Spent $450 on a used stump grinder that turned out to be a money pit

Bought it off a guy in Fresno last spring. Said it was low hours, just needed a carb clean. Got it home and the hydro pump went out on the second job. Then the belt shredded. Then the teeth were worn to nubs and cost $80 to replace. I couldve rented a grinder for 3 weekends with that cash. Has anyone else gotten burned buying used equipment off marketplace? Im sticking to rental or new from now on.

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1 Comment

elizabetht561mo ago

...and honestly I used to be all about buying used tools to save a buck, figured a little elbow grease and you're ahead of the game. But after watching my buddy sink damn near a grand into a "great deal" chipper last summer, I totally flipped my thinking. Now I see that $450 stump grinder purchase as tuition for a lesson about hidden costs and worn out parts that nobody mentions in the ad. The real kicker is you don't just lose the money, you lose the time and the jobs you can't take while it's sitting broken in your truck. I'd rather pay more up front for something with a warranty or just rent it for the weekend and be done with it.