Tips For Buying A Use Compact Loader - Central Platform Services Ltd

In this segment, we offer some simple advice for those looking to buy a used compact loader. Whilst this article focuses heavily on Avant loaders, the same concepts will often apply to other makes and models.

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First of all, unless you find a distressed seller people do not usually sell cheap compact loaders, so if you do come across one, BUYER BEWARE! Be sure to do your due diligence.

Your due diligence should start before traveling to site and potentially having a wasted trip.

Questions To Ask

Ask the seller questions such as:

• What is the serial number? You can ask your local dealer to run this through the Avant system to make sure it is indeed what it is advertised as. Your local dealer can also run it through an asset write off register to make sure it has not been written off or stolen.
• Has it got service history? Under normal situations an Avant Compact Loader should be serviced to manufacturer recommendations after the first 50 hours then every 400 hours or annually (whichever comes first). Regular servicing can seriously prolong the life and reliability of agricultural machinery. If service has been neglected, you should expect to pick up further costs down the line.
• Ask your local Avant dealer for advice on the pricing. Ask them if they too may have any used equipment stock for comparison. A responsible dealer will make sure their equipment is up to scratch and offer some warranty by means of comfort and support. A dealer could also offer a finance package on new and used equipment.

Inspecting The Loader

When you go to inspect the machine, here are a few tips on checking it over:

1. Check the general condition. You can usually tell if a machine has been abused or neglected at first glance. Be wary though as occasionally we find repairs which are well disguised. Check the boom components in particular for distortions and peculiar welds and plating. If it’s not right, then it could prove expensive to rectify.
2. Lift the bonnet and check the engine. Pull out the dipstick and see if the engine is breathing heavily. Check the exhaust for blue, black of white plumes of smoke. All these are signs of engine wear. Both Kubota and Kohler engines fitted to the Avant Compact Loader range are robust and reliable engines, but neither will tolerate neglect of service.
3. Check the headstock pivot pins for wear. The headstock is where the attachments are mounted, and this area absorbs most of the impact when the compact loader is hard at work. If it has been regularly greased it will endure but without regular grease, the pins, bushes and even the frame will wear. Check this by removing the attachment and manually moving the headstock up and down. If there is wear, you will spot it without doubt.

4. Remove the hydraulic oil dipstick and check the level and condition of the oil. If the oil is milky or has signs of contamination, this could prove costly down the line and cause contamination to other attachments you may want to fit. You could go the extra mile by fitting a hydraulic test gauge to test the pressure (this is usually a job for an Avant technician). Be sure to check the hydraulic level with the boom in the down and closed position.

5. Finally, test drive the machine. Make sure that the drive and functions are smooth, and the controls are responsive. If there is a hill nearby, take it up and test the power. Listen for unusual noises and vibrations and make sure the brakes work. If there is a rotary attachment available, use this to check the auxiliary hydraulics.

Shake the steering and check for excess wear in the articulated joints and have a good look around the tyres.

If you are happy with your findings, then the chances are you have found a good compact loader. If you are still unsure, ask your local Avant Agent to go out and give you a report. The value of a good report from a bona fide Avant Technician will give you the knowledge to make the right decision.

Contact us to discuss your requirements of Compact Articulated Tractor. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.

We hope you find this helpful, but for further professional advice on purchasing new and used compact loaders call our friendly team on or us at .

How much is enough? The age-old question that comes to mind when trying to decide which tractor has the right amount of horsepower for you. If you're new to the tractor world, it can be a bit overwhelming trying to navigate all the different tractor model options and differentiate what each is capable of. There are two key factors to consider when deciding which tractor is best for the work you will be doing, one is the tractor size and the other is how much horsepower it has.

In this article, we will be breaking down how to understand what the different horsepower options mean. On every tractor, there are at least two horsepower (hp) numbers, the engine horsepower and the power take-off (PTO) power. Most of the time, the horsepower that is first stated when referring to a tractor is the engine power, but this number isn't equal to the PTO power. The PTO power will be lower than the engine power because some of the power gets lost in the powertrain between the back of the engine and the PTO shaft. The power that's lost is being used to run things like hydraulics and power steering. This loss is called parasitic loss.

How to Choose a Tractor

Ultimately, the tractor you need is totally dependent on the tasks you will be taking on. The larger and more heavy-duty tasks, the more powerful a tractor you are going to need. Below, we have broken down some of the most common types of tasks different horsepower tractors are equipped to take on. A good way to tell how much power you need is to check the power requirements on the types of implements you will be using. If the PTO-powered implements you will be running require 25 horsepower and the engine on the tractor you are looking at puts out 25 horsepower, it is not powerful enough to run the implement. The PTO power has to be equivalent to or greater than the power needed to run your implement.

51-65 Engine Horsepower Tractors

Compact tractors that fall into this category are powerful enough to take on farming jobs but depending on the size of frame on the tractor, might not be able to do quite as large of jobs as utility tractors. These machines are perfect for small-scale farmers looking for a primary tractor and for large-scale farmers looking for a smaller tractor to do chores around the property. These tractors can be used to plow small plots, haul hay, clear brush, put in fence rows, and more.

If you are between two tractor power options, it is often suggested to choose the more powerful one so you don't end up short on power to get the job done. With that being said, there also isn't any point in buying a tractor with a lot more power than you need. Speak with your salesperson about current and future tasks you see using your tractor for, and they can give the best recommendations on horsepower needs.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website 50 HP 4x4 Tractor For Sale.