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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:
Shawn of Lititz PA (09/29/08)
I purchased the same model Murray Select, 42-inch cut Riding Mower as many other complaints list. FROM THE FIRST DAY, the mower backfired on quick idle adjustment- deceleration- and certainly after every time it was turned off. Matters eventually got worse, so that ANY deceleration with the throttle resulted in a backfire. The backfire is so severe that the exhaust spews 12 flames. (A SEVERE fire and explosion hazard, considering where the mower could be used near dry materials, or is stored near flammables or other chemicals.)
ALSO, from the FIRST DAY following PROPER assembly, (I am a manufacturing engineer by profession, and to say I am familiar with mechanical assembly is a huge understatement,) the grass would not cut level. I have re-leveled, (according to their instructions, and logical methods,) the mowing deck- and it made no improvement. The screws NEVER hold adjustment. The cut itself is incomplete: I have NEVER had an entire swath of grass cut where there wasn't a line of uncut grass.
I'm selling it as fast as I can for as reasonable a price as my conscious can handle. Before something like that happens. I, also, will NEVER buy another Murray product.
The yard would often have to be re-mowed at right angles to eliminate as much of the un-cut grass as possible. Damage was caused EVERY TIME the unit was used to cut grass because of its incessant scalping in turns. EVERY time I went to use this piece of garbage, I had to pump up EVERY tire. Waste of money, waste of time (since it took twice as long to cut as with other mowers, even at half the width,) and waste of electricity to run the stupid air compressor every time I needed to cut the lawn.
Jimmie of Lagrange KY (08/22/08)
i have a murray lawn mower,, failing to start,, i found out murray went bankrupt,, now i see why.
Lorna of Owens Cross Road AL (08/09/08)
I was mowing the lawn on the right side of our fence and stopped the mower, put it in neutral so that I could pick up a couple of plastic soda bottles the wind had blown over on my property after the workmen next door discarded them on the ground. I had started to climb off the mower when the leg of my shorts caught on the shift lever and it shifted into gear. The mower started moving forward and caused me to fall onto my left leg. I was dragged across the grass, then hard dirt until the mower was stopped by a brick fence post on my neighbors property. THE MOWER SHOULD HAVE SHUT OFF WHEN IT WENT INTO GEAR BECAUSE I WAS NOT ON THE SEAT! If that brick fence post hadn't stopped me, I would have been dragged right into the lake!
I have cuts, scrapes and bruises along my left leg from the knee down from being dragged by the mower. I was very lucky that no part of my leg, foot or hand got caught by the blades because they were still engaged. I was in a panic and furiously grabbing at grass as I knew I was headed right for the lake! If the pole hadn't stopped me, I undoubtedly would have run with one wheel on the temporary dock that was there and the mower would have flipped over on me in the water! It was a very frightening experience.
George of Freeland WA (07/25/08)
I bought this Murray Wide Body lawn tractor in 1999 for $1700. I researched them and learned at the time it was the very best of the low end (meaning no frills) heavy duty riding mowers. It has a solid frame, big wheel stops to keep the steering from braking, big tires, a very wide stance which allows you to safely mow on a steep inclide without rolling. It has 3 blades in the mower deck which really cut the grass. It has enough power to chew through very tall grass. It has been used hard, mowing rough ground, bouncing over the odd rock or branch. I have broken a blade support once but it was replaced for minimal cost.
The lightly built mower deck I realized is in many ways better than the heavy duty stuff you'll get with Simplicity or the like (for twice the money) because it is easily and inexpensivly repairable. The basic tractor, the lectrical system, and the Briggs engine, have been 100% trouble free. The mower deck has had some repair but far less than expected considering the rough use. If I had only been mowing a big yard it would never have had a problem.
My only complaint is the marketing. Here they are sold by Walmart who keeps no parts for them. However, there are mail order places so that isn't an issue really. Today there seem to be more elegant looking machines out there in this price range but I don't know if they're as solid as this thing has been. One last comment. I'm surprised to hear all the complaints about the Briggs engines. I've never had any problem with one that wasn't caused by extreme neglect. By the way, I even run gas mixed 50 to one with 2 stroke oil from my boat engine at the end of the season. The Briggs engine runs just as well with that. I use it in my DR 10 HP chipper too.
Eric of Carrier Mills IL (07/24/08)
Bought a murray riding mower. Got to use it for one summer. This year went to use it ran fine for a few hours then died. Wouldnt start had to leave it sit for a few hours to cool down then it started ran it for a few minutes then it started to die again but this time shot flames out of the exhaust. I havent used it since.
Harry of Hot Springs SD (07/21/08)
Murrary self propelled 22 runs great but the drive Gear which is made of plastic is wore out and I can not find a replacement part.
Mower now has to be pushed and is very hard to push.
Bob of Waxhaw NC (07/16/08)
I purchased a Murray 21 HP 46 cut lawn tractor, #465306X8 which is listed on recall list as not to use the mower. Murray is out of business and Briggs & Straton bought them out. No one will render any compensation for this mower I have which is falling apart
The spindles have been replacfes. all of the pully guards have fallen off of the mower. The mower deck is falling apart and the starter ring gear and starter gear are completly distroyed. I cannot use the mower and have had trouble since day one. I need a descent mower that I don't have to be worried about being injured or killed when using it. I feel that someone should relace this mower if it has been know to be a danger.
Rebecca of Columbia SC (07/03/08)
My Murray Select 40' Riding Lawn Mower was completely submerged in the lake for about 5 minutes when it was 6 yrs old. We allowed it to dry out for 3 days and my neighbor dried the spark plug and twiddled a bit with it and it started right up! Still runs 3 yrs later @ 9 yrs old.
Just wanted the comment posted since this is a good product!
John of Seale AL (06/28/08)
I have a murray riding lawn mower that is about 15 years old and runs fine. The plastic gas tank started to leak a couple of years ago at the seam and I just used JB weld to save money and it works fine. I also have a $100 Murray push mower and it works like its brand new. NO COMPLAINTS HERE!
Taylor of Sweetwater TN (06/16/08)
my family bought a murray 3.5 hp push mower at walmart and well lets just say 2 months later it stopped working and my family and i have tried working on them and still no luck we tried to take it back to walmart and they could not take it back for some odd reason anyway the lawn mower still to this day will not work i will never buy any product from murray or briggs and stratton
Louis of Fabens, TX (06/04/08)
What Complaint? Can't a person say THANK YOU???
I bought a Murray walking mower 22 years ago this June for less then $100.00. It has been used at least once a week (on a large lawn) from late April through Mid October for these 22 years. Changed the wheels last year and changed the grass catcher this morning. It runs just as good today as the day I bought it.
Jerrybiddy of Jasper GA (05/22/08)
I purchased a new Murray riding mower about 5 years ago. My fuel tank leaks onto the electrical components underneath it.
I have not exploded in flames yet but it wont be long.
Gerald of Nanticoke PA (05/15/08)
Murray Riding Mower 12HP 30 cut...Battery repeatedly going down, defective power train to engage blade...engine leaks, profuse white smoke like a miniature nuclear bomb--no exaggeration! Unit will not run....engine literally spewed its contents! Thank God I was not burned!
While attending college, I was a salesman of lawn equipment. I meticulously maintain my lawn equipment. This mower has been a nightmare...with defective parts, fuel and oil leaks...spewing hot oil. Afraid to push the machine into my garage I left it at the curbstone last night with a sign--free mower! I am a Roman Catholic Priest--my parish maintenance personnel, who helped me with this machine,can testify to the truth of my statements...as well as my neighbor.
Economic damage: after 4 years a total loss of my investment of near $1,000.00. The need to hire a Nursery to cut grass last season: @$900.00 Cosmetic damage: Oil/gas marks over driveway and flagstone path.
Travis of Charlotte NC (05/10/08)
Parents bought my first lawn mower after I purchased my first house. It was the inexpensive $99 Murray push mower at WalMart. My parents and grandparents had ones exactly like it previously and each one of those mowers lasted them at least 15 years before they gave the mowers away. Mine lasted 2 months. I accidentally hit a small rock that I didn't see. The mower stalled and would no longer stay on. It turns over but stalls.
I took apart the B&S engine and found the shaft that connects the piston to the blade was bent. I've never seen that happen. I've hit rocks with our other older Murray mowers and they might stall, but nothing broke on them. To purchase this shaft costs nearly the same as a new mower.
Plus, the older B&S engines don't have plastic gears like this one did. This engine was not produced for longevity. My current Craftsman mower with a B&S Quantam engine has hit numerous rocks and nothing has bent on it. Too bad the inexpensive mowers had become so cheaply built.
Larry of Somerset PA (05/09/08)
I two Murray's lawn tractor and push mower bought in 90's. except for yearly maintenance and wear and tear they have performed very well.
Dawn of Birmingham AL (05/05/08)
My 6.0hp 22 quantum walk behind mower model number 225111x92b. has a plastic gas tank that leaks and is very dangerous.
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 (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 (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 (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 (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.
Kevin of Los Molinos CA (04/03/08)
I bought a Murray push mower and also had one given to me. Both of them were extremely hard starting. The problem seems to be air in the fuel line. They are extremely long and bulky and center of gravity with the handles makes them difficult to push. I took them to work and ran over them with a John Deere loader so no other poor devil would have to screw with them ever again
Paid money for a mower that didn't work.
Kenny of Huntsville AL (03/23/08)
Fuel tank is leaking on 46 Murray Select 20 HP twin Garden Tractor. Model: 46430X8A
Safety Hazard, Potential Fire from dripping gasoline on the electrical cables for the starter.
Kristin of Evansville IN (03/15/08)
I just wanted to send a note out letting you know I own a murray riding mower and it HAS NOT given us many problems, other than normal wear and tear. Most of the complaints I read sound like consumers need to be more accountable for their own problems and start dealing with the correct person when there is a concern. Call the company that makes the product not where you bought it from. Wal-Mart doesn't have a mechanic on duty to work on things. Please be reasonable people. Just wanted you to get a letter that wasn't a complaint for a change.
Robert of Felicity OH (03/12/08)
I have had my $90.00 Murray mower since spring of 1997. It has been a real workhorse with no problems. I do my own maintenance on it, what little gets done; but it keeps on running. I currently use it for my 3/4 acre lot without any problems at all. It is a very good machine.
NO COMPLAINT.
sandra of Virginia Beach VA (12/07/07)
We have two Murray Lawn mowers, and the engine, motor, or carburator smokes and/or catches on fire. IT doesn't matter if you run the mowers for 30 mins. mulching leaves (not real thick piles either) or if you are mowing the lawn. They catch fire. I will never buy a Murray Mower again.
Between the two mowers over the past 6 years, I'm out about $600.00 for them both. IF folks can't make a decent mower or product, don't go into business!
Mark of Columbia MD (06/06/07)
I have owned a Murphy Push Mower for three years now. (Tossed the John Deer Selfpropelled.) The warranty stated that if it does not start on the second pull they will fix it. For the first year it did just that, second pull every time.
Second year was not so good at the beginning of the season, had to pull five times for the first run of the season; fine after that, two pulls only but she ran rough.
Now this year I did not have such good luck. I'm not complaining, two years out of a $90.00 mower is not bad.
After seven pulls I gave up and changed the air filter. TWO PULLS AND SHE IS HUMMIN JUST FINE!
I figure two years for the cost of an air filter is rightous! In fact it's so good I may just bust the bank next year and change the spark plug. YOOHOO!
I must note, as the other gentleman who gave koodo's for his '85, just take care of it. That means don't expect a $100.00 mower to cut half an acre of brush on a 100 Deg. day without a rest. Would you work for very long under those conditions for that pay? I don't think so.
Don't forget the OIL! Have it drained and changed once a year; just not at Jiffy Lube. (Or is this the wrong section to say that?)
John of Old Hickory TN (06/03/07)
This is the second Murray lawnmower I have owned. And although the mowers work fine, both of them have gas tank leaks.This is a very dangerous situation. I take good care of my equipment myself and just think this should be corrected. And it would seem I'm not the only one upset about this.
Hey, gas is over three bucks a gallon here..every drop spilled is wasted money.
Chris of Highland Village, TX (09/02/06)
I have a Murray lawnmower 22315x8c. As described in other complaints, the gas tank on the mower began leaking when the lawnmower was relatively new. The leak occurs in 2 places - first at a seam where the plastic is joined together and second at stress cracks created underneath the ring which supports the tanks.
The leak runs directly onto the engine about 2 inches from the muffler and burns the gasoline. To date, I have been unable to find a replacement part.
Without a new gas tank, I will have to purchase a new mower and hire a lawn crew in the interim.
Pat of Opelousas, LA (08/09/06)
This is my third Murry push lawn mower in as many years, For $100 bucks I figured it would last 2 or 3 years - not so. All 3 were maintained - oil changes, filters cleaned often and blades sharpened. The problem is you just can't keep the mowers to operate at 100% output past the first 3 months.
I tried everything possible but the machine just can't be made to run on a consistent basic. Since my last flinge with Murry and Briggs & Stratton I bought a John Deere for about $300 and the thing runs like a race horse, or should I say, Nothing Runs Like A Deere!!
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