gravely won't keep running

[ddarbo]

HI everyone,
i just got a gravely model 2060 from my dad, it starts but only runs for a few seconds and then stutters and dies. i cleaned the points, and checked the fire on the plug, and the fire is weak and intermitant, it will fire about 7-8 times and then skip a few and then fire 2-3 skip, then 1, then skip 4-5, then fire 3-4 times, etc.
my dad told me he had trouble starting it one day and it backfired and broke a bunch of the magnets in the flywheel, he removed the broken pieces, and said he could crank it but that it would just idle and die when he went to give it gas.
Are those magnets "necessary" to run this thing? What should I do next?
thanks, david

 

[molinebob]

Yes those magnets are a vital part of the system, as the flywheel turns around that is what tells the coil to give spark. Good luck on your quest.

 

[rustyj14]

If he has the broken-off pieces, he should try to reassemble the pieces back onto the flywheel! Use epoxy glue with the hardener in it. Clean carefully where the magnets were originally glued on. Try not to erase the exact positions of where they were. With some luck and some work, he might just get the thing to work again!
I have successfully done that with lawn mower and lawn tractor engines, and they were usable again!

 

[El Toro]

The magnetism of the magnets are what creates your fire to your plug when they pass by the coil.
You can convert it to battery start if it has a battery by using an auto type coil. You would need to a hot wire from the battery to an ignition switch and to the coil and then to the points. Remove the wire at the points from the existing coil. If the battery is negative grounded then the neg. terminal wire on the coil goes to the points. Hal

 

[ddarbo]

I sanded the points, put a new plug, and it now cranks right off and runs very smooth.

HOWEVER- the problem with the throttle still around. its idles smooth as butter, but when I try to give it a bit of throttle it dies out.

it has a coil and condensor and points and a 12volt battery on it for cranking.

whats causing the throttle problem? magnets? it would seem that it wouldn"t run at all if the magnets were needed.

please help, thanks, david

 

[El Toro]

You need to remove the plug wire and see what the spark looks like. The coil may be weak. Have you cleaned the carburetor? Could be gummed up from the old gasoline. The tank could be gummed up too. Hal

 

[ddarbo]

thanks, my dad said he completely cleaned the carb.
i checked the fire on the plug after i cleaned the points and it was a nice steady blue spark, after i reassembled, it fired right up.
???david

 

[Anonymous-0]

Throttle problem 1 of two things.

Either spark is still weak. could be bad condenser, weak coil points still not making/breaking properly

or carburetor not feeding properly-fuel only sufficient to run at idle. Problem could be anywhere between tank and carb.

Since you said you sanded the points, its probably not getting fuel.

 

[Trailer Trash Tractors]

Those magnets must be for a Stator [ charging system ] If I'm reading you right, this is a ' Comm. 12' type Gravely, origionally equipt with a Kohler, using a Battery / Coil Ignition , Right ?

The ' old Model L's ' used a Magneto,
No flywheel magnets at all. No charging system either, primative as can be.

 

[ddarbo]

the model is 5260, i think this model is not too ancient. it looks like the magnets are for charging to me also, based on the coil setup, and the way the points contact to fire on the compression stroke. but I do wonder if the 12v battery gets weak enough, will my fire accordingly get weak also. or once its running, do the magnets produce the electricity for the coil? thanks.

 

[ddarbo]

am planning today to clean tank, run new fuel line, and filter to carb. and see if that helps.
could my dad not have the carb reassembled properly?
thanks, david

 

[ddarbo]

also forgot to say that it has a new condensor.
thanks, david

 

[El Toro]

If it has an armature type coil it would need magnets, but if you have an auto type coil with a cylindrical shape it's probably a battery fed coil
that's fed battery through an ignition switch to the coil and then to the points. Hal
PS: You need a fully charged battery for the battery ignition.

 

[IH2444]

The main jet may not be adjusted properly.

 

[ddarbo]

running well now, old fuel filter was not letting enough fuel go through and main jet was not adjusted properly. things are much better now.
thanks, david