Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): murray rideing mower, inch blade, murray web

Question
Michael

My name is dan and i am have prolems with a
older rider mower. model number 1-30334-b date code 1056. a couple of months ago the mower throw the belt for the blade. and ever since i have not being able to get the mower to run right. the blade does not seem to be spinning fast enough to cut the grass. I have replaced the belt and the adapter the were the blade bolts on too. I think that the belt was "free" spinning, with no luck.. I have come to the concluesion that the belt has to be on wrong. can you suggest a web site that has the configuration on it, or perhasp send a picture. I have tryed murray web site and it does not regonize the modle number. when i have ordered parts in the past from my retailer they had to contact murray and ask for mircophise to find the correct parts.

The mower has 5 pully for the deck, and the mower only has one 32 inch blade, The 2 pullys coming of the crank are in parell, come off the same shaft. One for the tranny and one for the deck....

The belts tightens when you engage the the blade, however I do not think the belt is tight enough. I think the pully for the actual blade is tight enough to spin the blade but there is alittle to much slack in the line, and it does not have enough bit to hold the pully enough to spin the blade at the proper RPM to cut grass. Frist I thought that the blade was "free spining", so i replaced both the blade and the adpater that is cut out to fit the blade (kinda like the key that holds the flywheel on a 2 cycle engine to prevent the flywheel from moving and hold the timing true), both needed to be replace do to normal wear and tear. So now I know that the blade is truley bolted on and not "free spining"(also I double check to make sure that the blade was not on backwards) .   I have also tried the next size down (one inch smaller diameter) belt on my mower with no luck. The belt was not big enough to fit on the mower. There is an adjustment for the idler arm to tighten or lossen the belt, I have it as tight as it will go with no luck(I also lossen it all the way with the smaller belt on and the smaller belt would not fit on all of the pullys) . I am running out of ideas. Maybe I was missinformed and the next size down for a smaller belt is not 1 inch? Please let me know if you need more info. Thank you for helping
dan

Answer
Hi Dan,

Sorry for my delay.

I don't have a belt schematic.  You may have the belt on the wrong way.  First, check to see if the blade is rotating in the correct direction.  If not, follow the rotation at the crankshaft pulley and maintain that, right to the blade.  Usually the idler will take up any slack.  Check all the pulleys and bearings to make sure they turn freely and that there is no binding.

Let me know how you make out
Michael