Tips To Buy Used Construction Equipment

Construction projects are generally large and time-consuming ones where dynamics are often changing. This means you have to keep things under control or watch your profits take a hit. To maximize their profits, a lot of businesses prefer to purchase used construction equipment. While one of the perks of the used market is the vast amount of brands and models you’ll find there, it can be a bit challenging to sift your way through all your choices. 

Synergy Equipment is your local used construction equipment dealer for Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, and we like to help our patrons get the best machines for their requirements. Read on to find out how to select the right used machines for your project. When you want to check out used construction equipment for sale, get in touch with our sales team to see our vast inventory!

Know Your Requirements

A lot of manufacturers are building their heavy machines to be used in more than one way. With one model providing greater versatility, you may not need to buy a different piece of heavy equipment for all the tasks on your work site. To ensure you get the best used construction equipment, you should make a note of all the current and future tasks that are part of your project. This will also help you to make a choice between similar models based on the features and capabilities that will suit your needs the best. 

Check the Operating Hours

Both age and usage can affect the performance of a piece of machinery so you want to ask for the year of purchase and operating hours. You have to find out if the used construction equipment was moderately or extensively used as well as how well maintained it was. If the machine is pushing its upper limits, you might want to skip it because more usage means the parts have gone through greater wear and tear and might need replacing soon enough. However, well-maintained models can outlast others. 

Look for Signs of Damage

Another good indicator of a piece of used construction equipment being subpar are signs of wear and tear. This also usually means that the previous owner didn’t take good care of the machine. Since they handle tough jobs, heavy equipment will show some signs of wear but they shouldn’t be in crucial areas, like loose pins and iffy bushings that can easily break down. Anything like hairline cracks, rust, or leaks can lead to costly repairs in the future, as well as make your machine spend hours in downtime. 

Check the Fluids

Your used construction equipment will probably use different fluids to perform its tasks and you have to check all of them to see not just the level but also the condition of the fluids. Make sure you look at transmission fluid, engine oil, hydraulic fluid and coolant. If the level is too low, it can mean the machine wasn’t well maintained. If the fluid looks contaminated (like water in the engine oil), it can lead to bigger problems down the road. Leaks and pooling of fluids under the machine are signs of major neglect so you should avoid that model. 

Inspect Non-OEM Additions

Generally, manufacturers design their machines to suit a variety of terrain, uses, and environments, so they usually don’t sport any additional work. Sometimes owners can make some additions that might be helpful to them but can also affect the structural integrity or performance of the equipment. If there’s any additional welding, it could indicate those are weak areas where cracks and breakages might have occurred. If the welding is minimal, the machine is still an option, but if it’s extensive, you should probably continue your search. 

Watch the Exhaust

When you test out the used construction equipment, you want to do a cold start. This means the engine should not have been run before you test it. This lets you see if there are any startup issues. Pay attention to how everything runs while keeping an eye on the exhaust. It’s pretty normal for white steam and vapor to sometimes be present in the exhaust but a white exhaust can also mean there’s coolant present, which is harmful for the engine. If the white exhaust is present even after the engine warms up, it could be coolant. 

Ask for Documents

Make sure you go through all the relevant documents of the heavy equipment you’re buying. You want to make sure it’s legal to purchase so ask for the serial number or PIN (product identification number). You also want to ensure there are no liens against the used construction equipment. Ask for repair and maintenance records so you can see if the machine was well cared for and has enough life left to be of use to you for years to come. Maintenance history will also show you if the equipment has any problem areas. 

Brand & Parts Availability

Buying a well-known and trusted brand can make your job a bit easier. They often produce machines that are highly capable and equipped with great features. Owners also tend to take better care of them because they’re usually more expensive. You also want to ensure that there are parts readily available for the used construction equipment you’re buying. Parts can break down for a number of reasons and you don’t want to have to spend days or weeks hunting for a small part to get your machine back to work. 

We hope these tips help you land the deal of a lifetime! There’s more to buying used machines than we can list out here in detail, so if you’d like to learn more, get in touch with us at Synergy Equipment, your local used construction equipment dealer. We have a long list of satisfied clients and a huge inventory, so if you’re looking for used construction equipment for sale in Florida, Georgia or South Carolina, contact our sales team for further assistance!