Testing a Gravely 30" Reel mower

[@lechandler4041]

Beautiful machine. You are very lucky to have it and it will run forever with care.

[@MatthewBerginGarage]

Thanks for the comment. I fell in love with Gravely machines back in the early 70's. It took me 30 years to come up with a reason to own a few machines that would pass the W.A.F (Wife Acceptance Factor) and my 400 foot laneway was good enough.

[@natf5869]

Great looking tractor

[@MatthewBerginGarage]

Thanks it was in good shape when I bought it so I gave it a clean and paint. My favorite mower with the commercial 40" on it. Runs real nice. Just wish the handlebars were 3" higher. 😞

[@z978ady]

As smooth as a putting green.

[@MatthewBerginGarage]

Yea maybe after a rugby game. 🤷‍♂️😉

[@billmoran3812]

It's a shame they stopped making them. They were tough and dependable machines.

[@MatthewBerginGarage]

+Bill Moran I have to agree.

[@zypher8818]

They were

[@300zxdriver]

Bill Moran They cut nice too

[@GG-ub4ej]

Bill Moran They make the pro qxt which is the modern day 2 wheel tractor. With 48 in finish mower deck it is near 8k. They have 6 attachments I think. Looks nice, far different from these classic models.

[@1d1hamby]

like to see more reel mowing like this.

[@MatthewBerginGarage]

+d hamby I just picked up a 1960 Gravely LI that the reel mower will be installed on. I am also getting the reel professionally sharpened and I am going to use it on my front lawn when it is a little smoother ( Key use of the Gravely lawn roller). We also have a 1930's Bob-A-Lawn reel mower that I am going to get working soon. Check for a vid on my other channel ( kzbin.info/door/JCdOfmXtM8xO9nXeQ-iSQQ ) More to come!

[@zypher8818]

+Matthew Bergin (The Bergin's Garage) it works good for 1960

[@MatthewBerginGarage]

The 1960 Li unit is not in this video. The C8 Gravely in this video is a 1973. To see the 1960 Li I just bought check out this other video on my other channel " The Bergin's Garage" here kzbin.info/www/bejne/eWnZpXWvgp2Eqrc

[@everythingknife8763]

I bet the neighbors love that noise. I always thought the sound of a powered reel mower (metal on metal) was pretty bad. Push type is okay though.

[@MatthewBerginGarage]

Robert Marks Properly adjusted the blades on a reel mower should not touch or make much noise. The blades on mine though are not properly adjusted. :-)

[@everythingknife8763]

Matthew Bergin My push mower makes a light ticking noise to cut or it will just crease the grass and only cut thicker weeds. If the reel doesn't contact the plate lightly it doesn't cut worth a damn. It's an old American 4 blade. I don't even remember the model. I bought it at a yard sale for $10. Great buy.

[@bdog840]

that's pretty slick

[@markworkman9224]

What size motor does that have

[@MatthewBerginGarage]

Mark Workman It is a 7.6 Hp T head engine. It has real good torque but only revs to 2800 rpm so the horsepower figure seems low. The power-train is all gear drive so there is very little loss in the system. The power unit weighs nearly 400 lbs and is made of steel castings. Very well made built to last. The reel mower attachment by itself weighs 110lbs.

[@markworkman9224]

Wow

[@MatthewBerginGarage]

Mark Workman The Reel mower can also have two other reels added or ganged together to make a 74 inch cut. If you check for Gravely gang mowers there should be a few vids of them working.

[@istvanvuk8427]

+Mark Workman hhhhj ii

[@istvanvuk8427]

h

[@lechandler4041]

Surprised you did not back the reel off until sharpened.

[@MatthewBerginGarage]

We were just testing it out to see if it worked after we got back home after picking it up at the show. I just picked up some grinding compound and I will attempt to sharpen the reel this summer.

[@lechandler4041]

Understood- what a beautiful machine. They sure don't make them like they used too.

[@MatthewBerginGarage]

Agreed I don't think any companies made them like Gravely made them except maybe David Bradley

[@kg4yhr]

gravely were great machines but if you wernt careful they would put you in your grave lol most models had a snap magneto simmelar to a small aircraft engine

[@300zxdriver]

That's a cool rig

[@FattyDoveRacing]

That's a reel nice mower LOL

[@MatthewBerginGarage]

Haw Haw Haw But you can only use that pun once though. ;-)

[@skylarmorknerbrown]

Its 2 in the morning. What the hell am I watching. How did I get here.

[@everythingknife8763]

***** How ironic, it's 2:19 now and I got here from reel mower sharpening and maintenance.

[@brianeastman3547]

Use a chainsaw sharpener

[@MatthewBerginGarage]

Thanks for the comment. You can't just sharpen reel mowers by hand. Reel mowers need a special sharpener because all the blade edges must be exactly the same distance from the reel axle centreline to keep the proper clearance with the stationary cutting blade. The Gravely reel mower can be run backwards with grinding compound on the blades to buff up the edge but a proper sharpening requires a machine.