So I have been learning about quads so that I could but them cheep, fix them, and sell them. My grandpa came over today and dropped off a riding mower and a rototiller and said he got them free and I could fix and sell them.

The riding mower has a 16 horse motor and is pretty old. It starts up and runs but only goes a top speed of 2 mph with little power. It smokes medium when starting it up but when I start the blades up, smoke pours out of the engine case. Anyone know what to check first?

The rototiller is a 6hp motor and is even older . This docent start at all but it cranks when pulling the cord (the spark plug is fine). What should I check first in this rototiller?

Thanks in advance for all replies and I've never opened up a mower or rototiller so explain it in noob terms.

Thanks