Need your advice on a motor sale gone bad

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natickdave

natickdave

10 Year 15 Year
Joined
Feb 8, 2006
Threads
24
Messages
196
Boys,
I sure could use some quick advice. I just sold the old 2F that was pulled out of Loopy ~5 years ago to a guy I never met. He is not on mud (his pal saw the post) nor does he know anyone (e.g, Jim Reel or Wally) who lives out his way. He needed a motor for his "jeep" and was happy when he found mine. He also picked up the minitruck p.s. box for his pal who saw the post.
He asked me about it and I said that it ran fine when pulled and had been sitting in the garage all that time. He spun it by hand no problem and loaded into his pickup. He pulled out a blank check with a name on it other than his (he said his wife's) when it was time to pay. I insisted he give me whatever cash he had on him ($100, equal to the price of the p.s. box) and do the rest by check. That kind of put me off, but I figured what the hell, I was happy to see the motor go for $250.
That was saturday and today I got a message from him saying that he and his mechanic pal had spun it more prior to the install once things warmed up and heard a bad knock. He says that he pulled a bearing and it was the "wrong one" and had corrosion around it and that his motor-rebuilding buddy says that there was no way that it didn't knock real bad when it was running. He also talked to my wife directly when he called again; she says he was very nice and just wanted to know when I would be back.
I have not talked to him yet, this all just happened. On the one hand, I sold the motor as is with no disclaimers other than it ran when pulled, he spun it and it was not frozen, so he left satisfied. On the other hand, I don't want to rip the guy off, yet I don't want the same to happen to me. I have not cashed the check yet.
Any advice? Nick, do you recall that motor knocking? I don't. I figure the guy wants his money back, but I am not sure if I should do that. Actually, it wouldn't bother me too much to do that, but only if I could do something appropriate with the motor afterwards, as I really don't want it back. Anyone know a guy named Doug Smith in Wendell, MA, who calls his cruiser a Jeep?

Dave
 
tough spot you're in. if you give him the money back and take the motor back you are stuck with a motor that you can't tell again with out testing because now you know it "could" be bad.

if you have him keep the motor and don't cash the check, well, it's just as likely that he ripped you off.

can you find a garage in the area that you arrange to have the motor brought to for an assessment? perhaps one where the guys friends don't work? i realize it's a huge pain in the ass but if the guy wants to be fair that seems like a reasonable fair to you option.

i dunno, just thinking out loud.
 
Everybody wants to buy a perfect motor for nothing. Your price of $250 was cheap, basically a core price and you sold it as is and were up front about it. He could have gone to cruiserparts and got one for a grand and when he did not like that one he could bring it back and get another one. I don't think that the deal says that you should give him a refund, then again I would not like it if he went around saying that you riped him off. What credentials does his "mechanic pal" have?
 
FWIW I installed that motor in ND's old 40, Loopy, 'cause I blew up the original. :o:doh: Anyway, when we finished the install it definitely did not knock and quite simply we were real happy with how well it ran compared to the motor we replaced (pre-failure). The motor in question did have lower oil pressure when warm but didn't knock. It did sit in ND's garage for 5 years with no care whatsoever (ie no oil in the cylinders, it didn't get turned once a month, we didn't loosen the rockers to close the valves, nothin': just pulled it and sat it in the corner). ND disclosed this and the buyer bought it anyway. I would have hoped the buyer understood he bought a rebuildable core but that might not be the case. Maybe that needs clarified. Maybe give some of the money back up to scrap value (iron is purchased by my local scrap yard for $140/ton right now; assume 500 lbs for the long block plus a premium for the aluminum; aluminum is about $.65/lb, and work the math from there: I guesstimate $75 in scrap value). I also agree that letting it go for nothing isn't fair to ND either. But then having it gone from the garage has some value too. Somewhere in the middle is the answer I'm sure. We also need to hear what the buyer would like to see happen too. Maybe he has a fair counteroffer that both parties could be happy with. Either way make sure the check clears before you send anything back to the dude...

:cheers:

Nick
 
The engine was sitting for 5 years? Did he prime the oil pump it before trying to start it? The bearings were most likely dry from sitting. BTW a engine that has been sitting that long should have the pan pulled and the bearings inspected BEFORE trying to start it anything other that this is very risky to say the least. I think that the fault is not yours and the buyer knew that the engine was sitting for 5 years he should have known the risk.
 
before talking money I would ask him to e-mail you a description of how the engine was handled after it left your hands and the sequence of the install. At least you might get an idea of the competency level of these guys and have a better idea of how you want to move forward and help you defend a total refund.

And I like the scrap value angle as well.
 
landtank said:
before talking money I would ask him to e-mail you a description of how the engine was handled after it left your hands and the sequence of the install. At least you might get an idea of the competency level of these guys and have a better idea of how you want to move forward and help you defend a total refund.

And I like the scrap value angle as well.
Click to expand...

Dave....I would deposit the check and I would stall a bit on a reply to this guy. A bit of time and he will either become more forceful and request a refund, or stop payment on the check. Or he'll just go away. I highly doubt that you knowingly sold him a bad motor. It was sold as is, and perhaps he just got a bad break. He needs to eat the price. This is not your problem to fix, unless you want to. There are just way too many things that could have happened after that motor left your possession. Not your problem anymore.

Stall....let time work out the next move.

Good luck.
 
Devil's advocate.....do you really want some guy that you don't know, who knows where you live, to be pissed off at you over what is essentially $150 after you sell it for scrap. Peace of mind that there isn't someone out there potentially very angry with you all because you don't want to deal with the hassle of a hunk of metal that has already sat in your garage for 5 years doesn't click with me. Take it back and you don't have to look over your shoulder.

I hear Randy is heading to Cruiser Solutions soon so maybe you can get it back from the guy and sell it to Ted? (sorry again Randy)

Can you really feel safe after making a deal with a guy that calls a cruiser a Jeep?
 
The way I read Dave's post...The guy has not "installed" it yet, just spun it again when it was warmer out.

Just to add to what others have commented...
If you deposit the check it will then take about 2 weeks to "fully" clear. The bank can check if it is good funds, but that can change and it needs to be good funds for about 2 weeks to be fully in the clear.

For future, always insist on cash only.

Anyways, anybody who is out buying used parts from a classified or whatever should know that a motor sitting for 5yrs with no attention is at best "risky business". That is why it is cheap...it is a gamble that it may be bad or may be good. So entering into that, he should accept the risk, if it were good he had a great deal....Shoot you are only going on his word it is bad and the guy dont even know he has a Cruiser...2F wont fit in a Jeeep!

I would ask him what he wants to do...probably just wants to talk you down more. I would bet if you told him to bring it back he would try and back pedal and say it is useable but wants some money back...In that case I would tell him to screw, but you are in a pickle cause' that check will not clear overnite.

Best of luck.
 
jsaltlick said:
Devil's advocate.....do you really want some guy that you don't know, who knows where you live, to be pissed off at you over what is essentially $150 after you sell it for scrap. Peace of mind that there isn't someone out there potentially very angry with you all because you don't want to deal with the hassle of a hunk of metal that has already sat in your garage for 5 years doesn't click with me.
Click to expand...

that is the first thing i thought when you said he talked to your wife... i thought "uh oh" and read on and saw it was fine... good point. angry guy = who knows what he might do.
 
refund?

Spud said:
The way I read Dave's post...The guy has not "installed" it yet, just spun it again when it was warmer out.

Just to add to what others have commented...
If you deposit the check it will then take about 2 weeks to "fully" clear. The bank can check if it is good funds, but that can change and it needs to be good funds for about 2 weeks to be fully in the clear.

For future, always insist on cash only.

Anyways, anybody who is out buying used parts from a classified or whatever should know that a motor sitting for 5yrs with no attention is at best "risky business". That is why it is cheap...it is a gamble that it may be bad or may be good. So entering into that, he should accept the risk, if it were good he had a great deal....Shoot you are only going on his word it is bad and the guy dont even know he has a Cruiser...2F wont fit in a Jeeep!

I would ask him what he wants to do...probably just wants to talk you down more. I would bet if you told him to bring it back he would try and back pedal and say it is useable but wants some money back...In that case I would tell him to screw, but you are in a pickle cause' that check will not clear overnite.

Best of luck.
Click to expand...

Hey Spud,
I was looking at those doors you sold me and they have rust on them and they aren't the orginal color either!!!!! What a rip off, haha!

Seriously Dave if it makes you feel better give him a little money off, but I'd guess it got messed up sitting in the garage or on the start up or both, I'd don't think you have an obligation to refund him, not for the price you got for the motor.
:cheers:
 
Motors are a tough thing. First off your price was fair even if it was a core. If he wanted a warranty he should have bought a reman engine and had it installed by a shop. If you feel that the motor ran well when it was taken out and he knew that it has sat it could have been a problem with installation.

Look at the trouble Dave went through when he replaced the motor in his 4Runner.

I have to agree with John that you don't want some nut job harrassing you over a few hundred bucks. Good luck with it which ever way you decide to go with it.
 
When I sell a motor I try to do the best I can to describe the condtion I think it was in. But the buyer assumes the responsablity that they will at least check it out before they install it, sold as is, where is. At that price he got a deal, (trusting that you described it to the best of your abilty) and shouldnt be whining.

IMOP
Tell him to go screw.

EDIT:
heres one for ya that will open your eyes, dont buy an engine at face value!
Surprises tearing down an engine......mine are good, yours? - THE H.A.M.B.
 
Last edited:
So Dave,
What'd you do? If you gave him the money back, I wanted to let you know that since I bought that PS steering box from you (not installed) that I had an exhaust valve break and I think the too are related and that you should give me some money 2! You never told me that buying parts causes other parts to break! haha
 
Take the check to check cashing place instead of a bank. I think it takes longer for them to find out if a check has had a stop payment on it. Those places are insured if the check turns out to be bad. You pay a small fee, but it's better than nothing.
 
natickdave said:
Boys,
Anyone know a guy named Doug Smith in Wendell, MA, who calls his cruiser a Jeep?

Dave
Click to expand...
I live in the next town over from Wendell. Theres one house that I have seen a FJ parked at but its only a plow truck. My friend was talking about another guy with one and I bet this is the same guy. Ill ask him if the guy was talking about needing a motor.
 
Bighorn said:
So Dave,
What'd you do? If you gave him the money back, I wanted to let you know that since I bought that PS steering box from you (not installed) that I had an exhaust valve break and I think the too are related and that you should give me some money 2! You never told me that buying parts causes other parts to break! haha
Click to expand...

This is coming from the do#chebag that I gave a $50 break to because he couldn't use the minitruck bracket he came to buy. ;p

Not much has changed...we spoke on the phone and he doesn't want to keep the motor, I have yet to cash the check, but I am leaning hard towards that after I got a good pep talk at pubnite.

I am not cut out to be Fred Sanford, that's for sure. :bang:

Dave
 
I still haven't grasped the whole deal myself. Too many players, a rebuilder, an installer and a guy with a Jeep.

First find a scrap yard that will take the motor as is, hopefully for some cash.

Call the guy and tell him he can have his money back but needs to bring back the motor and give him the scrap yard's address.

Meet him at the scrap yard, give him his check and turn in the motor for cash.

Maybe it will get you a little something for the motor with only a little more effort.
 
landtank said:
I still haven't grasped the whole deal myself. Too many players, a rebuilder, an installer and a guy with a Jeep.

First find a s**** yard that will take the motor as is, hopefully for some cash.

Call the guy and tell him he can have his money back but needs to bring back the motor and give him the s**** yard's address.

Meet him at the s**** yard, give him his check and turn in the motor for cash.

Maybe it will get you a little something for the motor with only a little more effort.
Click to expand...

This may be a good solution...
 
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