Fixing A Murray Mower That Was Found At The Dump 

Just love seeing these come back to life. Waste not, want not.

It's almost a shame that whoever the previous owner of this mower was didn't discover your videos before making the repair. But their loss is your gain!

I was working on an old Snapper mower for my neighbor. It had a Briggs Quantum that was covered in sludge, when I removed the flywheel to find the leak I found that Briggs had forgotten to install the breather crossover pipe way back in 1996! Fortunately I had a spare one and I finished restoring the old Snapper. Works like new!

Good morning everyone

Two years I went to the local dump and spotted an old reel mower that someone had dropped off. It was an older one that I looked up and was from the 1960's when I Googled it. The blade needed a good sharpening and I took off the wheels and greased all the fittings and now it runs and cuts great. It never ceases to amaze me the stuff people throw away.

Good video. I had a customer give a new mower away after trying it for a few months because he said it was ruining his grass. I got the mower to check out and found the blade was upside down from the store it was purchased from. Runs great now and the new owner is very happy.

Great video dude. As you properly are aware, we are in a "throw away society". Some times its just cheaper to throw out and buy a new one whether its a mower or a clothes dryer. I often find lawn mowers on scrap heaps (we can't just scab items from our local dumps like we did back in the day) i found a 4 stroke like this one last year, mine was blue in color and it had a repair tag on it from a mower shop that read "engine damage due to incorrect fuel" so the owner just chucked it out. I found it, replaced the plug, new fuel and just a basic clean and pulled the cord and it worked like a charm and still is. I gave it away to a lady who couldn't afford to buy a lawn mower. I believe the mower shop just could not be bothered trying to repair it so told the customer "its dead, buy a new one" shame really, we chuck so much into land fill. I love to tinker with this kind of stuff on a Saturday morning. G'day from Down under Australia.

I went and bought a can of WD-40 brand White Lithium spray for my mower wheels (and door hinges) after HGs recommendation and watching a couple dozen of these videos and I couldn't be happier. My mower wasn't hard to push but after spraying in the wheel/sleeve and onto axle its easily twice as easy to push.

I was recently given one exactly like this because it would not start. PO had tried to clean the carb and lost some of the parts. I put a new carb on it with a new primer bulb. Now it starts reluctantly with about 5 pulls. Next is to adjust the valves. Thanks for the inspiration.

I have pretty much the same exact mower. Its 8 years old and still going. It has always started and besides from maintenance I haven't had to do anything to it. I'm glad you were able to save this one.

Interesting! It must matter where you are. Around here (rural Midwest) when a mower is tossed it is junk. Broken deck, worn out pistons, scored cylinders, well, you get the idea.

Great video. Nice mower, it's a shame the previous owner didn't have the right person working on it. You were very respectful of the person who had made the mistakes you found. Good luck.

nice!!!! looks like a dogo had some fun on the red plastic knobs on the push bar...

Yes I have forgotten parts before. I was working on a weedeater featherlite blower, and after I got it reassembled, I realized I forgot the long metal tube that acts as a separator in the engine. It had fallen out and rolled under my workbench lol! Couldn't for the life of me figure out why the engine wouldn't turn over. After about 30 mins of troubleshooting, i finally found the metal tube. Fun times! Great video as usual IHG!

Great looking out by everyone involved. Great feeling to restart them and send them back out, isn't it?

THAT IS MY EXACT MOWER. Purchased 5 years ago at Walmart for $190, it replace my broken Craftsman that was 11 years old and couldn't be fixed. I ordered a new carb for it and my neighbor didn't know he had to replace the O-ring and retainer inside (that was shown in this video). Showed him the video of what he missed and then 1-start pull to show it worked great! Just changed the oil and greased up the wheels. Touched up the black paint on the handles so it won't rust. Oh, and I gave it a new blade since the other was quite gnarly haha. As long as I keep the carb clean and the jets clear, this engine can run for 20+ years.

I'm actually glad some people do this, i aquired a self propelled mower from a scrap skip, i serviced it and its now being used on its second commercial grass cutting season with no issues at all. Great easy projects these mowers.

I recently scored an Exmark X series push mower sitting behind a shed. I'm going to wait till next winter to dig in and will need to school up before I do. Thanks for what you do, as I hope to find some helpful information here.

Back in 03 I found an abandoned one year old Craftsman 6.5 hp walk behind. It was still clean and undamaged in appearance, but I couldn't pull start it. Took it home and after a quick inspection, discovered the cable for the blade brake was broken. Easy repair and I used that mower for years afterward.

To answer your question I am sure I have forgotten to replace all the parts I removed from a mower. But I do so little of this and considering my age I probably have forgotten most of those situations. Great looking and sounding mower. Fantastic job and thanks for the videos.

My 1st lawnmower as a home owner was a Murray lawnmower from Wal-Mart with a Briggs and Stratton engine. It lasted like 15 years until the deck rusted out. Zero issues with the engine

Their loss is your gain. A really well explained video. The manufacturers are replacing more and more parts with plastic, that’s not good long term. Cheers, Stuart 🇦🇺

The ‘unhooked governor linkage’ mention was my cue. I looked under the air filter housing and saw a loose spring. Reattached and started right up. Thanks for your thorough video and explanation

The white main jet pops right out of those carbs for easier cleaning and there is an idle jet inside. They almost always have water inside. The water get in from the gas cap that has a charcoal canister inside that leaches moisture from the air and drips into the tank.

Sure I've had parts left over and had to 're-lick my calf' as the old saying goes, but when I saw the 'Z' bend I knew it was off the fuel system somewhere, but the governor rod was a new one on me. GOOD fix and that mower was way too good to scrap. Sweetie tried the Stihl and came back in and said it wouldn't work. I checked the battery and everything but after pressing the safety and folding the bail, off it went. She was folding THEN pressing. After that she loved having NO pull starting. I need to set the mower down one notch and the cutting will be right. Hardly any in the bag but it is a mulching blade. That might be remedied in the future. Ran about 30 minutes on one bar of discharge but not HIGH grass either. Will keep you up to date but I used the old 85 Snapper to trim with. They are what they are. Keep on fixing and I'll keep on watching. Blessings!

It's sad that someone would try to repair it and then just throw it away. Man I need to get to know someone at the dump. Even if it was just the plastic carburetor, those things are so simple to repair or replace on Briggs and Stratton engines. Please Keep posting the great work you do. Cheers

Generally, you want a wider gap on the exhaust valve to allow for expansion. Usually the valves are adjusted to 002-.004 intake and .005-.007 exhaust

I’m appreciative that you made the video I just watched, I got a better idea of what my next action might be based on what you showed me!

Thays so odd you mentioned seeing more of these machines I picked up4 yesterday and 3 today so far a bath and a little maintaince so far 2 of 7 up and running even picked one up that has a key start hoping to get it running for my sister, thank you for the videos and always responding back

Thank you for this handy B & S advise, and good viewing from over here Down Under 👍

Those old BS engines are tough. I’ve got the side valves ones. Rescued one from the dump that had water in the petrol tank. Flushed it out with metho, changed the oil, cleaned the air filter and away she went. Sold it for $50 after many more years of service when I moved house!

Great save.

I found a Troybuilt TB110 on road across street. I watched your video about the carb. It took 10 minutes to pull and clean and put back on. A little bit of oil came from the carb bottom of air cleaner but it stopped and never leaked again. So I think while they let it sit for however long it was tipped. The mower looked new but sat out in their back yard under a shed roof for what looks like a year or so. I cleaned it up and it looks brand new. It has cut the grass 5 times now and I've no money in it. Hahah. This is so awesome I now want to do this for side business. Thanks. I have a weedeater as well. They threw out. Troy built as well. The 4 stroke type but it is dirty. No fuel in it and the next time i get a minute ill try it out. It's likely going to be needing a diaphragm I'm sure.

I live out in the county where there is no trash pickup (unless you pay an arm and a leg), so I have to haul my own trash to the dump. I always see a lot of old mowers and equipment (and electronics, I restore vintage electronics) that I know I could get going again, but sadly the people who work there watch everyone like a hawk, and they are VERY opposed to anyone saving anything.

Before clicking on to the video. I seen the crest of the Briggs and Straton brand. I knew then you would get it running. I found a craftsman. Left for scrap. It runs like new now. It's amazing I did exactly what you are doing in the video and I had no small engine repair experience.

I bought a 20 yo john Deere push mower at the scrap yard, and only needed to clean the carb. Its one of my favorite mowers.

I have this exact same mower I think I bought it in the summer of 2017. I’ve had to replace the carburetor twice probably because of charcoal coming out of the gas cap though I tried to clean the main jet first. I have the original blade which has hit stones and been bent on roots, but I’ve hammered it back in shape, sharpened and re-balanced it. This is a nice mower with a lot of power.

I am laughing because I watched a Murry plunge to a waste bin last week. I was on a contract dump haul, Washington state and where my wife loves her Murry because of it's light weight and generally reliable start character. I find compressed air to the unit as after generally several hours of use really helps with keeping build up as residue limited from the carb area and to the top recoil starter rope. As with small engines of weed eater, chain saw....clean fuel in clean containers is a key to long life. I did take note of the wheel axel lube as a good bit of service. And the general carb body as replacement on hand might be a service plus to my best shop maint. Thanks for the post as I seem to have jobs friends send to be repaired. Happy to have good advice and views to problems. M.

I love your analogy/philosophy. I'm that neighbor 7-8am mowing. 😂 I TRY to be considerate but being 70, I use a self propelled &'have to mow before it gets too warm. Besides, they all have riding mowers. 🤓 U must live in/near a wealthy community. The mowers u get are immaculate! I DRIVE a hybrid & NOT an electric car. Wasnt practical for me. Electric mowers ARE better than having to purchase gasoline, draining, etc. But like u, I will (maintain)/keep my Honda until the wheels fall off. I LOVE videos when ppl keep cars,trucks, mowers, & appliances rolling. THAT'S WHAT THEY USED TO DO IN THE "OLDEN" DAYS. Some things u just can't fix. (🖖

Great find. Nice video. Thanks

Another excellent save👍👍

Nice repair, yes lubrication on wheels is good idea.😊

Awesome video there have been times that I have missed a tiny thing because it could be easy when you're working with a bunch of parts, I usually take it back apart find the issue put it back together and it's good to go.

My mower kind of isn’t the best but you have inspired me to at least changes the oil and change the mulching blade for something better😊

Another great find. Man I wish it were that easygoing all the time

To some people fixing the mower would be like working on the space shuttle. Labor cost at repair shops is scary!

I remember that Murray mower, it was mine. What had happened was, I ordered a new carb for it, but while waiting for it to arrive from China, I tried cleaning the old one out with Oreilly's carb spray. Shooting some carb cleaner through one of those jet openings, it curled back on me and and just the tiniest spray splatter drops hit me in the eyes. I mean they were literally minute, we're not talking a full water drop... we're more closer to mist size. I tried to run for bathroom to splay water in my eyes but it was too late... like literally within 5 seconds my vision went blurry and my eyes felt gummy. One eye was really bad, and the other not so much so... but over the next 9 months I could tell every morning I woke up, they were worstening. It's not like those solvents were leaving my eyes. I could see, but I couldn't see... it was like looking through a frosted car window or fogged up shower door. As far as the mower was concerned, I still had grass to mow, so I put the new carb on but must of not seen the idle arm or those O rings. I mean I was literally working by feel at that point. If I held out my hands, depending on how contrasty the background was, I may or may not have been able to count my fingers, if that gives you an idea. I threw out the G.D. cursed mower and wanted nothing more to do with it. I was blind for 5 years, and spent that time editing RU-vid videos as I could still read a computer screen in high contrast mode up close, and also spent a lot of time learning quadcopter aerobatics in a simulator. As long as I could make out a horizon, I actually could fly like a boss... with a 42" flatscreen TV and my face right up to it 2 feet away. I was finally able to get surgery on one eye at the end of last year, and the other eye this year, through a long beaureucratic process and can see 20/70 again, or 20/20 with glasses. It was amazing to see colors again. I cried when I could see colors again, they were so kodachrome dayglo florescent beautiful after not having seen colors for so long. I had become super sensitive to them. I'm now back to driving motorcycles and... mowing. I bought a new mower and a new motorcycle once I could see again. So yeah, now you know the rest of the story. This poorly designed mower made me blind. If the jets had never got clogged, I never would of had to try and fix it with a molotov coctail of highly corrosive solvents in a spray can. It don't take much of carb cleaner in your eyes to make you go blind. Literally, the tinoest of droplets. Throw that shlt away and get it out of your toolbox, it's the most dangerous thing you own. A rattlesnake in your shop. Instead of it getting crushed or thrown into a land fill, you've now fixed it and released it back in the wild to hurt someone else. Good job...

I have a Murray lawnmower I bought new when I bought my house back in 2000. The chassis rusted out, but the engine is still running well. I did mount engine to a different chassis.

Excellent detective work. Subed first time! Love your videos!

I have a Murray mower that is starting it's 25th season. It hase a 6hp Briggs and Straton engine and I take it to the local Ace hardware every other year for a compleet tune up. I have a fairly small yard so it doesn't take but about a half hour to mow the whole thing. It isn't self propeled. The first time I used it this spring, it started on the first pull after sitting all winter. I do put fule stabilizer in my gas every time I refill my 1 gal gas can.

Luv curb/dump mowers prob owned by careless/wreckless/ignorant ppl these are the best 4 me free low hrs easy to fix I keep these around till they fall apart then I scrap them for parts or metal value. Unlike most I care about my plant/home I'm trying to be here along time and so should every1 else here.

For future repairs! The jet that you cleaned out. The whole cartridge is removable from the carb to get a good deep clean on all the jets! Just an FYI!

Awesome save thank you for the video

Morning y'all

When I find these on the side of the road, all they need is fresh gas, and a shot of carb cleaner. They fire right up every time.

love to see old iron put back to work

Customer picking up a Craftsman Bagger with a Honda engine.. I said it starts, first pull.. Imagine how embarrassed I was when it didn't start, and how relieved to see I had forgot to reinstall the spark plug wire 🤣🤣 Felt good when reconnected it and it fired off first pull .

I think a lot of small engines are usually fixable our 20 year old toro sat in the garage with the engine taken apart for a whole winter after starting to fix it in the fall and putting off finishing it, put a new head gasket on and replaced the carb and its running as well as it ever had.

Ha Ha Ha , I literally JUST FOUND ONE TODAY. identical !!!! I had to do the usual. cleaned out tank, dropped float bowl and cleaned carb, added new air filter, fuel filter (a MUST) and plug. Runs fine now, $50 sign on it in front yard. I still laughing at the timing of your vid and my finding fixing this too...all the way across the USA Thumbed and subscribed bud! Ps, just finished rebuilding a toro i found complete , bad motor. Just put a 10hp+ cammed 4500rpm gov'd ohv Briggs on it, this sucker is unstoppable now. I was cutting 18" field grass and it just rides on top of the blob of grass goo as it clogs the shute. it wont stop for anything lolz!!!! just leaves a minced slime of grass turds behind it . The GRASSINNATOR 10+HP I had to cut a larger shute, that toro cast aluminum deck is tough!

Thar OHV Briggs burns/blows out the Headgasket under the exhaust port. I got cheap and cut an unclamped portion of the headgasket and puzzle-patched the burn hole. Still works.

Many people don't drain the fuel before winter storage, and the ethanol (alcohol) in gasoline attracts moisture and the carb gets ruined. These plastic carbs are only $25 and that's probably what they did, replace the carburetor, put in fresh fuel, and when it STILL didn't start, said screw it. LOL. Glad you rescued it! BTW, be sure to sharpen that blade☺️

Great repair 👍🙏👍🙏

I got a Poulon push mower that was assembled at Ace Hardware. The handles have never been right and move up and down because something seems to be missing. Never could get them tight for long. Both front wheels eventually broke off the thin steel body. I remounted them with washers to reinforce it. The thing is, it has a good Briggs motor that runs great but all the Poulon part of the mower is total junk. I only keep it because I don't have the money and it is light and easy to push compared to expensive mowers. I have to push uphill alot. I once had a Sears Craftsman mower I bought new and it ran fine for over 20 years and still going when I gave it away. For a new Craftsman that ran for one season and weighed a ton.

Never seen or heard of your channel before but now that I have, I’m sad both that I’ve never seen your work before and that you don’t have a million subscribers yet!

My brother garbage picked an almost identical mower and gave it to me as mine was almost 20 years old. It didn't have an air filter or cover so I assumed it was a display model bought super cheap. I changed the plug and it started on the first pull. I cut my grass and it worked fine. The nest time I used it the machine quit working after 5 minutes. I thought aha, it must be defective. I checked the valve back lash and it was perfect. I puled the plug and there was a piece of grass across the electrode. I cleaned it off and it started right up. I bought an air cleaner the next day. The date of manufacture was only 6 months prior.

Too bad you didn't get the Bag and Diverter. Nicely Done.

they make great back up generators too using old car alternator & cheap converter

Governor linkages are definitely something I miss sometimes and it's been a surprise when it just idles or it races out of control. I usually shut it down before it goes too far on the latter. I don't understand why people don't bother to repair things anymore, even this cheap Briggs powered unit. I find it interesting that a litre or two of fuel costs $10 where you are as it is about CA$1.50 per litre where I am. For those who live South of the Canadian border or West of The Yukon Territory, that's roughly CA$6 per gallon. Of course that's regular E10 gasoline, which is what I use with no hiccups. Of course I use it up pretty quickly as I mow lawns for a source of income.

I just gave away my 30 year old Murray riding mower. It still ran.

BTW that old Sears mower I bought in ca. 1990 would start first or second pull every spring. On others I end up using starter fluid to get them going at first. Yea I put Sta Bil in the tanks too. Another thing that helped once was something called Mechanic in a Bottle. That cleaned out the fuel system and carb once on a mower that was not wanting to keep going. Worth a try as I don't care to be a pro engine mechanic.

We gave up on Murray lawnmowers back in 1989 after 2 in 4 years. It never ran right and constantly broke. We bought a Toro in '90 and it lasted until my parents moved in 2006.

When I have to fix my clothes dryer I forget to hook up a connector pretty much every time. This is exactly the Murray mower I was talkin about on some other video. It used to be my main mower but now it just kinda makes sure the shed don’t fly away I guess.

Yes. Now that I'm a senior I have to take pictures of any Tool/motor I disassemble.

I’ve recently sold a lot of my mowers I’ve kept in winter storage as no one wants to buy a mower during winter… But I’ve managed to make a big profit to where I can finally order new parts and the expensive bagger for my main mower I use! Also loving these videos! I enjoy seeing others revive machines like these, awesome work 👍

I find mowers and you wouldn’t believe what was wrong with the last 2? The last 2 owners forgot to put gas in them! Runs like a champ!

I used to pick mowers up every spring from the curb. People would throw them away and 90% of the time all they needed was a carb cleaning. I’d grab them, get them running again, and sell them for $50-75. Someone gets a good mower for cheap, and I make a few bucks for not a lot of work.

Good video👍🇺🇸❤️

I like the easy ones 👍

My girlfriend at the time bought the cheapest mower at Walmart 11-12 years ago, it's a Murray. If you burn the gas out before winter, spray carb cleaner in the partially taken apart carb. It will always run. It is still running perfectly

I've put one of these through severe service for like 9 years. These things are easy to keep going. Don't toss 'em.

My neighbor gave me this exact mower. In the carburetor I found very small pieces of black plastic from manufacturing on the assembly line. Poor quality control imo. The carburetor was blocked. This is the most easy to fix carburetor. I could do one of these carburetor’s in under 15 minutes and that taking the carburetor apart to replace plastic parts in the carburetor. The parts are cheap. Most people could not fix these carburetors even though these don’t need adjusting. In the fuel line I installed a 75 micron Briggs fuel filter. To prevent the carburetor from getting clogged again.

Just wondering what you use to bring out the color and make them look better, on the stuff you fix?

Great video. You just earned a new subscriber.

Crazy what you find at the dump but find out more why it was there especially that linkage and the extra o rings there

I found a Briggs & Stratton lawn mower it was running for a little while now two years later it's having a firing backwards problem basically pulling the cord out of your hand when you prime it pull and it pulls the cord out of your hand I'm suspecting it's a flywheel key I'm hopefully be able to take care of it on Wednesday or Thursday at the latest waiting for my packet flywheel keys to get here

Yes l have and it didnt take long for me to realize that... Go to start it and its a no go.

I have a yard machine and the last time it was started there was a clacking and then went away when the mowers rpm went up. I checked the rocker arms and readjusted them to specks. My problem is the valve rockers come loose when I hand rotate the engine to check the setting. The rods aren't bent and no matter how many times I make the adjustment the rockers come loose. The screw and nut are tight when set. Wonder if the rockers are bad? Short of pulling the head to check the valves? Good video.

Not sure if it applies to this model of carb, but sometimes there is low speed jet hidden behind a cap, that needs to be cleaned or ya get the mower that surges.

The best mower I ever owned was a Murray. It lasted for years.

ROFL .... welll ....guess I'm gonna be rich ... I must have about a dozen of these push mowers .... basically, collected almost by accident .... most from elderly (I'm very elderly myself!!) ladies who couldn't or wouldn't 'hand mow' their yards longer. ALL the engines will turn over, A couple are seriously still shiny, almost new. After seeing your vid ... maybe I'll get out in the barnyard and attempt to get them back running. Only problem is or may be, parts. Thank you for your work and the video. "Inspiring"!! LOL Thanks.

Awesome!!!!!

consider oiling up the O ring on the float bowl before reattaching. sometimes they bind and won't seal properly. just something I've experienced.

When I'm working on a piece of equipment I try to keep everything together. Unfortunately, it's not uncommon for me to be asking myself "gee, where did this screw (or nut or other doohickey) come from"?😒😒😒

Have you priced lawn mower repair, and their waiting lists? When I pull out the motor in the spring its because I need to mow. $300 for a new mower and I can mow now, vs. minimum $100 for a repair and a minimum six week wait, makes buying a new mower a reasonable option.

I have had a couple of similar carbed engines get water in the fuel. was just the smallest amount and that would make it run for just a second and stall. Ended up using an unlit propane torch to feed it some fuel to let it draw the water through till it smoothed out. Honestly surprised the plastic carb lasted this long.

I had two mowers with that POS carb on them. The only way to get them to reliably start after storing them for more than 3 weeks was to buy the "Small Engine" fuel with NO alcohol in it. If you didn't use that fuel, the jet would clog and you would have to disassemble and clear the jet with a welding tip cleaner.

I have a briges and Stratton on a rear bagger, it does not seem to be getting gas, shoot ether in the cylinder runs then quits , like it is running only on the eather. what would be a good starting place to get it running? only 3 seasons of use just for trimming under trees and bushes. minimal use.

the murray mower we had for decades took so much abuse with little maintenance

What kind of degreaser do you use to clean off your small engines? They always looks so great

Mine is similar and runs good but is hard to start if I cut it off . What should I check? Thanks