16G Service Questions

11160 Views 17 Replies 9 Participants Last post by Johnny Gravely, Aug 12, 2018

Johnny Gravely

Discussion Starter · Oct 27, 2010

Hello all,

It's been a while since I last posted. Spent the summer playing with Newports.(The car, not the cigarette)

I'm servicing a 16g for a friend and have some questions. I've always been a walk behind guy, so the riders are new territory.

Here's what we have:
16G with Kohler Magnum twin, 50" deck and flywheel driven rear triple bagger.

Engine #'s:
Model: blank (there is a Kohler Magnum 16 decal on the air cleaner and engine cover-all Gravely red)
Spec: 24544
Serial: 1713408886

Tractor #'s: (two tags under the hood)
Serial:00596799
Second Tag: 43870

Mower Deck:
Serial: 05156098

This is a near mint, low use machine that my friend bought from the widow of the original owner. He obviously spent more time cleaning/maintaining it than he did using it. When we picked it up last fall, I could tell that she was disappointed that her sons had not kept it as clean as her husband had.

I have downloaded the owner's, service, and parts manuals for it but have yet to read through them all. I like to have real world experience/knowledge as well.

Now for the questions:

1. What vintage is the machine? (I believe it was bought new as a package with the deck and bagger)

2. I'm assuming that engine and trans. oils are two separate things. What should I use for each?

3. Should I change/drain the hydraulic lift fluid and filter? And if so, what is the best way?(I think my friend has used it more this past season than the PO did since new)

4. Besides the basic,(air+fuel filters, plugs, oils, and greasing all fittings) what else should I look for?

The unit starts and runs very well and reliably as it is, no real issues. The hydraulic lift works fine as well.

I have already replaced the deck belt and sharpened what I believe are the original blades.

It has the lever control for fwd/rev, and the foot brake both on the right side.

There is no hour meter, just a blank where it would go.

I know you all want pics, but the camera batteries were dead. Bear with me.

Any input you can share is greatly appreciated.

Thanks, John

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1 - 18 of 18 Posts

Fla Don

· #2 · Oct 27, 2010

Engine and tractor both date out as 1987s.
Engine needs an air cooled 30 wt motor oil such as Kawi or Kohler sell. Tranny can be 10W-30, 10W-40, or 30wt.
Just pull the filter for the Hydraulics and replace. Fill the filter and let stand before installing. Make it as full as possible before putting it on. ATF it what it uses. Red as in Dexron, not orange as in Type F.

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NBS

· #3 · Oct 27, 2010

Fla Don said:
Engine needs an air cooled 30 wt motor oil such as Kawi or Kohler sell.

Okay, this is interesting - "air cooled" motor oil?

PA RedRider

· #4 · Oct 27, 2010

Kohler M18S should be what it has.

I'll second everything Don mentioned, but would check the air gap on your
mower deck pully springs and also check the gap on the forward and reverse clutches as well as lining thicknesses. Pull the lid on the mower gear box and check the grease situation. Replace the gasket if warranted. I seem to always
find these things to be out of whack on a new to me machine for some reason.

I'd go 30wt on the tranny. You can do some basic electrical checks also if you are inclined and make sure your battery is immobilized. Visit the carb. if you find you need to.

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Fla Don

· #5 · Oct 27, 2010

NBS said:
Okay, this is interesting - "air cooled" motor oil?

Not all motor oils work well with engines like on the Gravelys. They tend to run hotter than a liquid cooled so oil breaks down faster. Motorcycle oil is a good example where it even has their own rating systems.

NBS

· #6 · Oct 27, 2010

Fla Don said:
Not all motor oils work well with engines like on the Gravelys. They tend to run hotter than a liquid cooled so oil breaks down faster. Motorcycle oil is a good example where it even has their own rating systems.

Okay, well what about the 2-wheeled engines, like the K301S?

They can take normal oil, right?

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Giles

· #7 · Oct 27, 2010

Johnny Gravely said:
Hello all,

It's been a while since I last posted. Spent the summer playing with Newports.(The car, not the cigarette)

I'm servicing a 16g for a friend and have some questions. I've always been a walk behind guy, so the riders are new territory.

Here's what we have:
16G with Kohler Magnum twin, 50" deck and flywheel driven rear triple bagger.

Engine #'s:
Model: blank (there is a Kohler Magnum 16 decal on the air cleaner and engine cover-all Gravely red)
Spec: 24544
Serial: 1713408886

Tractor #'s: (two tags under the hood)
Serial:00596799
Second Tag: 43870

Mower Deck:
Serial: 05156098

This is a near mint, low use machine that my friend bought from the widow of the original owner. He obviously spent more time cleaning/maintaining it than he did using it. When we picked it up last fall, I could tell that she was disappointed that her sons had not kept it as clean as her husband had.

I have downloaded the owner's, service, and parts manuals for it but have yet to read through them all. I like to have real world experience/knowledge as well.

Now for the questions:

1. What vintage is the machine? (I believe it was bought new as a package with the deck and bagger)

2. I'm assuming that engine and trans. oils are two separate things. What should I use for each?

3. Should I change/drain the hydraulic lift fluid and filter? And if so, what is the best way?(I think my friend has used it more this past season than the PO did since new)

4. Besides the basic,(air+fuel filters, plugs, oils, and greasing all fittings) what else should I look for?

The unit starts and runs very well and reliably as it is, no real issues. The hydraulic lift works fine as well.

I have already replaced the deck belt and sharpened what I believe are the original blades.

It has the lever control for fwd/rev, and the foot brake both on the right side.

There is no hour meter, just a blank where it would go.

I know you all want pics, but the camera batteries were dead. Bear with me.

Any input you can share is greatly appreciated.

Thanks, John

I just bought a machine exactly as you have described. My Kohler identification doesn't have a model number also.
All your questions are answered in your service manual.
(1) PO owner stated he bought mine new in 1995.
(2) Engine and trans. have separate fluids. PO used Mobil 1 Synthetic, in the engine, since new. I will continue with this oil but have used Chevron Dello 400 in all my machinery in the past. I would definately try to find out what your friend"s PO used, and stay with it.
(3) and (4) This has been covered.

Now, can I ask you a question---My mower does not have a flywheel screen on the engine. I have tried to locate on, with no success. It appears to me that the screen was mounted on the flywheeh housing with three bolts. Two across bottom and one above the left bottom (at top). All screens I have found are mounted to the flywheel and thus rotate with engine.
How is your screen mounted?
I have owned many lawn tractors and this Gravely appears to be of quality construction.

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rscurtis

· #8 · Oct 27, 2010

I also have a 16G. The flywheel screen is plastic and snaps onto the flywheel. I believe what you're missing is the steel wiper, which bolts to the blower housing. It is designed to remove debris from the screen as it rotates.

Giles

· #9 · Oct 27, 2010

rscurtis said:
I also have a 16G. The flywheel screen is plastic and snaps onto the flywheel. I believe what you're missing is the steel wiper, which bolts to the blower housing. It is designed to remove debris from the screen as it rotates.

That makes sense. To my knoledge, the three bagger system was installed when new. I can't understand why anyone would want to run an air cooled engine without the screen! With the bagger system the screen would have to have a center hole for pully shaft to pass through. This pully is mounted to the flywheel with four bolts.
Would there be any way you could give a part number or post a photo of what you have?---THANKS!---

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rscurtis

· #10 · Oct 27, 2010

I'll take a picture of my machine tomorrow, unless of course, someone else beats me to it.

rscurtis

· #11 · Oct 28, 2010

Here are the pictures I promised. The second photo in the third slot from the top shows how the screen is secured to the flywheel.

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2

Giles

· #12 · Oct 28, 2010

THANKS rscurtis---these photos help. Now I know what I need:thanku:

3Gravelys1988

· #13 · Sep 27, 2017

I am new to the 16G and I am trying to help a friend with his. He says it will go in reverse but will not go forward. Is this a hydraulic fluid level issue? Are there three fluids on this machine: engine oil, transmission fluid and hydraulic fluid?

Mikey4

· #14 · Sep 27, 2017

3Gravelys1988 said:
I am new to the 16G and I am trying to help a friend with his. He says it will go in reverse but will not go forward. Is this a hydraulic fluid level issue? Are there three fluids on this machine: engine oil, transmission fluid and hydraulic fluid?

For not going forward, I'd start with a check of the clutch adjustment. Hydraulics have nothing to do with the tractor moving; it only serves to lift attachments.

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PA RedRider

· #15 · Sep 28, 2017

Uh, I'd start by making sure the range selector is in High or Low and not neutral. Kind of an obvious one, but worth mentioning.

Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk

Johnny Gravely

Discussion Starter · #16 · Aug 6, 2018

Hello all,

Time to resurrect this thread for another repair.

The last time my friend used this tractor, something went whacky with the throttle/governor. (Tractor last ran a couple of weeks ago.)

It starts fine with the throttle set low. But moving the lever just enough to get a reaction results in engine run away. (As in screaming at a gazillion rpm)

My friend, not being mechanical or engine familiar, didn't notice the difference in running and ran it that way for a few minutes before I caught it.

A quick look didn't find any obvious problems or debris obstructions, but we were out of time for the day.

The tractor is about 80 miles away at my friends former chicken farm.

Looking for a starting point in diagnosis for when we return this week.

My first thought is to reset the governor to specs. and then see if it is any better.

Any input is appreciated.

John

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ATLANTIC CENTRAL

· #17 · Aug 6, 2018

Is the governor spring intact?

The governor is pretty simple externally, a lever and a spring......

Sheldon

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Johnny Gravely

Discussion Starter · #18 · Aug 12, 2018

Finally got back to the farm.

Turned out to be the nut and bolt on the governor arm was loose.

Reset it to initial setting, adjusted high speed, moved the spring one hole, and it's back to running well.

Thanks for the input.

John

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1 - 18 of 18 Posts

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