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Murray Lawn Mowers

Murray Lawn Mowers • Self-propelled models • Belt failure • Riding models • Push models • Gas leaks • Other problems • Murray Defenders ---- • 2003 Lawn tractor recall • 2002 Lawn tractor recall

Few things are as infuriating as a lawn mower that doesn't work. Unfortunately, this seems to be the case with many of the Murray mowers we hear about. Whether it's flimsy plastic gears, poorly-designed belts or gas leaks, the inexpensive Murrays seem to have more than their share of problems, as the complaints in this section indicate.

But wait ... there is another side to the story, and it comes from Ben of Frederick MD (8/19/05):
I am the owner of a small engine business and am not partial to any brand. I work on all small engines as well as sell every name available. I was appalled at the ignorance of your writers in your complaints on Murray lawn equipment. Most of the complaints were not against Murray at all, but more of the individual stores they got them from. If you have a problem with Wal-Mart�s customer service, that is not Murray�s fault, take it up with Wal-Mart.

As far as recalls go, every big name company has them, it is important to check them and know them, if your equipment has been recalled Murray always handles things properly if the CUSTOMER does. If you do what they instruct you to do (such as call them to make an appointment at an authorized shop) they will take care of you -- Murray�s customer service is impeccable compared with some of the others on the market.

The other thing is most of the complaints are direct result of a user failure. If you do not follow your instructions on simple operating procedures you will break something. As far as the woman with the blown motor �squirting oil� I can explain that. I do not even need to see the tractor to tell you what is wrong. This person put too much oil in the motor to start with. Then found it nearly imposable to start. This is because there was oil in places not meant to have that kind of pressure causing it to have back pressure in the crankcase.

Then when the person at the (I believe it was Wal-Mart) store did get it started, it blew oil everywhere, because there was nowhere else for the oil to go. The Wal-Mart man then proceeded to tell her (in his ignorance also) that the motor was �blown.� Then when she took it to a real dealer they set it aside on the basis of �this is an irate person that needs to cool down and doesn�t know anything about this situation.�

The other possibility is, depending on how long it was run with the overfilled oil, the motor could have actually had internal damage caused by the excess oil. This explains the wait, major work takes time. In short, your �consumers� had many complaints yes, but only a few of them were legitimate and even those were often misdirected.

Here are a few of the more recent complaints:

Keith of Mattituck, NY April 27, 2008

Keith of Mattituck NY (04/27/08)
I have a Murray 19/46 garden tractor that I bought in 1996. My property is 5 acres with 3 of that rough brush and 2 grass. This tractor year after year has served me well and has done tasks that it wasn't even meant to do. It starts every time and runs smooth and quiet compared to other brands. I have the optional 52 deck that weighs a ton ,never bounces and gives an even smooth cut.I'm sure a Deere is better put what most people fail tom realize is that first of all a Murray is a fraction in cost to a Deere. The parts for a Murray are very inexpensive and available everywhere including Ebay. No matter who makes the tractor it is either powered by a Briggs or Kohler engine so the heart of the tractor can be the same regardless if there are thousands of dollars in price difference for the unit.

Lastly I totally agree with the writer who said people don't read the instruction manual. My Murray in the second season had a spindle failure. The shaft froze and the right blade wouldn't turn. I bought 3 new spindles so I would change them all. When taking it apart I saw there were grease fittings that in 2 years I never greaesed. I didn't read the manual! For the money you spend they make a great product.

Mark of Hayes, VA April 24, 2008

Mark of Hayes VA (04/24/08)
i found out that my lawn tractor was under a recall (leaky gas tank) and when i tried to call murrey they transfered me to a 900 number that would cost almost ten bucks. i just want my gas tank fixed

im wasting gas and thank god i havent exploded yet

Charles of Stockbridge, GA April 23, 2008

Charles of Stockbridge GA (04/23/08)
i have bought a murry lawn tractor model number 405015x92b and the gas tank leaks around seam. the part number on tank is 94073. ive called the customer phone number but murat has beed bought by briggs ans staton and will no honer the free replacement even though they know there is a national problem with the tanks leaking.

having to buy another gas tank even though they know there is a problem

Henry of Lugoff, SC April 22, 2008

Henry of Lugoff SC (04/22/08)
I previously owned Jacobsen and Snapper riding mowers. After a couple of years of discust with each, in 1993 I bought a Murray 42. For 15 years it has run like a charm with minimum maintenance.

Elizabeth of Grovetown, GA April 21, 2008

Elizabeth of Grovetown GA (04/21/08)
The season following the one in which we bought the mower, I stopped the mower and it would not restart. I was told it was the battery; batteries only have a six month warranty and need to be disconnected when not in use. 18 months later the same thing happened again, I changed out the battery and nothing happened. So I called a repair place close to my home. They said starter switch - Key Selenoid or fuse. The fuse had grass caught in it and I've done a tune up. It finally started. Murray riding mower #405000x8.

Murray was bought out by another company and it is difficult to get answers for most of the problems except online or from a repair place, Lowe's Nor Home Depot where it was purchased can give you no help looking up parts with the murray part numbers and it's cost a lot in gas money running back and forth trying to find parts for this mower.

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