did murray go bankrupt?

[bp fick]

From B & S website:

Brands
Under the Yard Power Products Group, Briggs & Stratton manufactures products under the Ferris, Simplicity, Snapper, Snapper-Pro, Giant-Vac, and Murray brands. This move has introduced the Company to the end-products business.

 

[Soundguy]

good to hear. my murray is 12.5hp/40" cut.. and is over 13ys old and going strong..

soundguy

 

[JoeinTX]

Yeah, pretty much old news.

As I read a few years back, Murray was in hock to B&S over engines (B&S had continued to supply motors to Murray after they were no longer able to pay for them in good faith) and Murray management had to eventually sign over the brand as payment when Briggs finally called in the chips.

As for leaving the U.S. market, that's new to me. I haven't seen a Murray product for sale in a while but I still see them advertised by the smaller hardware chains and their website still indicates current models for sale.

I dunno, we've had MTD products for most of the last 20 years and we've had nothing but success with them. The 17-year old 13hp rider my dad bought new for $500 in 1993 got handed down to my sister and is still mowing today. I'd consider that a heck of a return for the money.

 

[JJZ 109]

Yeah, pretty much old news.

I dunno, we've had MTD products for most of the last 20 years and we've had nothing but success with them. The 17-year old 13hp rider my dad bought new for $500 in 1993 got handed down to my sister and is still mowing today. I'd consider that a heck of a return for the money.

Yup, good return for an MTD product. I guess that everyone has different results.
I purchased a Troy Bilt Mustang (an MTD brand) 50 inch zero turn back in May (2010). 2 months later the bolt that holds the electric blade clutch to the crank snapped, leaving the clutch dangling by the wires.
5 weeks later I'm finally getting it back. The authorized service place claims to be having a heck of a time getting parts out of MTD.

 

[NuBota]

My 20hp, 42" LT is going on 8 years old and has been a work horse through all kinds of abuse. Mine was one of the few models with a Tecumseh engine.

But, replacment parts are starting to dry up I've noticed. And consumables (blades, belts, etc) have gone up significantly. I use to be able to get the OEM blades for $14 (pair) - right after the B&S takeover they went up to $25+

Unlike MTD, aftermarket parts are harder to find. I order most of my stuff from Outdoor Distributors and they do a good job cross referencing aftermarket parts, but warn that parts are drying up.

I would imagine B&S will keep the consumables available, maybe at a premium, for a while, but if something breaks, you may have trouble.