New Guy From Central Pa

Hey y'all! I'm Glen, live near Centre Hall. I just recently came across the off road tractor scene when researching things and seen some videos by a guy Todd Christopher (FearlessFront). I have a garden tractor that my dad gave me years ago that he bought new in 2003. It's a Stanley Garden Tractor made by Murray, it has a 21HP V-Twin B&H with a 46" cut with a Peerless 5 speed and it's a wide body with good size tires in the rear. I don't really have much of a yard to need a tractor this size so I figured what the heck, I'll make it a little faster and turn it into something. I just dropped the transaxle from it tonight, I have the pulley soaking (hoping that helps free it) my 3" pulley came today from a seller on Amazon. I'm hoping I got the right one anyway! I got a 5/8" size because that's what it seemed to measure to when the rear was still in the tractor. I know most think of Murray as a cheap tractor but it seems pretty sturdy still and the power and drivetrain is name brands. Hoping to learn something from the site and hopefully meet some people nearby that's into the same thing to go on trail rides with. I made a foot pedal out of an old aluminum lawn chair and capped off the end with an alcohol bottle cap and painted black to match the tractor, just need to hookup a throttle cable for it after I get the rear back together and in.

Sounds like a fun and powerful build. 5/8 sounds right. Post some pictures up when you get a chance. If you need help with that, check out the link in my signature!

Here is the front end, I need a hood, my buddy doesn't know what he did with it when he borrowed it last year and busted it up.

This is what it's suppose to look like.

I replaced the carb, it was so bad that it wouldn't start, I tried cleaning it and then it ran and only ran on one cylinder so I just bought a new one.


The new throttle body was a new part number, the original wasn't made anymore, the butterfly was too open at low throttle even with the adjusting screw backed out and the governor adjusted, so I made my own throttle linkage out of steel wire for a float from my old fuel pump from my truck.

I also had to replace both coils, they were dead, I think my buddy and his helpers put power to them, I was under the impression that they no longer made my specific coils anymore so I got other ones, trimmed the mount at the head to fit new ones. I found out later that they do still make mine, but these work!



Here is my hack job of a foot pedal made from an aluminum lawn chair, I need to get a lighter spring though, this one is too heavy for my liking.

Rear End Views


Transaxle Out

If soaking does not help, redneckcomputergeak has a video that might help.


I ended up just cutting my old pulley off.

Thanks for the how-to on the photo sharing. I watched that video the other day, looks like a pain but I'm probably going to have to do something since it has been soaking for days and days. Last night I used a high strength acetone, and went out and soaked it again this morning before work. Acetone has helped me on other rusted stuck things but this might be more than it can handle. I'm thinking about simplifying the wiring as well to it to delete the sensors without splicing wiring together. One thing at a time though! I'm used to wrenching on cars and trucks, these tractors are so much easier and cheaper to modify. Lol.

yay for Cental PA!

Centre hall... did you go to the tractor show/flea market?

TheBeal, yup, I went Saturday and watched the Garden tractor pulls.

I was there too. Mostly for the flea market though.

Did you see that little diesel tractor pull? I didnt catch what it was but I think the announcer said it was a 2cyl?
Put out lots a black smoke!


Ought to have "vintage" lawn tractor racing there haha.

I went to try finding a cheap puller at the generic tool tents. And I think that diesel was a 3cyl they said but I'm not 100%. That little beast was cool though. I live about 5-10 minutes from Penns Cave.

Welcome! Looks like that trans of yours is a Peerless 820, thats a pretty heavy duty unit!

The tranny says 820-037. I was wondering which number actually meant the model number since there's 4 sections of numbers, the 820-037 is the top line of the tag. I was also curious as to if it's a strong transaxle, good to know. Surprised that you knew that by just looking at a picture of it.

The really wide bull gear housing gave it away haha. It should have 1" axles, which is definitely a good thing!

I saw used pullers at that guy who always have made in USA tools. Probably not cheap though haha.
I was hoping to find a lathe tool holder.

Do I want to flip the crank pulley as well or just leave it alone? I know it requires cutting and welding the top piece and welding it to the bottom and welding isn't something I do. So will the smaller pulley on the rear be sufficient enough?

Eh, I would try to find a 4 inch pulley for the front with that size rear. I like a 4 inch on the rear and 5 inch front because the belt will grip better from more surface area. Just the rear pulley will speed it up some, but you'll be wanting a bit more pretty soon.

I am running 6 up front and 5 on rear. I like the feel. I had to trim some for the pulley like doc did. The 4/5 that CQ said would be nice... And easy!

No welder buddies?

Welding is fun. There is no manly-er way to join metal together.

Thanks for the suggestions on the pulley ratios! Would a drive pulley stay in place with the torque of the motor if I just used a single pulley with a set screw? And yeah, if I could weld, I'd make my own bracket and use a bottle jack upside down for removing the transaxle pulley.

Yeah, it should stay. All my pulleys have 2 set screws.

The drive pulley on the ol' Dominator just has set screws. Two like mighty said, as long as theyre tight it would probably be fine.

If the end of the shaft is tapped, might aswell use a bolt too.


Good thing about welding, you can always learn.

AllisKidD21 wrote:

The drive pulley on the ol' Dominator just has set screws. Two like mighty said, as long as theyre tight it would probably be fine.

I also have a drop of blue locktight.

Good to know.

Welcome to the Forum! I saw Central PA and got excited cause I thought you were close, but you are like dead center and im south central

Good trans you have there. Very durable unless you're me lol, I tore mine right up doing stupid stuff. I'm currently looking for another. For a start I'd do a 6 to 6 inch pulley swap for a bit of speed and belt grip. That takes a 3/4" bore pulley on the trans btw. I cut and reweld my deck drive pulley for the transmission drive pulley, works well. Good luck with this, and have fun!