Murray is a US company specializing in lawn and garden care equipment. It was established over 90 years ago. Its products are powered exclusively by Briggs & Stratton.
Interested in an easy-to-use and reliable lawnmower repair guide? Below you will find expert advice for the most common problems, including the situation when the equipment is actually not working. In many cases, solutions are pretty easy to perform. For instance, if a lawnmower is not starting, the solution may be as easy as just to refill fuel tank (because one of the reasons why a lawnmower won t start is that it is out of fuel or there is water in fuel).
| PROBLEM | CAUSE | CORRECTION |
|---|---|---|
| Will not start | 1. Out of fuel. | 1. Fill fuel tank. |
| 2. Engine not “CHOKED" properly. | 2. See “TO START ENGINE” in Operation section. | |
| 3. Engine flooded. | 3. Wait several minutes before attempting to start. | |
| 4. Bad spark plug. | 4. Replace spark plug. | |
| 5. Dirty air filter. | 5. Clean/replace air filter. | |
| 6. Dirty fuel filter. | 6. Replace fuel filter. | |
| 7. Water in fuel. | 7. Empty fuel tank and carburetor, refill tank with fresh gasoline and replace fuel filter. | |
| 8. Loose or damaged wiring. | 8. Check all wiring. | |
| 9. Carburetor out of adjustment. | 9. See “To Adjust Carburetor” in Service Adjustments section. | |
| 10. Engine valves out of adjustment. | 10. Contact an authorized service center/department. | |
| Hard to start | 1. Dirty air filter. | 1. Clean/replace air filter. |
| 2. Bad spark plug. | 2. Replace spark plug. | |
| 3. Weak or dead battery. | 3. Recharge or replace battery. | |
| 4. Dirty fuel filter. | 4. Replace fuel filter. | |
| 5. Stale or dirty fuel. | 5. Empty fuel tank and refill tank with fresh, clean gasoline. | |
| 6. Loose or damaged wiring. | 6. Check all wiring. | |
| 7. Carburetor out of adjustment. | 7. See “To Adjust Carburetor” in Service Adjustments section. | |
| 8. Engine valves out of adjustment. | 8. Contact an authorized service center/department. | |
| Engine will not turn over | 1. Clutch/brake pedal not depressed. | 1. Depress clutch/brake pedal. |
| 2. Attachment clutch is engaged. | 2. Disengage attachment clutch. | |
| 3. Weak or dead battery. | 3. Recharge or replace battery. | |
| 4. Blown fuse. | 4. Replace fuse. | |
| 5. Corroded battery terminals. | 5. Clean battery terminals. | |
| 6. Loose or damaged wiring. | 6. Check all wiring. | |
| 7. Faulty ignition switch. | 7. Check/replace ignition switch. | |
| 8. Faulty solenoid or starter. | 8. Check/replace solenoid or starter. | |
| 9. Faulty operator presence switch(es). | 9. Contact an authorized service center/department. | |
| Engine clicks but will not start | 1. Weak or dead battery. | 1. Recharge or replace battery. |
| 2. Corroded battery terminals. | 2. Clean battery terminals. | |
| 3. Loose or damaged wiring. | 3. Check all wiring. | |
| 4. Faulty solenoid or starter. | 4. Check/replace solenoid or starter. | |
| Loss of power | 1. Cutting too much grass/too fast. | 1. Raise cutting height/reduce speed. |
| 2. Throttle in “CHOKE" position. | 2. Adjust throttle control. | |
| 3. Build-up of grass, leaves and trash under mower. | 3. Clean underside of mower housing. | |
| 4. Dirty air filter. | 4. Clean/replace air filter. | |
| 5. Low oil level/dirty oil. | 5. Check oil level/change oil. | |
| 6. Faulty spark plug. | 6. Clean and regap or change spark plug. | |
| 7. Dirty fuel filter. | 7. Replace fuel filter. | |
| 8. Stale or dirty fuel. | 8. Empty fuel tank and refill tank with fresh, clean gasoline. | |
| 9. Water in fuel. | 9. Empty fuel tank and carburetor, refill tank with fresh gasoline and replace fuel filter. | |
| 10. Spark plug wire loose. | 10. Connect and tighten spark plug wire. | |
| 11. Dirty engine air screen/fins. | 11. Clean engine air screen/fins. | |
| 12. Dirty/clogged muffler. | 12. Clean/replace muffler. | |
| 13. Loose or damaged wiring. | 13. Check all wiring. | |
| 14. Carburetor out of adjustment. | 14. See “To Adjust Carburetor" in Service Adjustments section. | |
| 15. Engine valves out of adjustment. | 15. Contact an authorized service center/department. | |
| Excessive vibration | 1. Worn, bent or loose blade. | 1. Replace blade. Tighten blade bolt. |
| 2. Bent blade mandrel. | 2. Replace blade mandrel. | |
| 3. Loose/damaged part(s). | 3. Tighten loose part(s). Replace damaged parts. | |
| Engine dies when tractor is shifted into reverse | 1. Reverse operation system (ROS) is not "ON" while mower or other attachment is engaged. | 1. Turn ignition key to ROS "ON" position. See Operation section. |
| Engine continues to run when operator leaves seat with attachment clutch engaged | 1. Faulty operator-safety presence control system. | 1. Check wiring, switches and connections. If not corrected, contact an authorized service center/ department. |
| Poor cut - uneven | 1. Worn, bent or loose blade. | 1. Replace blade. Tighten blade bolt. |
| 2. Mower deck not level. | 2. Level mower deck. | |
| 3. Buildup of grass, leaves, and trash under mower. | 3. Clean underside of mower housing. | |
| 4. Bent blade mandrel. | 4. Replace blade mandrel. | |
| 5. Clogged mower deck vent holes from buildup of grass, leaves, and trash around mandrels. | 5. Clean around mandrels to open vent holes. | |
| Mower blades will not rotate | 1. Obstruction in clutch mechanism. | 1. Remove obstruction. |
| 2. Worn/damaged mower drive belt. | 2. Replace mower drive belt. | |
| 3. Frozen idler pulley. | 3. Replace idler pulley. | |
| 4. Frozen blade mandrel. | 4. Replace blade mandrel. | |
| Poor grass discharge | 1. Engine speed too slow. | 1. Place throttle control in “FAST” position. |
| 2. Travel speed too fast. | 2. Shift to slower speed. | |
| 3. Wet grass. | 3. Allow grass to dry before mowing. | |
| 4. Mower deck not level. | 4. Level mower deck. | |
| 5. Low/uneven tire air pressure. | 5. Check tires for proper air pressure. | |
| 6. Worn, bent or loose blade. | 6. Replace/sharpen blade. Tighten blade bolt. | |
| 7. Buildup of grass, leaves and trash under mower. | 7. Clean underside of mower housing. | |
| 8. Mower drive belt worn. | 8. Replace mower drive belt. | |
| 9. Blades improperly installed. | 9. Reinstall blades sharp edge down. | |
| 10. Improper blades used. | 10. Replace with blades listed in this manual. | |
| 11. Clogged mower deck vent holes from buildup of grass, leaves, and trash around mandrels. | 11. Clean around mandrels to open vent holes. | |
| Headlight(s) not working | 1. Light switch is “OFF”. | 1. Turn light switch “ON”. |
| 2. Bulb(s) or lamp(s) burned out. | 2. Replace bulb(s) or lamp(s). | |
| 3. Faulty light switch. | 3. Check/replace light switch. | |
| 4. Loose or damaged wiring. | 4. Check wiring and connections. | |
| 5. Blown fuse. | 5. Replace fuse. | |
| Battery will not charge | 1. Bad battery cell(s). | 1. Replace battery. |
| 2. Poor cable connections. | 2. Check/clean all connections. | |
| 3. Faulty regulator (if so equipped). | 3. Replace regulator. | |
| 4. Faulty alternator. | 4. Replace alternator. | |
| Engine “backfires” when turning engine “OFF” | 1. Engine throttle control not set between half and full speed (fast) position before stopping engine. | 1. Move throttle control between half and full speed |