When it comes to evaluating a piece of used heavy equipment, what should you look for? We posed that same question to our Ritchie Bros. Facebook followers to see what construction equipment experts out there thought. Here are some of their top answers: 1. Check the fluids Fluids to look at include engine oil, transmission fluid, coolant, hydraulic fluid, and more. Looking at a machine’s fluids will give you insight into not only the current condition of the machine, but also how well it’s been maintained over time. Low or dirty fluids could be a warning flag that the previous owner hasn’t kept up with a regular maintenance schedule while clues like water in the engine oil could be a sign of a much bigger problem. 2. Operating hours How many hours a machine has operated for isn’t the only factor you should consider when evaluating a machine’s condition but, as with looking at miles when shopping for a car, it’s a good place to start. A diesel-engine machine can last into the tens of thousands of operating hours. If you think it may be pushing the upper limits of hours then you may want to do a quick cost/benefit … Continue reading 5 things to look for when buying used equipment