Murray 1695885 Review

(Rated: 4.1 / 5) Review by Frank Lowery
Noise
Ease of Assembly
Maneuverability
Balance And Handling
Result Quality
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If you live in a region of the United States that gets big, heavy snow storms, you want a snow blower that is big and tough so that you can be sure you will always be ready to get the job done. Generally speaking, this usually means a single stage gas powered snow blower. These machines have the kind of big, powerful engines that are able to support large clearance widths and high snow cut depths, and they can reliably move lots of snow per minute. The Murray 1695885 has a Briggs & Stratton engine, which is a company that is well known for the quality and reliability of its engines. It has an extra wide 22 inch clearance and a high 12.5 inch snow cut depth. It is manufactured with the kind of durable parts you want on a single stage snow blower, and it has excellent design features.

Review Summary

The Murray 1695885 is a single stage gas powered snow blower that is perfect for light snow conditions on big suburban driveways. It has a Briggs & Stratton 205 cubic centimeter engine that provides enough torque to the auger to allow it to throw up to 1100 pounds of snow as far as 30 feet away. Briggs & Stratton is one of the top producers of small machine engines, and you can be sure you will be able to count on this one for many years to come. The engine has an electric starter system, so you can rely on it to start up every time. The auger on the snow blower is made of polymer, and designed to clear snow all the way down to the surface of the driveway without damaging its finish.

There are a few drawbacks to the Murray 1695885, but I do not think any of them take away from its overall performance ability, and several of them are quite common to single stage snow blowers. When it is stacked up against similar models, the Murray 1695885 performs quite well. It has a fairly high price tag, but considering what it offers, I think it’s worth the price.

Specifications

The Murray 1695885 is a single stage gas powered snow blower with dimensions of 22 x 36 x 22 inches. It has an electric start and a Briggs & Stratton 205 cc four-cycle engine with an overhead valve. The snow blower has a clearing width of 22 inches and a snow cut depth of 12.5 inches.

The Murray 1695885 has a per-minute clearance capacity of 1100 pounds, and it can throw snow up to 30 feet away. It must be manually pushed by its operator. Its snow chute can be manually rotated up to 200 degrees about its central axis. It has compact wheels and weighs 106.9 pounds. It comes with a 2 year warranty.

Description

The Murray 1695885 is a gas powered, single stage snow blower with a Briggs & Stratton manufactured four-cycle engine with overhead valve design and a displacement of 205 cubic centimeters. Briggs & Stratton is one of the most well respected manufacturers of small machine engines in the industry, and you can be certain you will be able to rely on this engine to provide top rate performance over the long term. Because it is an OHV engine, it requires less space and is easy to maintain, and because it is four-cycle, you do not have to mix gasoline and oil to run it.

The engine supports an auger that is 22 inches wide, which is rather large for a single stage snow blower, and will allow you to finish clearing your driveway in fewer passes and less time. It has a snow cut depth that is 12.5 inches. Because of that height, you will be well prepared for even some of the more severe winter snow storms. And with its electric start, you can get going reliably every time, instead of struggling fruitlessly with an obstinate recoil starter cord. The auger on the Murray 1695885 is made of durable polymer that will simultaneously be resistant to wear and tear and prevent damage to your driveway’s finish. At the same time, it clears snow all the way down to the surface of the driveway, and never leaves a layer of snow behind.

The Murray 1695885 is one of the more expensive single stage snow blowers of its size, but I think the price is still fairly reasonable. This machine is made with top of the line parts, such as the Briggs & Stratton engine, and it is durable and reliable over the long term. If you have a fairly large driveway to keep clear, and live in an area that gets a fair amount of snow fall every winter, this is a great machine to have in your garage.

Pros

There are plenty of great features on the Murray 1695885 that make it one of the best single stage gas snow blowers in its size class. This model has an extra wide clearance and high snow cut depth, and its polymer auger is designed to leave no snow behind without damaging the driveway’s finish. It has convenient features like an electric starter and ergonomic design. And its engine is made by Briggs & Stratton, one of the leaders in small machine engine manufacturing.

1. Perfect for light snow conditions on big driveways : While the Murray 1695885 certainly has the capability to deal with big snow storms, it really shines when it comes to clearing lighter snow fall from big driveways. That is because it has an extra wide 22 inch clearance that allows you to clear a big driveway in fewer passes and less time. These extra inches will really cut down on the number of passes you have to make to clear your driveway.
2. Polymer auger leaves no snow behind : The auger on the Murray 1695885 is made of a wear resistant polymer, which allows it to clear snow all the way down to the pavement without being susceptible to wear and tear from scraping against the surface of the driveway. And because it is made of polymer rather than steel, you do not have to worry about the possibility that it will damage your driveway’s finish while it is clearing the snow.
3. Electric starter for reliable startups every time : The Murray 1695885 has an electric starter, rather than a recoil and primer button system. That has two benefits. First of all, an electric starter is a lot easier to use than a heavy recoil cord. Second of all, you can always count on the snow blower to start up reliably every single time, which is especially important when you are outside in a heavy snow storm or freezing winter temperatures.
4. Powerful Briggs & Stratton Engine : The engine on the Murray 1695885 is made by Briggs & Stratton, which is bar none one of the best manufacturers of small machine engines in the industry today. The engine has a displacement of 205 cubic centimeters, and it supplies enough power to the machine to have a clearance capacity of up to 1100 pounds of snow per minute. The engine’s overhead valve and 4-cycle design provide more power and require less maintenance as well.
5. Ergonomic, convenient design features : The overall design of the Murray 1695885 is conceived with comfort and convenience in mind. It has an ergonomic handle that makes sure you will have minimal back or shoulder strain when using this snow blower. And convenient, thoughtful design features like the snow chute’s ability to rotate 200 degrees around its center radius ensure that you will have a much more enjoyable snow clearing experience with this machine.

Any one of these Pros taken on its own would make a single stage snow blower extremely competitive, but taken together, they really make the Murray 1695885 outshine a lot of its competition. This is a powerful, durable, and well designed machine that is perfect for keeping big suburban driveways clear of snow all winter long.

Cons

In spite of its excellent features, there are a few drawbacks to the Murray 1695885 that are worth mentioning. None of them take away much from the snow blower’s overall ability or performance and they have more to do with limitations due to its intended use than any flaws in design or manufacturing. Overall this remains a very solid snow blower.

1. Large footprint and rather heavy : The Murray 1695885 is one of the larger snow blowers among models with comparable clearance widths and snow cut depths. This may make it a bit more difficult to find adequate storage space for it in your garage or tool shed, and it may prove harder to maneuver it in tight spaces in your driveway. It also weighs over 100 pounds, which some users may find is a bit too heavy for them to easily use it.
2. High emissions, not CARB compliant : The Briggs & Stratton engine on the Murray 1695885, while impressive in terms of power, produces a lot of emissions, is not very fuel efficient, and is not compliant with California Air Resources Board regulations for small machine emissions. This means that if you live in any one of the fourteen states that enforce these regulations, you will not be able to buy this snow blower or legally use it.
3. May struggle with snow drifts : In spite of the fact that the Murray 1695885 has an extra high, 12.5 inch snow cut depth, it may have difficulty cutting through big drifts of snow, and it will not be able to handle very heavy snow fall. While this will not be a problem for most users, if you live in a region that gets lots of deep snow fall like the Northeast, or if you are familiar with the big drifts that can form in windy regions like the Great Plains, this may not be the right machine for you.
4. Has some difficulty with slushy snow : While the Briggs & Stratton engine provides a lot of power to the polymer auger on the Murray 1695885, it nevertheless will tend to have some difficulty dealing with wet, slushy snow. This kind of snow is heavier and denser than freshly fallen, drier snow. In order to avoid this problem, it is best to get out there and start clearing snow as soon as it has stopped falling, before it freezes or melts.
5. One of the more expensive models : The price tag on the Murray 1695885 makes it one of the most expensive models in its size and clearance width class. However, it is made from very durable materials, has a very high snow cut depth, and has one of the best engines you can find in a single stage gas powered snow blower. Because of these excellent features, I do not think the Murray 1695885 is unreasonably priced, in spite of its high cost.

As I pointed out at the beginning of this section, I do not think that any one of these Cons represents a serious flaw in the design or manufacturing of the Murray 1695885, and I doubt that any of them will seriously affect its performance over the long term. At the same time, I do think it is important to cover all the aspects of a product so that you know exactly what you are getting.

Product Comparison

When it is compared to similar single stage gas powered snow blowers, the Murray 1695885 is consistently bigger, has a more powerful engine, wider clearance, higher snow cut depth and higher clearance capacity per minute. Overall it is one of the best single stage snow blowers in its class. The following table compares the Murray 1695885 to the Toro Power Clear 621R and the Poulan Pro PR621.

	Murray 1695885	Toro Power Clear 621R	Poulan Pro PR621
Type	Single-Stage	Single-Stage	Single-Stage
Dimensions	22 x 36 x 22 inches	22 x 29 x 23 inches	26.5 x 31.2 x 24.5 inches
Start	Button push	Button push	Button push
Engine Manufacturer	Briggs & Stratton	Toro	Poulan Pro
Engine	205 cc – OHV	163 cc	208 cc – OHV
2-cycle / 4-cycle	4-cycle	4-cycle	4-cycle
Clearing Width	22 inches	21 inches	21 inches
Snow Cut Depth	12.5 inches	10 inches	13 inches
Capacity / Minute	Up to 1100 pounds	Up to 900 pounds	Up to 1100 pounds
Throw Distance	Up to 30 feet	Up to 25 feet	Up to 25 feet
Drive	Manual push	Manual push	Manual push
Handle	Ergonomic	Ergonomic	Ergonomic
Chute Control	Manual 200°	Manual 180°	Manual 180°
Wheels	Compact wheels	Compact wheels	Compact wheels
Weight	106.9 pounds	95 pounds	70 pounds
Warranty	2 years	2 years	2 years

The Murray 1695885 has a Briggs & Stratton engine, while the other two are made in-house by their respective companies; the Murray 1695885 has one of the biggest of the three. It has the biggest clearance width of the three machines, and shares the highest clearance capacity with the Poulan Pro. The latter machine also has a slightly higher snow cut depth. The Murray 1695885 is the heaviest of the three.

Conclusion

You want to have a big, powerful snow blower in order to successfully tackle the kind of storms and heavy snow fall winter can throw at you. In every area, the Murray 1695885 consistently delivers the kind of power and performance you need. Let’s take another look at the machine’s Pros and Cons.

Conclusion Pros

1. Perfect for light snow conditions on big driveways.
2. Polymer auger leaves no snow behind.
3. Electric starter for reliable startups every time.
4. Powerful Briggs & Stratton Engine.
5. Ergonomic, convenient design features.

The Murray 1695885 has the kind of wide clearance and high snow cut depth that make it ideal for use on big, suburban driveways. It has superior design features like an electric start and an auger designed to clean your driveway down to the surface as well as one of the best engines a single stage snow blower can have.

Conclusion Cons

1. Large footprint and rather heavy.
2. High emissions, not CARB compliant.
3. May struggle with snow drifts.
4. Has some difficulty with slushy snow.
5. One of the more expensive models.

The Murray 1695885 is a pretty big and fairly heavy machine, which some users may find makes it difficult to use. It has high emissions and is not compliant with CARB standards. It will have a bit of difficulty with big snow drifts and heavy, slushy snow. While it’s one of the more expensive models, it offers a lot for the price.

Final Word

A bad winter that has a lot of heavy snow storms can be a real challenge, especially for homeowners who have big driveways to keep clear, but this does not have to be the case. With a big, powerful snow blower like the Murray 1695885, you can always be ready to tackle whatever snow fall winter throws at you. This machine has the kind of extra wide clearance that makes sure you will have no trouble clearing your driveway in as few passes as possible. It has a 12.5 inch high snow cut depth, which means even the heaviest snow storms will be no problem for you. The Murray 1695885 has a Briggs & Stratton 205 cubic centimeter engine that provides the kind of robust power you need, and it has an electric start to make sure you can get it going quickly. Overall this is a solid, reliable snow blower that can get the job done.

Best Price

The Murray 1695885 is expensive. It has one of the highest prices for a single stage snow blower, but I think the price is fairly justified. It has an extra wide clearance and a high snow cut depth to ensure you can deal with whatever winter throws your way. And its engine is absolutely top of the line; it is manufactured by Briggs & Stratton, a leader in the small engine manufacturing industry. The design and make of the machine is very durable, and it will hold up to heavy use for quite a few years. Overall this is a reliable snow blower at a reasonable, if high, price.