Oil check valve - Gravely L

[duffy2011]

I am working on my old L8. I had no oil flow when I took the filler cap off and looked in. I kept adjusting the fitting out and tightening the locknut until I ran out of thread. Still no flow!! I took the ball bearing and spring clear out and boys I got me some oil flow now!!!! I mean you need to put your face shield on when you open that oil caphttp://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/images/smilies/new/laughing.gif but my oil pressure went from 3/4 on the gauge to 1/4. Will it hurt to run it like this? Would someone please get me on the right track? Thanks.

Duffy

 

[RichardTX]

The answer is yes, it will hurt it. Do not run it without the pressure relief/check valve in place.

 

[Oneaxepony]

The oil delivery system on the L is designed to split flow so some goes to the PTO and some goes to the crankcase. Both are important. By removing the ball and spring in the check valve you are ensuring the PTO and related parts (like the tapered roller bearing in the 30" mower behind the slip clutch) get proper lubrication. However you may be starving crankcase and tranny parts like the drive pinion and pilot bearing. This would be very bad. I would try to sort out why the you are not getting proper oil flow before I would run the machine for anything other than a quick test. Good luck!

 

[duffy2011]

Hey guys,

Thanks for the quick reply and accurate info. I'll put the valve back together and start checking. Great forum!! I also have an LS that won't start unless you hook it up to an electric motor and spin it like crazy. Any ideas? I probably should start a new thread for that. Again, thanks a bunch.


Duffy

 

[RichardTX]

If the LI won't start with a strap, then something is wrong. Either compression is low or the impulse mechanism of the magneto is stuck.

In general if a Gravely engine takes more than two pulls to start, it needs something.

 

[duffy2011]

I changed the magneto out and now it starts on first or second pull. Richard, could you give me some education on "impulse mechanism". I do not understand what that is. I'll give you a little more explanation on this tractor and hopefully it will help someone in the future. The plug would make a blue spark with every crank. It had good compression-it would blow my thumb off the plug hole with big-time force. It was getting gas- I even dumped a little in the plug hole and I cranked and cranked but it would'nt even try to start. I checked the timing and it was perfect. I called the guy that I bought it from. He said the last few times it started, he had to hook it up to an electric motor and turn it over really fast. Anyway, with a different magneto it started right up and ran smooth. I guess the old adage "If it's gettin gas and spark, it has to run" didn't hold true in this case!! This tractor is a LS probably 50's or 60's. I haven't looked the number up yet. Thanks for reading and thanks for all the help. I'm looking forward to learning from all the very capable and knowledgeable Gravely guys.

Duffy

 

[RichardTX]

The impulse mechanism is inside the magneto. It is the mechanism that causes the magneto to "snap". Corrosion or dirt will cause the weight of the impulse mechanism to not move freely. If the magneto snaps, then the problem is likely points or condenser.