Five Things to Look For When Buying a Used Excavator

Are you interested in purchasing a used excavator? If you haven't bought a used unit in the past, there are a few things to look out for before you make your purchasing decision. The experts at Best Line Equipment have a few tips for you to use when buying a used excavator.

1. Leaks

Depending on the age of the machine, leaks can be typical in the cylinders if the engine has a high hour meter reading. On a low hour, holes are considered bad. Be sure you check for leaks on all the cylinders and drive motors. If you’re not careful, this will end up being a costly repair.

2. Wear In The Arm

Check all the pivot points on the arm movement. When inspecting the machine, you want to look at all the joints on the arm for wear. If there is minor wear, it’s okay, depending on how many hours are on the machine. However, if the device has low hours on it and there’s lots of wear and play, you should be alarmed. 

3. House Rotation

Check for wear or unusual noises in the house rotating slew. If you experience any sounds, reasons for them could be the rotation skipping gears or a damaged tooth when turning. 

4. Check Condition of Undercarriage

You need to be sure to check the condition of the tracks, rollers, sprockets, and idlers. For idlers, if you see oil coming out, then you should know that you have a problem. They are worn and you will need to replace them because you cannot just refill. A good rule of thumb for the undercarriage is if you see any oil coming out when inspecting, that should be your immediate red flag. 

5. HV/AC Unit

This is very similar to your car air conditioning and heating system. You need to check to make sure it entirely works before pulling the pin to make the purchase. Having this can be extremely important because you cannot work your full potential if you are overheating in the summer or freezing in the winter. It can also be extremely dangerous to be working in excessive heat for long a duration of time. If it is not working correctly, it can be costly to fix. 

Bonus Tip - Before purchasing, be sure to drive the machine and put it in motion. When operating the machine, if it turns slightly when you are attempting to move straight there could be a significant issue. If it is not tracking straight, there is a chance that it is just a minor fix of tightening the linkage or a small replacement of parts. If it is not a linkage issue, then it is a significant issue with the drive motors which will be a expensive repair. 

Have a project coming up and need help? Visit Best Line Equipment to rent or purchase new and used construction equipment of all types. Have more questions? Stop in and visit one of our ten locations across Pennsylvania or give us at 1-800-679-BEST (2378).