Re: Gravly model L lawn tractor questions

Posted by Jeffcat on August 30, 2006 at 21:22:39 from (216.107.36.119):

In Reply to: Gravly model L lawn tractor questions posted by old on August 30, 2006 at 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

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