# My husband's Murray Tractor **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 26, 2012, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-husbands-murray-tractor/619999 "2012-04-26T10:48:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![monavis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e0b2c6/32.png) [@monavis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monavis)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-husbands-murray-tractor/619999/1 "2012-04-26T10:48:35Z")
My husband, who has fixed a lot of tractors in his day is trying to find out why the clutch doesn’t catch. He thinks maybe the brake liner is worn,but can’t seem to figure this one out.It is a Murray(old model, 20 horse power) It runns good,but the clutch doesn’t seem to release. I hope some doper woud have a suggestion( he is 86 years old and still able to do things for himself,and had done a lot of auto and tractor repair in his day. Thanks ahead of time for any suggestions. ---
**Author:** ![excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e8c25b/32.png) [@excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/excavating_for_a_mind)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-husbands-murray-tractor/619999/2 "2012-04-26T12:16:49Z")
The clutch on these mowers is pretty simple, a spring-loaded idler pulley is pressed against the drive belt when the clutch pedal is released. If working properly, this pulley tightens-up the drive belt around the drive pulley, engaging the drive wheels. If it is not working, it can be a broken belt, a broken spring, or a broken pulley. excavating (for a mind) ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-husbands-murray-tractor/619999/3 "2012-04-26T12:37:38Z")
Hi, Murray–how ya doin’? ---
**Author:** ![gwendee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-husbands-murray-tractor/619999/4 "2012-04-26T13:57:53Z")
I know less than squat about tractors, but I keep reading the the thread title as “My husband Murray’s Tractor”. ---
**Author:** ![monavis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e0b2c6/32.png) [@monavis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monavis)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-husbands-murray-tractor/619999/5 "2012-04-27T11:16:49Z")
> [@gwendee](#): > > I know less than squat about tractors, but I keep reading the the thread title as “My husband Murray’s Tractor”. I enjoy your reply…just goes to prove I should proof read what I send out. Put the ’ in the wrong place…guess I am not perfect yet! :o) ---
**Author:** ![monavis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e0b2c6/32.png) [@monavis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monavis)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-husbands-murray-tractor/619999/6 "2012-04-27T11:18:14Z")
> [@excavating\_for\_a\_mind](#): > > The clutch on these mowers is pretty simple, a spring-loaded idler pulley is pressed against the drive belt when the clutch pedal is released. If working properly, this pulley tightens-up the drive belt around the drive pulley, engaging the drive wheels. > > If it is not working, it can be a broken belt, a broken spring, or a broken pulley. > > excavating (for a mind) Thanks, I will pass on the information to him. He thought it was the break pad. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-husbands-murray-tractor/619999/7 "2012-04-27T13:16:06Z")
on some mowers the same pedal works the brake and clutch. if the mechanism is not working well it may not engage the clutch and still leave the brake in contact. a deteriorated brake pad can cause the mechanism not to work as it should. ---
**Author:** ![monavis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e0b2c6/32.png) [@monavis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monavis)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2012, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-husbands-murray-tractor/619999/8 "2012-04-28T11:48:58Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > on some mowers the same pedal works the brake and clutch. if the mechanism is not working well it may not engage the clutch and still leave the brake in contact. a deteriorated brake pad can cause the mechanism not to work as it should. Thanks, that is what he though,but it is so old he can’t find a place that sells them. He was going to try to make one himself.