Gravelys and West Virginians are two of a kind....Born from the same mountain dirt, maintained from rusted spare parts, live in a shed when not working.....And each an enigma in, and unto itself.....
Here's the trick setup for brush cutting -- and it's straight out of the Gravely owner's manual: Remove the large semi-circular guard from the rear of the mowing deck and replace it with the small guard that is usually found on the front. Leave the front of the deck with no guard. You will be amazed at how much better it handles the thick stuff. I've been brush cutting with Gravelys since the '60s and only learned about this trick from the manual about two years ago. Try it. World of difference.
I had a deck and it originally only had the one heavy brush blade...through some reading I found out it needed two grass blades for the lawn to look better... I never did put the heavy brush blade back on it..The front used to have little chains hanging down. over the years they went to another county I believe lol...Indestructable is a nice way to put it for most Gravely products.. oh yeah my tractor was 1947. One pull most times to start.
Have the identical set-up as you do ! Great running L1 ! Not bad looking either ! My only exception is the tires, I have the original Goodyear Diamond tread tires, which are badly weather checked ! Doing my best to locate another "GOOD" quality set of four Goodyear Diamond tread tires ! Anyone who might be able to help me would be greatly appreciated ! I'm a total flathead engine addict ! Love hearing it run !
I gotta get after my 74 L8. She's been sitting for a couple years now. Probably needs a new battery, and I know the tires are flat. Outside of that, give her some fresh gas, and she'll fire right up. We have some places around the RV parking area behind my fire station that could use some attention, and the old gal is just the ticket. I still have the little guard on the front, and the big one on the back. I'll probably reverse them to help keep debris contained.
I have a 1960 Gravely LI that bogs down in really tall (Chest high) and think hummock son grass with the 30". I am trying to find out if I am just asking too much of it, or if there is a possible problem with my machine. Looks like you guys have a good understanding of these tractors.
Just take 1/3 of a full cut. They won't chew but so fast. I'd rather do that and keep going that wearing the clutches out backing up all the time. Little beats noe.
I have some grass something like this. I was wondering how a sickle bar would work? Also I have gravely blade I have not tried yet that is at least quarter inch thick...maybe more. Wonder if there is anybody familiar with the real thick blades? Thanks.
Is there any height adjustment for your cut? Your stuff looks really wet and it seems to clump up and bog down the mower at times. Higher cut and then two passes might be easier...maybe.
No reason to till organic matter in---it will protect the soil better left in place (especially on a slope!) and it will be incorporated in the soil column in time---aided, of course, by the earthworms you haven't killed by tilling! Much better strategy than tilling in this situation. The only reason to till is to kill vegetation, which obviously isn't the owner's intention here---he just doesn't want it to revert to brush.
Gravelys and West Virginians are two of a kind....Born from the same mountain dirt, maintained from rusted spare parts, live in a shed when not working.....And each an enigma in, and unto itself.....
Here's the trick setup for brush cutting -- and it's straight out of the Gravely owner's manual: Remove the large semi-circular guard from the rear of the mowing deck and replace it with the small guard that is usually found on the front. Leave the front of the deck with no guard. You will be amazed at how much better it handles the thick stuff. I've been brush cutting with Gravelys since the '60s and only learned about this trick from the manual about two years ago. Try it. World of difference.
I had a deck and it originally only had the one heavy brush blade...through some reading I found out it needed two grass blades for the lawn to look better... I never did put the heavy brush blade back on it..The front used to have little chains hanging down. over the years they went to another county I believe lol...Indestructable is a nice way to put it for most Gravely products.. oh yeah my tractor was 1947. One pull most times to start.
Have the identical set-up as you do !
Great running L1 !
Not bad looking either !
My only exception is the tires,
I have the original
Goodyear Diamond tread tires, which are badly weather checked !
Doing my best to locate another
"GOOD" quality set of four
Goodyear Diamond tread tires !
Anyone who might be able to help me would be greatly appreciated !
I'm a total flathead engine addict !
Love hearing it run !
I gotta get after my 74 L8. She's been sitting for a couple years now. Probably needs a new battery, and I know the tires are flat. Outside of that, give her some fresh gas, and she'll fire right up.
We have some places around the RV parking area behind my fire station that could use some attention, and the old gal is just the ticket. I still have the little guard on the front, and the big one on the back. I'll probably reverse them to help keep debris contained.
haha at least he got to ride, I was still following him everywhere with the camera
I have a 1960 Gravely LI that bogs down in really tall (Chest high) and think hummock son grass with the 30". I am trying to find out if I am just asking too much of it, or if there is a possible problem with my machine. Looks like you guys have a good understanding of these tractors.
Just take 1/3 of a full cut. They won't chew but so fast. I'd rather do that and keep going that wearing the clutches out backing up all the time. Little beats noe.
That tall grass only can be cut with the blades very well sharpened.
the blade adjustment is made by washers under the blade,
I have a 1964 and it will mow waaay better without a rider. pulling a person uses a lot of it's power.
I have some grass something like this. I was wondering how a sickle bar would work? Also I have gravely blade I have not tried yet that is at least quarter inch thick...maybe more. Wonder if there is anybody familiar with the real thick blades? Thanks.
Is there any height adjustment for your cut? Your stuff looks really wet and it seems to clump up and bog down the mower at times. Higher cut and then two passes might be easier...maybe.
What’s the hp on that?
Anybody else cringe when the mower was coming toward the camera? Just one rock thrown from that blade could really hurt.
No reason to till organic matter in---it will protect the soil better left in place (especially on a slope!) and it will be incorporated in the soil column in time---aided, of course, by the earthworms you haven't killed by tilling! Much better strategy than tilling in this situation. The only reason to till is to kill vegetation, which obviously isn't the owner's intention here---he just doesn't want it to revert to brush.