Keystone Motorsports' Gravely 1238 GT (Gravely 1238H/ Craftsman II GT)

Finally getting in on this. Plans are for it to be an all-purpose "utility" build while being a Haspin-able machine.

Parts list are:

Gravely 1238H
Predator 420cc (13hp)
633a Transmission
Craftsman GT (whole, for parts)
Craftsman GT (frame)
Massey hood (possibly)
RV1 (for parts)
Golf cart front axle + steering components
Artrax CTX 25x10?-12 Rear
Kenda Bearclaw 23x7-10 Front
Various Craftsman parts
Baja front lights
CREE rear light
2500# Badlands winch <?

The plan:

The Gravely 1238 will be used as the base. I hope to retain as much of the original look as possible minus fenders (will use Craftsman fenders) and keep it relatively simple. The frame has an interesting shape which isnt ideal for the 633 to be remounted. Will probably need to scab the Craftsman GT frame onto it or under it. Front steering will be accomplished with a heavy duty golf cart front axle. Would like to retain the leaf spring suspension if possible, otherwise will have to leave the axle pivot, probably slightly ahead of stock to allow 23" tires to clear the frame. I would like to use the steering box from the golf cart, however the stock steering on the Gravely is fairly tight and would probably be fine with the addition of heim joints in place of the ball joints. It will all be powered by a 420cc Predator, governor removed. Im unsure of the exhaust, was thinking of a short stack or direct side exit. Also would like to add on a snorkel. Night illumination will be acquired with Baja offroad lights, 2 or possibly 4, and rear illumination with a single CREE LED light. Winch is a possibility, as I have 3 available, but will be decided once everything else is done.

pls accept mi duck.

утиль (util') is Russian for junk. Its all I could come up with on the spot.

You'll have to shorten the golf cart axle right? Do they just have 1" spindles?

I dont think so, I mocked it up with the GT rear axle when I pulled it and it looked close enough to not matter. The Knuckles are pretty heavy and have a 4on4 with like a trailer spindle type deal. Very heavy duty.

Stripped the 1238 down last night. Hydro unit probably weighed at least 80lb alone.



Everything kinda dropped out as one unit. Bolted in weird and I wasnt going to get too technical with it.

Mocked up the Predator today. Removed all the stuff I wont really need, like the airbox, muffler and tank. It nestled in pretty well, should only need some minor hood mods to clear the cooling shroud. And it looks like the intake is in a good spot for a snorkel.







Did the break-in last night and all checked out, sot it hit the bench. Pretty similar to the 212cc, just governor is in a different, and easier to reach, spot. Almost did a flawless removal but the clip holding the cup/gear on was a pain so it got the screwdriver and hammer. Waiting on my tap to arrive to plug up the low oil sensor hole. Talking to duck I should be able to tap the governor arm hole for a barb to run a fuel pump. Probably wont need it, but itll be nice to have and I dont want to get too involved in making intake junk.



Bolted the Bearclaws to the golf cart axle and removed all the jackshaft and suspension junk so it was just the axle. Struggled to remove the stock axle and struggled even more to get the tractor to sit on the axle right but did it. Looks good, not official though. Might just do a standard pivot with shocks and will definitely have to move it front to avoid the footboards.



Hoping it all works out without having to switch frames or do a ton of hacking.

I assumed that axle would be wider. Less work to do this way. You'll find some way to ram in the 633. If you weld enough junk together it'll hold.

Looks really good with the Bearclaws upfront. Those foot plates look kinda odd, they go up very steeply. The Predator should do you well, I've heard very positive things about them, and they're not that dear either.

looks cool with that golf cart axle but just make sure the front tires dont stick out wider than the rear tires

Yea ill figure something out. Axle is fairly close to stock width as the axle is about the same as the old one on the Gravely, maybe an inch or two wider. Footplates are pretty unique, a lot of Gravely and Ariens tractors have plates like that. Whats more, this frame is actually one solid piece of steel. No clue how they managed that but it works as its as solid as a rock. Hoping to not have to hack it up but nothing aligns between the two frames. Need to finish stripping the Gravely front axle down so I can place it on the GT frame. Maybe I can just weld them together, we'll see.

Yea Predators are pretty solid. I got into minibikes recently and both of the machines I have have Predator 212s no governor and super special filters. The 420cc is basically the same just bigger.

Started stripping the GT last night. Got pretty far, wont take much more to finish it off. 



Also got the air filter kit in. The people I order minibike (or Predator stuff in general) are all in PA so when I ordered it on Monday and got it Tuesday I wasnt too surprised. OMB Warehouse is the bees knees. Anyways, I have yet to look but hoping I can find a rubber plumbing elbow of some sort for this, otherwise I might have to retrofit something else so the snorkel doesnt stick too far out the side. Might use this filter or buy a straight filter thats longer. That comes later though, the filter I have will do for now.



No progress today. Dedicated my time to minibike stuff.

Didn't know you are building another machine.... Looking good!

Hey, im building another machine. lol

Did some junk today.

Finished stripping the top of the GT frame down. Left the 3pt on cause why not? 



Grabbed the Gravely frame and just laid it on top and stuck the front axle underneath as far front on the frame as I could. Like I found earlier, these frames dont mesh well. I do like the heightened look, so I will probably make a 1x1 frame on top of the Craftsman frame and try my best to cut the Gravely frame up to work on top of it. Golf cart axle seems to keep the frame level, will have to think up a pivot.





Also worked on the engine more. Got a flexible elbow and some 2" PVC. Actually went onto the adapter well and the filter fit perfectly onto the PVC. Talk about luck.





I also tapped the governor hole and screwed in a 1/8" NPT fitting. Using an adapter and a barb, im hoping to be able to use it as a pulse line for a vacuum fuel pump. Worst case scenario I have to cap it.

Those rear tires are some rugged looking treads. I've seen those somewhere, forget what they're called though.

Artrax Countrax are what I have. Theres a few other companies that make this tread though.

Finally buttoned up the engine today. From the short run I did on the bench it ran great. Pump was working well. Have some other fittings coming in to get it better routed and to help keep oil from entering the pump. May need to add in a filter.



Dug out the steering rack. Kinda generally measured the shaft, and it seems to be 3/4", and luckily enough so does the original Gravely steering shaft. Going to probably shorten the shaft on the steering rack, and then I should be able to hack off the steering gear, extend the shaft, add in a U joint, and run it to the rack.



Looked at the frames more too. Might end up scabbing the frames together. Found where the Gravely frame flares out to be the same width as the GT frame. Did it while it was still on top and if I keep the same length I should be able to make use of the original clutch setup. Cut it straight across there, weld them together, then bend some flat bar and weld it over the top to add in extra reinforcement. Maybe do plug welds too, just to be extra super safe. 2 ties outside and 1 inside. Should work, and give a ton of front end clearance.

this machine looks awesome!

Those rear tyres look aggressive! She's looking nice!

Will this thing still have a stock style hitch on it?

Yea it should. The 3pt will come off and if I do a skid plate itll probably need to attach to the flat spot on the hitch plate.

Looks good I like those tires and the engine looks like its coming along nicely

So this poor thing hasnt been touched since like May. Got too involved with minibikes and motorcycles. Definitely wont finish in time for the build off, but ill still work on it once im feeling better. Gonna keep with the original plans for sure.

Sounds a bit like my build off entry.

Hope to see it finished some day though Doug, and hope you get better!

Oh itll be finished, just hung up on the front suspension. Trying to get redline to fab it for me but he wont. Weenie.

I look forward to that day Lol, suspension is what's holding my build up too, I'm thinking about ditching it and just doing a solid front end to finish the build off.

Heres an "update". All my progress pics are stuck on my dead phone, so until they get recovered heres a pic as it sits.

Looks pretty cool Doug! Hope to see 'er done someday.

Right now the front axle is vise gripped on. Was gonna do solid axle, just to get me to Haspin, but still didnt have time. Figure i'll work on it over winter once my hand is freed up while I wait for the 2017 Build-off to start.