Wrestling a gravely tractor.

[thegriffiths]

We have a model L walk behind gravely tractor (1970 something). It has both the brush hog and tilling attachments.

My question is...Is it normal to feel like you have wrestled a bear after using it for an hour to cut brush? It runs well but sure seems to be hard to turn and all.

Also we seem to find that it cuts better in reverse.

If it wasn't for the fact that the gravely chops all the weeds and brush into tiny bits, I would go back to using my stihl brush cutter. But I hate having to pick up all the tiny trees and burn them.

[moopups]

To turn a Gravely walk behind simply take it out of gear and leap upward in the opposite direction you wish it to go with both hands placed on top of the handle bars. Your weight will lift the front end and pivot it, usually takes two attempts for a 90 degree pivot.

[Beeman]

You can tell the people with the ride along sulky for a Gravely by the bruises on their legs from the handlebars.

[agmantoo]

The walk behind tractor is a misunderstood tool. People associate the tractor with the common tiller. A tiller can be man handled. A walk behind tractor needs to be driven. I learned this from a 78 year old man that could work a large garden with such a device. Once you cease to attempt to force the machine to move in the direction you want it to go and learn to use the controls to drive the machine it will become a delight to use. When you get to the end of the row you are working throttle back on the machine and use the gearbox to drive the machine to achieve the next direction of travel desired.

[n8tureboy]

Gravely's are fine machines, but they can be a chore to use sometimes. Also, watch them on hillsides because they can come out of gear and roll backwards quite easily.

I have an "L" ca. 1960 run's great but leaks oil like a sieve.

P.S. Gravely's were built in Dunbar, WV not far from where you reside.

[raymilosh]

I'm with agman.

when I fight with a tiller or Gravely or any big machine, the machine wins every time and I get hurt and frustrated and exhausted. Learning to operate a big machine smoothly takes time and it's kind of like practicing an art form, but the results are worth it and the machine becomes a respected companion, and a revered, hardworking machine and friend. Learn to feather the controls. Let the machine do ALL the work, It's PLENTY capable. I have learned and am still learning all this the hard way. There's my 2 cents.
ray

[Hammer4]

Do the Graveley's have individual wheel breaks or something like that? Otherwise I would guess you put it in neutral (or reduce the throttle) to unload the drive system and turn it by pivoting and letting the differential spin to turn to the direction you want.

[thegriffiths]

My gravely has a forward and reverse gear, a high and low speed shifter (although I really dont see any difference in the speed) and a throttle. No braking, just use reverse to stop it going forward.

I usually go forward into the brush about 8 feet then stop and go reverse over that same area. As I said before it seems to cut a lot better in reverse. My problem is that its almost impossible to ease into reverse or forward. It wants to jump into them. Usually almost knocking me over in the process.

I am going to go out today and see if I can make some adjustments to it.

[james dilley]

I know whilr growing up Decades ago A neighbor had A Gravley and he was 70 plus years old, He could handle it like you would A regular lawn mower. He was that Experincanced with it. And he cut brush and tilled gardens with it and moved snow too.

[Jim S.]

Anybody who uses a DR or Gravely or any other walk-behind to mow brush will have a new #1 on their wish list after mowing an acre or more:

WISH LIST

#1 -- Dear God, please let me figure out a way to buy a tractor and bush hog.

[PineRidge]

Being in the same area as you, and I guess N8tureboy.... are you using it over lots of hills?

We borrowed a Gravely from a neighbor once, as a "try before you buy" and my husband said it would be easier to clear eveerything with a machete I guess it was inexpirience combined with lots of multiflora roses, honey suckle and brambles combined with the steep hillside that made it so hard.

Other than that I have heard they are good machines.

[thegriffiths]

Pineridge - I am about 3 miles outside of Kanawha City, in Charleston. We have 48 acres, but less than half is flat. So yes, hillside and briars that a rabbit has a hard time getting through.
The Gravely does wonders with this stuff when it actually is cutting it.

I will keep at it.

Jim S. - I have been praying for a tractor and brush hog for a lot longer than I have had the gravely...but I know exactly what you mean!

[pgerhard]

I've been using gravely tractors for more than 30 years. I still have my father's 1968 tractor as well as a 10hp and a 12hp Kohler powered tractor with steering brakes. As said above you can not man handle the tractor but have to work with it. I have found to make a tight turn it is easiest to feather the forward control slightly while pushing on the handle bar.

You are probably noticing that it cuts better in reverse because the front fender on the deck (if it still has one) is shorter than the rear fender so the debris clears out better as you are moving in reverse. I have seen people take the rear fender off, but for obviouse safty reasons I would not.

Once you learn how to work with the machine it will be a pleasure to use. There is nothing like that machine chewing up a mulitflora rose.

Peter

[thegriffiths]

pgerhard: I did remove the rear fender and saw an improvement in my forward cutting. I am going to leave the fender off, I have dual wheels that would protect me from anything flying out from under there. And if I puncture a tire with debris that will give me reason to replace these ancient tires. (my Wife doesnt see the need as much as I do yet).

I still do find that it cuts better in reverse on grasses mainly. I wonder if there is a better blade to grasses. Although that wouldnt explain the reason it cuts better in reverse.

[pgerhard]

There are two different blade setups for the 30" mower. One is the single brush cutting blade. It is very thick (maybay 3/8th inch). The other is a set up of two crossed blades held at 90 degrees by a special cradel. This setup is inteded to cut a finished lawn. A great source of information on these gravelys is the gravely group on Yahoo.

Peter

[pgerhard]

Oh, I forgot, the duel wheel set up is great for keeping the tractor stable on hills but it does make it more difficult to steer. You may want to try taking off the outside wheels but leaving on the spacers since they act as wheel wieghts.

[DATAOFWORD]

It is quite possible that the blade was flipped when it was being serviced and that would make it not want to cut going forward. If you take the blade off to check this be sure to count the spacers above the blade and the number below the blade. You can use those to adjust the height of the cut. The only way you will know if the blade is backward is to try flipping it as I know of no way to explain how to tell if it is correct as it is now.

I have several gravellies and love those machines. If they are working properly and the operator has learned how to let the machine do the work and not fight it all the time they are wonderful machines. I have sulkies for mine and have never injured myself.

I have a trencher for mine and my son was digging water lines for me and was having a terrible time of getting it to dig properly. When I told him to quit trying to force the machine and let it do the work the problems stopped as soon as he learned to relax and let the machine do the work. Instead of thinking bad thoughts he was then saying how easy it was to dig the trenchs compared with using the shovel.

I hope this helps.........