Ah the rest of the story is about to happen. This will be fun to watch Jason.

Love those tires you couldn't resist.

 

Great story, reminds me of a story that 'like animals' find the same habitat.

Roger,

 

:fing32:This tractor is a true survivor! It must have been a real surprise when you found out it's history. Looking forward to seeing it's come back unfold.

I like the wheels, and tires you picked up too.

 

That'll make a good tractor Jason. Glad you have an engine for it and will get it rolling again soon.

 

Guess you can't keep a good gravely down! Cool story!

 

Funny thing about collectibles and the collector community - and to be sure, our Gravelys are collectibles, even as they might be worked hard - the wealth sometimes seems to go 'round and 'round.

I have other collections. In the community around one of them, one of the top tier collectors once said, as our treasures were becoming far more scarce in the wild, that "there will come a time when every collector will have owned every object in circulation at least once before it moves on to the next collector."

I just sold the remains of an 8120 that was owned by at least 4 other collectors (that I know of) before me. It went to yet another collector just a few weeks ago. Three of those four, at least, will probably read these words.

I'm very interested to see the ultimate fate of your special Pro 8. It will no doubt be resurrected to a high state. Maybe, for very different reasons, it can gather a minor cult, like jepics' MKG.

 

Huh, just wait until Cad stops by to read your post. He won't believe it.

I'm a big fan of the Pro-8.

 

Oh,,, I read it when it was one post long,,,, :fing32:

 

That's funny, how small the Gravely world really is

Mikey, your 8120 has definitely gone on to a new life, even if it's not in one piece lol. Initially I was only using the tank, but now it's donated wiring, fuel lines, clamps, cables, wheels and tires, nuts and bolts, the steering box and shaft, 1 tie rod, and who knows what else.

Rick

 

Got the Pro8 mounted on the engine stand. Started cleaning and inspecting things. I've got the pull the front apart to see why oil is pouring out either a seal or bad gasket.

Jason

 

I'd hate to know how many hands some of mine have been through. I only have three that we were the first owners of. I know a number of them are ones that I am at least the third owner of.

Good thing about Pro 8s, they don't get the guts abused as much as the higher HP ones do. Most common failures on them are the PTO brake, Clutch Housing teeth in the SwiftAMatic,and the engine.

 

Done a little cleaning and it seem the oil was leaking out around the PTO shifter shaft assy so I'll pull the quick hitch and check to see what's going on in there.

Removed the old tires and 6 bolt hubs.

Started fitting up the steering brakes and the new 4 bolt hubs.

Installed the new rims and tires. Looks so much better now.

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Nice, and nice machine. I made an offer on a pro 8 of $100 and the guy said okay but then I got the look from the wife. :hide:
Although pretty complete it was probably in about the same condition as yours, I was thinking parts, but we all know how that goes.

 

I went down to the field where it was laying,,,
there are no signs of an oil leak when I had it,,, :dunno:


:sidelaugh

 

I LOVE the look of those tires on that machine. Combine those with the steering brakes and she'll be unstoppable. Reminds me a little of this:

 

Coming along.

Tell us about your engine stand setup. Who makes it, etc.?

How did you get the tractor up into the stand?

Have you ever attached a 2-wheeler by the advance casting using it, or does it become "tippy"?

I'm curious to see if you run into interference problems with the steering brakes and those tires once the linkages are on.

 

It just a average cheap engine stand I think I picked up at a flea market or yard sale. I could get the four mounting arms to swing in far enough to fit the small bolt pattern. I removed the two upper arms and used a spacer to bolt directly thru the slotted holes of the stand. I mounted from the engine side first because I knew I would be into the advance casting/ PTO up front. When I get done up front I will switch ends and start fitting up the engine.

Here how I lift most things. I just rolled everything outside and hoisted it up and slipped the stand on the rotating head. Then rolled it back in on a piece of plywood. (Need more concrete)

Those big tires do stick in about a inch more than the duals on dads 5665. I don't have any steering brake linkage yet but will adjust to fit when I do (one inch wheel spacer if I have to). I wanted to go ahead and get the brakes all fitted and mounted up behind the wheels so it would be easy to add the linkage later without having to remove anything.


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Got the other side apart and clean up a little.

Steering brake backing plate installed.

Brake drum, hub, and wheel installed.

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A Pepsi machine in the shop, that is just plain mean.:hide:

Depending on how the hubs are put on, you can get about an extra inch on each side. The nice thing about those size tires, they can climb over a lot of stuff.

 

Now you need a sulky with the same tires and you could call it big foot.
Looks cool.

 

Test fitted the new reproduction battery tray.

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Looking Good Jason.

 

Man! I'm so glad to see that tractor has a future! Every time posted that picture I was so tempted to try and make a deal for it. Glad it's finally made it to the right place. What a story!

 

Thanks Ron. My original intent was to completely paint it and make it all shiny and new but now I can't paint over all the history. So it's just getting cleaned and new parts where it needs them. Jason

 

I love the wheels, and tires!:fing32:

 

Picked up some wheel studs and lug nuts at lunch today and got them pressed into the hubs tonight.

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How did you press the wheel studs into the hubs? I know I drive mine with two 2x4's, a punch and 2lb hammer. Other use an impact to draw them through. I don't trust myself to not strip threads, otherwise I'd try that.

If it were not so cold out, I'd say prime and paint the drums a nice semi-gloss black.

 

What engine will be hanging off this machine? Make and HP?

Really cool you are putting life back into this beast. I started to do the same on a 5000 series that had locked up engine.
I dug it out of the mud in hopes that the attachments were good. The engine was full of water but the transmission was good. I got a 10 or 12 hp Kohler from Ron C, even bolted it up but never got around to wiring. I ended selling it having never see it run.

The 30" deck was rotted, I think I traded or sold the QH mower drive and rotary plow to someone, maybe to Ron for the engine, can't remember .

 

That puppy's looking baaaaaaad, Jason :fing32:

I think I'm hearing Don's voice on this one about the similar wheeled sulky. Either way, nice save, clean work and please carry on............love the thread :thThumbsU