Are You Considering Buying Used Heavy Construction Equipment
Heavy-duty construction vehicles are manufactured particularly for undertaking construction projects. Construction firms and individuals who are in the construction industry usually buy second hand construction machinery rather than buying a new one in order to save some money because the cost of new machines can put a damper on their pockets.
All machines and equipment need to be properly functioning in order to be effective in delivering its job. Mico Equipment suggests that you request for a “test run” of the used construction machinery. If your construction firm or you are considering buying used machinery, read on to understand what you should look into before you make the purchase.
Check Engine
This is probably the most important step you should take. If the engine doesn’t turn on, would it be effective in delivering its job? No! Make sure you evaluate an engine of the machine to determine whether it turns on and runs properly. When the engine is cold and then turned on, the machine can tell you how well it runs and how well it was maintained, because it will usually emit some smoke and the color can tell a lot.
Black smoke, for example, can mean that the air/fuel mixture is too rich in fuel. There can be a number of reasons for this, including faulty injectors or something as simple as a dirty air filter.
White smoke could mean that the fuel is not burning completely in the combustion chamber, which could be a result of low compression, a faulty head gasket that lets water mix with the fuel, damage in one or more cylinders, damage to the injection control to one or more cylinders or just a worn out engine.
Check Fluids
Fluids to check for are the engine oil, transmission fluid, coolant and hydraulic fluid. A machine’s fluids will not only give you understanding of the current condition of the machine, but also how well it was maintained over time.
Low or dirty fluids could be a red flag,indicating that the previous owner hasn’t kept up with a regular maintenance check. Water in the engine oil could mean a bigger issue. Other things to look for are leaking fluids under the machine and coolant in the oil or oil in the coolant.
Signs of Wear and Tear
Wear and tear is normal, machines go through a lot of use, causing dings and scratches. However, some things are necessary to visualize to determine if there are any long-term repercussions.
For example, check for rust, any hairline cracks in the metal and metal that looks like it was broken but welded back together. These are issues that may lead to problems in the future. A weld may have fixed the broken metal, but it is never as strong as the original steel and rust erodes metal. Any extra repairs you’ll need to do down the road will mean extra cost and delayed projects.
Tires or the undercarriage on tracked wheels are another thing to look for in wear and tear, which can be expensive to replace or repair.
Check Mileage
Just as you would check the mileage when shopping for a used car, so should you check the mileage, or in this case operating hours, of the used machinery. It’s a good place to start in determining how much the engine and machine have actually been used.
A machine that uses a diesel engine can last well into the tens of thousands of operating hours. Do a cost-benefit analysis if you think the mileage is pushing the upper limits. You can then decide whether or not the money you are saving on an older machine is going to be worth any additional maintenance costs.
However, keep in mind that regular maintenance is still important. A machine that may have 15,000 operating hours but was maintained well may be better than a machine that only has 1,000 hours on it but was poorly maintained.
Which brings us to our next point.
Check Maintenance Records
Make sure the previous owner has maintenance records and was updated regularly. Check for how often the fluids were changed, how often and what kind of small repairs were needed and whether or not anything has gone wrong with the machine during operations. These records will determine how the machine was used and how it was maintained.
Other Things to Check For
Few other things you should look for when purchasing used heavy construction machinery are:
. Strange noises or incorrect behavior of the brakes/drive train
. Loose bushings/pins
. Smooth operating joints
. General condition of the blades and buckets
. Condition of the hydraulic lines
Bottom Line
Used heavy construction machinery can be a good investment without digging deep into your pockets as you would for new equipment. However, do yourself and your firm a favor by going through this guideline when you are considering used machinery. Perform a visual assessment, where you carefully check all the significant areas of the machinery, its physical aspects, signs of wear and tear, and any leaks. Then check its operations by looking at the engine, electric circuits as well as the controls of wheels and levers.
