MURRAY vs. CRAFTSMAN

[slammer]

Travis I have been looking on the web and it looks like your gonna get stuck with a Murray if want something even close to the right size. The sell a gear drive, 21hp, 46" cut model thats probably close to your price range. It's available at wally world. Could ya at least take a look at some used equipment? You seem like a pretty good guy and I hate to see you buy something your definately gonna hate after the first season.

Slam

 

[hammer1995]

Travis,

I looked at all the major brands about 2 years ago and wound up with a Wal-Mart Murray. I paid $1096 for a 42" deck with a 16.5hp B&S with pressurized lubrication and automatic drive. I think the equivalent mower is still the same price with a larger engine. It's actually been an excellent mower. The main advantage is has is the pedal positioning for the "hydro" compared to the Craftsman. Parts are cheap and readily available. The tranny requires no maintenance. I've put a 2" ball on the rear to pull my 10' and 16' foot trailers around the yard. The deck levels in about 5 minutes and cuts great with or without a mulching kit. There is a grease point on each blade spindle. If you have any obstacles, get some sort of hydro or automatic. It will cut your mowing time significantly.

 

[Rainbow6]

Would a compact tractor w/ MMM or rear finish do the job? If you buy a compact w/ a bush hog then maybe just invest in a finish mower for it also.

 

[Travis_R]

I would and have considered a used "name brand" mower, but I feel that I can buy a NEW one for the same price, if not cheaper. Like I said, I am sure I can fix it if something goes wrong AFTER it is out of warranty.

My paw-paw, the one I got my Snapper from, told me to stay away from Craftsmans and Murrays. "They ain't nothin' but trouble". And like I told him, "Maybe so paw-paw, if ya' don't know how to work on em' or keep up the maintenance /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif." (That is why when I buy my compact tractor, it will be a Jinma Chinese made Farm Pro.) He is the only one around here right now who has a John Deere mower. But, around here people have gotten real good results out of Murrays. We have more Murrays around here than anything, and they seem to be holding up. I am starting to see a few John Deeres now, but that is only because Home Depot is starting to sell them. Matter of fact in my opinion, I would choose a Murray over the new John Deere 100 series sold at Home Depot. I have heard some bad things about those mowers from a buddy that used to work at a John Deere dealer. Gives JD a bad name.

I think I am going to choose Murray over Craftsman. I have seen more broken down Craftsmans than Murrays. But I still want opinions. I believe that the Craftsman was a better mower when they first came out years and years ago. But like everything else, like our new GE refrigerater, is going to junk and other brands are taking over. NOTHIN' is made like it used to be.

A fact is, some will take more abuse than others but that is where a regular routine maintenance comes in.

Travis R

P.S.....Has anyone had a warranty issue with a Murray? I am not talking about taking it back to Wal-Mart for a MINOR problem and getting your money back /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif.

P.S.S............How much grease are you supposed to shoot in the deck spindles on Snapper (single spindle) and Murray (2 or 3 spindles) lawnmowers.

THANKS FOR YOUR INPUT! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Gatorboy]

<font color="blue"> ( I have seen more broken down Craftsmans than Murrays. ) </font>

Why even consider a mower that you know will be breaking down? Either mower is not worth the aggravation. I've never heard so much discussion on deciding on two inferior brands and basing it on which one will have less breakdowns.

I would buy a used commercial walk-behind (48"-60") if money is the REAL issue. You are a young buck, so you wouldn't even need a sulky. The Crapsman and Murray will nickle and dime you to death, and will do a poor job.

Back when I was in the lawn business, every year some new guys would pop up with their new Crapsman mowers and undercut the "going rate" to steal away accounts. 6 weeks into the growing season, their equipment was DOWN and their customers were scrambling to get back their original service providers. Those fly-by-nighters quickly went OUT of business. Granted, you are not in the lawn business -- but cutting 3 acres weekly will wear that machine out quicker than Joe-Subdivision who has a 1/5 acre yard and can get a season or two out of their machine until having to start repairing it.

Just because you can FIX something, does not make your decision to go cheap a good one. Take the advice from your Paw-Paw -- STAY AWAY.

 

[Rainbow6]

Have to say that Gatorboy is right, you can probably buy a MUCH better used mower at your price that a new one. Look in the paper ect...you will soon find a deal.

 

[GerardC]

I also agree with GatorBoy. Why compare machines you know will give you problems /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif?? With that said, It's your time and your money!. G

 

[slammer]

Hey Travis, that's 3 or 4 of us now that have said the same thing. According to the "Universal code of the lawn" and the "international society of been there, mowed that" you are no longer allowed to even look at Murray or Craftsman! BWAHAHAHAHA!!! I LOVE THIS PLACE!!!

Slam

 

[Charlie_in_TX]

Gatorboy hit the nail on the head. A natural extention of his example, if the Murrys were in fact cheaper, lawn companies would use them. A lawn company can and does buy many types/qualities of equipment. They will know the cost of ownership of the equipment. If they could make more money from Murry, they would buy it. While few buy JD, nearly none buy Murry.

 

[WoodstockSoxFan]

Do not let everyone push you away from some of the less expensive brands. I purchase a John Deere L110 from Home Depot last year. The bagger performed horribly and now the tractor will not start. Now I have a tractor with 16 hours on it that I need to transport an hour away to get service. Do not be fooled by buying a name as I was. I would recommend buying value and buying locally from a dealer willing to provide service. Both JD and Home Depot lost my business.

 

[slammer]

Nobody is trying to "push" anyone. The JD 100 series is not a good lawnmower. The Craftsman mowers are no better and the Murray is worst of all. I think the suggestions by the more knowledgeable members here has been pretty much all the same. Avoid the new crap and buy a quality used mower.

$1000 will not buy you a good or even marginal lawn tractor brand new but it might with careful shopping get you a good quality used tractor.

Slam

 

[Alan L.]

I own my second Craftsman lawn tractor in 12 years. The first one lasted 10 years with very little maintenance. When you look at it, it looks cheaper than one of the high-dollar mowers. However it mows just as well, the only difference being won't last as long and won't bring much when you're done with it. For the vast difference in price, I'll keep buying the "junk", use it 10 years and give it away and buy another one.

If I was trying to mow 3 or 4 acres every week, or was using it commercially, then I'd get a better one, but I use my tractor for the big areas.

 

[slammer]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I own my second Craftsman lawn tractor in 12 years. The first one lasted 10 years with very little maintenance. When you look at it, it looks cheaper than one of the high-dollar mowers. However it mows just as well, the only difference being won't last as long and won't bring much when you're done with it. For the vast difference in price, I'll keep buying the "junk", use it 10 years and give it away and buy another one.)</font>

Exactly! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif But I must chance your ire by saying I would wager your 2 year old Craftsman won't see 10 without extensive work. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Sorry I could'nt help myself.

Slam

 

[Zoomie]

If it were my livelyhood at stake, I might argue on the side of the expensive brands, but for me (and many thousands of others) its just a mower.

So when push comes to shove, for me, the Craftsman is just fine.

FWIW

 

[slammer]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( If it were my livelyhood at stake, I might argue on the side of the expensive brands, but for me (and many thousands of others) its just a mower.

So when push comes to shove, for me, the Craftsman is just fine.

FWIW )</font>

Agreed. I have said the same thing several times in just the last week. People make decisions for a myriad of reasons. Some are limited finacially, some don't mind (and even enjoy) buying a mower every five years, some are just suspicious of any "name brand". Whatever the reason, it is ultimately their decision to make. But when asked for an opinion or advice It would be irresponsible to give anything but an honest opinion. Even if said opinion is dissapointing or unappreciated. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Slam

 

[Libertine]

Gatorboy:

<font color="blue">I've never heard so much discussion on deciding on two inferior brands and basing it on which one will have less breakdowns. I would buy a used commercial walk-behind (48"-60") if money is the REAL issue. </font>

Amen.

JEH

 

[Libertine]

slammer:

<font color="blue">$1000 will not buy you a good or even marginal lawn tractor brand new but it might with careful shopping get you a good quality used tractor. </font>

I paid that for a 40 year old Gravely with a number of implements (mower, cycle bar mower, rotary plow, tiller etc, etc). I think the total was $1,100. Better made than almost anything made today in the US. The American consumer is oriented to crap, doesn't even understand quality and is getting what he deserves. They "expect" a piece of machinery to fall apart in 10 years. The manufacturers are just giving them what they have been trained to want - cheap and flashy. Imagine calling a glorified riding lawn mower a "tractor" - they don't even have a PTO do they?

JEH

 

[slammer]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Imagine calling a glorified riding lawn mower a "tractor" - they don't even have a PTO do they?

JEH )</font>

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I think I have ruffled enough feathers on this topic so suffice to say "agreed" and i'll leave it at that. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Slam

 

[slowrev]

"I've never heard so much discussion on deciding on two inferior brands and basing it on which one will have less breakdowns. I would buy a used commercial walk-behind (48"-60") if money is the REAL issue. "

Watch out about buying the used commercial units. They sell them for the reason that they are pretty well worn out and are starting to cost big bucks to keep going. I know a couple of friends that got burned on them. Yeah a big commercial unit for 1,500, looked great ran ok fot 6 months then started replacing hydraulic drive components. $3,500 later it was ok again. The next year it was motor repair time, etc.

 

[songhunter]

Travis,
Few things in this world are more aggrevating than a broke-down mower. Usually it breaks when it is hot and your almost finished cutting, so the yard looks like a nascar track with high grass in the center.

My dad cut two acres every week during mowing season for 10 years with an MTD he bought from Lowe's in 1991 for $999. It had a 42" cut, 12.5 hp B&S, and gear transmission. He spent most of his Saturdays mowing grass. He said he enjoyed it. By the time I had to start cutting his grass for him, the MTD was worn out. The front axle was so far gone it would hardly steer. I don't enjoy mowing enough to spend all day Saturday mowing.

I have rebuilt quite a few riding mowers over the last few years and sold as many as I could. First, don't buy anything without a cast iron front axle. In that price range, I'd avoid hydrostatic transmissions. You might get a good one, but if you don't, the mower isn't goining anywhere until you replace the tranny. If I had $1000 in my hand to buy a mower, I would buy a used JD, Toro, Case, Ariens, Gravely or Cub before I would buy either a Craftsman, Murray, or MTD.

If you are cutting that much grass (2.5 acres or so), I would go less than 46" cut. Otherwise you'll be on the tractor way too much, which is okay if all you want to do is cut grass and work on a mower. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Let us know how it comes out!