Capital Equipment News April 2018

impact the price. A machine with a full set of buckets will save you a lot of hassle and expense. The bucket teeth should be examined to see if they are worn as well as the cutting edge between the teeth. Does it come with attachments? More importantly if you plan to run a breaker or other attachments, does it have hydraulic lines to service them? Tip #7 – Parts and service The model of the excavator you choose should be researched. Think about whom you have available to service the machine and which manufacturer is strong in your part of the world. Spare parts are readily available by post but if the machine breaks down and becomes inoperable you will need local service. For mainstream brands this is less of a problem but even in the developed markets some manufacturers have gaps in their service offering. Tip #8 – Tracks Tracks are an important and expensive part of the overall machine. The current condition of the tracks should be examined. Look at the obvious things first. Check the track pads. Do they have any depth? Are they all there and straight? Check the sprockets, idlers and rollers for wear. Check

the rollers for collapse bearings. Now look at the track chains with the engine off. Feel the pins for wear. Are they round or not? Then look at how far out the idler is on the machine. This is a sign of pin and bush wear. In our yards there are always lots of machines to compare against. Tracks are expensive, so mark down the price of a machine with worn tracks. Tip #9 – Price Excavators hold their value well and while a lot of emphasis is based on the hours, additional factors may come into play when determining the value of a used excavator. This includes: the year the model was made, overall condition, service records, as well as the demands of the global market and currency. Tip #10 – Start your engines! Start the machine, getting it up to operating temperature and listen for unusual engine noises. Check for excessive exhaust smoke. Step out of the cab and open the engine compartment to check for breathing. Check for oil leaks around the engine and in the bottom of the engine compartment. Examine all fluid levels and coolant levels, noting the oil condition and checking for

water in the engine oil. See if the filters show current dates and are in good condition. Make several simulated digging cycles with the boom, stick and bucket. Swing the boom left and right, extending the stick, opening and closing the bucket. Operate the blade up and down. Raise the front of the machine with the blade. Swing the upper body to the left and right, again checking for hesitations. Run the machine in forward and in reverse and turn left and right with the tracks. Are the controls operating smoothly? While the machine is running, check the operation of all controls and gauges. If the cab is enclosed, operate the air conditioning and note any glass, mirror or door latch problems. Finally check whether the window wipers work along with external lights. Time to bid or buy! At Euro Auctions we run live parade style auctions. You can tell a lot from just looking carefully as each machine comes on to the ramp for sale. Is it breathing or smoking, is it excessively noisy? Exhausted? You will be, but if you are looking for a good machine you have to put the effort in to find out exactly what you are bidding on or buying. Follow these tips and you won’t go too far wrong. b

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