Yes, 15/16 is the wrench size of the nut on the starting pulley. If you are thinking about using an electric drill to start it, make sure you have a ratchet adapter between the socket and the drill or you will get hurt when the tractor starts and snatches the drill out of your hands.

 

I would caution against making a habit of that though, it's on a tapered shaft so as you continue to get it tighter and tighter it will keep spreading the hub apart and eventually cracks will develop.

 

thanks I tried 15/16 6-point and 12 points and it just doesn't grab.
I only added very little gas ,( first time trying to start the beast) that shouldn't matter?
anyway to help the rotation of the pulley wheel? not sure if sitting of over 30 has hampered the spin, if that possible. oil any connections behind the wheel?

 

That's a direct link to the rotating mass of the engine. Has it been sitting for a while?

 

If you must start using the nut, use a 15/16" 6-point. If that's not getting any purchase, it probably means your nut is chewed up. If you try to remove it, using a breaker bar and that same socket, can you get it off? Are the corners all rounded over?

Even if you get it to work, per evsnova, it's not a great idea. That nut is intended only to hold the pulley on the tapered end of the crankshaft, not to take any kind of torque. If you put enough torque through it to turn the engine, and do it enough times, it becomes a crapshoot whether the first thing to break will be the pulley cracking apart, or stripping the threads of either the nut or the crankshaft.

 

What everyone here says is true. I bought a 1/2 drill for $120 to drill-start mine and it works.....sometimes but wont try it again untill I feel I have to for whatever reason and think Im gonna put a starter on it cause I cant work on or use a machine I cant start, I have way to much in the thing.
The problems I had was everything I chucked in the drill would not stay in the chuck very well and I was using 3/8 extensions and tore up the extensions and the chuck I think.
Just tread lightly and if you plan on just using a drill for a starter as I thought I was gonna do it we both need to get a better plan lol.
Let me show you the rig I had.

 

Thanks everyone. I will try the pull cord again.

 

Make sure its at TDC. Pullin that cord aint no fun esp when it kicks back like kick starting an old Harley when your'e knee goes over your'e head somehow lol!

 

If you have another piece of equipment with a horizontal shaft, like a rototiller, chipper/shredder, snowblower, etc., you can get a long fan belt, like an old mower deck belt, and belt start the Gravely from the output pulley on the other equipment. You will need to get the belt pretty taut and it may smoke before the Gravely spins.