Gravely L Hood Project

20182 Views 83 Replies 17 Participants Last post by CTPhil, Oct 11, 2012

Jimmy in NC

Discussion Starter · Oct 19, 2010

I see a bunch of L's with no hood; I seem to buy quite a few of them also and it leaves me in a pickle. A nice clean hood makes any tractor look better and helps protect that mag from a rain shower or limbs as you mow down the brush. I have never owned an original style hood, but I have several tractors that deserve a hood.

I have access to a sheet metal brake and an operator that is both willing to help and knowledgeable enough to help make a reproduction hood or two. This leaves me with the question of can I get an assistant or two to volunteer some time measuring original hoods and helping out so I can get a full size plan drawn on flat paper to help lay out the sheet metal? If I could find an original hood I would be in good shape but the few hoods I have are the '63 + style and even those are in sad shape. If I can get the drawing worked out and successfully make a hood or two, I am more than willing to share the drawing with all Gravely nuts for production. I may even talk to him about making a few but his time is very limited so I imagine it will be hard to get him to do this.

I guess the question is, does someone already make the original hoods? If so I could save a bunch of time and energy and just purchase a few that I need. I do think it would be nice to throw up a template as it is a very simple part.

Thoughts, Ideas, etc??

1 - 20 of 84 Posts

Marcintosh

· #2 · Oct 20, 2010

I prowl ebay and C/L all the time. I don't think I've ever seen just a hood for sale.
I was thinking about making one of fiberglass or Tiger Hair this winter.

linekin

· #3 · Oct 20, 2010

I just bought a decent hood off ebay for my 1954 LI. I'm going to blast, prime and paint it in the next few weeks. I'd certainly be interested if you decide to make that template, however.

Jimmy in NC

Discussion Starter · #4 · Oct 20, 2010

It's a project that I am certainly going to do.. I'll start working on some sketches and scanning them in so I can show exactly which dimensions I'll need as it sounds like there is some interest.

jepics

· #5 · Oct 20, 2010

I was at the Gravely Mow-In in Somers CT held in mid-May 2010, and was admiring the hood on a 50's Model L next to my 1962 Model LI. He said he made the hood! So it is possible. I will try to contact him to see if he can provide the info you are looking for.

Here's a photo of both - mine in the foreground, his in the center of this photo, with the cultivator attachment. That orange box sitting in front of the PTO is a prize he won - a numbered edition of a scale model Gravely Model L.

DJ in WV

· #6 · Oct 20, 2010

If I had one of the original model hoods, I would happily measure it for you and do anything that I could to help.

I think that it's a great idea and wouldn't be that difficult to built. Now, the newer model hoods, 63-75 on the other hand, that would be a great challenge!

rhittle

· #7 · Oct 20, 2010

Are you thinking of just the non electric start or our you going to attempt the electric start hoods?

Loremaster72

· #8 · Oct 20, 2010

If you guys can get the dimensions together, I'd be willing to try to put them together into a good CAD drawing or two, and post it back here (CAD and PDF formats, so everyone can use). I have access to 3-D CAD, so I can do both flat and formed views. I could also do decal positioning, if such information exists.

jrd

· #9 · Oct 20, 2010

I have a '58 LI in good unrestored condition. I'll try to get out there tonight and take some pix and measurements. There's enough of the decal left to see where that goes too. If nobody else gets to it first, you're welcome to all that stuff.

linekin

· #10 · Oct 20, 2010

Jimmy, here is a pic of my unrestored 1954 LI hood. My idea is to leave this original hood as is and restore one of the additional hoods I have acquired (including additional fan housings, tanks, clutch rods, steering bars, etc., etc. that I have been accumulating). The concept is to keep the original stuff untouched and do all my painting (red) on the acquired pieces. I'd be happy to provide any measurements of this hood and would love to buy a newly fabricated unit! Let me know if I can help you pursue this.

Jimmy in NC

Discussion Starter · #11 · Oct 20, 2010

Loremaster72 said:
If you guys can get the dimensions together, I'd be willing to try to put them together into a good CAD drawing or two, and post it back here (CAD and PDF formats, so everyone can use). I have access to 3-D CAD, so I can do both flat and formed views. I could also do decal positioning, if such information exists.

Exactly what I had planned. I'll probably make the PDF on a 24" x 36" or 36" x 48" piece of paper so it can be laid out flat on a sheet to trace. I know everyone doesn't have a plotter but any print shop or Kinko's etc would be able to print them for you. I could even mail them for a very small fee as I have a large plotter behind my desk in my office.

I'll actually work on modeling it in SolidWorks then printing off the standard orthographical projections for everyone as well as a template.

Jimmy in NC

Discussion Starter · #12 · Oct 20, 2010

linekin said:
Jimmy, here is a pic of my unrestored 1954 LI hood. My idea is to leave this original hood as is and restore one of the additional hoods I have acquired (including additional fan housings, tanks, clutch rods, steering bars, etc., etc. that I have been accumulating). The concept is to keep the original stuff untouched and do all my painting (red) on the acquired pieces. I'd be happy to provide any measurements of this hood and would love to buy a newly fabricated unit! Let me know if I can help you pursue this.

That's a great looking hood. Exactly the type I need to get info from! If I ever get out of this silt pond today and get to the office where I can work on Gravely things I'll be doing good. ... I do love my air card on the lap top.

Jimmy in NC

Discussion Starter · #13 · Oct 20, 2010

rhittle said:
Are you thinking of just the non electric start or our you going to attempt the electric start hoods?

I could do both and don't imagine it will take much to do both. If information is provided I'll gladly do both. My dad does have two electric start tractors w/o hoods also that I would like to get covered. (Only issue is he runs the 7.6 heads so the straight up H8 or H10C so I don't think they will fit under the 'short' hoods. Anyone use a short hood and a 7.6 head? )

Jimmy in NC

Discussion Starter · #14 · Oct 21, 2010

Alright, a couple quick sketches I worked up real quick this afternoon.

Top, side, and end views of an original L hood. I may be off but I think the sketches are pretty close (but not to scale.)

And what the hood blank will probably look like if I am thinking correctly.

I know they are large but they are easier to see.

As far as dimensions, if it has a letter, I need a dimension for it! May be some redundance in them, more is better than less. Also looking for a thickness of the original hood tins. I think it is ~0.045"

Comments, criticism, etc are all welcome. If I have missed a detail (hood bumper mount holes, etc) please let me know! If someone submits a measurement and you disagree, please post so we can all discuss. I want these plans to be as accurate as possible to help everyone that may want to make a hood in the future.

If you want to send an e-mail privately please shoot me a PM and I'll get you that address.

Jimmy

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coldone

· #15 · Oct 21, 2010

Jimmy,
I have one you can use as a pattern but i will need it back. I aint far from ya, im near sanford

Jimmy in NC

Discussion Starter · #16 · Oct 21, 2010

coldone said:
Jimmy,
I have one you can use as a pattern but i will need it back. I aint far from ya, im near sanford

Will shoot you a PM this evening or tomorrow AM. I'm really not far from you at all, straight up 42. Used to live between Duncan and Fuquay Varina. Watch your inbox!

Fla Don

· #17 · Oct 22, 2010

Don't forget the circular notches for the gauge, exhaust and intake area clearances.

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Jimmy in NC

Discussion Starter · #18 · Oct 22, 2010

Fla Don said:
Don't forget the circular notches for the gauge, exhaust and intake area clearances.

Alright... I am going to try to pick up a hood from Coldone and get lots of pictures and measurements. You think you can get it all from pictures you find.. and then you realize all the things you miss!

Were there rubber bumpers on the short hoods? If so I'll need some mount hole locations for them too!

I'm getting excited about this project and hope it helps others out too.

Fla Don

· #19 · Oct 22, 2010

No bumpers on the short L hoods. Custom and Super hoods only.

Jimmy in NC

Discussion Starter · #20 · Oct 22, 2010

That's great! One less thing to worry about.

1 - 20 of 84 Posts

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