I think you need to consider the history as much, if not more than the hours.
If it has had a genuine owner or two I dont consider the hours excessive for a 7yr old machine.
If it was ex rental it was probably due to go for scrap at 3yrs old
The general state of the machine should give a clue to what life its had.
Why is it for sale?
Has it had a 2 gallon respray walk away
Check undercarriage for excessive wear, replacement. On rubber or steel ?
Pull the dipstick
Put the bucket just off ground and push it and dipper about with your hand for clue as to wear on pins etc.
Check for leaks, drips, cab/canopy scraches, dents, repairs.
Does the hour clock actually work :cool2
Look it over from a critical point of view, and take some pictures
I rented a Tak 135 last month from our local big name rental outfit. It had about 1,000 hrs on the clock and not a bushing left in it. You must have a better rental house than I do.Say what you will about rentals, at least they maintain them.
So,1000 hrs. is pretty much a good standard for replacing major wear components in general use then?
At 1,000hrs a properly maintained mini shoulnt need anything, but at 4,300 there will probably be some sloppy pins, maybe turntable and undercarriage work, but a totally usable machine. Just depends on how tight you expect eveything to be.
I have long said that rental machine hours each equal about 2 private party hours in terms of machine wear & tear. Looking at my own ex-rental machine, sometimes I think that number should be closer to 3.I rented a Tak 135 last month from our local big name rental outfit. It had about 1,000 hrs on the clock and not a bushing left in it. You must have a better rental house than I do.
Well, should have kept my mouth shut. Back filling a trench yesterday my front blade's ram seal sprung a leak. Fluid just a pouring out.
My buddies Tak 145 has 3700 hrs and still runs great. He has only redone the bucket pins on it because he consistently runs a 36inch digging bucket that looks like it belongs on a 170. I am very impressed with his machine and he would have zero problems if he didn't have issues with the ac compressor pulley eating belts. He removed the ac compressor and does not have any problems now.
On top of all the hard work doing septic systems and digging foundations he is a big dozer guy, that does not own a dozer, and he likes to push like mad with the blade. He actually got roughly 2800hrs out of his first set of tracks. I am extremely impressed with his machine and I am looking at the 153 model myself. Hoping to have the strength of a 145 and close to fitting in spots where the 135 would go. We shall see.