Total Landscape Care Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/201225
how to Check how much play is in the quick coupler by curling then dumping the bucket; if there's a lot of shimmy, the coupler hasn't been greased regularly. An inadequately greased pin leads to metal-on-metal contact. While there was no problem with the 420, if there had been, repairing the pins and bushings and rod eyelets would cost around $1,000. Drive forward and reverse to check the drives, making sure you're getting the same response when you apply the same amount of pressure on the left and right controls. If one side is going faster than the other, it could be that one pump is weak. Ask if a pump has been replaced recently or if there have been other pump issues. "If a drive motor has been replaced, " Abney says, "one of them is a lot stronger than the other, so it's moving with less stroke. That would lead me to believe the other one's about to go bad." Operate the controls forward and back to make sure the machine travels a straight path, then turn the machine left and right. The controls should return to neutral immediately after being moved all the way forward or backward. If there's no clatter when you turn, and the response time is the same on both controls, you're in good shape, Abney says. If you're concerned about the undercarriage, use a second person to observe the machine as you go back and forth in an erratic motion. If a tire wobbles a bit, it means the sprocket's loose and needs to be repaired. You may need a new undercarriage, which Abney estimates would cost $6,000 to $10,000 for most skid steers of this size. And while you're in the cab… Determine whether the seat operates properly and make sure all gauges and lights are working. Check the condition of the glass. "If you open the door and there's a lot of dirt in the cab," Abney says, "it tells you the air conditioning probably doesn't work." It may be solved by fixing a coolant leak, or you may have to replace the compressor. Abney says he'd replace the 420's seat, a $100 item. "Appearance has value, and there's nothing more aggravating than sitting in a seat and getting your butt wet because water is soaking the seat," he says. The 420 still had a lot of life left. "There would be a number of second-owner possibilities, including homeowners with acreage, a beginning landscaper or a landscaper adding to his fleet," Abney says. 10 To t a l L a n d s c a p e C a r e . com N O V E M B E R 2 013 Inside Look at all fluid levels and examine the engine oil for water. Make sure you have enough hydraulic fluid to operate the machine. Is the hydraulic oil in good shape? Examine the condition of all filters. Walkaround Look for signs of damage, including dents, cracks and welds. While dents are common, excessive dents could mean a rough environment or machine abuse. Are there any hydraulic leaks on cylinders and under the machine? If the machine's been sitting around, check for dry rot in the tires and hoses. History Gather as much history as you can: Who owned it? How was it used? Some applications – such as recycling – are much rougher on machines and should prompt a closer examination. Do you have access to the previous owners maintenance records?