What to Know Before Bringing Your Mower, ATV, UTV or Small Engine in for Repair
Most customers have never had equipment repaired before and are not sure what to expect. Here is exactly how the process works at Swedlund's — from drop-off to diagnosis to approval.
Describe the Symptom, Not the Diagnosis
The most helpful thing you can tell us is what the machine is doing — or not doing. 'Won't start,' 'starts and dies after 30 seconds,' 'runs rough under load,' 'makes a grinding noise when engaging the blades' — these are useful. 'I think it is the carburetor' is a guess that might be right, but it is more useful to describe the behavior and let us diagnose the cause. You hired a mechanic so you do not have to guess.
When It Last Ran and What Changed
Two questions we ask on almost every job: when did the machine last run normally, and what changed around that time? Sometimes the answer is obvious — 'it ran fine, then I hit a rock.' Other times it is subtle — 'it has been sitting since last fall.' The timeline matters because it tells us where to focus the diagnosis first.
How Diagnosis and Approval Works
We diagnose the problem before quoting the repair. That diagnosis takes time — some issues are immediately apparent, others require testing and disassembly. We will contact you with what we found and what it will cost before doing any work beyond the agreed-upon scope. You always have the option to approve or decline. If you decline, you pay for diagnosis time. Nothing unexpected will appear on your bill without a phone call first.
What We Need From You
Equipment make, model, and approximate age if you know it. A brief description of the symptom. Whether you prefer phone call or text for updates. If you are using pickup and delivery, your address and a good contact time. That is it. You do not need to diagnose it yourself before calling.
Pickup & Delivery
We offer pickup and delivery for customers in our service area who cannot transport their equipment. This is billed at a flat per-trip rate — see our pricing page for the current rate. Schedule it when you request service and we will coordinate a time that works. Pickup is available for most equipment; call ahead for unusually large or heavy machines.
Related: Pricing & Rates · Pickup & Delivery · Request Service · Repair Help Guides