MURRAY vs. CRAFTSMAN

Travis_R · Jun 23, 2004

Hey!

I am going to buy a mower or now known as a "lawn tractor" in a few months and was wondering which one I should get. Murray or Craftsman. I am leaning towards the Murray. But, I want ya'll's opinion. I want at least a 17.5 horse power single cylinder with at least a 42" cut. I want to try to keep the price a little under $1000.00. I may would buy a used one, depending on the condition and price. Murray and Craftsman both have cutting deck problems, from what I have seen, like the spindle bearings going out, but maybe that is from lack of maintenance. I have seen more Craftsmans cut unlevel than Murrays'. Why? Maybe caused from lack of maintenance also. I have also sen more broken down Craftsmans than Murrays too.
The reason I haven't ruled out Craftsman is because of Sears' maintenance agreement. They are usually good about repairing under warranty.
I don't know which transmission I want. Both mowers have excellent manual speed transmissions. But, the hydrostatic drive is more convenient. What is the maintenance on a hydrostatic transmission? Is it more reliable than a manual trans.? What causes the hydro transmission to "whine" with the mower coming to a stop and the wheels don't spin when going up a hill (Murray) while the foot pedal is pressed down? Is the drive belt wore out? Are there any adjustments? It didn't do it when it was new.
I have used BOTH brands quite a bit. I like BOTH machines as far as comfort. But the Murray may be alittle more comfortable to me.
I just wanted to see what you all think and feel free to voice your opinions. Tell me the good, bad, pros, and cons of these two brands. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Thanks,
Travis

slammer · Jun 23, 2004

I could not in good faith reccomend either one. Sorry. Murray is it's own brand but in my opinion is perhaps the biggest piece of junk on the planet. Craftsman (actually AYP) is better but your comment about Sears warranty service is laughable. Heres a link..http://www.consumeraffairs.com/homeowners/garden.html

If your stuck in the $800 to $1200 range I would suggest a good used Deere, Simplicity, or Cub.

In general I would avoid anything made by MTD, AYP, or Murray. Murray also makes NOMA, AMF, DYNAMARK, and SCOTTS.

Oh and before somebody yells i'm crazy Cub Cadet is OWNED by MTD but not MADE by MTD. Though I sometimes wonder about the 1000 series it looks pretty cheaply made to me. Kinda like the Deere 100 series.

I wish I knew of a "good deal" in a high quality mower but in these days of mass markets and bargain stores they are a thing of the past. A quality hydrostatic transmission alone can cost $600 to $800 dollars so how much tractor are you getting? Your basically buying a tranny with as little mower as possible wrapped around it. Sad but true.

If I have misconstrued your price range and your willing to go $2500 to $3000 there are alot more options out there.

Slam

Zoomie · Jun 23, 2004

While I've only onwed one of each, my experiences have been mostly postive with both. Both get regular routine maintenance (oil changes, lube, spark plugs, blades sharpened or replaced)

My Murray is now 10 years old, its a 14.5hp B&S I/C engine with a 42" deck, and pedal controlled hydrostatic drive. In 10 years, I've had to: replace the engine's pan gasket (the bolts vibrated loose after 6 years.. had no lock washers... they do now) but that was a B&S assembly problem, not a Murray problem; replaced the engine flywheel's plastic ring gear after 6-7 years (replacemtn part was aluminum ~ again a B&S problem); replaced the front hanger brackets for the deck after 8 years (actually made my own from "L" stock, and welded them to the front crossmember ~ originals were threaded and bolted on); replaced the drive and deck belts after 8 years (when I finally ran out of adjustment on the deck belt engagement linkage); replaced the steering gear after 9 years (this is the mower I use to trim under my fence so it gets alot of twisting on the steering wheel to dodge the posts).

My Craftsman is only 4 years old, and has a 22hp Kohler V-twin engine with a 50" cutting deck, and hand controlled hydrostatic drive. So far, I haven't had a moments trouble with this one.

Gatorboy · Jun 23, 2004

From the subject, I thought you wanted to know who would lose in the battle of the worst mowers. Even though Craftsman is bad, I'd say Murray would be the worst of the two.

slammer · Jun 23, 2004

While I've only onwed one of each, my experiences have been mostly postive with both.

Glad you have had such good luck. Of course you don't have a new Murray. I doubt that someone who buys one today will be bragging about in 2014. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Slam

slowrev · Jun 23, 2004

Just out of curosity I checked out a couple of new Craftsmans and some Murrays yesterday evening. The current Craftsmans do look better, (mechanically) than the Murrays. Murrays do not seem to be as good as they were, wheras Craftsmans seem to have held about the same in their mechanics, which is to say ok, but not fantastic by any means.
My vote is for the Craftsmans or a similiar MTD for about the same money, unless you want to fix up a quality used mower. I fix up old mwers for friends and family but that route is not for everybody.

slammer · Jun 23, 2004

If you were to tie me down and beat me with a stick till I recomended a "mass market" mower I would say Poulan Pro. They are an AYP product, virtually identical to the Craftsman but lower in cost. There I said it! Now don't tell anybody! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif Specifically the model in the link below. It has the cast iron front end and Kohler engine.

http://www.poulan-pro.com/products/tractors/lawn_tractors/prod_PD1842ST.asp

Slam

SPIKER · Jun 23, 2004

I have a NEWIER murry, 46" cut with 20HP IC brigs with pressure oil feed & filter. it had one spindle problem and was actually not the spindles fault but the result of a blade not being installed properly which was left not setting ON the lip right, this left off center and it viberated, so the bearing eventually went out. just replaced it for a total cost of about 25 bucks the spindle mount bearings shaft spacer and blade mount. If I would have checked it out rather than leaving it destruct it would have been a 1.95 fix.... I also kept the old one can fix it for about 9 bucks with new uper bearing and a new lower blade mount. every thing else been OK, ride is not best but I have very rough ground. lots of old dead furows and such, my yard is basically relaimed pasture/field... I think it was tilled and not even disked to flatten it out. someday I will remidy that. mine was a closeout from Q farm& fleet. paid somethihg like 1200 out the door. now i have MAINTAINED it which consists of grease & oil changes as well as 2 sets of blades so far... NEW gator blades are very nice much heavier than factory stuff.. cut is much better much finer clippings. I wish the bagger/plastic shoot was easly removeable though as I hate it as it clumps pretty bad. Only thing I can't seem to find is a actuall way to check the rear end gear drive trans for lube? anyone have a clue as to how it is checked what goes in there and how much??? does not seem to have any drain plaugs or level plugs. I didn't get any CORRECT manuals for it as it was assemebed and shipped to my local store from some other store... one paperwork I did get said tecumpse engine and automatic transmittion, it does not have either one! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif anyhow any help would be nice. don't have modle or pn handy as it is at the farm.

Mark M /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

slammer · Jun 23, 2004

Can't really help you without the model. But, on some Murrays you have to remove the rear fenders/seat assy to access the tranny plug. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif I hope yours is new enough that that is not the case. Of course depending on the tranny source it could very well be a "maint. free unit", though I consider that an oxymoron. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Slam

Travis_R · Jun 23, 2004

Spiker,

I don't know what year or model you have. But, I have heard that on the new ones, you don't lube the transmission. They are maintenance free, like Slammer said. I sure wish they had check/fill/drain plugs on them. Seem like they would last longer if you could change the trans. oil. Even though, I haven't heard of ANY Murray or Craftsman transmission going out.
So, going by what I was told, you don't lube the transmission until it goes out. That is when you take it apart, fix it, and replace/refill with new oil, and put it back together.

Hope this helps ya,
Travis