[AT] FW: Gravely 816

Louis louis at kellnet.com
Sat Dec 24 12:47:45 PST 2011 

We had an 816 that my dad bought new in 1975.  It was a work horse.  In 1978
we got a Cozy Cab for it in the winter time.  That took about an hour to put
on.  We would take it off in the spring.  

To change from the 50" midmount mower, I did that in a matter of about 15
minutes as a teenage boy.  I remember my dad had the steering updated to a
rack and pinion system, that Gravely introduced about a year or two after he
bought the tractor.  There was no problem steering it with the snowblower on
it.  I wish we still had that tractor.  It had very few problems.  The
biggest problem it had was 2 teenage boys operating it, an popping wheelies
with it.

Lou

-----Original Message-----
From: at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com
[mailto:at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com] On Behalf Of Peter Gerhardt
Sent: Wednesday, December 14, 2011 7:57 AM
To: at at lists.antique-tractor.com
Subject: Re: [AT] FW: Gravely 816



Gravely only used the planetary on the 400 series riders and the walk
behinds.  The 800 and newer series used an completely different transmission
that used external clutches.  
 

> Date: Tue, 13 Dec 2011 21:02:26 -0500
> From: rlgoss at insightbb.com
> To: at at lists.antique-tractor.com
> Subject: Re: [AT] FW: Gravely 816
> 
> Gravely used a planetary gear train with cone clutches, so the large 
> lever really DOES make it go instantly forward or back. When it's 
> adjusted correctly, there is an "over-center" position for both 
> forward and reverse gears so it snaps in position for long-term 
> running. The weak link on the system for the old tractors was the cone 
> clutches. They were always breaking. But I don't have any recollection 
> of problems with the riders.
> 
> Larry
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Phil Vorwerk" <pvorwerk at newulmtel.net>
> To: "Antique tractor email discussion group" 
> <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, December 13, 2011 5:41:42 PM
> Subject: Re: [AT] FW: Gravely 816
> 
> I understand the forward/reverse is a tall lever on the right, but 
> what do you mean by instant forward/reverse? You would still need to 
> apply the brake/clutch to change direction, but I imagine it helps 
> when you can leave it in the same drive gear and just reach for the 
> tall lever each time.
> 
> I hadn't considered the fact that the engine is in the rear would help 
> lighten the steering - makes sense.
> 
> The cab is a nice idea. Getting the natural heat would make it simpler 
> to install/remove the cab when you're not messing with coolant lines 
> for the heat.
> 
> I appreciate the info.
> 
> Phil
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com
> [mailto:at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com] On Behalf Of Peter 
> Gerhardt
> Sent: Tuesday, December 13, 2011 4:09 PM
> To: at at lists.antique-tractor.com
> Subject: Re: [AT] FW: Gravely 816
> 
> 
> With the eight speeds I never had a problem. The instant forward 
> reverse is an added bonus. The blower is quit heavy but never really 
> had a problem. With the engine in the rear and the 200 lbs. I hang on 
> the rear it kind of compensates for the weight of the blower. If you 
> do use it for cutting grass the tractor almost feels like it has power 
> steering because of the lightness of the front end.
> 
> Oh and cabs for the tractor come up for sale every now and then. The 
> people who have say the stay nice in warm from the heat of the engine 
> under the seat pan.
> 
> Peter
> 
> 
> > From: pvorwerk at newulmtel.net
> > To: at at lists.antique-tractor.com
> > Date: Tue, 13 Dec 2011 15:20:11 -0600
> > Subject: Re: [AT] FW: Gravely 816
> > 
> > How do you like running the blower on a gear drive tractor rather 
> > than a hydro-stat? I imagine you can just set it in one of the lower 
> > gears and plod along. I got rid of a Cub Cadet because it was too 
> > hard to steer; that's when I picked up a second JD 425. How is the 
> > steering effort with the blower attached?
> > 
> > This one is nicely restored - in talking to the seller he said that 
> > he is the second owner, and he had bought it from an older gentleman 
> > that was
> kind
> > of passionate about the machine. When the PO rebuilt the engine he 
> > took
> the
> > rest of the tractor and the mower deck to a body shop to get 
> > repainted.
> All
> > of the implements look quite clean except for the front mount brush 
> > blade, which is showing some weathering.
> > 
> > If it is easy enough to maneuver it would make sense to buy it just 
> > for
> snow
> > removal and maybe some brush clearing, and never worry about using 
> > it for mowing - I can buy the whole setup for less than a blower for 
> > a 425. I'm just trying to figure out how user friendly it is in the 
> > snow - I'm
> getting
> > wimpier as time goes by.
> > 
> > Phil
> > 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com
> > [mailto:at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com] On Behalf Of Peter 
> > Gerhardt
> > Sent: Tuesday, December 13, 2011 2:03 PM
> > To: at at lists.antique-tractor.com
> > Subject: Re: [AT] FW: Gravely 816
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > I have a newer version of that tractor and I don't find changing the 
> > implements that hard. I can take off the mowing deck and put the
> snowblower
> > on in under 15 minutes. Having the implements run via a shaft vs. 
> > belts makes it a lot easier to change them. For using the other 
> > front mount attachments that were originally intended to use on 
> > Gravely's two when tractors require the use of four bolts to connect 
> > them to the adapter. Installing the rear pto for the tiller can be a 
> > pain and you can't leave
> it
> > in place when using the other pto.
> > 
> > The Onan motor is a real work horse and people who have them seem to 
> > love them.
> > 
> > I have the same snowblower for my tractor and have never had it 
> > clog. The discharge chute is huge and in the Gravely world it is 
> > known as the snow cannon. There is a yhoo group for Gravely tractors 
> > and an excellent with manuals, parts list and sales flyers at: 
> > www.oldgravelys.net/docs
> > 
> > Parts a readily available and can be purchased from dealers or 
> > online.
> > 
> > Peter
> > 
> > 
> > > Date: Tue, 13 Dec 2011 12:08:59 -0500
> > > From: swilliams268 at frontier.com
> > > To: at at lists.antique-tractor.com
> > > Subject: Re: [AT] FW: Gravely 816
> > > 
> > > Phil Vorwerk wrote:
> > > > Did it again; I'm trying one last time, then I'll be quiet.
> > > > 
> > > > Phil
> > > 
> > > Phil,
> > > It looks fine here. Maybe just your view settings are causing a 
> > > problem?
> > > 
> > > 
> > > I looked at the 816 info that I could see online.
> > > 
> > > It looks like changing implements isn't real fun. At least the 
> > > stuff I
> > > read seemed to indicate that some of them are a real PIA due to the
PTO 
> > > arrangement. However it may do what you want it to do.
> > > 
> > > --
> > > Steve W.
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