If your Murray lawn mower won't start, begin with the parts most likely to stop ignition or fuel delivery. The first thing to check is the spark plug. If the insulator is cracked, the electrode is damaged, or the tip is carbon-fouled, replace it. A spark plug tester will tell you quickly if the plug is actually producing spark while the engine is cranking. If spark is good, the next most common cause is a clogged carburetor from stale fuel. This is a very common reason a lawn mower not starting or a push mower won't start after sitting. Try carburetor cleaner first, then rebuild it with a carburetor repair kit or replace the carburetor if needed. Old gasoline left in the carburetor float bowl can create the same no-start problem, so drain bad fuel if necessary. After that, check the start switch for continuity with a multimeter, and inspect the fuel pump, including the pulse line, diaphragm, and check valves. Enter your Murray model number on RepairClinic.com to find the exact replacement part that fits your mower.
01 - Murray Lawn Mower Spark Plug
Inspect the spark plug for signs of wear or damage. If the porcelain insulator is cracked, an electrode is burned away or damaged, or there is heavy carbon buildup at the electrode, replace the spark plug. To determine if the spark plug is defective, use a spark plug tester. You should see a strong spark between the tester’s terminals when the engine is cranking. If there is no spark, this indicates that the spark plug is defective and should be replaced.
Enter model number to search for the required part specific to your product
The carburetor might be clogged. A clogged carburetor is most commonly caused by leaving fuel in the lawn mower for a long period of time. Over time, some of the ingredients in the fuel may evaporate, leaving behind a thicker, stickier substance. This sticky fuel can clog up the carburetor and prevent the engine from starting. If the carburetor is clogged, try cleaning it with carburetor cleaner. If cleaning the carburetor isn’t effective, rebuild or replace the entire carburetor.
The carburetor might be clogged. A clogged carburetor is most commonly caused by leaving fuel in the lawn mower for a long period of time. Over time, some of the ingredients in the fuel may evaporate, leaving behind a thicker, stickier substance. This sticky fuel can clog up the carburetor and prevent the engine from starting. If the carburetor is clogged, try cleaning it with carburetor cleaner. If cleaning the carburetor isn’t effective, rebuild or replace the entire carburetor.
There may be old or bad fuel in the carburetor float bowl. Over time, some of the ingredients in the fuel may evaporate, leaving behind a thicker, stickier substance. This sticky fuel can clog up the carburetor and prevent the engine from starting. If the carburetor is clogged, try cleaning it with carburetor cleaner. If cleaning the carburetor isn’t effective, rebuild or replace the entire carburetor.
Top Solution
05 - Murray Lawn Mower Start Switch
To determine if the start switch is defective, use a multimeter to test it for continuity.
The fuel pump has three ports: the gas in port, the gas out port, and the pulse port. The pulse port is connected to the engine crankcase by a small rubber tube. As the engine runs, air inside the crankcase alternately pressurizes and depressurizes the air in the tube. This pressurized air moves a diaphragm inside the pump and pumps the gas. If the engine oil is overfilled, oil can enter the pulse port line, preventing it from working properly. The fuel pump also has two small check valves on the input and output ports. The check valves prevent fuel from reentering the gas tank. These check valves can fail. To determine if... the fuel pump is defective, check the pulse port line, check valves, and the diaphragm inside the pump. The fuel pump is not repairable—if the fuel pump is not working properly, you must replace it.