Wasted $200 on a cheap power trowel that died after 3 jobs

Bought a no-name brand power trowel off a Facebook ad and the engine seized up on the fourth slab. Anyone else been burned by buying budget tools instead of renting good ones?

3 comments

3 Comments

adam18617d ago

Honestly you probably didn't waste the money if you got three jobs out of it before it died. A cheap trowel that lasts three jobs is still cheaper than renting one three times, especially when rental fees can add up quick. The main thing though is those no name engines usually don't have the oil protection features that better brands do. You gotta check the oil every time you use them or they'll seize up on you fast. Next time look at a used name brand one on Craigslist instead of the Facebook junk.

river_thompson17d agoMost Upvoted

Did you ever see those oil dipsticks with the little bulb on the end? Buddy of mine had one that popped out when the oil got low, but his cheap trowel didn't have it. He checked the oil once, figured it was fine, and two jobs later the engine seized up mid-finish. Real fun cleanup.

aaronroberts17d ago

Oh come on, three jobs out of a cheap trowel doesn't make it worth it. You wasted time and money on a tool that left you stranded mid-job. A rental might cost more per use, but you're paying for reliability and the ability to swap it out if it breaks down. Plus, those no-name engines burn through oil and gas faster than a decent Honda or Robin, so the operating costs eat into those savings. I'd rather spend $50 to rent a trowel that finishes a slab clean and on time than save a few bucks and end up with a seized engine and a half-finished floor. Cheap tools are a gamble, and when you're working for paying customers, that's not a bet worth taking.