How to Adjust a Murray Lawn Tractor Belt

Murray makes many different lawn tractors equipped with various sized mower decks. One thing that each lawn tractor and mower deck shares in common is the use of a drive belt that connects the tractor's motor with the spindle pulleys on the mower deck. The mower deck has an additional pulley called the idler pulley. The idler pulley maintains proper belt tension at all times, even as the belt stretches due to age. When the Murray's belt stretches too far, the spring-loaded idler pulley cannot compensate. When the idler pulley fails for this reason, the only solution is to replace the drive belt with a new belt.

Things You'll Need

• Replacement drive belt

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Disengage the drive belt with the PTO pulley or deck engagement lever mounted on the panel located below the seat. This stops the mower blade and releases tension on the drive belt.

   • 2

     Position the mower deck at its lowest level with the height lever mounted to the side of the mower deck.

   • 3

     Grip the belt directly behind the PTO pulley mounted on the underside of the engine and pull the belt off the pulley.

   • 4

     Pull the belt off the spindle pulleys and the idler pulley on the mower deck and then route the new belt around the spindle pulleys and idler pulley on the mower deck.

   • 5

     Place the belt around the PTO pulley located on the underside of the engine and then raise the mower deck to your desired height.