Murray riding mower won't engage in gear and move in The Lawn Mower Repair Man's POWER FORUM Forum

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Murray riding mower won't engage in gear and move

Author	Comment
wolfsmane	Murray riding mower won't engage in gear and move	Lead	[-]
Posts: 7 Jul 1 11 9:51 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Tags : None Hello all, Murray riding mower, 12.5hp 40" deck - I do not have a model number, don't know where to look for one at on the mower. I have a riding lawnmower that belonged to my MIL before she passed. It had been sitting for over a year without cranking. Last time it was used, everything ran fine with it. I drained all gas out, put fresh in. Changed filter. Charged battery. She fired right up, no issues. Put it in gear, and nothing. Forward or reverse - doesn't matter. Will not even attempt to move. Checked belt and it appears fine. All the linkage seems to work like it should, everything moves when the lever is moved. When left in gear with mower off, I can roll the mower like it was in neutral.
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GerryGA1		#1	[-]
Posts: 565 Jul 1 11 11:16 AM Registered User Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	model number may be on a silver tab under the seat or someplace else on back. When this unit was in stowage was it subject to water getting on top of the transaxle pulley? What I would do is drop the deck so ya can get under the frame and look at everything. Next if the parking brake works start the engine put brake in park and observe the belt it should have enough tension to me moving. My guess is that something just gummed up in the tranny and wont let the gears engage.
NevadaWalrus		#2	[-]
Posts: 2869 Jul 1 11 6:48 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I'm looking at that side lever coming out of the dash. Makes me think it is a hydro drive. To push a hydro around at all means the disengage rod/lever usually reached from the rear has been moved to disengage. In that position the hydro fluid taken out of the equation, like putting gear selctor in neutral and will not drive. Look up the arse end and see if you can find a lever or rod just sticking out and try pushing in or pulling out. Bob
wolfsmane		#3	[-]
Posts: 7 Jul 2 11 4:36 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Thanks for the replies. It's at my MIL's house, and I will get over there today to look for the model number, and to check out what y'all said. Unfortunately, it was stored just as you see it, but WAS mostly under a carport - towards the edge. So it did get rained on a little. I can't image it could have gotten water on the transaxle pulley. NevadaWalrus, I am a rookie when it comes to the mechanics - but I was the one using the mower the last few times it ran. I don't remember ever engaging a lever or rod when using it or parking it, but I will definitely look for that. But I am not sure my luck gets that good that it could be something that simple, LOL! Again, I appreciate y'alls help.
wolfsmane		#4	[-]
Posts: 7 Jul 3 11 3:27 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Ok, I got over there to check it out. GerryGA1 - Model number - 40508X92A NevadaWalrus - The lever coming out of the side of the dash is the lever to engage the blades. There is NO lever or rod that is coming out of the back of the mower. Isn't a hydro-drive mower driven like a car? IE, you push down on the right pedal to go, the further you push the pedal, the faster you go. This mower is probably 15-18 years old. You push down and hold the left foot pedal to crank. While holding it down, you shift the gear lever into whatever gear you want, and gently ease out on the left foot pedal as though it were a clutch, no gas pedal.
NevadaWalrus		#5	[-]
Posts: 2869 Jul 3 11 10:14 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I won't go into details as to where i went astray, not important. Lets just say my rider experience is minimal. So I will shut up and hope Gerry can do better. Bob
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wolfsmane		#6	[-]
Posts: 7 Jul 3 11 10:36 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I feel really stupid, but mostly relieved. Was checking it out again and found the problem. The back tire was dry rotted, so I took off the wheel, changed the tire and replaced the wheel. In my haste, I must have knocked out the pin or key or whatever is the proper term, that fits in the groove of the axle and wheel, and the axle was free spinning.So, it was working all along. Another question that may be somewhat easier to answer - it cranks up fairly easy with the choke on. But when I move the lever to the run position, it sputters and eventually stalls. There is a sweet spot just below choke that I can find that it will stay running, but even then, it's very choppy, rough idle. If I try to move the lever to a slower speed, it will stall.
NevadaWalrus		#7	[-]
Posts: 2869 Jul 4 11 12:40 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	This is likely due to having set for that year, fuel going bad and varnishing up jets and passages resulting in lean fuel condition. Since it does run you could try a carb or injector fuel additive cleaner and see if it clears out after a tank or 2. Only other alternative is to remove carb and rebuild. Bob
wolfsmane		#8	[-]
Posts: 7 Jul 4 11 6:19 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Thanks Bob. Would Seafoam do the trick?
NevadaWalrus		#9	[-]
Posts: 2869 Jul 5 11 2:28 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I have been told by folks, yes. Bob
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Murray riding mower won't engage in gear and move

Murray riding mower won't engage in gear and move