TNhobbyfarmer
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Dec 23, 2004
- Messages
- 1,172
- Location
- Middle Tennessee
- Tractor
- Kubota L3430 Polaris Ranger 500
I've been looking for a cheap lawn tractor on craigslist most of the summer. I have a hunting cabin on some property I own a couple of hours from my full time residence. I have been hauling my Craftsman tractor back and forth to cut the lawn at the cabin. I have wanted something to leave there and avoid the hauling.
Those of you who buy on CL know that when a really good deal is posted, you better respond fast or you'll miss out. I don't have time top sit and watch CL all day so I have mised out on the deals so far this summer, however I finally got in on one.
Early this week I saw an ad for a 2007 19 HP (Kohler Engine) Troy-Bilt mower. The ad said everything was in perfect condition. The pictures confirmed that it was not used very much and it looked almost new. The price was $250.00. I emailed immediately and indicated that I wanted the mower. The response came back quickly and said I could come get it but not until Saturday. I wanted to get the deal consumated quicker than that but had no choice but to wait until the seller was prepared for me to come.
Then the seller emailed me and said we needed to talk. OK, here we go. I knew there was going to be some catch to the deal. Well, she said they had not used the mower all summer and when her husband tried to start it it needed a new battery. Also, he wanted to change the oil to make sure it was in top notch condition before selling it, but because of the extra maintenance expense, the price was now $350.00. And by the way they got 50 emails within the first hour of the ad being posted. I wasn't too happy with the bait and switch that was going on but they realized they priced it too low and thus were in the drivers seat. I grumbled under my breath, but because I still thought it was a good deal at $350.00 I agreed.
Well the next day I get another email. Before opening it, I thought to myself "here we go again." To my pleasant surprise it said that when they put in a new battery and started it up, there was smoke coming from the engine, and they didn't want to sell it in that condition. The next sentence shocked me. It said they were moving this weekend and couldn't take it with them so I could come get it free. Wow! What a deal. I now have the free tractor in my possession.
I put a battery in (they returned the batterry they bought and I don't blame them), and it wouldn't turn over. I checked the battery and it was in good conditioned and well charged so I removed the starter and had it checked. The starter is bad so I have ordered another one. If that's the only problem I encounter, it will still be a great deal. I think I know what the smoking was about. I checked the oil and it had way too much in it. Will that cause the engine to smoke or potentially do other harm if run too long with too much oil? If you have had any experience with too much oil in an engine, I would appreciate your comments.
Here is a picture of the Troy-Bilt.
Those of you who buy on CL know that when a really good deal is posted, you better respond fast or you'll miss out. I don't have time top sit and watch CL all day so I have mised out on the deals so far this summer, however I finally got in on one.
Early this week I saw an ad for a 2007 19 HP (Kohler Engine) Troy-Bilt mower. The ad said everything was in perfect condition. The pictures confirmed that it was not used very much and it looked almost new. The price was $250.00. I emailed immediately and indicated that I wanted the mower. The response came back quickly and said I could come get it but not until Saturday. I wanted to get the deal consumated quicker than that but had no choice but to wait until the seller was prepared for me to come.
Then the seller emailed me and said we needed to talk. OK, here we go. I knew there was going to be some catch to the deal. Well, she said they had not used the mower all summer and when her husband tried to start it it needed a new battery. Also, he wanted to change the oil to make sure it was in top notch condition before selling it, but because of the extra maintenance expense, the price was now $350.00. And by the way they got 50 emails within the first hour of the ad being posted. I wasn't too happy with the bait and switch that was going on but they realized they priced it too low and thus were in the drivers seat. I grumbled under my breath, but because I still thought it was a good deal at $350.00 I agreed.
Well the next day I get another email. Before opening it, I thought to myself "here we go again." To my pleasant surprise it said that when they put in a new battery and started it up, there was smoke coming from the engine, and they didn't want to sell it in that condition. The next sentence shocked me. It said they were moving this weekend and couldn't take it with them so I could come get it free. Wow! What a deal. I now have the free tractor in my possession.
I put a battery in (they returned the batterry they bought and I don't blame them), and it wouldn't turn over. I checked the battery and it was in good conditioned and well charged so I removed the starter and had it checked. The starter is bad so I have ordered another one. If that's the only problem I encounter, it will still be a great deal. I think I know what the smoking was about. I checked the oil and it had way too much in it. Will that cause the engine to smoke or potentially do other harm if run too long with too much oil? If you have had any experience with too much oil in an engine, I would appreciate your comments.
Here is a picture of the Troy-Bilt.
