Questions to ask
Does it run? Depending on the situation it may be an easy
fix
Have you ever had any issues with it? If so what were they?
Has it ever been serviced? Don’t get your hopes up here.
Very few people have service logs for their machine.
How old is it? This information is crucial with how often it’s
used, something could be 20 years old and garage kept but used twice. Don’t let
a high number scare you off. If anything it will just make the machine less
expensive
How often did you use it? 1 Season, once a week, most residential
equipment has low hours
Things to check
Smell/Check condition of the gas – If the gas looks and
smells a little off then there is a high probability of carb related issues. As
gas ages it starts to break down causing internal ports to clog and corrode.
Fluid leaks around the engine block and hoses – Check closely
around the main engine block and anywhere two components meet for remains of fluids.
Bad gaskets and hoses cause fluid leaks. Most hoses are an easy fix. But some
gaskets can be a big job.
Pull start rope slowly - It should have a reasonable amount of
resistance. If the pull start seems too easy to pull or you can’t pull it at
all then the engine may be blown.
Check the pull rope - most ropes are still factory. So if it
has little to no wear on it, then it was probably only used a handful of times.
If the rope is frayed and ragged then is was used often
Missing parts, bolts, levers – Keep in mind some specialty bolts
are hard to find
Oil levels & Condition – Make sure oil is at proper
levels. If the oil is level is extremely low and dirty then the engine may have
some extreme internal wear. Dirty oil at the proper level is not great, but it
is usually no cause for concern. If the oil appears to be a creamy color or is diluted
with gas it probably has internal damage.
If you have any questions feel free to contact us at FullThrottle Repair.
