I have a Murray / Tecumseh 12hp ovxl120-202046d that suddenly is no longer engaging in any gear. Also, the brake no longer appears to be working. I can put the mower in gear, engage the parking brake and the mower will roll as if nothing is engaged. The mower will start properly, I can engage and disengage the blades, but the mower does not move when put into any gear. It was working perfectly until I got a flat tire on the rear wheel. I parked the mower, lifted it by the fender and removed the wheel for repair. When I put the wheel back on, that's when the problem started. It sounds like something just got disconnected or came loose, but I have no knowledge about riding mowers, so I don't know where to start working.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Hi,
Perfect answer for you thanks to your telling me that you had a flat tire. You have lost the key that fastens that wheel to the axle on the side with the flat tire. You will need a pice of 5/32" square key stock two inches long (a B&S #91539 key will work though a half inch shorter.) or find your errant original. Remove the E-clip or snap ring for the axle on that side, and any washers. You will see a half-groove in the axle and one in the wheel. You need to line them up and ease the key down the aligned grooves to fasten wheel to axle. Reinstall washers and clip and go mow!
Peace,
Clarke

Quote:

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Originally Posted by crigby

Hi,
Perfect answer for you thanks to your telling me that you had a flat tire. You have lost the key that fastens that wheel to the axle on the side with the flat tire. You will need a pice of 5/32" square key stock two inches long (a B&S #91539 key will work though a half inch shorter.) or find your errant original. Remove the E-clip or snap ring for the axle on that side, and any washers. you will see a half-groove in the axle and one in the wheel. You need to line them up and ease the key down the aligned grooves to fasten wheel to axle. reinstall washers and clip and go mow!
Peace,
Clarke

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You were absolutely correct. I was able to pick up a new key stock at the hardware store and I'm now happily mowing again.

Thanks a lot for the super fast response.

Clarke thumbs up! Your awesome man , I had the same problem and it worked like a charm! Thanks a lot I was freaking out, thought I had to get a new lawn mower!

Clarke thumbs up! Your awesome man , I had the same problem and it worked like a charm! Thanks a lot I was freaking out, thought I had to get a new lawn mower!

Thanks A lot saved me a bunch of grief.

Got to love the internet!

That is *exactly* what happened to me; I got a flat on the left rear tire, and removed the wheel in the yard. After repairing the tire, I put the wheel back on, and it did just what the previous poster said.

After reading your post, I went out to the yard where I had worked on the mower, and after a few minutes of searching, found the axle pin! I then went to the shed, and in less than 3 minutes, I was driving the Murray out of the shed, and took her for a spin around the yard, smiling like a 10-year old on a new bike.

Thank you!!