How to sell used brushcutters, chainsaws, and water pumps in Colombia

Quick answer: Anyone buying a used brushcutter, chainsaw, or water pump pays for tests, not for adjectives. A short video of a cold start, listing the defects plainly, and providing clear provenance saves the seller from useless questions and bad-faith bargaining.

If you have one of these machines stored in the farm shed, what follows is what I would do before posting. A basic listing on Colombia Move is free and, according to their used sales page, they do not charge a commission on the sale. Featuring the ad is a separate and optional payment. For a general guide on where to sell without commission, look at where to sell used items in Colombia without paying commission; this is the version for motor-driven machines.

What data goes in the title and the product sheet

The title must state the word "used" (usada), the brand, and the exact model. The law requires anyone publicly offering a used, imperfect, or repaired product to indicate it precisely and clearly (Law 1480 of 2011), so don't hide it in the last line.

In the description, put down, without embellishment:

• Exact brand and model, exactly as they are on the machine's plate.
• Whether the engine uses a gasoline-oil mixture (two-stroke) or plain gasoline (four-stroke).
• What works and what doesn't. If it only starts with the choke, if it emits excess smoke, or if the housing has a crack, say so.
• What is included: bar and chain, brushcutter head or blade, hoses, carrying case.
• The municipality where the buyer can see it running.
• The price you would actually accept.

I say this frankly: writing down the defects is uncomfortable. But a buyer who reads them and still writes to you is the one who will actually go to see it.

Mixture, plain gasoline, and what should not be guessed

There is no single mixture for all machines. This is what the manuals we reviewed say, and they are only valid for those models:

• STIHL FS 255.0 (brushcutter): 1:50, meaning 20 ml of two-stroke oil per liter of gasoline, with gasoline of at least 90 RON and alcohol content not exceeding 10% according to that manual. A wrong mixture can damage the engine.
• Husqvarna 435/440 (September 2023 manual): 50:1 (2%), gasoline with a maximum of 10% ethanol and not less than 90 RON/87 AKI. It is not advisable to mix fuel for more than a month.
• Honda WB Water Pumps: four-stroke engine. They are not fueled with an oil and gasoline mixture; they take engine oil in the crankcase and plain gasoline.

Therefore, do not copy a ratio from just any video into your ad. Read the plate and the manual for your model, and write in the sheet what fuel it uses. If it is a brand I could not verify, like Shindaiwa, look at the manual for that model instead of assuming a number.

Tests to be filmed in a minute

A video of less than a minute answers half the questions. Always record with the engine cold, without anyone having warmed it up beforehand.

Brushcutter

Film the cold start, the stable idle, and how it responds when you open the throttle. Show the head spinning and the condition of the shaft. Do not promise compression values or carburetor adjustments: there is no single figure that works for all brands.

Chainsaw

There is a safety warning here that is non-negotiable. According to the STIHL MS 151 TC manual, the chain brake is activated before starting, and starting is done at least 3 meters from where it was fueled and never in an enclosed space. The brake test is a brief acceleration, of maximum 3 seconds, with the brake on: the chain must not move. Accelerating hard with the brake locked damages the clutch and the brake, so don't do it to impress the buyer. And never record the machine running near a person.

Water Pump

Before starting, you must prime the chamber with water up to the lower part of the discharge opening; running dry destroys the pump seal. Check the oil level with the engine off and the pump on a flat surface. Film the priming, the start, and the water coming out of the hose. If it ever ran dry, stop immediately, let it cool, and tell the buyer.

If what you are selling is a drill, a polisher, or another power tool, those checks are different: they are at selling used electric construction tools. Fuel and the chain brake do not apply here.

Provenance and warranty, in two paths

First, what is important regarding provenance. Acquiring, possessing, or transferring an asset whose origin, immediate or mediate, is a crime, without having participated in it, is fencing (Article 447 of the Penal Code): 4 to 12 years in prison and a fine of 6.66 to 750 current monthly minimum legal wages, if the conduct does not constitute a crime with a greater penalty. That said, not having an invoice is not, by itself, that crime. The invoice, the legible serial number, and a sales document are ways to show where the machine comes from; there is no national register of brushcutters.

In practice: keep the purchase invoice if you have it, photograph the serial plate if the characters are complete, and do not sell a machine with the serial number erased or filed off. For power generators, the care is similar; look at selling used generators and power plants.

If you are an individual and are selling only once

The three-month legal warranty of Law 1480 is intended for relationships between producers or suppliers and consumers. A supplier is someone who offers or markets products habitually, and an isolated sale between individuals is not described by that fact alone. Even so, the Civil Code protects the buyer against hidden defects: defects that already existed, that impair natural use, and that the buyer could not have known about without gross negligence. The buyer can request to rescind the sale or a price reduction, and an "as is" agreement does not cover defects that the seller knew about and kept silent. The rescission action for movable property lasts six months from the actual delivery, and the price reduction action lasts one year.

If you are a workshop or store that sells used goods

If you sell used machines habitually, a used product with an expired legal warranty can only be sold without a warranty if you inform the buyer and they accept it in writing. If not, the warranty is three months. And if you act as a merchant, the Code of Commerce also contemplates resolution or reduction for hidden defects prior to the contract, with a six-month statute of limitations from delivery.

This is general guidance, not legal advice. If your case is doubtful, consult a lawyer.

Price without an invented table

There is no single price in pesos nor an official depreciation percentage for a used brushcutter, chainsaw, or water pump. Any table you see out there is just an opinion.

What does work is comparing the same make and model with its same defects, and adjusting based on what is included (bar, chain, hoses, head) and whether the buyer can see it start. A machine that starts cold on video is worth more than one that "just needs a little fix." Transport is agreed upon by both parties; a motor pump with hoses is almost always for pickup in person, not for shipping via courier. Clarify in the ad if the price is for pickup.

How to post without falling into the wrong category

A common mistake is uploading the machine to the farm category because "it's for the field." That category (/categoria/finca) is for rural properties, and the construction one (/categoria/construccion) is for jobs; neither is the place for a brushcutter. If what you are selling is the farm itself, that is another story and another category.

Get paid without scares

Let the buyer see the machine working before paying, and put the defects in writing in the chat or on a signed paper. If they pay in cash, learn how to check the bills with this guide on how to identify counterfeit bills. And if someone offers you a check, do not take it as proof of funds: read before the bounced check and pending deposit scam.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ How much should I ask for a used brushcutter or chainsaw?

There is no national price table in pesos for these machines. Set your price by comparing the same model with its same defects, the parts it includes, and whether the buyer can see it start. A cold-start video supports the price better than any adjective. (verify with the official source)

❓ Is the fuel mixture always 50 to 1?

No, it depends on the model. The STIHL brushcutter manuals consulted use 1:50 and the 2023 Husqvarna 435/440 uses 50:1, but a four-stroke Honda WB motor pump does not allow an oil and gasoline mixture. Read the plate and your equipment manual. (verify with the official source)

❓ What video should I show the buyer?

Show the cold start, the idle, and the response when accelerating. For the chainsaw, include the chain brake test, with a maximum 3-second rev and the chain stopped. For the motor pump, prime with water first and film the water coming out of the hose. (verify with the official source)

❓ Is the sale illegal without an invoice?

No, not having an invoice by itself is not the crime of fencing (receptación), which punishes dealing in goods of criminal origin. Even so, keep the invoice if it exists, photograph the readable serial number, and do not sell a machine with the serial number erased. (verify with the official source)

❓ Do I have to give a three-month warranty?

That three-month warranty applies to regular producers and suppliers who do not obtain written acceptance of sale without a warranty. In a one-time private sale, it is not described this way, but you are still responsible for hidden defects that you knew about and kept quiet. (verify with the official source)

❓ How do I sell safely and avoid scams?

Let the buyer see the machine working before paying, write the defects down in writing, and check the bills carefully if they pay in cash. Do not accept a check or a story about a pending transfer as proof that you already have the money. (verify with the official source)

❓ Where do I post my used brushcutter or chainsaw?

You can post it on Colombia Move, on the page for selling used items, where the basic ad is free and buyers contact you directly. Put the price and defects in the text so the chat isn't a guessing game (verify with the official source).