G'day

What do you have for a Model number?

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thanks guys.

unfortunately the nameplate on the mower has been removed/lost, thus my query.

i see the little smiley with placard "we want pictures"... okay! but i think i have FAR too many to post on this forum, plus as a newbie it's a little over my head.

so, what i have recently done is upload as many pics and details as i could to my hosting account in the hope that one day someone will come across it who knows what it is AND hopefully has a manual(s). please visit www.hatvani.com (fyi, my surname). (ATTN: forum administrators - feel free to insert as many of those photos into this thread as you see fit. one day i will try to post one of them in the murray pics section.)

i've just read a few threads and followed a few links and have discovered some pretty interesting and useful info. i am hopeful that someone can shed some light on my tractor.

thanks,
Robert.

I was just checking out your machine. Your are correct on the model number breakdown [year, deck size, vendor etc.] If the engine is original , the tractor will be a 1990 or 1991. Possibly even a 1992 but not likely. It is also possible that the Y [year designation] may have been no longer in use when your tractor was built, I'm not sure when Murray stopped that. Either way, we have a good start - the tractor is narrowed down to two years, a 12 horse power plant, and a 30" deck. Off to do a little searchin' around.

Well, While BBY does his research, I just wanted to comment about the photo's you had.


Wow, don't you ever use that rider. That is a really clean mower for its age. I was really impressed with the show room clean looks of it.

We'll try to get you going. We have a 99% success rate........well, I don't really know about the percentage rate, it just sounded about right. We try really hard on MTF Murray forum to get the problems resolved. And we do a good job of it, too. A lot of knowledgeable guys on here. Check back often and we'll get you as much info as possible to get you back up and running.

:Welcome1:

And Robs, While I was checking your photo's out, I began to notice a few details. It is very similar to a 1984 Murray I once had. The grille and deck height adjustment and 5 speed manual shift were identical to it. It doesn't mean yours is a 1984 model. Could be you guys were getting model productions that were behind the production models from years previous to what we were seeing.

Here is a photo of what mine looked like. As you can see from the photo's, That is why I was so impressed with yours and the condition of it.

I have just one question that might help everyone out. Do you think or know that this LT is all stock and not restored. (new paint, newer motor and everything) I don't mean to imply that you don't keep your mower in excelent shape but the pictures look like it is almost brand new, so everyone may be looking at a motor date that is not the original one that came in the LT. I only wish my 1996 GT looked that good

Enjoy all of the many Forums here on MTF..

hankll said:

And Robs, While I was checking your photo's out, I began to notice a few details. It is very similar to a 1984 Murray I once had. The grille and deck height adjustment and 5 speed manual shift were identical to it. It doesn't mean yours is a 1984 model. Could be you guys were getting model productions that were behind the production models from years previous to what we were seeing.

Click to expand...

Some good points here hankll. I'm thinking either this machine has been re powered -or- Australia was getting older units as new. Especially with that chain drive. If you search Australia on eBay, there are dealers selling new Murrays that are the 2002 - 2005 design. I searched through all my Murray stuff and came up empty. Have not given up though.

Big-o said:

I have just one question that might help everyone out. Do you think or know that this LT is all stock and not restored. (new paint, newer motor and everything) I don't mean to imply that you don't keep your mower in excelent shape but the pictures look like it is almost brand new, so everyone may be looking at a motor date that is not the original one that came in the LT. I only wish my 1996 GT looked that good

Click to expand...

I don't think so. At least the body is original. All the under carriage photo shots show nearly new looking wiring and trans is shiny still, and even the pulleys are in nearly new condition. As far as a re-power on the engine, maybe, but I'm thinking it is as I said. What we are seeing, is a lag in the model design that we saw years before in our country.

hankll said:

What we are seeing, is a lag in the model design that we saw years before in our country.

Click to expand...

Agreed.

BBY, how long has it been since we saw chain drive to a slip differential axle like that. My 84 Murray wasn't like that. It had the regular belt drive to a vertical oriented PTO shafted trans-axle... That type of gear driven setup of a belt driven trans reminds me of what they might have used in the 70's or earlier.

......Or at least I don't think my 84 was set up that way.

I was checking some of my parts lists from the mid 80's yesterday and they were all belt drive. The first chain drive I came across was a rer from the 1970's. I remember HuffyCaprice mentioning a chain drive, or maybe it was Ferguson? But that may have been a rer also.


EDIT I should also mention none had 30" decks, just to add to the mystery.

Yea, I wonder about the European and now this one of Robs01 is a 30". Even the 84 Murray I had, was a 36" 2 blade deck. So I'm wondering if the idea of a smaller decked rider in those countries has something to do with smaller yards or all of them have narrow gates. It is a question I'd love Robs01 to give his idea of an answer to the question.

Wow! Thank you for all the replies.

I have been hard at it, digging as much as I can (my wife is getting annoyed coz I'm spending most of the day on the internet or at a factory looking at it).

First, regarding the condition, my father bought this mower back in late 80s or early 90s and it was used only once or maybe twice per year to cut grass on a country property. I had just finished pulling apart, cleaning and servicing the mower when i took the photos, that's why in some of them it looks brand spanking new! But yes, it is in remarkable condition (especially when you see what else I have discovered below).

My only hope was to effectively search 'at random' until I find a manual which has a diagram similar to the mower. Using the 'needle in a haystack' discovery on ebay of the hood part number 90470 or 90471 (item # 180530379486 on ebay) I googled that part and came across a few manuals like this: http://www.toolpartsdirect.com/cgi-bin/noframes.cgi/murray/83-36523. At that site I got a hit on 3-36508, 3-36523, 4-36534, 5-36508X4, 6-36508, and 6-36508X4 with matching hood. But none of those is a 30" model. Thus maybe the engine dated 1990 is NOT the original power plant!!! It is perhaps an early to mid 80s chassis making it up to another 10 years old. A 30 year old machine! I think I remember my mum saying that they bought it second hand so that could add weight to the theory.

Now, another thing I am currently doing is that I have taken both belts, measured them precisely, and am trying to match those sizes to a belt application guide to reverse engineer the model #. Although I downloaded this belt application guide pdf I am trying to find the link so I can post it here - coming soon. The drive belt is 81 and 7/8", the blade belt is 79".

(Note to self: your investigative skills are great - apply for a job at the FBI).

I'll keep everyone informed of my progress...

@ hankll & BushBoneYard : I do agree with your comments about possibly 'lagging' behind in the models. I do have the opinion that Australia is a "dumping ground" for any kind of old stock, as we are often one of the last places to get stuff, and only after no-one else wants it. So just MAYBE it was a genuine Murray configuration of excess old chassis parts with a newer engine. ???

@hankll : regarding the 30" deck size, I don't know what the typical size was either then or now. Just from my 'uninformed' position I think maybe our population densities are higher and we have smaller parcels of land and thus generally don't need larger mowers. I think VERY few households have tractors, only walk behind mowers. Most tractors would be for commercial or farm use. In any case next time I visit the mower shop to pick up supplies I will have a look and see what's the typical deck size now and post it here.

P.S. I did find on google search a mower described on an Australian auction site which seemed identical to mine (Murray, 12ic/30 12hp B&S engine etc) but the listing was a few months ago and had since been removed. So I think there may be hope of finding another one some time in the future. I'm a determined sucker and I will not rest until I find that model #!