Buying a Used Excavator: How to Find the Best at a Low Cost
Purchasing used excavators can be costly. Contractors must take the necessary steps to verify that they are receiving what they want at a fair price.
Excavators are workhorses, and you don’t want your workhorse to break down in the field; the loss of production could cost you more than the value gained by buying a used excavator at a lower price. If you spend more time guaranteeing the quality of the used excavator, you will reap significant rewards for the duration of your ownership of the equipment.
Here are some pointers to help you find better equipment and receive a greater return on your investment:
1. Determine Your Needs and Requirements
You must first analyse your requirements before beginning your search for a second-hand excavator.
What applications are you planning to use the machine for? How far will you have to dig? Will you have to work in confined spaces? A zero-radius or tight-radius excavator may be required. Is there any backfill or mild grading capabilities that you might use? If that’s the case, you’ll need a backfill blade. If you need to arrange dirt or stones with greater precision, an angled edge may be helpful.
What machine size do you require? What kind of reach do you need? Is the PSI (pounds per square inch) of the machine relevant to you? Are you looking for steel or rubber tracks?
2. Do Your Homework
It’s time to see what’s available now that you know what you need in an excavator and have your excavator checklist. Contractors must “do their research” while gathering data for bids and take-offs, just as they must “do their homework” when buying a used excavator.
Read user feedback and reviews about your potential used excavator dealer. Ask for the parts and maintenance documentation and make sure it’s properly maintained.
3. Use an Excavator Inspection Checklist
Now it’s time to stroll around the excavator with your excavator inspection checklist.
Examine the entire equipment for evidence of excessive wear and damage (cracks, bends and dents). Check the arm and boom of the machine. Make sure that the superstructure, swing frame, and undercarriage are all in good working order. Inspect the engine and cab from the inside.
The Undercarriage:
There are a lot of processes involved in inspecting the undercarriage. What is the state of the tracks? Are there any missing trackpads? Is the steel inside the rubber tracks exposed or ripped if they’re rubber tracks? Examine the track chain to make sure there isn’t any wear and tear. Check each roller individually by grabbing and shaking it.
Past Uses and Future Repairs:
A machine that requires parts replacement isn’t always an adverse buy; you have to include it in the expense of such repairs when determining if the equipment is of excellent value. To get the most accurate picture of the excavator’s engine health, take fluid samples. This will tell you whether the machine is in good working order or if it requires repairs.
4. Demo the Machine
Run the machine if at all possible. Let the engine run for around 20 minutes, and note your inspection checklist to get the most outstanding results.
It would be best if you ideally used all of the machine’s functions—swing, lift, dump, travel, and so on—as well as any technologies and attachments sold with it, such as grade control and different power modes. Move the machine forward and backwards. While carrying a load, operate the machine. If at all possible, utilise it with the attachment(s) you intend to use.
5. Consider the Price
The purchasing price is the final factor to consider when analysing second-hand excavators.
If properly maintained, heavy equipment retains its worth for a long time. Construction machines depreciate at a considerably slower rate than automobiles. However, compared to how one drives a car, how one operates an excavator has a higher impact on the machine’s resale value; this will result in a wide pricing range for the same excavator model.
Summary
We hope you find these resources helpful in your search for a second-hand excavator. By completing your homework and scrutinising the item for sale ahead of time, you can increase your chances of receiving a reasonable price.
Buy a Used Excavator at Construction Equipment UK
When it comes to purchasing an excavator, you don’t have to be overwhelmed. When you buy used construction machines at Construction Equipment UK, you can be confident that you will get a good deal on a used excavator that is as described. Visit our website to find out more about our offers!