Murray vs. MTD riding mowers
Russ Moorhouse
I need to buy a new lawn tractor and would like comments about either
of these 2 brands, both good and bad. Looking for something in the
$1000.00 range with a 14 hp engine and either shift on the fly or the
hydrastatic transmission.
Chuck Isaacson
My gut feel is that MTD probably makes the Murray and many other brands.
I've had excellent experience with 2 MTD mowers and a snowblower.
Russ Moorhouse (rmoo...@skipjack.bluecrab.org) wrote:
: I need to buy a new lawn tractor and would like comments about either
:
Alex Mericas
I had a Murray a few years back. I'll never own one again. Go into your
local small engine repair store and talk to the mechanics. Ask which
brand they fix a lot. Look around and find which brand you see a lot of
parts for. After the fact I started noticing that a lot of stores sell
Murray parts. There is a reason.
gregory anderson
WHich is another reason I really think that MTD and Murray are not
connected.
greg
In <31B2E9...@vnet.ibm.com> Alex Mericas <mer...@vnet.ibm.com>
writes:
Dave Hardman
In <31B2E9...@vnet.ibm.com>, Alex Mericas <mer...@vnet.ibm.com> writes:
>I had a Murray a few years back. I'll never own one again. Go into your
>local small engine repair store and talk to the mechanics. Ask which
>brand they fix a lot. Look around and find which brand you see a lot of
>parts for. After the fact I started noticing that a lot of stores sell
>Murray parts. There is a reason.
Keep in mind that Murray sells more lawn mowers than anybody else,
so of course more get repaired and parts are more readily available.
Does anyone have any real data that shows how many per 1000 lawnmowers
need repaired for each brand? Consumer reports did not publish any data
like that in their current issue.
Dave
Gary A Reed
In <4p178k$p...@rtpnews.raleigh.ibm.com> dhar...@raleigh.ibm.com (Dave
I recently bought a new mower (Lawn Boy) to replace my old Murray.
While I was shopping around a repair person suggested that Toro,
Snapper, and Lawn Boy were essentially in the middle tier, just under
professional mowers. Murray was described as a knock off or utility
machine in the bottom tier. While I'm sure many give good service,
after 4 years of use and two repairs the construction of my Murray gave
out. The engine was fine, but the metal work under the deck broke off.
The repair shop said those parts couldn't be ordered and they wouldn't
do rewelding work.
I'm very happy with the Lawn Boy, but I upgraded and comparisons with
my old Murray isn't possible.
--GARY REED
David Adams
> Murray was described as a knock off or utility
> machine in the bottom tier. While I'm sure many give good service,
> after 4 years of use and two repairs the construction of my Murray gave
> out. The engine was fine, but the metal work under the deck broke off.
> The repair shop said those parts couldn't be ordered and they wouldn't
> do rewelding work.
I bought a used Murray mower for $200. It is about 7 years old now
and the mower deck is having it's problems as described above. It's done
me wonders for the three years that I have had it. I have
found that washers will compensate for the metal pins which wear down
on the Murray deck. The deck hasn't fallen off but if I accidentally
go off the curb one more time it just might. When it does I will keep
the Murray for a "workhorse" which it truely is. Mowing neighbors/friends
yards on occassion for $25 has already paid for it.
As mentioned in earlier posts, it has lasted well for 7 years. It will be
well remembered and cherished forever when it goes to that mower heaven
in the sky.
Dave Adams
Michael Baptiste
David Adams wrote:
>
> > Murray was described as a knock off or utility
> > machine in the bottom tier. While I'm sure many give good service,
> > after 4 years of use and two repairs the construction of my Murray gave
> > out. The engine was fine, but the metal work under the deck broke off.
> > The repair shop said those parts couldn't be ordered and they wouldn't
> > do rewelding work.
>
> I bought a used Murray mower for $200. It is about 7 years old now
> and the mower deck is having it's problems as described above.
One thing I have noticed is that Murray has made their decks
thicker over the years, probably due to the common complaint
about deck wear.
I compared the Murray to other mowers around this year, including
John Deere's. Murray's deck thickness was greater or equal to most
and maybe a tad thinner than a Deere. Also, all the pins supporting
the deck have washers to prevent wear.
Overall, I've found my Murray to be well built and able to withstand
the beating I give it mowing our yard and our 800+ feet of
steep & rough roadbank. I also use it for moving stuff with a
trailer.
From what I have seen, given proper care, it will perform
well for years.
As for the attachments, try lifting the box the grass catchers
come in. They weigh a ton due to very heavy duty steel
brackets for both the grass cans and the counter weights.
Very well made.
Mike Baptiste
Lloyd E. Sponenburgh
Murray, MTD, same brand, same material, same factory, same
JUNK
I've owned Murray (recently), and never again.
The FENDERS on my Wheel Horse Classic are of heavier sheet metal than the
CHASSIS on the Murray.
Every place the Murray has a wearing surface, it's nearly always bare metal on
bare metal (sometimes cheap plastic bushings), and you can be sure it will wear
out to the point of needing replacing yearly.
Every place the Wheel Horse has a wearing surface there's either a replacable
sacrificial wear plate, or real BEARINGS, and usually a shield to prevent the
wear in the first place.
Murry is unmitigated junk -- designed to be cheap, and not for any other
purpose; None.
LLoyd
Poirot
:127871 misc.consumers.house:122814
>> Murray was described as a knock off or utility
>> machine in the bottom tier. While I'm sure many give good service,
>> after 4 years of use and two repairs the construction of my Murray gave
>> out. The engine was fine, but the metal work under the deck broke off.
>> The repair shop said those parts couldn't be ordered and they wouldn't
>> do rewelding work.
>I bought a used Murray mower for $200. It is about 7 years old now
>and the mower deck is having it's problems as described above. It's done
>me wonders for the three years that I have had it. I have
>found that washers will compensate for the metal pins which wear down
>on the Murray deck. The deck hasn't fallen off but if I accidentally
>go off the curb one more time it just might. When it does I will keep
>the Murray for a "workhorse" which it truely is. Mowing neighbors/friends
>yards on occassion for $25 has already paid for it.
>As mentioned in earlier posts, it has lasted well for 7 years. It will be
>well remembered and cherished forever when it goes to that mower heaven
>in the sky.
>Dave Adams
I bought a Murray 9 years ago and am still using it to mow my two acres. The
front is dented where my wife tried to knock down a tree and it looks like
hell, but runs fine. I have replaced three of the bearing/housings for the
blades (about 25$ each) one solenoid, three blade belts and one drive belt.
Each year after the fifth year I have to adjust deck hangers, add washers to
front wheel spindles etc. The topper is that two years ago we had a huge
flood in this area and the mower was entirely underwater for three days. a
month later I drained the carb, gas tank, motor (through the spark plug)
changed the oil, did not do anything to the battery, and it started up. I
have been using it since then with no problems!
Mike A.
We paid for a new MTD today but what we actually got was another
repair on our John Deere. Second new MTD we've paid for this year.
Be well
Mike A
Allen...@muscanet.com
BELJAN E
If you want to bring up long lived mowers, Sears Craftsman Power Reel
Mower. 20 years old at least, sat in a barn for the last 7, put new
points on it and it started on ONE PULL!!! It looks great too! I also
have my 2 year old Front wheel drive MTD and it works great looks new!
It shines great and starts on one pull too!
Dave Marulli
I'd have to say that Charles Murray wouldn't stand a chance against
*any* riding mower. I'll bet on the mower in Round 3.
John Kelly
Check out this month's Consumer Reports. It does lawn mowers. MTD was
rated quite high.
================================================================
John Kelly jo...@spectrumdata.com
Spectrum Data Mgmt. Inc. http://www.spectrumdata.com
P.O. Box 422 (813) 654-5254 Voice
Valrico, FL 33594 (813) 654-8013 Fax
================================================================
BELJAN E
In <4pbsv7$2h...@news.gate.net> jo...@spectrumdata.com (John Kelly)
writes:
the self propelled ones, and they rated tops last year!!!!!!!!1