The 60-second used mini ex inspection that dealers hope you skip

[Ryan Calloway]

Used equipment dealers count on buyers being excited.

Excited buyers skip the basics.

Here’s what takes 60 seconds and tells you almost everything:

Before start:
— Fluid under the machine? Walk away or negotiate hard
— Hydraulic rod surfaces shiny/oily? Seals are going
— Track grouser bars worn flat? Budget $2k minimum
— Any fresh paint on the undercarriage? Covering rust or cracks

Cold start:
— More than 2 cranks? Ask the last service date
— White smoke past 60 seconds? Coolant problem
— Black smoke at idle? Fuel or air system
— Blue smoke anytime? Burning oil

Running checks:
— Raise boom, release controls, watch for drift — cylinder seals
— Swing left and right — should be smooth, not jerky
— Curl bucket against ground and hold — should hold pressure
— Travel forward and reverse — listen for clunking in the undercarriage
— Aux hydraulics — run an attachment if possible

Total time: under 60 seconds for the visual, another 3 minutes running.

What you find tells you whether to walk, negotiate, or buy with confidence.

Most people skip this entirely.

Most people also end up with repair bills they didn’t see coming.

[Author]

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