My 17 year old Murray 12 HP just died and I'm looking at the current offerings. Some have Tecumsah engines, some have B&S and some have Kohler. Are all of these engines comparable or is any one better? I'm looking at 18 to 20 HP, 42" cutting deck mowers.
I'm looking at new lawn tractors....
- Thread starter pbm
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JTK
$100 Site Donor 2025
IMO, the engine manufacturer doesn't matter in a new ~$1200 LT. The transaxle, steering, deck, etc.. will fall apart first. IMO- kubota, simplicity, JD and toro would be tops for a LT. You hear of lots of troubles with the hydro-gear hydrostatic drives on MTD and craftsman/ayp machines. I'd go with a gear drive on those. If hydro is a must, get something with a tuff-torq.
Joel
Joel
My yard is about only about 1/2 to 2/3 of an acre
so I am fine with 'homeowner' model. A recent Consumer Reports gave high marks to the JD 125 which is $1800 at HD. They also gave decent marks to a $1300 (at HD) Toro. The JD has a 20hp B&S and the Toro has an 18hp Kohler. I'm leaning towards the Toro because of the $500 difference.
PS: My 1989 Murray 12hp Tecumsah is not starting. It appears to be the starter (spinning but not engaging the flywheel. It seems to be very loose.)
I'm gonna take a better look at it today but I'm prepared to buy a new one rather than throw $$$ at a 17 year old mower.
so I am fine with 'homeowner' model. A recent Consumer Reports gave high marks to the JD 125 which is $1800 at HD. They also gave decent marks to a $1300 (at HD) Toro. The JD has a 20hp B&S and the Toro has an 18hp Kohler. I'm leaning towards the Toro because of the $500 difference.
PS: My 1989 Murray 12hp Tecumsah is not starting. It appears to be the starter (spinning but not engaging the flywheel. It seems to be very loose.)
I'm gonna take a better look at it today but I'm prepared to buy a new one rather than throw $$$ at a 17 year old mower.
JTK
$100 Site Donor 2025
The $1300 toro at HD is an MTD unit. I'd stay away from it. It will be either a variator/belt drive trans or the light duty hydro-gear.
Joel
Joel
I second the comments about the rest of the mower falling apart first on an inexpensive model. My engine preferences are Kohler with Briggs a close second and Tecumseh(? SP) a distant third. I know several people with original, good running, unopened 20+ year old Kohlers. I have never been able to wear out a Briggs before the rest of the mower fell apart around it. And I had the displeasure of a rod through the block of a not so old Tecumseh. Good luck. Rickey.
JTK: Thanks for the info. The Toro did have an asterick saying 'non hydrostatic trans' (paraphrasing) so I imagine its the variator/belt drive that you mention. My old Murray had a 6 speed plus N and R and it never gave me a problem. Most times I would start out and run it in 6th (fastest). I see that some entry level models still have this (manual) type trans. Is this type more reliable than the current hydrostatics?
[ August 26, 2006, 10:36 AM: Message edited by: pbm ]
[ August 26, 2006, 10:36 AM: Message edited by: pbm ]
Ditto, I think of that everytime I see a tecumseh..... wonder when that conrod will go through the block?
Btw, have worn out a briggs, 12hp I/C, after 17 years of light commercial duty the first half, and a huge yard the second..., still ran but when it warmed up and the rings opened as well, it burned oil like crazy.... Just replaced it with a 18hp apposed briggs.
Mower is a noma.
As for your starter problem..... it sounds like a stuck solenoid, $12 fix...
I'd avoid a Tecumseh engine, but that's just me. I consider Briggs & Kohler to be fine, with Kohler the better of the two, but wouldn't base my choice on engine alone.
I'd avoid *anything* with the #@%&*! variable-diameter pulleys. Get something with real gears or a real hydro/automatic type drive. I've heard the same bad things about the MTD autos, the JD hydros seem to have a good reputation.
I just spent $110 and a long *full* day's work replacing the variable speed/diameter pulley & drive belts on my 12-yr old MTD. The next time something big goes like that, it's gonna be new mower time.
From the research I've done so far, the John Deere 125 or 135 looks very good to me.
I'd avoid *anything* with the #@%&*! variable-diameter pulleys. Get something with real gears or a real hydro/automatic type drive. I've heard the same bad things about the MTD autos, the JD hydros seem to have a good reputation.
I just spent $110 and a long *full* day's work replacing the variable speed/diameter pulley & drive belts on my 12-yr old MTD. The next time something big goes like that, it's gonna be new mower time.
I just got a chance to look at my Murray and found that the starter was actually loose (bolts had vibrated loose). I tightened the bolts and presto --it started right up. I had replaced the solenoid at the beginning of last summer so I knew it was good. I'll get the rest of this season out of it hopefully and maybe buy a new one in the spring. Now that I've started to research them I'd still like to know if the old 6 speeds are better than the hydrostatics? Thanks guys.
Agree 100%
Just curious PBM,Have you owned the Murray 17 years?Bought it used mabey?Either way 17 years and still going?what a piece a junk.I have a 7 year old MTD.Runs fine.
JTK
$100 Site Donor 2025
That's true, the current peerless fender shift gear drive is pretty good. More reliable than today's light hydros. A step up is the dual range, between the knees shift gear drive on craftsman GT's. No idea where sears outsources that one, but that's a great trans that's hard to get and probably will be gone soon. The last remaining old school super heavy-duty gear drive is on the toro classic GT315-8. That's it! Pretty much all of them are hydro or variator drive now.
Joel
I have the JD 115 and it runs just fine. B&S Motors are not that bad. every push mower and riding my dad has owned was a B&S. never had a prob and his oldest one lasted 20 years before a hidden stump took it out lol.
I liek the hydro static tranny over the gear select. as I could never find a gear that was right speed for my mowing speed. with this hydro tranny I can adust by my foot only. and its sweet.
I liek the hydro static tranny over the gear select. as I could never find a gear that was right speed for my mowing speed. with this hydro tranny I can adust by my foot only. and its sweet.
You are correct 80Caprice. I looked at the manual and it comes with a Peerless model # 920-005 transaxle. That transaxle has taken a lot and still works fine. I usually don't shift speeds while moving but rather start out in whatever gear I want to mow in (usually 6th).
Are Peerless transaxles unique to Tecumsah?
I wish the transmission in my Honda Accord was as durable.
JTK
$100 Site Donor 2025
Tecumseh bought out/absorbed peerless drives some years ago. Check here: http://www.tecumsehpower.com/frameset.php?page=Products/index.php
Joel
Lol, I have one worn out 7 speed peerless on my noma (bought out by murray but its still a noma made) but its so worn out I can shift it on the go without clutching (and no its not a shift on the go) been run with barely any grease as well. Thats how much I have abused mine..... still going strong as well....
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