Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

These things are loaded. Not only remote chute deflector...remote chute rotation.

The picture shows a crank handle but the parts lists shows a motor on the bottom of the chute. Looks like I could retrofit some stuff onto mine.The handlbars are nice and high on these.They are sold at Menards.None around here.Craftsman has the clone with the Briggs OHV 11 horse.Looks pretty good in black.

Buy one of these and support American jobs.

Hello Navihawk:

I found in my limited experience that the Murray blowers are not that bad.  I used to own a John Deere TRS26 (8hp Murray built) snow blower.  I had this machine for about 8 years with only minor problems.  The most major of which was replacement of the drive axle bushings.  The bushings were very inexpensive, about $3 but the time and effort I had to put in to install more than made up for the parts price.  I spent over 3 hours trying to get the wheels off of the shaft. (I now am a little smarter and took the wheels off of my new Ariens and coated with anti-seize compound).  The best feature to the Murrays are the Dual handle lock where either hand can be removed from the lever during operation.  This feature worked well to change the chute rotation (handle on the left side) while underway.  Other than some other very minor adjustments and tinkering, the Murray proved to be a very loyal companion.  In fact, my neighbor wanted to purchase a JD after seeing how far mine blew snow, but had to purchase a Ariens ST1032 as that was all that was available towards the end of the season.  I sold my JD for $400 two years ago when I bought my Ariens...sometimes I miss my old green and yellow friend

The only thing about the new ones that might concern me would be the chute design...It does not look like the same quality that was on the JD.

bbwb

John Deere is back using Murray - to produce it's Frontier snowblowers.  The larger JDs all have OHV motors but I think Murray still uses L-head Snow Kings for some of their lables.   -Bob

navihawk wrote:
Murray snowblowers

If you want me to check I can see if the Briggs on the Craftsman is made in Briggs' China plant too. What do you think the chances are? Wonder where they make those Tecs?

Hello Navihawk,

Great minds think alike. I have a 2003 Craftsman 536.887752  &.75 HP snowblower made by Murray.  I just added the remote chute deflector by reverse engineering their YardKing  27" 8.5 HP  Model 627858X43A  which is just like the Blizzard.  I decided to try to add the remote chute deflector because the Craftsman seemed to be already set up for it.  If fact, it was, except for a bracket under the plastic head light control pannel.  I had to fabricate a metal bracket to support the the chute defeector control handle.  I called Murray for help in trying to identify a part number for the bracket which I could not find on any parts list,  It seems it is part of the handle bars and is not sold as a seperate part.  The fellow at Murray technical support told me he had to terminate the telephone conversation when he learned i was attempting to "modify" my snowblower ( with original equipment Murray parts.)  It was a scene out of a Saturday Night Live show.  I realize his point about product liability but they should just sell a kit for this purpose. 

By the way I also made a few other modifications.  I added Murray drift cuts which are adjustable, a Brigs& Stratton oid drain valve and a B&S muffler guard.

Jim,

Welcome to Abby's.  

Though they are (were?) Chinese owned, Murray makes its snowblowers in Lawrenceburg, TN.   I'm less sure about the Briggs snow motors but I thought they made all their motors in the US except the Vanguard line.  robmints, how would you check that?  

Coincidentally  I understand Briggs and Stratton are negotiating to take over bankrupt Murray though they expect to close plants after 18 months.  Evidently the Chinese messed up Murray big time.   Too bad.   Hopefully Briggs will find a way to keep them going.  

Jim_O,   The muffler guard is a great idea.  I leaned over my machine once and melted a big hole in my new parka.     Where did you get yours?  -Bob

http://www.tennessean.com/business/archives/05/01/64507796.shtml

Sorry for the outdated, mis-imformation.

Hello Boblloyd,

You are right.  I did previously  melt part of a nylon jacket trying to start a 25 year old Torro snowblower.  I had a heck of a time trying to find a muffler gard for my B&S 7.75 OHV Intek engine.  Last year Bosco posted a picture of his Simplicity 860 EI with a B&S OHV engine that came with a muffler guard.  But he B&S Accessories Catalog said a guard was not available for my engine .  After a lot of research, I went back to B&S with some part numbers and they thought  part number 699313 would fit .  I ordered it from Jacks Small Engine  for $21.60 and only had to add one screw part # 699209 for $1.20 to attach it .  There was one screw already on the muffler.  I figured I would give you the part numbers and their cost if you or anyone else was interested in adding it to your snowblower.

For what it's worth, Briggs & Stratton now own Murray for moneys owed to B&S for engines delivered and not paid for by Murray. With B&S also aquiring Simplicity (AGCO and Massey Ferguson lawn equip. also) they have positioned them selves to be a MAJOR player in the outdoor power equipment market. And Deere snowblowers were indeed made by Murray as the Frontier line, last info I checked. I don't know what might be in store for next year in that relationship.

bontaiJoe wrote:
I believe the rumors are true, B&S wil be branding their own equipment soon with their recent acquisitions.  We will soon be arguing if B&S snowblowers are as good as the current market leaders.

I am curious if B&S simply ships out existing models from Murray, or updates them with a whole new line of products to make a big splash as a technology leader in the market.  They'll probably keep Simplicity as is and let it die a slow death as Microsoft is still doing to FoxPro.

--SnowRemover