Fixing A Murray Mower That Won't Start 

The fun is definitely in the ones that don't have the usual problems.

I had a mower like this for many years. It gave me no problems what so ever. Occasionally I come across these. I happily fix them up and sell them cheap. As you said, these are built so much better than the crap built today.

These old Briggs engines are fantastic, I love working on them as they are so simple and easy to wok on. Please do more videos with lawnmowers with these engines.

As I live in Florida, the season is never over. Prices stay relatively higher, but if one popped up for cheap, I'd jump on it.

These engines are what I learned on as a kid, early '70s. They didn't change much. Wish they still made them...

Just a tip, stay away from the aftermarket diaphragms. I've always had a miss with them. I only use Briggs ones. Its worth it in the end.

I could sell a ton of these mowers. It takes 15 minutes to rebuild the carb, so easy to do. The sell on marketplace in season, In less than an hour.

I had a Murray lawnmower for rough gardens and areas of brush. It took it all and lasted about nine years.

I’m glad seeing an engine like this around and you working on it as I been procrastinating working on 3 mowers with this style of engine cause I didn’t really have any idea how to take it apart, thanks for your vids and keep it up! Looking forward for more like this! 👍👍

This is a good backup mower now. Your fix was very efficient, and now you can feel good about selling it. Even the wheels and height adjusters look good on this one, so it's a good choice for the next owner. I'll bet the current crop of low-end Powersmart mowers won't last nearly this long, and also, if you had an old one of those some day in the future, parts would be much harder to find than for this lovely old B&S / Murray model.

You're right that these sidevalve Briggs engines aren't too challenging to fix but that makes them great to own as generally they just work.

I love this type of mower, very simple and easy to work on. My 35ish year old 3.5 Briggs is still going strong, except now it is at my daughters. Change the oil regularly, keep the filter clean, and drain the fuel at the end of the season and they will last... well, at least 35 years. Thanks for the video, my only "complaint" is that once the tank was off, I would have flushed it out to get rid of any remaining gunk in the bottom. I have seen a lot worse though.

It's amazing how much neglect and abuse these little motors will endure. I have never bought a lawn mower. I just bring home these "battlefield pickups" when my neighbors threw them out with stale gas in the tank each spring. They usually put in a new spark problem (never the problem) and saved me some money.

Yes I would buy it for sure. Fix it up over the winter and get a few ready to sell come spring.

I'd buy it!! I'd stockup on use mowers for the summer

I replaced the gasket/pump on the kids mower and it ran like a new one. It was sputtering and gagging before and these are GOOD mowers for what they are. Not all the corner cutting like the new ones have. Good fix and Blessings!

Thank you so much for such a clear video, I was very frustrated with how much small engine tech was going to charge me just to clean my lawnmower carbonator , and I watched your video and decided to do it myself, followed your easy instructions step by step and my lawnmower was back to work amazingly, me and my wife are so thankful for your video, we were so happy to save $100 🙂🙂

I had one just like it, what a work horse. I hit a rock in tall grass and bent the crank.

Great video as usual!! Interesting to see plastic carbs. Not much to do with them except clean or just replace a few parts of not the whole thing. Overall, nice job, again!! Easy to work on and good results. These mowers are a thing of the past but work well when kept up. Great filming to show the smallest of parts clearly! Thank You!! 😊

Great video, those old Briggs flat heads are great engines, I would definitely consider keeping a mower like that around as a back up if I didn't already have one.

I have the same type mower that I need to work on. Great to see that the fix is fairly easy.

I’ve found when I clean em up people come back and recomend me to friends!

Gday from Australia...Great video mate...You have some very good skills with small engines.

If I had the opportunity I would purchase a mower like this as a back up. These mowers are pretty basic which is what I like. Thanks for the videos.

Those little engines with that on top of the tank carburetor are some of my favorite Briggs and Stratton machines. Quick cleaning.. Make sure the diaphragm is still supple.. Clean the pickups and boom.. They always work

I bought a Murray big wheel OHV in 2012 or so for my grandfather, the OHV engine makes them so easy to use on an oddly shaped property with a random hill due to a road cut. They are halfway decent

When checking the condition of those old school briggs carb diaphragms check that the check valve flaps are flat and parallel with the rest of the diaphragm just like on a pumping diaphragm and if they are fine you can reuse it if they are bent up or down you need to replace it, i did this on my 1989 norlett mower's carb and it was bad so i replaced it 😄

nice to see the deck polished up and some of the plastic hit with protectant

Thank you SO VERY MUCH I was given one like that now i know how to fix it be bless and thank again😊

Free mower you can not go wrong. easy fix.

Good day Yea i would buy it if I needed it. Thanks good looking mower.. Thanks

had a murrey rider mower, musta ben designed by some old retired mechanics. Never had a lick of trouble with it.

Hey bro what's up? I like how simple the repair to this mower was bro. A little cleaning up and it looks almost new bro but as for the oil, that was an eye opener bro.

A friend of mine put too much oil in their mower!! They started it, & the smoke was enough to obscure her house from view!! A couple of minutes later, I got a phone call. I soon had it fixed, after draining the engine, & putting back the proper amount. She put half a litre too much in!!

I recently picked up a used mower that was Frankensteined. It is a Lawnboy boy with a Briggs engine from a MTD mower.

For sure those classic Briggs engine are hard to beat for simplicity. I picked a couple up for free recently. Both were fuel issues one needed a primer bulb.

I would definitely buy it. 👍🙏👍🙏

Nice job a easy fix I think the older lawnmowers are better then the oversea lawnmowers I remember my grandfather had a 80s craftsman lawnmower with the cast aluminum deck and that thing lasted for years that engine refuse to die even when we threw it away it still ran and not even rusted out thanks to the cast aluminum deck the only reason we threw it away was he wanted a self propelled lawnmower I wish we would’ve kept it

Even though I have several mowers, I'd definitely jump on one of those mowers if the price was right!

Our Murray wouldn't start second time out. Turned it over. A flap was caught under the blade. Freed the flap and started like the new machine it is. Love Murrays and expecting to get years out of it. Better than a PowerSmart!

Yes,I would buy it to use as a backup mower !

Good BASIC Machine!! Got one like it 20 inch.. Currently looking for the left & Right rear Height adjust assemblies. My right side cracked...Ebay is pretty high for them..

450 are an easy mower to work on they go well every one should know how to fix these have a great day.

Those engines are pretty good. With a little extra care they can last for a while

I'd buy one I had one when I done neighbors yards as a kid it was bullet proof oh the memories

Husqvarna made this particular Murray branded mower, fun fact about Murray - in 2005 Briggs & Stratton took over Murray when they filed bankruptcy after owing Briggs & Stratton nearly 40 million, over the years Briggs contracted out many different mfg's for their mowers, MTD made some of the riders, z-turn's and hand held equipment and Husqvarna Outdoor Products (HOP) made certain models of equipment, if the model tag on a push mower says McRae,GA it was made by HOP, riders would say Orangeburg,SC.

Yes are they easy to work on to get running again . U might run into one that has more problems. But sometimes I don't mind a challenge to get my knowledge from it.

Did you change the oil dip stick to the yellow cap? Mine comes with a longer spout style. I would like to convert to the yellow because there are threads inside the engine case and it seems to have the yellow style would be a tighter fit rather than relying on just an o ring to seal. But does the yellow cap still have a dip stick?

For me these mowers are the best no frills 21/22" deck side shoot only no Bagger no self propelled crap to break and stop working. Then leaf blow large piles or clumps after the cut that's my kind of mower. Just got a deck similar to this can't wait to put my auto choke Briggs motor on it. That motors from 05. Have a mower from 08 just needed a new deck. Got it free luv having multiple mowers to switch back and forth from. Trimmers as well.

Not a fan of those decks, but give me that B&S Classic any day! Easy to work on, take a beating and keep on going, and cheap to "tune up". Keep an eye out at your local Lowe's, as they have started the OPE parts clearance process - at least near me. OEM filters for these around $2, diaphragm kit around $5. I also try to clean most of what I fix and sell. When I sell them, I get less hassles from buyers and they tend to show up more timely with a nice, clean mower.

I sale theses as fast as I can get them running 😊😊😊 Great little unit for small yards and cemetery lots 😊

What did you use to make the decks really shiny like you did on this mower? always trying to find new stuff to help with that. Light oil works but dosent last and seems all the dust sticks to it.

Great video. Just wondering about vacuuming up the fuel, and the carby cleaner: Are you not at risk of a gas explosion in the vacuum cleaner, assuming it has a brushed motor?

Yes I would buy it. Those mowers lasts & last

I got one of these mowers trash picking a month ago. They have a design flaw with how the handle mounts to the deck and one 1/2 centimeter stamped steel tab holds them into position on each side and when they break the handles become useless and floppy. I need a couple of brackets but was thinking I may just put a few self tappers in to replace the broken tabs.

The biggest problem I ever had was trying to fix one of these with the carb on the tank. It ended up in my scrapper friends pickup. Maybe I'll try again but I have to have gotten it for free. I need more room then my 8x12 shed to do my work and keep my other crap.

What was the last year of production for these flat heads? I have a collection ranging from years 1975 to 03 . Also two 3.5 flat tops and 3 Quantums from 5-6.75 hp.. I just picked one of these up off the curb as well. Had no compression. Pulled the head and had to peen the valve seat, then compression went back to 90 psi and it took right off. They were great little mills and as you said run forever, with a little TLC. Better engines then the modern throw away OHV mills

Check spark plug too. Can make a difference.

What do you do with your old oil, I take mine up to a junkyard that has a oil burning furnace

Another great video. What did you shine it up with? It makes a big difference in resale $.

Backwards. Make sure you can get it running before Cleaning it up. Looked like original Plug. Bottom of the Fuel tank looked pitted (5:40) and should be coated. Fuel Tanks are not readily available. Grease or rebush (make new bushings) for wheels. Coat underside of deck with used oil if available. I just got a 3HP 20" Murray running. Right Price.

I have the exact same mower and have done this procedure in the past. It has very few hours on it ..since it is simply a back up. Always has been dependable with this basic cleaning. However, just this past year it runs for about 10 minutes then kicks off. It is easy to restart second third pull runs 10 minutes then clicks off. Any thoughts? Thank you again for these great videos! Love your approach on what you do.

May I ask for your opinion on used machines in regards to oil changes? Mineral oils vs Semi Synthetic oils? New engines my belief is mineral as they where made for it, plus for warranty purposes.

I love those simple mowers with the Briggs flat-heads on ‘em. Hey not to be a jerk or anything but you should never ever use a vacuum to pick up flammable solvents or even fumes from an empty gas tank, they truly can and do explode.

Hi. I was wondering. I have a project a 4cycle Ryobi weed eater I replaced the fuel lines and bulb. But when I put it together I pump the fuel bulb and no fuel goes in it but I take the gas cap off and it builds up pressure in the tank. IDK what the problem is.

Great video with lots of good detail, filming and narration! I have a Murray mower with a Briggs and Stratton 625EX. When I tried to start the mower, it started for 30 seconds and then let out a big puff a white smoke and quit. After a brief inspection, I noticed that the air filter is soaked with oil and there is some oil on the top of mower and some on the spark plug - there appears to still be adequate oil in the oil reservoir. I know that is limited information, but can you speculate on the most probable cause of the oil and the most likely solution?

What do you use to shine up the things you get

I have two questions: 1) What do you do/use to prep before you wash equipment? What do you use to keep water out of the tank and intake? 2) What website do you use to find these for free? Thank you! I've been obsessed with your videos for about a week now!

Excellent work bro.🤟🤟👍👍🤙🤙

I'm just one person but I like knowing what products you use like the cleaner you said was from dollar store but I'm curious what you used to make the color pop?

Can someone tell me what the website is? I wanna see if I can get some mowers like this

Whats a good engine cleaner for mowers?

Spark plug lead needs to go back into its open g in the middle to prevent getting cut by the shroud.

I want one

Its a good mower, at least the chassis had no real signs of rust. I used to like Honda mowers but they rust away quite quickly it seems.

I have a Briggs and Stratton 3.75 engine all that it needs a new gas tank and foam Air filter

In Australia second hand mowers are expensive but I have to laugh at some of the prices people are asking....😊

do you also do videos on home garage i think is the channel name?

I would buy an older mower like this over today's push mowers.

If it was a 2014, I'd say it's a museum piece because that is the last year for those engines. I have a gray 20" never used display model. Has the Murray sticker and ayp rear handle brackets that crack the deck. It's not going to get used. All the rest will. What's annoying and expensive is building an engine from parts. Especially older designs. Namely the Tecumseh with different crankshafts for the old points and electric start systems. I had to find a correct model number for my short block. After that I decided I didn't want to pay$50 just for a flywheel.

I rebuild one of these carbraters and replace the head gasket on one of these mowers

The old pulsejet

I had a mower like this years ago, it wasn't great but it did what it did. I find these engines irritating to work on as they have to be primed and growing up with a Honda HR214 mower I never had to prime but manually choke it and I think that's a better way to start these machines. The carburetors rely on a diaphragm system and I am not a fan of pumps on something that can be gravity fed. And of course, ethanol or not the diaphragms degrade over time and need to be replaced. I would rather spend money on a good mower (and I did, each of my mowers over time have been Honda, some of them 30 or more years old and more recently a Commercial Honda that cost me nearly $1800 Canadian. Was it worth it? Totally. I use it from early May to mid to late November when the grass stops growing but the leaves fall to pick them up.

multi grade oil?

👍🏾

I need to find the springs

The worst thing about any lawnmower engine is that dumb primer pump. I have a Murray 22" with a 5HP B&S Quantum Engine and it is a PITA to start. It takes at least 5 tries and 6 to 10 primer presses each time to start. Back in the day, all you needed was to choke the engine, pull the starter rope a time or two and it would start. The carb has a float and needle valve to shut off the gas. The Primer is redundant. Intake vacuum will suck the gas from the bowl.

I might think about putting a drain in the bottom of the tank

I had one of these last year, but I had to scrap it cause it had a bad knock and the gas tank broke.

Yes give me that style of engine and mower over the new stuff, every time, the new stuff is not worth messing with in my opinion .

Thanks goofball

I don't like that style carburetor and tank setup I had one years ago and the tank broke where the carburetor attached to the tank and I stuck it under the deck and left it behind after I moved the tank seemed to be made of cast aluminum or some other cast don't know how it broke but it did

Did you notice the tape on the spark plug wire

Honda mowers are getting disconnected as of 2024. Super sad to see them go. Now only toro is the mower brand I would buy.

that Briggs identifies as a 2 stroke

Did you hear Honda is going to stop production of their push mowers next year? It's true.

Briggs just make junk these days they used to be one of the best though.

Owner couldn't be bothered to keep dirt out of the gas tank.

The plastic carbs are just trash. All the parts just snap or break off.

$99 bucks and would last 15/20 years