A Guide to Buying Used Plant Hire Equipment

What should you look for when buying used equipment? Buying used equipment can be a great money-saver, but is it worth it in the end? If you are not sure what you need to inspect when you are considering purchasing a used piece of plant hire equipment, checking each of these areas will be a good start.

Engine

First, make sure the engine is working properly. If it is working, is there a lot of smoke or unusual noise when you start it? If so, this could lead to future problems. Confirm that the exhaust pipe operates correctly, too – the last thing you want is a blocked pipe. Check to see how the engine looks. If there are new or repaired parts, ask about what happened and why. Make sure they are a good fit for the original engine. Examine the belts and the radiator for any problems. While it might be working at the time, anything that seems to be off in the engine area will likely cause problems in the future.

Visual Inspection

This is a natural step to take when you are considering buying a machine. You should look for any obvious cracks or damaged parts, and don’t forget to also take a look under the machine. Do you see any rusted or corroded parts? Make sure the hoses, lines, and cylinders appear to be functioning. Depending on the age of the vehicle you are considering, you should expect some damage. If the price is low, you may need to replace a few parts, but it should still work out well. Do not let yourself be surprised by rusty parts later on.

Leakage

Check for any leaking fluids. If the machine is leaking, it is probably not in good working condition.

Safety Features

When you are thinking about buying a used Bobcat, MTS Plant offers quality-checked machines. You will see that the lights, seat, seat belt, parking brakes, and moving parts are in good condition. You would not want to invest in a vehicle and find out later that the brake does not work. MTS Plant is so confident in their used vehicles that they offer a service warranty with your purchase of a used bobcat.

Oil

Make sure the oil is not mixing with the coolant or vice versa. If you see this happening, you could have high repair costs for your engine later.

Test Drive

Whenever you buy a piece of equipment, you cannot make the best decision without first testing the vehicle. Ask for a test run. When you are trying the equipment, make sure all the functions work properly. If you do not know how to make a certain part work or are not sure about its purpose, ask someone who does know. Before you buy is the time to ask your questions, not after the machine is yours.

Once you have inspected each of these areas, you will be able to make an informed decision about whether you would like to purchase the used equipment.