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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:

Mark of Columbia, MD June 6, 2007

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 June 3, 2007

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 September 2, 2006

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.

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