Earliest Serial Numbered 816

wjohn · Sep 25, 2014

Anybody on here have a very early 816 (maybe even late '71)? I'd be curious to know about when they started being produced. For starters, my '72 816 has a serial number of 11449A. If you have an 816 with a serial number lower than that, post it :fing02:

My 450's serial number is 8636A and I'm wondering how close it was to the end of 450 production.

yamato72 · Sep 25, 2014

That's pretty low. The motor on my original 816 was 13345, which made it a 1972. But the rest of the tractor was closer to '74 or '75 based on a read of the IPLs from that time.

lt4xtreme · Sep 25, 2014

Wjohn your 816 S/N 11449A 1972 is the earliest 816 I've seen on MTF or anywhere. I had a pretty good list of the 816, 817 and 816T with notes about the following details. It only about 16 machines and was last updated about a year ago and a lot of 816 have been saved since then. It's in Excel format would nice to update it and maybe post it somewhere.

S/N
Engine spec
Voltage reg location: dash or under engine tins
Steering: box, R&P, or R&P kit
Clutches: keyed or splined
Diff: LSD or open
Liftable hitch with or without lock out arm
Axle block
Axle block shaft or capped
Factory snow plow brackets
Parking brake lock: wire or rod
Frame attachment brackets swing: forward or rearward
Running board holes for heel pedals
PTO handle: straight, back, or forward
Brake linkage: slip clevis or threaded clevis
Muffler guard: perforated or wire
Tail light
Seat riser

lt4xtreme · Sep 25, 2014

Strange I was just looking at my list and my 817 S/N 321183 which is the last one on my list. I thought 1977 was the only year for the 817 but 1978 starts with S/N 311672 so that make my 817 a 1978????
Jason

Canary Al · Sep 25, 2014

lt4xtreme said:
Wjohn your 816 S/N 11449A 1972 is the earliest 816 I've seen on MTF or anywhere. I had a pretty good list of the 816, 817 and 816T with notes about the following details. It only about 16 machines and was last updated about a year ago and a lot of 816 have been saved since then. It's in Excel format would nice to update it and maybe post it somewhere.

S/N
Engine spec
Voltage reg location: dash or under engine tins
Steering: box, R&P, or R&P kit
Clutches: keyed or splined
Diff: LSD or open
Liftable hitch with or without lock out arm
Axle block
Axle block shaft or capped
Factory snow plow brackets
Parking brake lock: wire or rod
Frame attachment brackets swing: forward or rearward
Running board holes for heel pedals
PTO handle: straight, back, or forward
Brake linkage: slip clevis or threaded clevis
Muffler guard: perforated or wire
Tail light
Seat riser

So Jason? The research? This is how you do it!

arcam8123 · Sep 25, 2014

I don't Gravely stuck to the calendar year for model changes.

Looking at your list, I've never noticed but when did Gravely start drilling the holes for steering brakes?

Now I have to go outside and see if my 73 has any.

Fla Don · Sep 25, 2014

arcam8123 said:
I don't Gravely stuck to the calendar year for model changes.

Looking at your list, I've never noticed but when did Gravely start drilling the holes for steering brakes?

Now I have to go outside and see if my 73 has any.

Calendar year and model year for Gravely are two different things. New model Gravelys came out as early as August and some came out in Jan. Jan. models were mostly due to major changes in the tractor. 24-G was one of the Jan models and came out in Jan 1989.

My 816 is 1100 miles away right now and I don't have the serial numbers on it in my spread sheet.

WH401 · Sep 25, 2014

Mine is 25100-A, so no where near an early model. But I like hwere this thread is going. I'll have to look up the specs on my 816 and 816T and report back.

wjohn · Sep 25, 2014

lt4xtreme said:
Wjohn your 816 S/N 11449A 1972 is the earliest 816 I've seen on MTF or anywhere.

Ack, not really what I wanted to hear! I'm sure a few people have lower S/Ns... mine came from central IL/IN, so I'm sure there are lower ones out east.

Okay, so on the flip side of things, I'd also like to hear from any 450 owners - what are your serial numbers? I'm mainly wanting to narrow down the changeover point there if I can. My Iowa friend will be getting back to me with his and I'll probably have to wait until Christmas to get the one from my neighbor's machine. I'll get it when I make my yearly visit and try to talk him out of it.

I'd be more than happy to extend that to the other Onan-powered tractors (like the 817 and 816/818T) on this thread for you interested folks :fing02: The serial numbering started getting pretty funny around '79 though, so I think it'll be harder to pinpoint changes.

tracktortag · Sep 25, 2014

Both of my '72s (the 814 and 816 phantom) are out east. I'll get their s/n's next time I head out there; most likely sometime next week.

DJ in WV · Sep 26, 2014

My 816 is SN 13409.

Canary Al · Sep 26, 2014

Unfortunately since Gravely chose to put the serial # of the tractor on the ENGINE (sorry to raise my voice). I will never know. EVER! :duh::duh: Aaaaarrrrrggggghhhh1

79pw4x4 · Sep 26, 2014

1973 816 here. tractor s/n 17063A Onan s/n 0373594721 It's an unmolested original, right down to the tires (just replaced) PTO changed last month for the first time.

puppycat · Nov 11, 2014

Casting number on trans case 11-13-72 Serial number 15612 A

WH401 · Jan 6, 2015

Thought I would revive this thread with this tractor currently for sale on the Fredericksburg CL. It's quite interesting because it looks to be an early model, at least 72', based on the serial of the engine, (can't tell if that's 0372 or 0872,), and the straight shaft on the PTO lever. Though the straight PTO levers at that time would engage by moving them back, so in the picture the PTO should be on in theory. Also, it looks to have two brake levers like a 400, and I believe I see steering brake parts mounted to the rear running boards.

Or, I could be completely wrong and it was repowered with an older engine and the shaft on the lever was refitted with a straight shaft/shifting assembly from a newer tractor. Anything is possible.

Rick

https://fredericksburg.craigslist.org/grd/4834350602.html

wjohn · Jan 6, 2015

That pedal on the left side is certainly interesting.

The PTO could've been left on. I've seen some Gravely manuals that say to always disengage the PTO when not in use (safety, obviously) and others that tell you to leave it engaged to improve oil circulation in the transmission.

I never have gotten the engine serial number off of my '72. The tag on the shroud says "SEE BLOCK" and I just haven't spent the time to clean it up and find it.

I'd bet this tractor's serial number is pretty close to mine.

arcam8123 · Jan 7, 2015

I can't see a lift lever.

lt4xtreme · Jan 7, 2015

I believe the early 800s that did not have the holes in the back of the floor boards for the heel pedal steering brakes used a dual front pedal set-up with a large pedal on each side like the 400 series. Jason

wjohn · Jan 7, 2015

lt4xtreme said:
I believe the early 800s that did not have the holes in the back of the floor boards for the heel pedal steering brakes used a dual front pedal set-up with a large pedal on each side like the 400 series. Jason

Interesting. I don't have any documentation that would've been that early. I do have a Gravely bulletin with a template for locating the holes for using the common steering brake kit on the earlier tractors that didn't have the holes. It's sort of like the template for locating the rack-and-pinion steering in older riders.

WH401 · Jan 7, 2015

lt4xtreme said:
I believe the early 800s that did not have the holes in the back of the floor boards for the heel pedal steering brakes used a dual front pedal set-up with a large pedal on each side like the 400 series. Jason

Wow, didn't know that. If that's the case then this is the first I've seen. Too bad he's a bit high on the price, it may be an interesting pick up.

Ron, I think the hydro lever is very well camo'd in the first pic. I think you can just see the back of the knob on the handle in the 2nd pic, just above the shift plate.

Rick

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Earliest Serial Numbered 816

wjohn

yamato72

lt4xtreme

lt4xtreme

Canary Al

arcam8123

Fla Don

WH401

wjohn

tracktortag

DJ in WV

Canary Al

79pw4x4

puppycat

WH401

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arcam8123

lt4xtreme

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