Picked-up Free Murray!

[shortlid]

OK, well I went this weekend and picked-up from my neighbors a FREE '96 Murray Lawn tractor. It has a 6 speed shift on the fly, two blade deck and a I/C B&S, 12 hp single L-head. Only one issue, the starter turns over the engine real slow even when jumped or on new battery? Cables and wires LOOK OK. Is this a starter or silinoid problem?

 

[Tig]

My Murray does the same thing but it still starts. You could test the starter by using a jumper cable to power it directly from the battery for a moment.

 

[shortlid]

Maybe the B&S hads bad starters

 

[shortlid]

Unfortunatly mine cranks too slow to start at this point! It almost gets there but will not fire up.

 

[David_Kb7uns]

On the Briggs starters I have heard of checking the brush pack in the bottom, sometimes it will need to be replaced other than that check the solenoid, wires and ground

David Kb7uns

 

[Nasty135]

Shorty Howdy, You will be looking quite awhile for solenoid on this mower since they don't have one...If you want to go through the trouble of isolating the wiring issue, take the battery up to the starter and use a good set of jumpers and touch the positive side directly to the starter terminal and battery ground to mower frame if it spins good there you have bad wiring most likely a bad ground...
If it spins slow like before the starter is worn out...

Good Luck....

BTW sounds like the right price!!

 

[shortlid]

Well the positive leads seem to go througha ingnition switch under the seat on this Murray. Can a autoparts store test this?

 

[shortlid]

Geting jumpers directly to starter, can I use the battery in my truck to start it with teh engine off??

 

[dmk]

The easiest way to check wiring is with a good 12v test light. You can be sure that power goes to the (I call it a solenoid) probably under the seat, if there is one, turn the key, and you'll be able to tell if it goes to the other side.

I'm sure you'll get better info from others.

 

[shortlid]

OK so just jump the terminals on the starter SWITCH.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Post back with the results. Also does it just spin slowly, or does it spin quick to a point and then "Hang up" like it's fighting the compression?

 

[Tig]

Wow, two years later still with the slow start Murray. So am I. I did find a bit more information about these mowers and this problem. It may not be the starter. Pull the spark plugs and see how it turns over. If it spins well then you should search the forums for another thread on this subject. The gist of it is that as the valve wear the valve gap gets larger causing the valve to open very late on the compression stroke. This means higher compression when starting which will bog the starter. I do believe that this is the problem with my Murray, but being an L head B&S engine there is no adjustment. One of these days I may tear it down and see if I can help things out by lapping the valves so they will seat a bit deeper and close the gap on the stem somewhat.

 

[joes_427_vette]

I see you paid full list !

 

[shortlid]

Just spins slowly does not seem to hit a compression stroke. Previous owners siad it did this in the past but new battery always fixed it before. Not this time, that is why I am thinking electrical??

 

[shortlid]

ya, i can spin it by hand too compression stroke then can't spin past!

 

[Iplayfarmer]

ya, i can spin it by hand too compression stroke then can't spin past!

Here's a good thread about checking the valve clearances... http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/general-lawn-garden/123770-decompression-valve.html

If that's the problem, it's an easy fix.

 

[dmk]

When checking the clearances, I assume you just use a set of feeler guages? Where is the best (cheapest) place to get these?

 

[Iplayfarmer]

When checking the clearances, I assume you just use a set of feeler guages? Where is the best (cheapest) place to get these?

Napa, Checker, Pep Boys, Carquest. It's all about the same.

 

[shortlid]

Ok, also tried to supply direct battery voltage to the start terminals and it's can't spin it either?

 

[zman007007]

Shortlid, the easiest way to see if it is the starter, is this way, It bypasses everything including any safety switches and switch, etc. You can use booster cables or a good battery charger. On the mower hook one positive cable to the post on the starter where your battery cable goes. Make sure you get the clamp on the nut on it and not on the threads of it. Make sure the cable is not touching anything else. Then all you have to do is touch the black cable from the booster cables or charger to a good ground on the engine. You do not want to use the hot cable for touching the post on your starter, because it may arc off and ruin the threads on your starter. If you can"t get a good grip with your cable on the starter, get a small pair of vise grips and clamp them on the nut on the starter, then clamp your red cable on them. Again make sure it touches nothing else. If your starter turns the engine fine like this, you will know the starter is good. If not then you need a new starter. The ground cable will arc off probably when you touch it to ground, so don"t ground it anywhere near the gas tank, or carb. Sounds like to me your starter is just dragging. You may be able to get it rebuilt by a starter or alternator shop. Good luck, zman Pete