Hypothetical Sprint Gas Dryer Quetion

[brandon]

Hey,
Good morning everyone. Hypothetical question here. Say I am looking at a Sprint (not the MiniSprint) used gas dryer for a good price but the thing has been used and used for years. Not to sure of the level of it being maintained. Hopefully lubed every week and so on. But anyway, what would be the worse possible scenario of problems? I know belts get holes and ripped, bearings go out, electrical can go.... but say if the price is to good to be true, well, it usually is. But it is M&R so I know I can get parts and do some of the repairs but I am not an electrician and I respect electricity! Any possible scenarios of problems you have experienced with any gas dryers would be greatly helpful. Thank you!

[dlac]

Well it has been some years ago but I bought a new sprint in 1990 and ran it everyday allday until 2001 and never had a problem.. Was always on time for work, worked hard all day and never made a mistake.. never asked for time off or a raise..
dlac

[bimmridder]

Get the serial number and see if M&R has any records?

[brandon]

Get the serial number and see if M&R has any records?

Was planning on doing that today. Thank you!

[GKitson]

Hey,
Good morning everyone. Hypothetical question here. Say I am looking at a Sprint (not the MiniSprint) used gas dryer for a good price but the thing has been used and used for years. Not to sure of the level of it being maintained. Hopefully lubed every week and so on. But anyway, what would be the worse possible scenario of problems? I know belts get holes and ripped, bearings go out, electrical can go.... but say if the price is to good to be true, well, it usually is. But it is M&R so I know I can get parts and do some of the repairs but I am not an electrician and I respect electricity! Any possible scenarios of problems you have experienced with any gas dryers would be greatly helpful. Thank you!

Before you make your final decision, contact M&R and ask for the cost of operation spread sheet.  Dave Zimmer is the guy and he can walk you though the calculations about what an older Sprint is going to cost to run versus a new model.

I had a Sprint for 8 years and replaced it with a Sprint International and my gas bill went down 75% during a time our printed units went up.  Several hundred bucks each month in savings and cooler/happier employees.  Don't forget the Section 179 tax credits if you have PROFITs to offset.

I hate to spend money but have no problem investing it in things that make me money.  Think about it.

~Kitson

[brandon]

Hey,
Good morning everyone. Hypothetical question here. Say I am looking at a Sprint (not the MiniSprint) used gas dryer for a good price but the thing has been used and used for years. Not to sure of the level of it being maintained. Hopefully lubed every week and so on. But anyway, what would be the worse possible scenario of problems? I know belts get holes and ripped, bearings go out, electrical can go.... but say if the price is to good to be true, well, it usually is. But it is M&R so I know I can get parts and do some of the repairs but I am not an electrician and I respect electricity! Any possible scenarios of problems you have experienced with any gas dryers would be greatly helpful. Thank you!

Before you make your final decision, contact M&R and ask for the cost of operation spread sheet.  Dave Zimmer is the guy and he can walk you though the calculations about what an older Sprint is going to cost to run versus a new model.

I had a Sprint for 8 years and replaced it with a Sprint International and my gas bill went down 75% during a time our printed units went up.  Several hundred bucks each month in savings and cooler/happier employees.  Don't forget the Section 179 tax credits if you have PROFITs to offset.

I hate to spend money but have no problem investing it in things that make me money.  Think about it.

~Kitson

Thank you. We usually buy new (or as much as possible) for the reasons you just stated. But sometimes the price is right but then again you get what you pay for.

[T Shirt Farmer]

Brandon,

Ours has run non stop for better than 15 years.. probably more like 20. Replaced the spark transformer once, the exhaust fan motor 2 times and 1 main fan shaft bearing. If you can get a screaming price used it will take lot of fuel savings and tax credits to make up the difference IMO.

[ebscreen]

Waterbased and discharge are harder on dryers than plastisol.

[Screened Gear]

New Vs used is always a fun conversation. My short answer is get used but get lightly used. My shop is half used and I paid less then 20 cents on the dollar for the used items. Parts are cheap. If your not afraid to buy something and take it all apart and clean it up and replace parts that look bad you can save thousands. That in return will give your shop lower overhead and make you more conpetitive in your market place. There is alot of good used stuff out there. Sometimes you have to wait for the right stuff but it always comes up.


I wanted to add buying used at a good price makes upgrading easy. I have had 3 dryers in 5 years. Each dryer I got used and I was able to sell them when I was done for a profit.

[ZooCity]

The way M&R builds their gear I wouldn't hesitate on used.   I got quotes for two or there different sprint configurations in the sizes we need earlier this year and, hoo boy, did that give me some sticker shock. I would love a brand new M&R anything up in here but would gamble on used given the savings.  Heavily used? Heavier gamble.  Plan to replace or refurb every critical part of the actual heating and vent system. 

How big?

[cbjamel]

Sometimes buy show models and get discount. I bought my Mini-Sprint new because a customer cancelled his order. And go a good discount, helped cover freight. Thanks to M&R rep Ernie.
Love the gas usage on our mini-sprint.

Check on either option.
Shane

[brandon]

Thank you everyone for the responses. And the phone calls! I really, really appreciate all of the help this forum has provided over the years.

With that said we currently run a Mini Sprint that is awesome. I honestly believe in gas all the way for our shop. And we have an electric dryer as well that I would like to get rid of for the Sprint that I found. I do know water base and discharge is harder on dryers for sure. That is why I am looking at this dryer. Its a beast and I believe it can handle what we throw at it. However, I know it is an older model and can put out some serious heat. Not what I am looking to do to my guys on the production floor. But I need to talk to the seller and find some more info out. Thank you everybody!

[ebscreen]

Just to clarify, I meant wb/discharge being harder on a dryer in terms of wear and tear, IE did the seller
print a lot of wb/discharge?

[brandon]

None, which is awesome. But we do. A lot. In fact I would prefer to do mostly just water base and discharge. Printers dream in my opinion

[mk162]

I have to agree, i would look new.  Check out Interchange and talk to Winston.

Or I would get a newer one that used less gas.  It would probably be cheaper per month than an older one that's a gas hog.