Welcome! Please use the navigational links to explore our website.
PartsASAP LogoCompany Logo Auction Link (800) 853-2651

Shop Now

   Allis Chalmers Case Farmall IH Ford 8N,9N,2N Ford
   Ferguson John Deere Massey Ferguson Minn. Moline Oliver

Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

Gravly model L lawn tractor questions

Welcome Guest, Log in or Register
Author 
old

08-30-2006 11:44:56




Report to Moderator

The mag coupleing slipped on my Model L and I'm have a hard time getting back in time. Manual says to get it to TDC and then line up a dot etc but I don't see any thing like that any place. Any body able to explain it better and or have a picture or 2 on how to get it back in time??
Thanks

[Log in to Reply]   [No Email]
Jeffcat

08-30-2006 21:22:39




Report to Moderator
 Re: Gravly model L lawn tractor questions in reply to old, 08-30-2006 11:44:56  
Just a little long but for a reason. Here comes my $.02 worth. I have a model "L" that my grandfather bought in 1962. Sat in the shed till last year when my dad asks "Do you want this piece of junk"? Sure I do and I take it home. Now the first thing I find missing is the mag! My dad took it off for someone who needed one. I had to find another and put it on. Now this machine always would pop off on first or second pull. I couldn't get it to run right. I finnaly found the problem. I am giving you this story for a reason. It sounds alot like yours. DON"T pull the head cause you don't need to. Here is where to start. With the mag off of the machine check that little shaft that comes out of the engine. This shaft is screwed into the exhaust cam and can come loose. My dad knocked it loose and dennies everything. IT has one or two little 1/16 square "notches" cut into the back of it. This shaft should be DEAD tight and have NO wiggle. IF it is loose... I went and bought a new drive shaft for about $36.00. Clean out the threads with a bolt and flush with a little carb cleaner. Apply a boat load of blue locktite and screw it in. Tighten with a strap wrench and be careful not do over do it. You can break the gear on the cam lobe drive. Thake a pin punch and pean those square cut outs to make it so the shaft will have NO WAY of turning. You can't beleave how a little wiggle will mess up the time of your engine!
Now to set it up. With the spark plug removed and with a little flashlite, look down the plug hole. Hand turn the flywheel clockwise slowly till the exhaust valve closes and the piston is about 1/8 to 3/16 of an inch BEFORE TDC. This is when the impulse on your mag should go SNAP! Just be sure to give the rope a quick pull cause with the timming set this "hot" it can kick back. Set this way it will start even in very cold weather. Make sure the shaft runs true and it should start with one pull when warm. I have mine set at 1/8in and it works very well. When you think you have it right, turn the engine over a couple of times to check it. There is a correct way to pull the rope and I can tell you that too.
With the strap wraped around the pulley, back the pulley counter clockwise till the piston is on the bottom. "Everything is nice and free". Now stand partways up with your knees bent a little and your head almost touching the left handle bar. Now pulling on the rope you want to straighten up AND fall away from the machine at the same time. This gives you a hell of a lot of pull power and it is a SMOOTH pull. This way is also very safe as if the machine kicks you are no where near anything. This way was shown to me MANY years ago by an old time Gravely dealer and mechanic. Long in wind but that is how I do it. Let us know how you did. Jeffcat

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
freddy farmer

08-30-2006 13:08:40




Report to Moderator
 Re: Gravly model L lawn tractor questions in reply to old, 08-30-2006 11:44:56  
Timing
1. remove cylinder head and gasket.
2. loosen magneto coupling bolt untill coupling will slip on the camshaft extension.
3. bring the pistion to top dead center on compression stroke (both valves closed)
4. Back pistion down cylinder approximately one inch by turning the starter pully counterclockwise.
5. measure accurately 3/8 inch from top of cylinder and bring pistion up to this point.
6. Align the timing marks (straight marks) on the magneto.
7. Reassemble the magneto coupling using .015 feeler gauge between the fiber block and the coupling flange before tightening so as not to clamp the impulse.
8. reinstall head and gasket torquing to 20 ft. lbs.

web site jbvb.ex.com/gravely/svc_76.html has a down loadable service manual

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
old

08-30-2006 13:52:52




Report to Moderator
 Re: Gravly model L lawn tractor questions in reply to freddy farmer, 08-30-2006 13:08:40  
Thats part of the problem there is no marks to go by. Also your down load site doesn't come up. I have been tring to down load a manual from gravlys.net but it isn't working either. If it matters it has a fairbank mag



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Farmer in the Dells (WI)

08-30-2006 19:56:34




Report to Moderator
 Re: Gravely model L lawn tractor questions in reply to old, 08-30-2006 13:52:52  
Old, I was able to make it come up. There is a link on this page to another short page specific to the L. Try this.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
rhouston

08-30-2006 12:25:07




Report to Moderator
 Re: Gravly model L lawn tractor questions in reply to old, 08-30-2006 11:44:56  
I'm not sure where the lines are I connot see them on the ones I've worked on (too rusty). It should snap when the piston reaches TDC. You can measure this by sticking a wood dowel in the spark plug hole and turning the engine by hand when it reaches TDC the starter impulse of the Mag should snap. please note that using the electric starter without a sparkplug installed turns too fast for the starter impulse to engage. The only one I have replaced we turned the mag until it snapped then got the engine to TDC and then installed the mag. This is the best I can do until someone with more knowlegde comes along.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
[Options]  [Printer Friendly]  [Posting Help]  [Return to Forum]   [Log in to Reply]

Hop to:


TRACTOR PARTS TRACTOR MANUALS
We sell tractor parts!  We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]

Home  |  Forums


Copyright © 1997-2023 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy

TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters

Website Accessibility Policy