Gravely L8 not starting

[oldmech]

Hi! For L8 I replace air filter for a JD 317 air filter Same dia. but 2in. more high I weld one extension on center bolt.
I remember my L8 start near everytime at first try. But after running in hot wheather. If I stop engine for 5-10 min. Impossible to restart. I think because Gravely engine run very hot( Bad cooling system) This product Vapor lock in the carburator and bad mixture. Twinty min. later it start first time. May be a thick intake manifold gasket could correct this problem. Check belt tension and bearings on fan system. We must think the Gravely engine was design SIXTY years ago. Good Luck ! Oldmech

 

[FlaDon]

Hi! For L8 I replace air filter for a JD 317 air filter Same dia. but 2in. more high I weld one extension on center bolt.
I remember my L8 start near everytime at first try. But after running in hot wheather. If I stop engine for 5-10 min. Impossible to restart. I think because Gravely engine run very hot( Bad cooling system) This product Vapor lock in the carburator and bad mixture. Twinty min. later it start first time. May be a thick intake manifold gasket could correct this problem. Check belt tension and bearings on fan system. We must think the Gravely engine was design SIXTY years ago. Good Luck ! Oldmech

Actually, you can add another 12 years to the design age. The first Ls came out in 1937. Prior to that there were hex axle models that dated back to 1935 and look alot like an L. I have a 66 year old one that runs and a 69 year old one that will run again one day.

As for the heat problem, the new and improved gasoline with ethanol is even worse. Opened up the gas cap on a Gravely Kohler powered Pro 8 to find the gasoline bubbling from the fuel line to the engine.

 

[2manyrocks]

FlaDon, could I ask how you acquired your knowledge of Gravely's? Not just anybody would have known to ask if I had missing air deflectors.

I had heard of Gravelys, but didn't know much of anything about them. I bought this L8 based on Gravely reputation and wanting to learn more, but have to say there's a whole lot I don't know.

 

[FlaDon]

FlaDon, could I ask how you acquired your knowledge of Gravely's? Not just anybody would have known to ask if I had missing air deflectors.

I had heard of Gravelys, but didn't know much of anything about them. I bought this L8 based on Gravely reputation and wanting to learn more, but have to say there's a whole lot I don't know.

I have owned or operated Gravelys for over 35 years, own a collection of Ls and Cs ( and its growing ), and help out at a Gravely dealership. Also a member of the Gravely Tractor Club of America.

Left home northbound this trip with 3 Ls/Cs in the trailer. By the time I was finished, I had put 9 of them into storage. I have to keep a speadsheet just to keep up with the 2-wheelers that are pre-1976.

 

[2manyrocks]

This L8 is my only experience with the original Gravely engine, and I haven't run it much at all. I have had more experience running a 566 with a 12 horse Kohler-it doesn't have the balance of the original L8 in my opinion. I wanted to get this L8 in running condition really to get an understanding of what the original Gravely was like and not so much to really use it. But I have a couple of others L's sitting that might run or might not --I haven't figured them out yet. I was curious what your thoughts might be on the question of repowering older Ls with Hondas versus rebuilding the Gravely engine? I kind of wish there was some cheap bolt on solution instead of having to rebuild an engine.

 

[FlaDon]

This L8 is my only experience with the original Gravely engine, and I haven't run it much at all. I have had more experience running a 566 with a 12 horse Kohler-it doesn't have the balance of the original L8 in my opinion. I wanted to get this L8 in running condition really to get an understanding of what the original Gravely was like and not so much to really use it. But I have a couple of others L's sitting that might run or might not --I haven't figured them out yet. I was curious what your thoughts might be on the question of repowering older Ls with Hondas versus rebuilding the Gravely engine? I kind of wish there was some cheap bolt on solution instead of having to rebuild an engine.

With the Comm 10A/Comm 12 and later, the engine swap isn't bad. With an L or C, you run into the same problem as was found in the Comm 10. The gearing was too fast with the single gear on the engine. Change out the rear planetary set to solve that. Gravely didn't stick with just the Kohlers so there were Robin, B&S, and Wisconsin engines on them depending on models and timeframe and whether they had been changed. Now the Honda seems to be the best bang for the buck. It also sheds some weight that the old CI Kohlers had bringing it nearer to the Gravely engines weight. Unless you have a wartime one with the CI crankcase. That one gets you close to Kohler weight. Cost of a Honda is about the same as just the cylinder new from Gravely. That's what hurts.