Buying a used, refurbished floor scrubber can feel a little bit like buying a used car. If you are going to invest in a used machine, you want to feel confident that you are making a good investment. We want to give you that confidence, so let us explain what we do to a floor scrubber when we refurbish it.

1. Initial Evaluation

For the used scrubbers that we purchase, their journey begins when they arrive at our warehouse in Vinton, Iowa. We remove the scrubber from the pallet and make sure it wasn't damaged during transit. Then, we unhook the battery cables and take out the batteries. The old batteries are set aside to be recycled. All of our scrubbers are sold with brand new batteries. Then it's time for a full inspection. One of our experienced technicians evaluates the machine. If it meets a list of requirements, it qualifies to be refurbished; otherwise we don't refurbish it.

We never, ever sell a machine that we wouldn't use ourselves.

2. Tank Check

The tank is filled with water to check for leaks. If a leak is found and is repairable, we repair it. If we can't repair it, the scrubber is not refurbished.

3. Cleaning

The scrubber is thoroughly cleaned. All of the electrical components, including the computer board, control panels, and the charger are removed. Then, the deck and squeegee bar are removed. They will be washed separately, because they usually need more effort to clean. To clean the machine itself, a detergent and hot pressure washer are used. If a tank has lime buildup, an acid bath is used to remove it. Wax is usually a problem, so we work hard to get it all off by scraping or even using a torch to burn it off. We get everything as clean as possible, so that our technicians can do their job at the next step.

4. Refurbish All Electrical and Mechanical Components

The scrubber is now clean, so all electrical and mechanical components are now evaluated, so that the scrubber will be restored to full operating condition.

• What is the condition of the transaxle? Do the wheels turn properly?
• Do the brushes turn freely?
• Does the computer controller function properly?
• What is the condition of the vacuum motor?
• Does the potentiometer work?
• Castor wheels
• Squeegee assembly
• Drive wheels

While one technician focuses on the body, transaxle, and electrical aspects of the scrubber, another technician focuses solely on the squeegee bar, the pad drive motor, the scrub head deck, and the charger.

The squeegee rubber is replaced as well as any little wheels it may need. Then it's cleaned again, and may even be repainted if needed. The pad drivers are carefully tested to make sure they function. If they don't meet our standard, they are taken apart. Any worn out parts are replaced with new ones. If the motor is beyond repair, a motor from another machine may be used, or a new one may be ordered. Next, new skirts are installed on the scrub head deck. The tech checks the pad drivers and the pads themselves. The deck is cleaned again and may be repainted if needed.

After these evaluations are done, the machine is re-assembled, and brand new batteries are installed. The scrubber is tested in our shop, and minor adjustments are made, so that the machine performs exactly as it should. All of our technicians are experienced floor care professionals; they know exactly how a machine should perform.

5. Detailing

Our goal is to make the machine look as good as it possibly can. A variety of chemical cleaners and cleaning techniques are used to tediously spot clean everything. Repainting is done to all areas of the machine. Finally, the plastic body itself is detailed, to remove scrapes, scratches, and gouges. New decals are carefully applied.

At this point, the floor scrubber works great, looks great, and even smells great. It is photographed, added to our site, and moved to our warehouse until it is sold.

6. Verification at Time of Purchase

When a refurbished machine is purchased, we do a final test before shipping the machine, to ensure that nothing has changed while it was stored in our warehouse.

One of the technicians does a thorough, real-world test scrub on a rough concrete floor, which is an excellent way to evaluate the scrubber's performance. This test lasts 20 minutes.

Next, another technician will test the machine again, so that two technicians verify the machine is ready to ship. Once both techs are satisfied, the new batteries are fully charged with the charger that will go with the machine.