[Surfincr]

So as i gear up to either rebuild or put new to me engines in the 3 riders i have i'm curious to poll the group. When it comes time to do something with the engine which route do you take and or why? i also throw out a third option of buying brand new, i generally dont buy new as it is usually 10 times more than what i paid for the tractor, i will admit though if the tractor was mint i would pony up the money for new.

i ask because i have a choice between buying a used engine from a scrap yard that runs for between 50 and 200 but has unknown hours on it or i can rebuild the ones i have spending who knows how much in parts. either way i'll likely pull the ones i have apart to see what can be salvaged or parted out but i'm rather curious which way most go.

 

[sploke]

This isn't Gravely specific, but I tried both routes on my Sears SS16. When the engine on the tractor went south, I first picked up a used replacement with a "dubious" history. It was the same model, and just as old, unknown hours. The replacement cost me I think $150, and lasted about another year, and then I had two old broken engines. I started looking for another one but said to myself, how many times do I want to play this game? So I spent 4-500 in parts to rebuild one of them. Yes, it was more expensive, but the thing runs beautifully now and I expect to get several thousand more hours out of it before it needs another overhaul. I wouldn't expect that from a used engine. As they say, buy once, cry once. If you can front the money and the time, I would say a solid overhaul/rebuild is the way to go. I look at replacing one old engine with another old engine as a temporary measure, as its only a matter of time before you're right back where you started. The Sears engine is an Onan twin so parts were a little spendy, but well worth it in the end.

 

[wjohn]

If you have the time and the know-how (or willingness to learn) then rebuilding seems to make the most sense with most of these Gravelys. If there were a bolt-in engine that worked without crank machining or special adapters, wiring changes etc. then that's a little more tempting. With a BCS walkbehind you can typically slap on a brand new Honda GX390 for $650, but with a Gravely it's a little more involved and more costly.

You just never know what you're getting with a used engine unless it's someone you trust.

 

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What model engine are you wanting to rebuild ?

 

[Surfincr]

i dont have any in mind yet to rebuild, i may take the 3 kohlers i have that have holes in the block and rebuild them but havent had time yet to see if thats even possible to do.

i was just over all curious to see which way most folks go

 

[Richard-tx]

There is no right answer to this one. The best it gets is "it depends"

For 12 horse or larger engines for a two wheel tractor, a rebuild is the most economical.

For 4 wheel tractors, if the engine is less than 16 hp, then it just isn't worth messing with. Time to upgrade to a 16 horse twin or better.

I have had good luck with used twin cylinder engines.

New engines fall into two categories.
1 - high quality and expensive with good parts availability
2 - dubious quality and cheap with parts almost non-existent. There are no twin cylinder "clones" out there. All of the china import twins are unique beasts.