Inspecting a used riding mower before handing over cash
By My Yard Editorial Team · 7/28/2026
The Quick Answer
Do a cold start, check for deck rust-through and blade spindle play, then drive it under load. Assume anything you don't inspect will cost you $300–$800 to fix.
The Witty Breakdown
Sellers warm the engine to hide hard starting. Ask them not to touch it before you arrive, and be suspicious if it's already hot.
Look under the deck with a flashlight. Surface rust is normal; holes you can push a screwdriver through are not.
Step-by-Step Fix
- 1
Cold start it yourself, listening for knocking and watching for smoke.
- 2
Rock each blade; more than slight play means bad bearings.
- 3
Inspect the deck underside and the frame for rot and weld repairs.
- 4
Drive up a slope at full throttle to test the transmission under load.
Pro-Tip / Do Not Do This
Don't pay cash without seeing it cut grass. 'It runs great' and 'it mows great' are two very different claims.
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