identifying Gravely Tractor

[Farmall Bob]

I can not identify this old Gravely walk behind. There isn"t any tag. The spark plug goes straight up, and on the front casting there is a number L202. Can someone tell me where to look to find some type of identification? Thank you.
Bob
 

[SuperABen]

Bob, this is the best resource out there: http://gravelytractorclub.org/images/PDFs/manuals/miscellaneous-literature/odds-and-ends/Cust_Serv_Update_88_89_1188.pdf

Straight up spark plug means a 7.6 head, although many were swapped around during the years. Some people claimed they made the engine more powerful, so there were quite a few conversions.

L202 is the casting number. All Gravelys have that on the attachment mount.

Do you have the high/low range next to the gas tank?

Ben W. in VA
OldPathsEquipment.com
 

[Farmall ob]

Hi Ben,
I appreciate your quick reply. I know is it Sunday, but just love tinkering on my old Gravely's.

Yes it does have the hi/low range next to the gas tank. And I will try that resource you listed. Took the head off and it had some carbon, the muffler was knocked off, had to drill and re-tap the holes as the screws were broken off. Some scouring in the cyclinder head, but just barely can get a finger nail on it. A lot of things that should have been done, but were not. Expect this to be a good machine because it hasn't been run for a long time. Thankls again.
Bob
 

[SuperABen]

Yes, those exhaust bolts are probably the only thing wrong with the Gravely t-head design. The last Gravely I restored for a man had the port on the jug shredded. About $50 later I had a new exhaust machined.

Bob, I will warn you that is hard to date a Gravely except to within a generic period. For example, my L is approximately a 1955 just because of the oil system, but it also has a dipstick, oil bath air cleaner, slanted spark plug, a cast iron carburetor, and a white hood covering the gas tank. All of which are inconsistent with each other.

That doesn't mean, though, that any of these components aren't Gravely originals. Some tractors seem to be conglomerates of different eras, even documented since their purchase. Others are cobbled together by different owners replacing parts.

Knowing you have an L8 makes it easier to narrow down its age.

Ben W. in VA
OldPathsEquipment.com
 

[Farmall Bob]

Hi Ben,
Yes the exhaust is gone and also needs a new muffler. It has an oil system under pressure, aluminum carburetor, air filter large that sets on the side of the carburetor. Looks fairly new compared with my other ones. 1964 and 1966. I tried to get into the Gravely forum, but I am not a member yet. I am going to taks my 1964 apart and use it on this one, and see what happens.
Bob
 

[Bret4207]

ANy of the L model Gravelys are all basically similar. As long as you're dealing with the Gravely engine and not a Kohler everything is pretty much the same, Oil and air filters and such changed and the Swiftamatic range selector came on the later ones. At one time I had 13 running Gravelys and more parts than you could believe, all gone now. Heads got changed between models when people cracked them. Honestly, I don't see much difference between the 6.6 and 7.6 models in real world terms.

Start looking around for some parts machines, you'll need them!
 

[Farmall Bob]

Hi Bret, OK! I know a man that said one of his buddies has about (50) plus Gravelys and that it isn"t worth for him to anything but to sell them for scrap. I am thinking of going to see him and see what can be done to save them.
Bob