Murray is a well respected brand when it comes to lawn mowers and garden tools. Many people choose to use Murray products because they are reliable, efficient and long lasting.
However, if you want to keep your Murray lawn mower working smoothly over a long period of time then you will need to keep on top of maintenance and replace the necessary parts as required.
One of the parts that will eventually need replacing on your Murray ride-on lawnmower is the ground drive belt.
In this guide we will tell you how to tell if your belt needs replacing, and how to replace it correctly. Keep reading to find out more.
What Is The Ground Drive Belt Used For?
The ground drive belt on a ride-on lawnmower is used to transaxle pulley to the crankshaft of the engine. This is what keeps the rear wheels of the lawn mower moving. That makes it a very important part of the ride-on lawn mower.
How Can You Tell When The Belt Needs Replacing?
The ground drive belt will gradually wear down over time- this is to be expected. How long it takes to wear down will depend on how often the ride-on lawn mower is being used.
When the belt starts to wear, you may notice that the lawn mower is moving more sluggishly.
The movement might be jerky rather than smooth. If the belt breaks then the lawn mower will stop moving altogether.
This is very inconvenient if you are halfway through mowing the lawn, so you want to try and replace it before that happens.
How To Change The Belt On A Murray Riding Lawn Mower
There are several important steps that you need to follow in order to safely and correctly change the belt on your Murray riding lawn mower.
Check The Model
The first thing you need to do is check which model of riding lawn mower you have, as this could have an impact on the process.
Dig out your manual and read the instructions. If you can’t find the manual then check online to find an online copy of the manual on the Murray website.
Gather The Equipment
Once you have checked the model number and read the manual, you can gather together all of the equipment you will need. This includes:
- A replacement belt that is right for your model of lawn mower
- Safety gloves
- Screwdrivers
- Pliers
- Wrench
- Woodblocks
It is really important that you double check the number on the replacement belt before you start dismantling the lawn mower.
If you have the wrong belt then you will need to re-assemble the lawn mower and then find a store to exchange the belt.
Prepare The Lawn Mower
When you are ready to start changing the belt, lay the lawn mower on a flat surface. It is best to change the belt when the lawn mower has not been in use, as the engine will be cool.
If the belt breaks while you are in the process of mowing your lawn then you will need to wait for the engine to cool before you can change the belt.
Make sure that the engine is off and there is no power going to the engine at all. It is a good idea to disconnect the spark plug to make sure that the engine cannot start while you are changing the belt.
Mower Casing, Blade Rotation & Rear Suspension Arms
Engage the parking brakes, and then adjust the mower casing to the lowest setting. Next, disengage the blade rotation. Once this is done, you can remove the rear suspension arms to loosen the mower belt.
The suspension arms are what ensure that the belt doesn’t slip and is nice and tight, so you have to remove them before you can take off the old belt.
To remove the suspension arms, take out the hairpins and washers that are keeping them in place.
It is sensible to take photographs or videos of how the hairpins and washers are attached to the suspension arms so that you can reassemble the mower more easily. Make sure you keep the hairpins and washers safely together.
Remove The Hanger
Once the hairpins and washers have been removed, you can unlink the mower chassis support and then unhook the spring that extends from the blade control rod.
You will now be able to access the front hanger – be aware that you might need to loosen some screws in order to remove it.
Replace The Belt
With the hanger removed, you will be able to remove the belt housing. It should slide easily out of the mower chassis when you turn the pulley of the engine. Loosen the belt retainers and take off the old belt. Make sure that you dispose of it safely.
To install the new belt, push the brake pad down and then pull the belt over the jackshaft pulley. Turn the belt a few times to make sure that it is in position properly, then tighten the retainers.
If the belt feels stiff then you might need to use some grease to loosen it – check your manual for more guidance on this.
Reassemble The Lawn Mower
You now need to re-assemble the mower by doing the reverse of what you did to take them apart. This is when the photographs will come in handy.
Once you have put the lawn mower back together, you will need to check all of the connections and also adjust the blade settings. Re-connect the spark plug and turn on the engine to check that the new belt is working.
Summary
With this guide, you will find it easy to put a belt on a Murray riding lawn mower. If you are finding it challenging and you need to look at a diagram, don’t forget to go to the Murray Website and find the manual for your model.
