Project: Gravely Model L

[88BlackS-ETA]

Well I miss having a project since I finished this one. So I got another one and my brother has an older one now also. His is a 1951 5.5hp Model L (pics soon, maybe).

Mine is a 1972 C8 7.6hp fully loaded. Electric start (will be sold so it can be manual pull start), governor (dont want) and 8 speed transmission (4 forward and 4 reverse).



Mine came with a rotary cultivator, tool holder cultivator and a sickle bar. The sickle bar had a few loose teeth on it so I tore it apart and got new plow bolts and reverse locking nuts.



New bolt vs old bolt. It takes 2 different length bolts so I got all of them the longer ones and left them sticking out, I'll trim them if needed.




And almost fully back together. I noticed its missing the wear tip for the arm that moves back and forth, so I ordered a new one, stupid expensive.



My brother also purchased a 1978 Gravely 8161 commercial rider at the same auction with a mowing deck, grader blade (rare), 38" snow blower and a snow/dirt plow. I took it apart and degreased and pressure washed it. Then replaced fuel line, fuel filter, new battery, greased everything and cleaned/set the carb. This is a before and after of the seat.



And the tractor before and after. This all happened in 5 days. My brother also repainted the seat pan since the PO did some crappy metal work on it.

[88BlackS-ETA]

So what does a set of reels go for? I have two sets I need to sell off.

If you have everything and they work correctly and need nothing around $300 a set (middle reel and both gangs).

If they are really rusty and missing a few parts or need rebuilt around $150.

[rturbo 930]

So what does a set of reels go for? I have two sets I need to sell off.

[88BlackS-ETA]

There is no need to use full throttle. This machine has no governer so if you need more power all you do is tap the throttle with your thumb. I can use full throttle if I wanted but there is no need to.

[monticello]

Between what people pay for the parts it should be priced $1,000 easily as it sits. Its not a matter of going up or across a hill, you need to have a big pair of balls going on anything thats more then a slight hill. No safeties=more fun. If you fall off of it, it will keep going until it runs out of gas even if it hits something it will just spin the tires in place.



74" but with a slight overlap ~70" cut. I only use ~1/4-1/3 throttle ever.

Full throttle with a race seat maybe?

[88BlackS-ETA]

Hmm....too bad you cant gear it down more to take better advantage of the machine's power. A low gear that runs close to 3/4 throttle at the same speed you travel at 1/4 throttle might be an improvement.

That was 2nd gear. There are gear reduction wheels you can get and put on, they go stupid slow though.

[M-technik-3]

Reel style mower gives such an awesome cut, when I was a kid my Mom bought a Simplicity Broadmor that was used and had a beat deck. We had 5 acres to mow, so we went by the local country club and bought one of their older tow behind reel units. Had the best darn grass in the area after that.

On my JD 318 with a 54 inch deck I put a speed up pulley to increase the blade speed and it's made a difference.

[flyboyx]

Between what people pay for the parts it should be priced $1,000 easily as it sits. Its not a matter of going up or across a hill, you need to have a big pair of balls going on anything thats more then a slight hill. No safeties=more fun. If you fall off of it, it will keep going until it runs out of gas even if it hits something it will just spin the tires in place.

Hmm....too bad you cant gear it down more to take better advantage of the machine's power. A low gear that runs close to 3/4 throttle at the same speed you travel at 1/4 throttle might be an improvement.

I used to have an old 60's 10hp cub cadet lawn tractor. It was built like a tank, but so severely underpowered. The engine would die if you drove the deck into grass more than ankle high.

[88BlackS-ETA]

Between what people pay for the parts it should be priced $1,000 easily as it sits. Its not a matter of going up or across a hill, you need to have a big pair of balls going on anything thats more then a slight hill. No safeties=more fun. If you fall off of it, it will keep going until it runs out of gas even if it hits something it will just spin the tires in place.

That video is awesome, what is the width of cut with that thing?

74" but with a slight overlap ~70" cut. I only use ~1/4-1/3 throttle ever.

[LJ851]

That video is awesome, what is the width of cut with that thing?

[flyboyx]

damn thats cool. what would you suppose is the value of everything you have in the last pic?

i noticed that your lawn is really flat. do you think this would have the power to climb relatively steep hills and also run that massive mower attachment?

by today's standards, it really lacks any sort of safety features. i suppose it an way that is kind of the point of having one of these. it has a nice rawness to it. pansy asses can suck it and go buy a new toro.

[88BlackS-ETA]

Well I got the sulky done.



I sold a NOS (New old stock) cultivator in original box and also bought 3 things. A pair of wheels (rims/tires/tubes) and a steering sulky and a MuffleTone muffler.



This is my new setup. Dual wheels are required with a steering sulky. The steering sulky and gang reel mower makes it a zero turn,LOL, and if you are in 3rd or 4th gear and turn to sharp it will throw you off.




Video of me mowing my front yard.

https://www.facebook.com/david.helfrich/videos/10207542599587920/

[88BlackS-ETA]

I have a sulky and use the gangs to mow. Im in the process of sandblasting and painting the sulky. I have to take the gangs off so it will fit in its spot in the shed. The pictures with only the center reel on is because I put the hood on and mowed the night before with the gangs so I didnt need them on. It puts a smile on my face when I mow with it and all the people doing up/down my road slow down and stare at me.

[flyboyx]

why only the single gang reel? is your yard too small to run all three? do you have the sulky? it would be cool to sit behind the machine and just let it pull you around the yard. you could make one easily if you don't have that attachment.

[88BlackS-ETA]

Sadly thats the only 3 attachments I have...For now...

But in other news, I bought a hood that has been in storage for many many years. I sandblasted it and my brother reinforced the front lip so it doesnt crack out like all the others and so it doesnt get damaged when I open it up.