WITHOUT THE BRASS BUSHING). The rear crankcase half is replaced by aluminum plates. The gravely drive gear will be cut to length and attached to the clone crankshaft via sleeve & 1/4" key and held together via a long bolt. The sleeve and gear will easily fit through the 2" hole in the front crankcase half. I chose this approach to keep cost down. I purchased aluminum from my local scrap metal dealer and cut it to size using a circular saw. I drilled holes with my cheap drill press. Even though I am not a mechanic I believe I've got the tolerances close enough that it will work. Cutting the drive gear is something I cannot do myself so I am looking for help on that. I mounted the engine on the tranny briefly yesterday (without the drive gear, of course) just to see if the handlebars would clear the muffler and fuel tank. They did. Am still working out how to attach handle bars but I have a few ideas for this. I am in no particular hurry - just taking my time and having some fun. I appreciate all the comments and suggestions given by others on this site. Thanks.