How To Put a Belt on a Murray Lawn Mower: Step-by-Step Guide

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Since its start in 1919, Murray has given people reliable products at reasonable prices, like lawn and garden tools, to help them get their jobs done. Customers who want trustworthy, high-quality products to keep up with their busy lives will love Murray, which Briggs & Stratton, the market leader in compact engines only power.

Like any other equipment, take regular care of Murray lawnmowers. If the mower’s blade belt is old, worn, or stretched, it may be time to replace or fix it. On the other hand, installing a new belt is better because it reduces the chance of unplanned downtime.

To change the belt on a Murray-riding lawn mower, remove the hairpins, disconnect the extension spring, and remove the front hanger. Just remove the old belt and put on the new one to get going again.

Here are instructions on how to put the belt on a Murray riding mower.

10-Step Guide to Put a Belt on a Murray Riding Lawn Mower

10-Step Guide to put a belt on a Murray riding Lawn Mower 
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Murray lawn mowers are dependable and can handle grass on lawns of moderate size. Murray lawnmowers require consistent upkeep to ensure their continued reliability. If your blade belt wears out or breaks on the job, one option for repair is to replace it with a new one. Changing the belt on a Murray lawnmower may get it running smoothly again and extend its useful life. The back wheels, which run from the engine’s crankshaft to the transaxle’s pulley, are turned by the ground drive belt. If the belt fails, the lawnmower will be rendered inoperable. If the lawnmower gets worn down, it will work slowly because the belt will slip on the pulley.

Each model will have somewhat different recommendations. The following instructions are written for a specific model of the Murray lawnmower, although the principles behind them apply to all models.

Step 1: Gather all the Tools You’ll Need

Gather all the tools you'll need

You can do any job quickly and with less work with the right tools. It needs minimal effort to change the belt on a lawnmower. To finish your task, you will need the following:

  • A protective pair of gloves
  • Pliers as a set
  • Screwdrivers
  • Ratcheting wrench
  • Woodblocks

Step 2: Check the Part Number of the Replacement Item

One of the most vital components is a new belt. Please refer to the user manual for further details on the part number. Verify if the belt’s dimensions and length are appropriate. If you still can’t see anything, look at the belt marks to see whether the information is legible. You may also utilize Google by entering your Murray lawnmower’s model and production year.

Step 3: Put the Mower on the Ground

Put the Mower on the Ground

To prevent injury to your hands and make the task more manageable, park the Murray riding mower on a flat surface. Turn off the vehicle’s engine and put on the brakes. If the engine has been running, wait to proceed until the engine has cooled down. To get the “Disengage” option, set the mower housing to its lowest setting and rotate the blade counterclockwise. Disconnecting the spark plug cord is crucial since it prevents the engine from being accidentally started.

Step 4: Remove the Rear Suspension Arms

Take the mower apart and take off the rear suspension arms. The objective of the suspension arms, which look like the rectangular clamps or controller arms, is to ensure that the mower’s belt and pulley system are tight and won’t slip while in use.

Pull the hairpins out of the arms to get rid of the washers. When connecting the arms to the belt and pulley system, hairpins are the equivalent of spring pins. Taking some pictures or a little movie showing the connections between the pieces can be helpful. If you do this, reattaching them will be smooth. Keep each bolt and washer together in a labeled container.

Pins and washers should be returned to their original positions whenever possible. Replace any worn-out components you find.

Step 5: Pick Out the Washers and Hairpins

Image Source: youtube.com/@tightwadproductions961

Remove the suspension links’ hairpins and washers. Affixed to the arms are the links. It would be best if you took them off to reach the belt. Unhook the mower’s chassis supports from the linkages. Then detach the blade control rod’s extension spring.

Step 6: Find and Remove the Initial Hanger

Pull the hairpin and washer off the end of the connecting rod to remove the front hanger from the chassis support. With the rod withdrawn, you can lift the chassis from the hanger. You may need to undo a few bolts to do this. Be cautious about holding the components in place when you remove the hanger.

Step 7: Remove the Mower’s Housing to Swap Out the Belt

Remove the Mower's Housing to Swap Out the Belt
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Once you remove the outer components, the mower’s belt can be easily accessible. The first step is to take off the belt housing. To remove the home from the mower’s chassis, rotate the pulley that controls the engine. Belt retainers can be loosened or removed to facilitate movement. You can take off the belt with relative ease now.

Put some pressure on the brake pad, and the new belt will slide on. I recommend giving the belt a couple of rotations in its channel. Just loop the belt around the jackshaft pulley and push it in place. If the belt is loose over the idler pulley, tighten it by pulling the retainer back. To use a pulley, you must physically align the belt over it and twist it. Greasing the pulleys and belts will make the system run more efficiently.

Step 8: Replace the Motor’s Belt

Just slide the housing back under the mower’s chassis to return it to its original, central location. After that, reconnect the belt to the engine’s pulley. Verify that the front hanger and chassis support hole placements are correct. Once you place the connecting rod through the holes, you can secure it with a hairpin and a washer.

Step 9: Turn the Mower Over and Put the Suspension Arms in Place

Turn the Mower Over and Put the Suspension Arms in Place
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Move the mower’s housing back under the chassis to cover the underside. Bring the slots on the front hanger and the chassis support into alignment. The connecting rod is inserted through the openings and secured with the hairpin and washer. The next step is to attach the spring extension links to the suspension. Assemble the required components to reconnect them to the chassis. Seal the connections with hairpins and washers.

Step 10: Verify all Connections

When you have reassembled everything, you should check if the blades are rotating by hand. Pull the mower’s cord carefully if it has one. If everything is running well, reattach the spark plug cables and start the engine.

Also Read:- How to Tighten Belt on Troy Bilt Riding Mower?

Recommendations

  • When removing the belts from your lawn mower, photographing their current routing is a good idea. You can use the images as a visual guide during the assembly process.
  • When servicing a lawnmower, you must always think about and practice safety. Always use protective eyewear such as safety goggles or glasses and gloves designed for mechanic work to avoid injury to your hands.
  • You need to have the right lawn tractor components before beginning the job.
  • Replace the belt of a riding mower if worn out or broken. Injuries can occur if a damaged or worn belt snaps and flies off at high speed while the engine is running.
  • Inspect belts regularly to ensure they are not loose, damaged, cracked, frayed, or detached from the rest of the assembly. A fresh one is preferable, though. If it needs fixing or replacing, do so promptly.

FAQ’s

When should I change the belt on my lawnmower?

A mower belt’s expected lifespan is a moving target. But, the lifespan of your mower will be determined by how often you use it, so plan on a few years at the very least. Similarly, exposing your mower to direct sunlight might have a harmful effect. Rubber and plastic degrade under the sun’s rays over time. Broken belts can also result from mechanical issues like a seized pulley. They’re a common cause of premature belt failure in lawnmowers.

Where can I look up the Murray mower’s model number?

You can find the model number for a Murray-riding lawn mower on the back or under the seat. The model number is usually between the mounting brackets on both pulled and self-propelled mowers in the middle of the deck.

What’s the difference between a deck belt and a drive belt?

Ans. The deck belt is a v-belt that goes around several pulleys at the very front of the mower. They’re commonly used to keep Guards, coverings, and shrouds hidden. Use a spring pulley to keep it taut. The “drive belt” is the only belt left on the mower once the “mower deck belt” has been removed, and its sole purpose is to turn the blades. The blades are linked to the drive belt that drives them.

How far can a lawnmower belt get stretched?

A belt on a lawnmower may loosen up after prolonged use. Repeated use may achieve one inch of play in the belt’s side-to-side direction. Yet, in most cases, the difference is negligible and difficult to spot until one looks closer.
Use the spring pulley to maintain the proper belt tension as the belt expands. Replace the belt if it has stretched beyond the capacity of the spring pulley.

What makes a belt slide, and what are the signs that it is happening?

A seasoned gardener can spot a worn belt in a second. Even if you’re a beginner, you can use the signs below as a guide.
 • In Places where cuts there’re cuts made, you can see scream. The belt is stuck and can’t move around the pulley, so that’s why. The first step to fixing the problem is to change the belt’s size. If this doesn’t fix the problem, try switching out the belt.
The blades may not work if you let go of the belt. It slows down without warning and cuts in an odd way.
Remember that the signs of sliding belts are a lot like those of broken decks. Remember to look for signs of damage on the deck.

Concluding Remarks

A lawnmower is an efficient and potent tool for gardening. A lawnmower, despite its dependability, requires regular upkeep to function correctly. The belt will wear after a few seasons of use. Whenever the drive belt on your Murray lawn mower breaks, replacing it is your only option. It’s a simple yet time-consuming operation.

We have just finished explaining how to change the belt on a Murray riding mower. If you follow the instructions as mentioned, taking the Murray lawn mower apart and putting it back together will be a breeze. The abovementioned technique is a foolproof way to maintain grass with any Murray mower.

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