machine to buy or run away from

[Carolina start up]

i went and looked at a early model tb135 they want 18500 for it but theres a few problems ive noticed when looking. the bucket needs new pins and bushing, the exhaust pipe has been broken off and whats left has been crushed and has caused the exhaust system its self to get cracks in it. more problems is the oil is just dark it needs a changing also the engine shakes pretty hard when in idol mood im not sure if thats normal but the brackets that hold the engine dont seem to be great on it, also what hold the blade theres cracks and i guess not the first time because someone before has welded it id say twice because its a lot of build up but still more cracks on it. the lights dont work or the backup alarm and its only got 2400 hours but im not sure how accurate that is. thats all i could see and find wrong with it i took pictures of the machine but at 18500 i offered 16000 even and they came back with 17500 and they would change the oil but overall should i chance it or stay away

 

[Carolina start up]

 

[Carolina start up]

 

[Carolina start up]

 

[suladas]

How long does the shake at start up last? Mine does that for a few seconds if I don't run the heater, even in the summer but runs perfectly smooth otherwise. The pins aren't a big issue just finds of what parts cost and account for that in the price, the exhaust and blade are definitely from some abuse/lack of care but the blade as long as it's not bent up and works it can be welded up. I would check for play in rest of joints especially slew bearing. Engine oil will go black fairly quick, nothing wrong with that. The backup alarm may have been disabled (I disabled mine, super annoying and not needed on a mini IMO). Not lights work at all? If so definitely factor in spending some time/money on those. Those tracks are pretty new. If they will let you i'd pull the level plug on the drives and take a look at the oil and check for metal.

I would compare to a machine in good shape, factor in what you think it would cost at a shop to get that one all fixed up, and offer at least $1-2k less to factor in the hassle, and risk. 2400 hours is very low to be needing pins and likely wasn't greased much, and it looks pretty rough for those hours. Without seeing a hour meter I would have guessed it had easily 5-6k hours on it. Was it a rental? Or company owned machine?

 

[Carolina start up]

How long does the shake at start up last? Mine does that for a few seconds if I don't run the heater, even in the summer but runs perfectly smooth otherwise. The pins aren't a big issue just finds of what parts cost and account for that in the price, the exhaust and blade are definitely from some abuse/lack of care but the blade as long as it's not bent up and works it can be welded up. I would check for play in rest of joints especially slew bearing. Engine oil will go black fairly quick, nothing wrong with that. The backup alarm may have been disabled (I disabled mine, super annoying and not needed on a mini IMO). Not lights work at all? If so definitely factor in spending some time/money on those. Those tracks are pretty new. If they will let you i'd pull the level plug on the drives and take a look at the oil and check for metal.

I would compare to a machine in good shape, factor in what you think it would cost at a shop to get that one all fixed up, and offer at least $1-2k less to factor in the hassle, and risk. 2400 hours is very low to be needing pins and likely wasn't greased much, and it looks pretty rough for those hours. Without seeing a hour meter I would have guessed it had easily 5-6k hours on it. Was it a rental? Or company owned machine?

it will shake as long as its in ideal and i mean its bad like if it dint have anything holding it id say it jump out but once you go past ideal it goes to what id call normal. the pins and welding i wont worried about i can weld it my self not a fan of grinding though and nope no lights at all work all and the tracks are fine and the sprockets are maybe half way but according to them it was a company machine he traded that and the skid steer in for kubota but at 18500 im not a fan even at 17500 i think its to much around 15-16 id be more okay with it but the dealer does not wanna budge. the engine though was fairly clean it looked almost new

 

[suladas]

it will shake as long as its in ideal and i mean its bad like if it dint have anything holding it id say it jump out but once you go past ideal it goes to what id call normal. the pins and welding i wont worried about i can weld it my self not a fan of grinding though and nope no lights at all work all and the tracks are fine and the sprockets are maybe half way but according to them it was a company machine he traded that and the skid steer in for kubota but at 18500 im not a fan even at 17500 i think its to much around 15-16 id be more okay with it but the dealer does not wanna budge. the engine though was fairly clean it looked almost new

That's definitely an issue then, a tiny shake when it's cold is fine but anything beyond that isn't. If you idle it up for a bit then back down to idle does it shake again? Also depends if it's just the engine not being held down properly compared to something being wrong with it. May make more sense to spend a few extra bucks on something in better shape.

 

[Vetech63]

She has been rode hard and put away wet. Rode REALLY hard!

 

[Carolina start up]

That's definitely an issue then, a tiny shake when it's cold is fine but anything beyond that isn't. If you idle it up for a bit then back down to idle does it shake again? Also depends if it's just the engine not being held down properly compared to something being wrong with it. May make more sense to spend a few extra bucks on something in better shape.

i can go full speed and it be fine but i go back to idol starts shaking again and thats what im thinking i wish i could justify a new machine i like the tb230s and got a price quote on a new one just a little high payment

 

[Carolina start up]

She has been rode hard and put away wet. Rode REALLY hard!

so run

 

[CM1995]

What are you planning on using the machine for? From your user name I assume making money with it?

Without looking at the machine personally it's priced too high for the condition.

 

[Carolina start up]

What are you planning on using the machine for? From your user name I assume making money with it?

Without looking at the machine personally it's priced too high for the condition.

well i got about 3 months worth of work at my house stump pulling clearing land redoing some ditchs and restacking brush piles but after that im start a small lawn and land management company since i got the tractor,zero turn, trailers and truck but i know a excavator is a real money maker and could be used for a small side business. and yeah i thought so to my cousin said he offer them 10k but that be about it

 

[CM1995]

A machine that size rents for a $1K a week or $3K a month. With rental if you need it 3 weeks you keep it for a month as it's the same price - at least that's the way it is here in AL.

So if you have 3 months of work at your home then that's $9K to rent the same size machine during that time frame less fuel and grease. If the machine breaks down you call the rental house and get another one.

On the flip side you're looking at $9K of rental for 3 months of work and sending it back without any residual value - IE a much used machine that still has some resale value.

The gamble is will that machine do what you want it to do over the 3 months without a major breakdown?

 

[mitch504]

after that im start a small lawn and land management company i know a excavator is a real money maker

Not trying to be a smartass here, for once, but that's not necessarily true. I am speaking as somebody who has been in business since 1995, this time. I was in business about 3 or 4 times, before that.

You can make money with one, but what most successful owner-operators end up with is making what they could make running one for somebody else, if they are good operators. Most people vastly underestimate their costs, underbid the competition, and then the next guy buys their used machine and does it again.

 

[Welder Dave]

You only make good money if you're a good operator and do good work in a timely manner. That takes experience so don't expect to make it big first starting out. Also try to buy a machine that doesn't require extensive repairs just to put it on a job site. I'd look at different machines that didn't shake or need welding repairs. Pins and bushings worn isn't a deal breaker though as they are common wear items if not greased often enough.

 

[245dlc]

Yup run away its beaten. Diesel engine oil generally turns black after a couple hours of running that's pretty normal, some tier 4 engines stay a little cleaner but not much. Those little engines generally vibrate at bit at idle but if its shaking pretty bad there could be other problems. Cracks on the dozer blade indicate quite a bit of abuse and the rest of the machine from the photos you supplied looked like its been used in the demolition industry heavily like almost driven through buildings. lol I wouldn't pay $5,000 for that thing.

 

[suladas]

Not trying to be a smartass here, for once, but that's not necessarily true. I am speaking as somebody who has been in business since 1995, this time. I was in business about 3 or 4 times, before that.

You can make money with one, but what most successful owner-operators end up with is making what they could make running one for somebody else, if they are good operators. Most people vastly underestimate their costs, underbid the competition, and then the next guy buys their used machine and does it again.

It's definitely not as easy as most people think, but if you buy decent equipment, figure out pricing and hustle you can make some pretty good money. I know I couldn't make anywhere close to what I do working by the hour for someone and to me the freedom of not answering to anyone is huge. I've had jobs where I didn't even make enough to put fuel in the machine and cover cost of a operator never mind all the expenses of running a business, on the other side i've had jobs where i've made $5k in a day, then there's waiting and chasing for your money, or not getting paid at all. Took a bit, but i've learned my costs and what I need for a job to make money and if I can't get it I walk. I think one of the most important parts is not having too big of payments where you need to work the equipment so much you have to take job that pay nothing, and the payments just kill you.

 

[mitch504]

That's for sure about the payments. It has rained at least twice a week for 4 months here, I'm not happy about it, but I'm not gonna lose anything.

 

[Carolina start up]

A machine that size rents for a $1K a week or $3K a month. With rental if you need it 3 weeks you keep it for a month as it's the same price - at least that's the way it is here in AL.

So if you have 3 months of work at your home then that's $9K to rent the same size machine during that time frame less fuel and grease. If the machine breaks down you call the rental house and get another one.

On the flip side you're looking at $9K of rental for 3 months of work and sending it back without any residual value - IE a much used machine that still has some resale value.

The gamble is will that machine do what you want it to do over the 3 months without a major breakdown?

i think that machine would break within 3 months

 

[Carolina start up]

Yup run away its beaten. Diesel engine oil generally turns black after a couple hours of running that's pretty normal, some tier 4 engines stay a little cleaner but not much. Those little engines generally vibrate at bit at idle but if its shaking pretty bad there could be other problems. Cracks on the dozer blade indicate quite a bit of abuse and the rest of the machine from the photos you supplied looked like its been used in the demolition industry heavily like almost driven through buildings. lol I wouldn't pay $5,000 for that thing.

you sound like my uncle who said that he offer to take it off there hands to save the property value