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Real Benefits of Dual Wheels on a Gravely C8

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#41 · (Edited)
Come to think of it all I need is three (3) new AG tires because my tractor came with one kinda old half-dried out tire (that does hold air tho) and one brand spankin new tire that still has a blue line down the middle of it that actually looks as if it has never been turned on any type of ground at all, it couldnt be any newer so when I buy new tires for the duals all I need to buy is 3 of them and I will then have 4 new tires (AG's) and a decent spare. So Im good w/that. That one kinda dried out looking tire has decent tread on it so I just figure it sat around awhile or something but I may as well have 4 new tires instead of 3 and a cruddy looking one on a just finished job, plus a spare wouldnt be a bad idea anyway. Sorry everyone but Im goin nuts, it was 80 on friday two days ago and now its in the 20's & 30's and its gonna stay like this for a few months at least. I complained that it was to hot to work outside on my L mod this summer and now its to cold and I wanna do something to it every day ! Friday I bought a bunch of polishing tips for my old Dremmel tool I almost forgot I had and a tube of Blue Majic polishing compound (cant find any semi-chrome anymore) and the last cpl nights I have polished my taken apart carburetor to where now it looks like its been chrome plated.! Gonna look sharp when it all goes back together.
 
#45 ·
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#46 ·
Richard-tx said:
Tale a look at this ad for an idea of what they look like.

Gravely Walk Behind Dual Wheel Spacers 5 1/4" L LI L8 $15 Shipping US Only | eBay

Image
Click to expand...
Thanks, I knew what the looked like because Ive seen them on E-Bay many times but the other night B4 I PM'd him back I couldnt find them anywhere, I was wanting to kinda find out what the going price was on them. But to Steved_ I thought I might have did it wrong so I asked mgt. (for the sake of a better word) to forward it to you if I accidentally sent it to them but havent heard anything. Incidentally my PM has been on the fritz for a month or so I was getting messages that were months old and I replied to you the same way I always have but will try again within the next 5 mins. If that doesnt work I'll give you my phone #.
 
Discussion starter · #47 ·
Yesterday marks the day that I first ventured down to the creek with the dual wheels equipped to my Gravely. I have done quite a bit of bush-cutting in other areas (with SUPERB results) since installing 'the duals' and I was ready for the creme de la creme test. My expectations were high because of the very noticeable increase in stability PLUS the huge amount of traction that this configuration afforded - but was I hoping for too much?

I set off the clear those creek banks and did I ever clear! The areas closest to the bank have always been reserved for a hand-held brush cutter because the creek banks were simply too steep and the high concentration of sand in these areas - sand is hard to get a bite into! After clearing the regular areas with ease, I inched the Gravely closer to the creek slowly because if it lost traction I would have to pull it out with my tractor. Cautiously nudging the machine forward even further produced cleanly cut creek banks... no more briars, weeds, and an especially prolific invasive shrub (Chinese Privet)! Partial roots that had been left by previous hand-cutting attempts were, in many cases, decimated. Since we have a little over a quarter of a mile of creek frontage maintaining this does require some time but I postulate that the time required previously will overshadow the activities now because 95% of the clearing can be done entirely with a Gravely rather than a Gravely (70%) and hand-cutting (30%) with the brush cutter. There were areas as much as 25' deep that had to be either hand cut or left alone yet the Gravely creeped up and chomped. I think that I exceeded (well,...I know that I did) the maximum slope angle from the Gravely literature. It stated that the machines could handle a 60% slope when equipped with dual wheels or axle extensions (a 60% slope is equivalent to a 30.96 degrees).

My original question from back in 2016 has been completely addressed firsthand (I am now just echoing what you fine folks shared with me 'way back then'!). Gravely duals are nothing short of AMAZING!!!
 
#48 ·
Im getting mine together alright. I got a kinda bass-akwards situation going on tho, always something.
I have 2 new tires on new rims w/new tubes, I have one other new tire on a decent rim to be used...OK that makes three...now I have another 'usable' tire on a un-usable rim. I need to buy a decent used rim and have that usable tire removed and put on the yet to aquire used rim wich Im sure I will need a new tube or will use a new one either way if needed or not. If the rim is a crustation or rust how can the tube be any good? Not worth the time it could eat-up to me.
I dont wanna drop off the old rim w/useable tire to be switched-out onto decent used rim and get a call in a cpl days saying "that thing needs a new tube ya know?" and waste two or three more days getting one in from God knows where.
Does anyone know if the tubes are carried by TSC or Rural King?
Time is killing me, I actually had a dream my Gravely was running and woke up mad because it was a dream lol! Kinda nutty I know.
I guess while tires /duals are being done I gotta get that new fan shaft and bearings and nut and belt all assembled, kinda queazy but I gotta do it, I'll find a video of it on here somewhere.
Oh BTW, Im actually getting to the point at least on the hubs that Im wiping them off and hitting them w/some rattle can red, its that bad, that thing is not gonna spend another winter here no matter what.
But what I was gonna say is I got a can of Tractor paint (red) from TSC for like $3.45 and it looks like what I should have used all along. Seems like great stuff.
 
#50 ·
fireant911 said:
Yesterday marks the day that I first ventured down to the creek with the dual wheels equipped to my Gravely. I have done quite a bit of bush-cutting in other areas (with SUPERB results) since installing 'the duals' and I was ready for the creme de la creme test. My expectations were high because of the very noticeable increase in stability PLUS the huge amount of traction that this configuration afforded - but was I hoping for too much?



I set off the clear those creek banks and did I ever clear! The areas closest to the bank have always been reserved for a hand-held brush cutter because the creek banks were simply too steep and the high concentration of sand in these areas - sand is hard to get a bite into! After clearing the regular areas with ease, I inched the Gravely closer to the creek slowly because if it lost traction I would have to pull it out with my tractor. Cautiously nudging the machine forward even further produced cleanly cut creek banks... no more briars, weeds, and an especially prolific invasive shrub (Chinese Privet)! Partial roots that had been left by previous hand-cutting attempts were, in many cases, decimated. Since we have a little over a quarter of a mile of creek frontage maintaining this does require some time but I postulate that the time required previously will overshadow the activities now because 95% of the clearing can be done entirely with a Gravely rather than a Gravely (70%) and hand-cutting (30%) with the brush cutter. There were areas as much as 25' deep that had to be either hand cut or left alone yet the Gravely creeped up and chomped. I think that I exceeded (well,...I know that I did) the maximum slope angle from the Gravely literature. It stated that the machines could handle a 60% slope when equipped with dual wheels or axle extensions (a 60% slope is equivalent to a 30.96 degrees).



My original question from back in 2016 has been completely addressed firsthand (I am now just echoing what you fine folks shared with me 'way back then'!). Gravely duals are nothing short of AMAZING!!!
Click to expand...


I’ve always felt duels were necessary for just about everything, now I like singe Ag tires for garden work as they leave behind a smaller track. My C8 has 18x8.50 tires, sadly too wide for the spacers, they are amazing for lawn cutting with a sulky, in high gear and high axel gear it moves along at a decent speed. The C8 is the mower, the other L’s are the garden/brush cutting tractors and will have duels feet soon.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
#52 ·
Iv'e been painting on some of the old rims for the inside of the duals that wont hardly be seen so I admitt Im kinda doing what I said I wouldnt ever do ( before I knew how difficult some of this can be and how some things didnt need to be so trailer perfect) and that was not really totally strip n stuff but did a good enuf job for inside rims. The tires are my main concern, I have 3 new ones and 2 decent used ones.


And SHAZAM! Good Enuf!
 

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#53 ·
Oh here's my set of new tires n rims I took to a mower shop and had them assembled. I thought I posted a pic of them somewhere.
I know it costed a grip but he put two sets of rims together and put new tubes in them and new tires to, something I doubt I could have done.
Especially having never done it before at all. That would have been a mess.
Gonna look nice w/these on the outside w/the adapters. Im gonna give the adapters a coat of that TSC Red Tractor & Implement paint, that is some good looking stuff and wish I would have discovered it B4 I used the Ford red. The TSC stuff is a much deeper red and looks great to me anyway. Its enamel of course as well.
 

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#54 ·
Here's the stuff, Im sure Im not telling anyone on here anything but I think its some good looking stuff and pretty cheap @ $3.60 a can.
I personally couldnt see painting all that cast stuff with anything else but a can esp because of touch-ups if its actually gonna be used anyway. But we all have our opinions and not to mention I dont know how to paint w/air and gun and wasnt gonna learn on this. Ive spent a grip already.
I'll be lucky if my son doesnt snap the entire tractor in half in two seasons actually. He's one of those people that can destroy a anvill w/a rubber mallet. We all know the type Im sure lol.
This is just after a cpl test sprays.
Oh yea, and one 'Army Ant' I found crawling on my arm.
 

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Discussion starter · #55 ·
Gerrard said:
...Oh yea, and one 'Army Ant' I found crawling on my arm.
Click to expand...
Gerrard,
Are you sure that is not a 'fireant'??? Gerrard - please step back slowly, with your hands in the air, away from the paint cans!!! Put that machine together and put it to work! Seriously, t is going to be a bittersweet moment when that day arrives and your son drives off with this machine... what are you going to do then? Nice job on the rims!

I finished my creek clearing yesterday and I have nothing but positive things to say about the dual wheels - they are incredible. The only warning I can share is be careful around trees as it is easier to get 'slung around' with the dual wheels installed.
 
#56 ·
fireant911 said:
I think that I exceeded (well,...I know that I did) the maximum slope angle from the Gravely literature. It stated that the machines could handle a 60% slope when equipped with dual wheels or axle extensions (a 60% slope is equivalent to a 30.96 degrees).
Click to expand...
If the machine fell over a vertical drop or wall, it might turn over with dual wheels. Otherwise I do not know how you could even turn it over with the dual wheels installed. I have had it on a bank so steep, I could not even stand up without holding onto the machine, and all it did was slowly slide down the hill, no danger of it turning over.

If you mow with the sulky and the dual wheels, you can see how superior center articulation is compared to rear drive/ front steering wheels. You can swing the machine up the hill, and it's pulling up the hill while it just swings the sulky around to follow. I bet those Steiners with center articulation and 4x4 really go up the hills.
 
#57 · (Edited)
fireant911 said:
Gerrard,
Are you sure that is not a 'fireant'??? Gerrard - please step back slowly, with your hands in the air, away from the paint cans!!! Put that machine together and put it to work! Seriously, t is going to be a bittersweet moment when that day arrives and your son drives off with this machine... what are you going to do then? Nice job on the rims!

I finished my creek clearing yesterday and I have nothing but positive things to say about the dual wheels - they are incredible. The only warning I can share is be careful around trees as it is easier to get 'slung around' with the dual wheels installed.
Click to expand...
Your'e right about the paint (and duals to) I dragged my hood/cover out and gave it another coat of white and its got dust all in it because I did it by my Bamboo and a gust of wind came and well I gotta let it dry real good and light sand it off or steel-wool it and hit it again to fix it.
But I was thinking today Im goin nutz w/the paint and need to chill w/it.
As soon as I get a decent tire that is on a rim that is totally rusted and split open and all ( see pics of LI rims when it was bought) put on a decent rim I can bolt on my dual adapters and four tires n rims. Then I will get engaged a lot more with it because now it just looks like a heap of bright red volcanic rock.
 
#58 ·
I finally get some time to work on it and about all I can do is paint is the problem. I had a vehicle accident and have a broken nose, three broken ribs w/2 or 3 bruised ones, a very bruised sternum, a knee that looks like some Chef tried to make it look like a fancy cut orange or lemon at a fancy restuarant, but Im a tough old SOB but am very worried about loosing my job Ive had for 11 yrs.. If that happens I dont know what I will do and if so you may never hear from me again. My eyes are ruined from driving 400 to 500 miles a day for a decade. Some ppl can take it and some cant. Bad eyes run in my family as I have a younger brother that is and has been his entire life legally blind.
Ive seen him endure two cornea transplants, one 25 yrs ago and one just a yr and a half ago. Ive seen him wear stitches in his eye for 18 months and have to wait for a kid his age he was compatable with to die so he could get his cornea, the first time.
Well so much for all of this.
 
Discussion starter · #59 ·
franklin2 said:
If the machine fell over a vertical drop or wall, it might turn over with dual wheels. Otherwise I do not know how you could even turn it over with the dual wheels installed. I have had it on a bank so steep, I could not even stand up without holding onto the machine, and all it did was slowly slide down the hill, no danger of it turning over...
Click to expand...
franklin2,
You confirmed what I thought that I must have imagined! I was cutting a bank that I could not walk on unattended because of the steepness. I was able to brush cut across the grade rather than down and up - this alone saved me a considerable amount of time. One section that had a heavy sand content did cause the Gravely to slide across/down the grade rather than stay on the path I had hoped but that was it - it was, by far, the steepest section that I dealt with! Through all of this the machine never felt that it was unstable and any likelihood of toppling over never existed. I also postulate that the user's safety is increased because of the additional stability. Dual wheels rule!
 
Discussion starter · #60 ·
Gerrard said:
I finally get some time to work on it and about all I can do is paint is the problem. I had a vehicle accident and have a broken nose, three broken ribs w/2 or 3 bruised ones, a very bruised sternum, a knee that looks like some Chef tried to make it look like a fancy cut orange or lemon at a fancy restuarant, but Im a tough old SOB but am very worried about loosing my job Ive had for 11 yrs.. If that happens I dont know what I will do and if so you may never hear from me again. My eyes are ruined from driving 400 to 500 miles a day for a decade. Some ppl can take it and some cant. Bad eyes run in my family as I have a younger brother that is and has been his entire life legally blind.
Ive seen him endure two cornea transplants, one 25 yrs ago and one just a yr and a half ago. Ive seen him wear stitches in his eye for 18 months and have to wait for a kid his age he was compatable with to die so he could get his cornea, the first time.
Well so much for all of this.
Click to expand...
Dang Mark, I hate to hear this bad news. Keep your chin up and spend time with Holley - that way, you are guaranteed to keep your mind off of the bad! We took our Gravelee out to and IN the creek this weekend and she loved it!
 
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