It is almost impossible to know exactly how the used Exmark Metro walk behind mower you are thinking about buying has been treated in the past and some sellers aren’t exactly 100% truthful about the condition of the lawn mowers engine and parts. The good news is that Exmark builds incredibly tough mowers that are designed to handle more use than the normal homeowner models found at chain stores.

Here are a few thing to check out before you buy.

Blade Spindles – Wiggle all of the blade spindle bolts on the top of the cutting deck. They should be firm in their bearings. A little movement means the bearings need to be replaced. Two bearings per spindle will cost you about $20. A lot of movement means the entire spindle assembly possibly needs to be replaced at a cost of about $120. Both of these repairs are very routine repairs and are easy to fix yourself.

Belts – Inspect all belts for tears or cracking. A new belt could cost you $40

Tires – These little tires could last forever. Just be sure that there are no holes in the sidewalls of the tires. Landscapers run into a lot of sharp debris so a few tire plugs are normal.

Engine – The engine should run smoothly and should not drop rpms or run erradicly at idle or when in gear. Look for oil leaks. Seals take time to replace and if you don’t do the work yourself it could get costly.

Overall Appearance – A rusty mower indicates that it was left outside alot. Water is the biggest enemy of all lawn mowers and I would try to avoid buying a lawn mower that is heavily rusted. Water can ruin the electrical systems and destroy bearings. I would also be a little hesitant to buy a mower that has been repainted.

Source by Walter Diener