Gravely Model-L Govenor Sheared in half

JeffL · Oct 23, 2016

changed the fan/governor belt and ten minutes later the weights inside the governor apparently sheared the entire body of the governor almost exactly in half. Ordered a used replacement governor; how can i keep this from happening again?

Wisconsin Cowman · Oct 23, 2016

Don't tighten the belt by using the governor tighten the belt by moving the fan shaft.

Bob · Oct 23, 2016

I would GUESS a thrust bearing failed between the fingers on the weights and the "fork" in the governor, allowing the weights to overextend outwards and attack the housing.

Seen it happen before on other machines.

jeffcat · Oct 23, 2016

He is correct in that you don't want the belt too tight. There is an adjustment slot on the bracket but about halfway between the two sounds good too. The other thing I posted was to CHECK the 30wt oil in the little unit. You only need maybe 5 or 6 thimmbles full.

JeffL · Oct 24, 2016

when i changed the belt i just slid it on with my hands only and didn't move any adjustments. i figured if it slid on without any tools it couldn't be too tight if anything too loose but may have figured wrong. i have only had the thing running for a couple months and not a lot of gravely experience. i did tighten the belt slightly before as it was definitely slipping. i don't know why it broke but i was in 15 foot high nasty woody weeds with it. i plan to actually use it a bunch, it's for work not just a toy. i have rough terrain near my creek which also has slope and my L has dual wheels and seems to work great down there

jeffcat · Oct 26, 2016

Now the puctures are back. Here is the unit and adjustment slot.

TKE850 · Oct 26, 2016

Jeffcat, I understand you know just about anything and everything on walk behind gravelys. Just purchased a 1964 L8 this past Sunday. Do you have an email address I could send you a list of questions I have. I'm in Fairmont WV. Thanks, John

JHesler · Oct 28, 2016

I think it's coincidence. The governor has been running a while with no oil. Weight rivets sheared and weights machined their way through the casing. The fan belt isn't critical and should be just loose enough to not flop around.

jeffcat · Oct 28, 2016

Hey Ijust enjoy the dickens out of these machines and love to do
research on them. Have two of them and like nine or ten attachments.
If you really need anything a he k of a lot of us know as much and
more. Just ask away and all of us will chime in

JeffL · Oct 28, 2016

I did put some oil in but it looked dry after shearing. Is there a way to check the oil level? It is also possible it leaked out somehow or got stuck in the tube or something. It also also possible as I was in nasty weeds that the filler tube got broken off or something I don't see it now

JHesler · Oct 28, 2016

Not sure which governor you have but there should be a brass plug below the fill cap. Keep it filled to that level. Also if it is electric start remove the oil plug on the sprocket hub and put a few drops of oil in there.

Gravely Model-L Govenor Sheared in half

JeffL

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Wisconsin Cowman

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Bob

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jeffcat

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JeffL

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jeffcat

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TKE850

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JHesler

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jeffcat

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JeffL

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JHesler

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