When you are in the market to purchase a skid steer, you
will find that your options are infinite. There are many
manufacturers, like Mustang, Bobcat, Caterpillar, etc.,
that build skid steer loaders, so you may ask yourself
"Where do I begin." Well, here are some of the things to
think about when purchasing a skid steer.
You first will need to decide whether your needs would be
filled by a used unit or if you are at a point that a new
unit would be best suitable for your needs, secondly you
will need to determine the proper size machine for your
application, depending on the type work you do, the largest
or highest horsepower machine isn't always the most
efficient machine.
You will also need to decide if you were going to set a
budget to spend or if you are going to be financing this
unit. If you intend to purchase a unit outright, you will
need to set your budget realistically. Some of the
aggravation may stem from not being able to find a machine
in the size range that also fit in the price range you are
looking to spend. When shopping for a used unit, you must
really pay attention to the unit, sometimes folks will let
the glitter blind them, a machine with the best aesthetic
value may not always be the best mechanical value. You need
to look past shiny paint and new tires, you should do a
complete evaluation on the machine, key points to check are
as listed below.
1. Check for wear on key hinge point of the machine. Check
for abnormal play in pinned joints on the boom lift arm.
Check the bucket hinge pins and all bucket and lift
cylinder pinned joints, always be sure to check both ends
of the hydraulic cylinder ends.
2. Check for cracks or broken welds on structural
components of the machine. You will want to inspect the
boom lift arm, axle tubes and housings, check around
hydraulic cylinder pinned joints. Also pay attention to the
bucket. If you see multiple post manufacture welds, this
may be an indicator that the machine has been used in an
abusive manner, such as ramming skid steer into large
masses.
3. Check for excessive oil or fuel leaks. Look over engine
compartment, if accessible check under the cab of the unit
as well. Don't count on finding a used machine that is
perfectly dry, but you don't want oil standing in the belly
of the unit either. Also keep in mind that just because the
a unit has an oil leak doesn't mean the unit has problems,
it can be as simple as a lose hose fitting, or a failed
4. Check the steering and drivability of the machine. This
could be one of the more important parts of the inspection,
due to the nature of the problem these can be a more
expensive fix and worse, it could be a safety issue as
well. Drive the unit fully engaged forward, check that the
machine tracks straight. You will also want to be sure that
there isn't a lot of slop in the chain case by driving the
machine from reverse to forward and vice verse. When
machine is in the neutral position be sure that the unit
isn't creeping (still moving), this can be very dangerous
as it could run into something or if you are work with
laborers it could cause injury.
5. Check for engine wear. Keep in mind most skid steer
loaders are powered by diesel engines, much different than
conventional gasoline engine. Diesel engines are much
louder than gasoline engines, they have a noticeable
clatter at lower rpm's.
Diesels may also smoke a little grayish-black smoke when
first started or while warming up, this is normal
especially in a used unit. Check for power loss under a
light load, you may do this simply by driving the machine
up a slight incline, the rpm's will drop some but they
shouldn't drop more than 50 % of full throttle rpm's just
from driving alone. Keep in mind that diesel engines make
the most power at lower rpm's under a load, just because
the engine is losing rpm's dose not necessarily mean your
losing power.
6. Lastly, check the overall condition of the machine.
This step of the evaluation is important in the sense that
you will want a machine that looks professional and you
will base a portion of your decision off your findings from
this step. If you do buy a used skid steer, in which the
paint and decals show excessive wear, it may be a good idea
to touch up heavily scratched areas with paint and replace
decals. This is usually inexpensive and will give your
machine a better aesthetic value, especially important if
you are a contractor, You want customers to feel confident
in the equipment your using to complete their projects.
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Will Burke has been selling new and used construction
equipment for more than 9 years. For additional
information, visit http://www.buyhaydenequip.com .
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