Hello from Sunny South Florida

Hi all, I am a tinkerer and I'm just glad to be here.
I'm so glad I came across this forum,  I have been reading all the Briggs opposed engine tech I can find here for a few days and decided to join up and take part in the fun.  I think this is a great forum , tons of tech, mods, friendly people.
It is my hope to give my Dads old Murray tractor a new personality. Dads been gone 13 years and I kept the old mower cause I can't bare to part with it, and I loved the opposed 20hp on it.
I like old stuff, engines, motorcycles, and odd unique engines, "they don't make em like they used to".
Thats enough about me. Thanks for stopping by. MD

Welcome to the forum! Make yourself at home!

I love me an opposed twin, and that 20hp of yours will be a 46ci model, which is pretty cool!

welcome ! from Indiana

Welcome aboard! Clever name.

Welcome! I actually used to live in Tampa. Guess it's still pretty hot down there lol.

Welcome to ATLTF.

Thanks for the welcome's all of you. I have visited Lampasas, TX. before, Double W, went to look at a cave out there. Then I lived in "Cove" stationed at Hood in the early 80's. I love that area, Stillhouse Hollow + Belton lakes great time.
I tried to post a pic of mower, only showed, ? , I guess I need to school myself bit more. [url=]
try it again..
It has a hydro trans that is starting to slow down. I guess I should start with that.

Have you done an air purge yet?

Put the tractor out in the open...
start it up,
pull the hydro release pin in the back.
hop on
press forward about 3 times hold a second.
press backward about 3 times hold a second.
repeat about 5-10 times
now push in the pin
go forward about 10 ft
go backward about 10 ft
do this about 3-5 times
repeat if needed.

Mowby Dick wrote:

Thanks for the welcome's all of you. I have visited Lampasas, TX. before, Double W, went to look at a cave out there. Then I lived in "Cove" stationed at Hood in the early 80's. I love that area, Stillhouse Hollow + Belton lakes great time.

That's pretty neat knowing someone who knows my neck of the woods!

Yeah the Cove has recently sprouted up, it now has a Walmart and everything.  Lampasas is same as always, beautiful town square (I think it's prettier than Georgetown), lots of old buildings, historical landmarks on everything.  Town was founded in 1865 after all, lol.

I don't exactly live in Lampasas, I just go there a lot.  I doubt anyone would know the town I live in, you might though.  If you are going to Lampasas from Austin or Cedar Park or somewhere on 183, and you get to a spot where there's tons of open pastures, on the left side there'll be a junk yard that's been there for decades, and I live in the tiny little community right there (not going to give the specific name because there's less than a hundred people here, LOL).  I love this part of Texas.

Edit: Actually, I just realized that I'm pretty sure you know what I'm talking about, you have to go through there going to 183 from the Cove.

Thanks Mighty R, this transaxle has seen a lot of abuse. I have added oil to it a couple times because  it started growling and slowing down. I will try again to fill and purge, but this time no growling and it still backs up strong but fwd is slower than usual. It would be nice if that cured it.
It would still be tooo slow for what I want to do. I have a right angle box from a old Massey that I've thought might work for speedy mower. I saw one just like it on racer at HaulNGrass and messaged them about strength of it. They're real helpful and say plenty strong.
I would just as soon have a manual 4-5 or 6 speed transaxle w/small pulley. The ragb only 1 speed no R, less versatile. I had planned to use the ragb till I watched you alls videos.
Double W, I been there too going to Austin. They got any lawnmowers in that junk yard, you'd have it made.

p.s. I forgot that mower sat in 2 feet of water after Hurricane Irma, I quickly changed engine oil after that and warmed up engine, but tranny got no love at time.

AH... probably wearing out. Geared are good.

Mowby Dick wrote:

Double W, I been there too going to Austin. They got any lawnmowers in that junk yard, you'd have it made.

Naw, he doesn't really have any interest in that sort of thing. Just cars. Anywho, nice to know that my little town isn't so little after all!

Have you ever changed the oil in the tranny instead of adding to it? It might help. The murray I drive probably has the same 1 yours has and as long as you don't pulley swap it, it will take a crazy amount of abuse. Just sayin'.

Hi MurrayMt. , no, I have not changed the oil in it ever. Good suggestion, I am going to open the trans probably  tomorrow. I want to see filter screen, check valves, look at the pump and motor cylinders, complete disassembly and clean so parts can be inspected. I've some experience inside ztr hydros. [url=]
More for curiosity and to learn what I can about it, than to use it.
 I stripped the tractor down today, pressure washed it, the engine had oil leak, sump gasket and both crank seals I believe. The frame full of oily sandy nasty dirty, pain to work on, got my tools dirty and my hands. So now its clean to work on. You should about the sand here.
    Spied gear trannys on craigslist near here, no answer phone yet. Guys got a couple mst and a spicer. Hoping to connect later tonite. Witch one better? enni mene minie mo

Yeah you'd need to have some experience to tear a hydro apart.

I haven't torn my hydro murray down yet but the signs say that it'll be nasty. I hate that greasy, grimy, dirty, crap that "grows" in the C-channel frame.

In my opinion mst is better and stronger than spicer. But that's only my opinion.

The

tractor is back in one piece and rolling with mst205 in it. I am really liking the better speed. have 4" rear and front oem unchanged. I bought 2 mst and a spicer on Craigs. checked oil and put the better looking one in tractor. made shifter to go deck hight hole.
I didn't take the hydro apart because the shift lever on it was loose, I believe that caused the problem with it. I did find color pictures of the inside of peerless hydro. it is quite different than TT and HG hydro in its pump layout. really impressed by it. will change oil when I use it again.
I put the tractor back together with mst for now, but it needs many upgrades. I am reading many builds and have got many ideas from them. opened my eyes as to all the possibilities . it will take awhile to decide what I want it to be. love driving it with engine low-mid rpm in 5th so smooth and quiet. tractor much more useful and less boring that's for sure.