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LReeder

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Discussion starter · #1 · (Edited)
I just picked up a Murray 42571X8A today (FREE). Looks like has been well taken care of. Twin cylinder 17HP Briggs that fires right up. The problem is that it won't go forward or reverse. The guy (parent's neighbor) said that the last time he mowed, he had no problems. Parked it in the garage. Said he went out the following weekend and it wouldn't move.

All the linkages seem to be working all the way to the transaxle. I've tried the freewheel lever in both positions - no difference. Drive belt is intact and is turning the pulley on top of the trans. I'm at a loss. Surely the trans didn't just die like that???

UPDATE: I just found out that pressing the brake pedal or engaging the parking brake does not keep the mower from moving. I don't know if that's related or not.
 
#2 ·
LReeder said:
I just picked up a Murray 42571X8A today (FREE). Looks like has been well taken care of. Twin cylinder 17HP Briggs that fires right up. The problem is that it won't go forward or reverse. The guy (parent's neighbor) said that the last time he mowed, he had no problems. Parked it in the garage. Said he went out the following weekend and it wouldn't move.

All the linkages seem to be working all the way to the transaxle. I've tried the freewheel lever in both positions - no difference. Drive belt is intact and is turning the pulley on top of the trans. I'm at a loss. Surely the trans didn't just die like that???

UPDATE: I just found out that pressing the brake pedal or engaging the parking brake does not keep the mower from moving. I don't know if that's related or not.
Click to expand...
I owned that very tractor. Have you checked the trans engage/disengage lever under the seat? There is a level to disengage the transaxle in case the unit needs to be pushed. If it is disengaged the tractor will not move.

On the other issue it sounds like you may need a brake adjust. I will post instructions asap.
 

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Discussion starter · #3 ·
Yes, that's what I was calling the freewheel lever. That's the first thing I checked. Thanks for the brake adjustment pic. It just seems strange to me that both of these problems would have started at the same time and not be related, but I guess anything's possible.
 
#4 ·
most likely a key way on either the axle hub for wheel. or the transmission pulley
 
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#5 ·
LReeder said:
Yes, that's what I was calling the freewheel lever. That's the first thing I checked.
Click to expand...
Sorry about that, somehow I missed that in the post. I was hoping I had an easy fix for ya.
 
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#6 ·
Redneckmower99 said:
most likely a key way on either the axle hub for wheel. or the transmission pulley
Click to expand...
That's a good thought. Maybe the po had removed a wheel and did not re install the axle key?
 
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#8 ·
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Discussion starter · #9 ·
Well, the right side axle doesn't turn and I'm not enough of a contortionist to see or feel the left axle while hitting the speed control on the right. I would think that I would here some kind of noise if that's what it was doing. It's acting just like my Husqvarna does when the freewheel lever is engaged (or disengaged however you want to look at it). I even disconnected the freewheel rod from the lever on the transaxle to make sure it wasn't binding. Same result.
 
#10 ·
if the left keyway is bad the right axle wouldnt turn becuase the differetial is unlocked.i would pull the hub off the left and take a look it is not going to hurt.
 
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#12 ·
ive spent so long looking at my F*@#ing transmission then realizing it was just a key way it makes me mad
 
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Discussion starter · #16 ·
Well I must say, I'm thoroughly impressed by my free mower. I mowed my back yard (a little over a half acre) with it today and it may very well become my primary mower. The 17 hp twin cuts so much better than the 18.5 hp single lung in my Husqvarna. It's been close to two months since I was able to mow the back, and even with some of the grass as tall as the hood, it never bogged down making a full width cut. Granted, I was moving fairly slow, but had I done the same thing with the Husqvarna, I would have only been able to cut about an 18" or 24" swath without it trying to die. Needless to say, I'm very happy with this acquisition.
 
#17 · (Edited)
Many people are very surprised when they first use a Murray. I own a Husqvarna built Craftsman YS4500, bought it new in 09. Within a few weeks I bought my Murray 20/46 on ebay for $150. The Murray has been my go to tractor for 3 years. They may make good axes and chainsaws, but Murray lays the smackdown on Husky when it comes to lawn tractors, IMO. Here are deck leveling instructions if you need them. Once you know how to do it it's a 2 minute job.
 

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LReeder
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