Arkie wrote:You can easily get more into rebuilding a worn out engine than cost of new engine and still come up with a bad engine.
Especially true with verticals, Horizonals are different due to costs to replace. But even you can get burned on a rebuild. I got TB Horse sitting on the yard that was approved for rebuild by the owner for $500. After I completed the repairs the customer decided he was not going to pay the repair bill. It was a Briggs 7 hp electric start engine. I had to buy the hone and stones the drill to operate the hone so I got over $500 in it myself; of course, I get to keep and used the tools so that wasn't figured into the repair costs. The part was finding obsolete rod in NOS. A $15 rod cost me $60 plus shipping.
I couldn't sell the tiller to recover the repair bill. People around here wants you to give them an used machine. They are only interested in buying at yard sale prices. I couldn't even sale a recondition SP mower for $75 and I that much in repair parts in it; I was offered $25 for it. I no longer attempt to sale used equipment and just settle into repairs only.
