Hey guys, so I've been looking through the for sale forum for months but never pulling the trigger because I'm still a newb in my return to this hobby.

Just curious other than, does it work, is all the equipment included, what is the condition, what other questions if any should I ask when looking to buy a used esc and motor.

Thanks for any input

I always ask for pics of the item and if either have ever been overheated. Unfortunately, it's kinda on the honor system, as anyone could say "Oh yea, never been over 130f."

In the end, it is sort of hit or miss. However, I've bought tons of stuff on this website and found that every item I've received was as described.

ESC's/motors will be on the honor system as mentioned above. I would recommend viewing the sellers' profile and doing a search on "find all posts" - if they are a regular poster in a specific tracks' thread, that would lead me to trust a racer selling used stuff of the electronic nature more than anyone else and it also means that username is tied to a face at a track - a reputation they will want to protect even if the transaction is not actually a local one.

Thanks, I also just saw that I can click on their seller rating and view the feedback. Never done that before.

Do you get any protection thru paypal if that's the method of paying.

Some. It really depends on the item and how different the received item is vs what was advertised. What might be "ready to race!" for you might be "rode hard and put up wet" for me. "Like new" is another item that gets over used (along with "only 3 runs!").

That said I always try and set expectations ahead of time and underpromise/over deliver. Sometimes people don't know either so that sometimes makes things a little hard.

In the end, get it all in writing and be cautious.

Your best tool will be the history that the seller has made for themselves.

As for electronics only ways to really know if they are fried is power them up or smell them. You can not count on scorch marks or anything visible in pictures to tell you the story.

For a car, there are parts that wear on them... look at those areas. The bottom of the chassis, the places the droop srcrews meet the chassis, the outdrive cups. Or if you can get your hands on it first the slop that has developed. These things are like the horses teeth and can give you an idea of the use it has seen.

ESCs are tough and have to trust seller, but also don't smell burnt. Ask if there is a programmer included if the ESC uses one. Motors are usually easier as they have a distinct smell if over heated and the coils aren't as shinny as they usually are. If they stink return it right away. If you want to buy a motor... "I'll take it as long as its not been hot and or smells burnt".

Ask all your questions the first time, don't ask one, then another, so on. If the seller doesn't answer to your satisfaction the first time, beware. Get more pics if they don't have what you need to see isn't represented, but don't be annoying about the request either.

For rollers: Plastics like arms and hubs are pretty cheap. Driveline/diffs/metal parts are not. Look at all the driveline parts. This will give you a really good idea on usage/good maintenance practices. Scratches on the bottom of a chassis are not indicative of usage and or condition unless its horrible and as long as the roller has been kept up. If you look thru my ads with rollers in them you'll ALWAYS see outdrive pics. I don't want to have to get asked a million times because I know its coming..

If it is used at all there will be some marks and scratches. That is a given, but you can tell something that has had a lot of use or that has been driven on concrete or rocky areas vs a dirt or clay track as a normal day out.

But, yes, the driveline is the major make or break on it... worn out cups or bent shafts do not have to be a deal breaker but your price should reflect condition. If they let the bearings seize of run to excessive play that is sign of maintenance issues and you should be wary then as well.