Buying used construction equipment might turn out to be a better decision than what you originally think of it. To maneuver your way around the financial obstacles, sometimes you need to play smart. Utilizing used construction machinery to get the job done isn’t going to hurt your productivity or the way you work. All of this is going to happen if you know what you are buying. A good equipment comes with the confidence that it will be more on the construction site and not in the repair shop.

One can never be a 100% confident on any used heavy construction equipment but these tips are here to help you out while you are purchasing or inspecting used construction equipment components.

Knowing the owner

It’s not unusual for prospective buyers to inquire about the previous owner of the construction equipment up for sale. People also ask about the condition, use, and working conditions of the machinery. Having prior knowledge of the whereabouts of the equipment makes it easier to inspect. Therefore, you should never hesitate to ask the question.

It’s not unusual for prospective buyers to inquire about the previous owner of the construction equipment up for sale. People also ask about the condition, use, and working conditions of the machinery. Having prior knowledge of the whereabouts of the equipment makes it easier to inspect. Therefore, you should never hesitate to ask the question.

If you are inspecting a heavy construction equipment and you know that it has been used in scrapping, waste and logging, you’d be able to determine the reason for its beat- up condition. Knowing this, you’d focus more on inspecting the tires and transmission. A ram shackled undercarriage of an excavator might lead you to its working conditions in a sand and dirt environment.

Your initial questions should always revolve around how and where the machine had been used. This would help you steer your inspection in a targeted direction.

Checking the Transmission

One needs to know that, on an average, a transmission will go on for 8000 hours before reflecting the need for repair. You can’t forego the basics though. You need to keep an eye out for leaks and the operating manner. For this, you’ll need to drive the construction equipment to feel if there is any abnormality during gear shifting. The inability of the transmission to shift out points in multiple directions – might be a disengaged differential lock, a bad sensor, or the computer needs calibration.

Tires inspection

Same as the working conditions can affect the body, the tires also take the toll of where the equipment has been. You need to check for uneven tread depth, sidewall cuts and treads along with mismatched tread patterns. You can also demand for service records where the things are penned down. Even if you are not an expert you won’t miss the obvious.

Checking the Undercarriage

One thing that should be clear by now is that the way of usage for a particular equipment sets the tone for the condition of the equipment. An excavator’s undercarriage will definitely tell you the tales of the way it has been used. Let us explain to you by example. An excavator that has been utilized more on the slopes will have increased evident wear on one side than the other. You also need to lookout for corrosion as it leads to brittle metal. Other areas of application such as highways and pipeline projects will also contribute to a dilapidated undercarriage due to more travelling.

Sprocket

Well, here’s a tip for you. If possible, get your hands on the conversion charts and measure out the undercarriage for the worn out percentage. Sprocket can act as a tattletale when it comes to checking out the wear and tear.

Thin teeth are representative of greater wear. However, when it looks like that these can used for shaving, you should know these are completely worn out. One thing leads to another and in this case worn out teeth might mean a link assembly that needs to be replaced.

Pins and bushes

You need to stay vigilant when it comes to pins and bushes. Measure them to make that these haven’t stretched out. Inspect for internal wear as well as the external wear. External cracking and waving should not be left out. Counting the links for a missing link will help you know if any effort was made to tighten the undercarriage. An over tightened under carriage spells trouble in future.

Axles/differentials

One can’t miss out the axles/differentials while inspecting the construction equipment. These will last a good 10000 to 12000 hours before giving up. Holes, leakage, and external cracking are known to have the biggest impact. On planetaries in articulated trucks, there is a mark that points towards an optimum level. Overfilling might indicate an accidental filling or a failing seal.

Drop Box

7000 to 8000 hours out of a drop box is an expected lifetime. One should also check for grinding and other leaks, if any present. A popping or grinding is a gear’s way of telling you that it’s time to go. You might end up spending a good $40,000 or $50000 on a new drop box so make sure to thoroughly inspect the drop box. You should check these things every time you are looking for a heavy equipment for sale.

You should now know that the life and condition of a used construction equipment depends on the way the machine was used. Therefore you should request for complete repair and service records and history. This will give you a complete idea of whether the machine is ideal for your use or not. These are only few of the things.  If you want to go for complete inspection you can always count on us. In addition to this, if you still have any questions. Please let us know, we’ll be more than happy to help you out. Till then, happy reading!