5 Things to Check Before Buying Used Heavy Machinery

Purchasing construction equipment is similar to purchasing any other large piece of machinery. You should approach the purchasing procedure with caution and forethought. Take your time. Instead, spend the time doing a complete and exhaustive assessment of the equipment, which should include a look at the engine, tires, and hydraulics.

Before you pull the trigger and acquire a piece of used construction equipment, go over this six-point checklist.

1. Research the equipment’s past.

Check for proper ownership — critical It’s to look over the machine’s history to ensure there are no liens against it and that it hasn’t been stolen. Run the PIN to see if the item has a title.

Examine the maintenance record — A maintenance record will help you check that the machine has been properly maintained and that all fluids have been changed on a regular basis.

You shouldn’t just rely on what’s printed on the maintenance record; you should also check the fluids. By looking at the fluids yourself, you can double-check that what you’re reading is correct. Examine the transmission fluid, coolant, and hydraulic fluid, as well as the engine oil, by opening the engine. Low or dirty fluids could indicate that the machine’s previous owner didn’t follow the required maintenance schedule, or, worse, that there is an issue with the equipment.

Note the machine’s operating hours — A machine’s operating hours are similar to the miles on a car, so keep track of them and compare them to the machine’s price. However, if the machine has been well maintained, a high number of operational hours isn’t necessarily a deal-breaker.\

2. Check for any damage.

Wear and tear, such as dings and scrapes, are common on second-hand machines. Hairline cracks and corrosion, on the other hand, are not something you want to see. Also inspect the tires and undercarriage, as their condition can indicate a lot about how the equipment has been handled and maintained.

There are a few key areas to look into:

The structure of the undercarriage —

Because repairing a tracked vehicle’s underside is costly, it’s critical to thoroughly inspect it for damage or uneven wear.

The hydraulics — Look for leaks, dents, or scratches in the hydraulic cylinders.

Check for loose belts, unclean filters, and leaks in the engine. Turn the machine on and listen for any knocking or scraping sounds emanating from the engine’s cylinders with a mechanic’s stethoscope.

The wheels — In addition to looking for bulges or punctures in the tires, look for uneven tread wear, as this could signal an alignment issue. Measure the tread depth of the tire with a tire gauge and compare it to the tread depth indicated on the manufacturer’s website.

3. Examine the exhaust from the engine.

If the machine you’re thinking about buying emits black, white, or blue-colored exhaust, don’t buy it.

Here are some red signals to keep an eye out for:

Black exhaust indicates that the engine is consuming too much fuel, which could indicate a clogged air filter or broken injector.

White exhaust (or steamy exhaust) indicates that the gasoline is not burning properly, which could indicate that a damaged head gasket is allowing water to combine with the fuel.

Blue exhaust indicates that the engine is burning oil, which could be due to a damaged ring or seal or an excessive amount of engine oil.

4. Inspect the hydraulic system

Hydraulics inspection is a basic yet crucial aspect of the inspection process. To begin, start the engine and adjust the attachments. If you have trouble steering or hear a “chattering noise” or any other peculiar sound, it could be a sign that the machine’s hydraulics are failing. Keep track of whether the fluid temperatures remain consistently high or whether you lose pressure when using the attachments.

5. Make that the buckets and forks are in good working order.

If you’re seeking to buy an excavator or a loader backhoe, watch for signs of scalloping on the bucket teeth, as scalloping reduces the cutting force of the bucket.

Keep an eye out for the following:

Buckets: Look for signs of wear on the leading edge. You should also look at the thickness of the side panels and the condition of the bucket’s bottom. Look for any welds or other traces of previous repair work.

Forklifts: Look for evidence of wear and thickness on the fork heels. The thickness of the heel forks should be the same as the upright fork shank. Check for welds on the forks, as a machine with many welds has been subjected to a lot of stress and damage. This also shows that the machine may have other problems that aren’t visible or haven’t been diagnosed.

Source: Heavy Equipment Rentals