Gravely Lawn Tractor

[jcmseven]

Can anyone ever find those 24G's in good shape?? I would (almost) give my left arm for one. I would love to find a nice gravely 4 wheel tractor with an Onan engine that has been lovingly restored. I keep looking and surfing the web, but it seems all these machines are in rough shape and would require a lot of work to get to standard. Unfortunately, with my challenging work schedule and family, I just cannot find the time to restore one myself. Any suggestions on good places to look??

John M

 

[csr0831]

I have a Gravely ....not the g24, but the one that came reight before it and it has an Onan engine (p218). It has not been restored nor will it likely be, but it's a workhorse. I also have a Kubota GR2100 and my gravely will out pull, out cut, and is just generall a much better tractor. Even if is is 25 years old and has 1500 hours on it!

 

[jcmseven]

My dad also has a Gravely. It is an 8193KT, I believe. It currently runs, but not well. It has flat tires and some electrical problem as well, but has been kept inside and has no rust and paint that looks practically new. I would love to repower it and getting it going again. When I was a kid, I mowed the county with that machine and though it was painfully slow to mow in 2 high (see, I remember) it did a great job. My dad would love to have his pride and joy restored and at 80 years old I would like to do this for him while he still can. I know Onan engines were a mixed bag, but are they still available?? I would very much like to put an Onan on this machine. Something about the nasal drone sounds better than all the other twins.

John M

 

[gravelymay]

Hi John
I am close you
I am in South East Tenn
I have done repowers on 8199 KT
Here is a link to a repower of a 16 to a 24 Hp Honda.
You can repower with any Engine with a 1 1/8 dia X 3.500 to 4 .00 long.
the chose is yours.

Gravely Tractor Message Board - Login

If I can be a help call me
423 716 4611
Bruce g

 

[jcmseven]

Bruce, thank you very much. Do you recommend the Honda engine over other choices?? I am going down to my parents this weekend and am going to assess the "damage" on the Gravely. I think it to be in good shape save the engine.

John M

 

[gravelymay]

I have one and my brother has two I have changed over for about 3 to 4 years ago
So far they are doing good .
What town do you all live near
I am 1 1/2 mile off 75 Exit 33Charleston TN.
I like The Honda I would never say it is the best
I got my engines at Nothhern Tool Chatt. TN.
On the flat tire thing
I filled them with solf rubber no more flats

 

[gravelymay]

BTW I had my tires filled in Knoxville Tn.
at Leader Industrial Tires
849 Turnberry Drive
Knoxville Tn 37923
865 675 1633
He charges 1.00 per #
The front tires on a rider holds 29 #
I though sense you was from West N.C.
You may not be far from Knoxville.
What city are you close too.
I also knew Matt Brown.at Gravely.
Bruce g.

 

[gravelymay]

Sorry I ran every one off.
My brother Went through 5 regular Lawn mowers.
before he got his Gravely 28 years ago.
I have had Gravely sense 1978
Started with a L model
Then got a 12 Hp 5660
Then got a Rider 12 Hp 8123.
Put a front loader on it but it was under powered.
I bough a dealership and sold the 12 hp.
While had the dealership had a guy come buy wanting a new engine.
Right now so I sold one off a new tractor.
I took that tractor for a demonstrator so I put a Kohler 19 series II.
I ran that engine for 28 years it got to using too much oil.
Ck the price of a new Engine $3200 was too much.
Got on the internet and started looking.
I knew i needed a engine 1 1/8 X 35 to 4. long.
I found a 24 Hp Honda with a 1 1/8 X 3 3/4 long.
I decided I would Get it and have a adapter made.
At the time I did not know that the 32164 adapter plate .
off of my 19 series II would work .
The only need was to fill with a gasket about .065 gap in the counterbore.
I put the 24 Hp Honda on 3 years ago and am very pleased.
They are a power house.
The org Gravely tractor trans has not been into.
Used up one set of forward and reverse clutches
For as price to me only
I would not take $5000.00 for My Gravely :thumbsup:
Thanks Bruce g

 

[jcmseven]

Bruce, you didn't run us off. I, for one, have had a tough stretch of work keeping me from following the threads as I wish. Thanks for the good information.

John

 

[gravelymay]

Thanks John
What town are you close too?
i am in south east tn.
I saw you where from west NC
I am about 65 miles from Murphy NC
If you need any thing
just call and I will tell you any thing I know.

Gm

 

[jcmseven]

Thanks, I live in the Sylva/Balsam area. Thanks for your offer. If I can ever quit working overtime, I am going to pursue this.

John M

 

[gravelymay]

Thanks, I live in the Sylva/Balsam area. Thanks for your offer. If I can ever quit working overtime, I am going to pursue this.

John M

Looks like we are about 150 miles apart .
still goes I would be glad to help any way I can.
You are right in the mountains .
Beautiful up there
We went to Bryson City This past fall

Thanks Bruce g 423 716 4611

 

[jim ranalli]

hello i can use some advice i have a gravely 8179 and all of a sudden lost the high range in trans ck the linkage and it seemed fine never had a problem with the machine

 

[RichardTX]

If you lost high range, then it is time to take the trans apart and find out what is going on. Use the G series service manual.

 

[gravelymay]

hello i can use some advice i have a gravely 8179 and all of a sudden lost the high range in trans ck the linkage and it seemed fine never had a problem with the machine

Check your hi / lo range lever maybe in neutral.

 

[gabbyandtigersdad]

Hi Ben,

Thanks for the Gravely story. I have a 1978 Gravely 8161 that I bought new. 16 horse Briggs,
good engine although I prefer Kohler, like the engine on my TroyBilt tiller. Kohlers are so smooth.

Thanks for the Gravely comments. All the weight is in the back, watch out for wheelies, I've done a couple unplanned ones.

 

[rogersadler]

I have 8123 that is about 30 yr old motor has been rebuilt two time and it run fine and does not use oil

 

[gravley]

That's a beautiful machine

 

[chris42]

I have a model 18 G Gravely, bought new in 1989. Runs like a top. It has a 5' mower deck on it.

The 24G can be found, I've seen one or two here in southern PA. They came with a standard 6' mower deck.

If you are searching Craigslist for tractors try this: SearchTempest Online Classifieds Search - All the Classifieds. One Search. It uses craigslist, but can search the entire country if you want to. You type in the distance you are willing to travel.

Great machines, easy to fix and built heavy.

 

[daugen]

just read this thread, and glad it got woken up.

First Gravely was a 16G, second an older 8199 that I bought to restore.
Except for the ZTR's, I think it's fair to say that Gravelys are high effort machines. My rider gives me a workout and I keep it well greased.
My JD LX280 drives like a Lincoln compared to the Gravely. Softer ride, almost like power steering though it isn't.
But the Gravely will cut through places I'd never take the shiny green machine. Plus it weighs twice as much and has a different mission.
And I know every square inch of it, so if it stutters, I know exactly which nanny safety switch to clean and keep going.

I honestly believe the Gravely garden tractors were built to a standard no other garden tractor has even been.
Back in the seventies, Bolens and a few other brands had some great mini tractors, but having a Gravely
with a Kohler K engine in it is like owning a 56 Chevy with a small block in it. You know it will outlast you. No question of it...
Mine has the worst smelling exhaust, hydrocarbon city, I can't see it but boy can I smell it.
I still dream of replacing that ancient motor with a new Honda or Vanguard v twin, but my recent addition of
an electronic ignition gizmo seems to have perked up the engine and given it new life. I was getting seriously tired of
sticking points after it had sat for several weeks. No longer. Fires right up, wants to get going.

I watch the local CraigsList constantly for new Gravely equipment. We are in Gravely country here, there are old line dealers
all around me. So nice used ones do come up, just like the one I bought. But for fun, nothing beats walking the back lot, the bone yard where
the old equipment is. Where you will see old garden tractors of every make and model sinking into the soil. There can be some real gems in the
back and I bet I'm not the only one who has wandered into the boneyard.