You see them working on every site, so what’s involved in getting a good deal on a used wheel loader? To begin with, the best-known brands attract the top prices, but other machines should get a look in as well.
Keith Lupton of Jebel-Ali based Word Wide Auctioneers said, “We find that loaders from Kawasaki and Hitachi as well as ‘new world’ machines such as Doosan or Hyundai sell well.”
Wheel loaders are one segment in which Chinese brands have made significant penetration in the market. There are a good number of Sany-branded machines in the region, for example, and for a period of time, Guangxi-based LiuGong claimed to be one of the world’s largest suppliers of loaders, second only to Cat.
Vital checks
Whatever the brand of wheel loader you are looking at, the basic checks are the same. First of all, check the tyres. A wheel loader is not like a car and you’ll find that each corner that needs a replacement can run to several-thousand dirhams. More to the point, a few years ago there was a waiting list of nearly six months for these tyres – and if it happened once, it can happen again.
Besides the usual tread wear and cracks or splits in the rubber, watch for ripples and bulges in the sidewall. These suggest the tyre’s inner liner is damaged, and this generally means a whole new tyre is needed.
Puncture-proof, semi-pneumatic tyres are rare in Arabia, but you might see them fitted to imported used machines. While you are looking at this area, see if the axles have any noticeable damage in them. Damage will curtail the machine’s life expectancy, and will cost you a good amount of money.
All the usual diesel engine checks apply to a wheel loader, although note that some machines might be fitted with a Chinese engine, even if the loader itself is of Japanese origin.
This may not bother you, though note that such a machine is worth less than a similar piece fitted with a known brand motor. On any loader, attention should be paid to the hard-worked transmission.
Check the oil level and colour before you start the machine. Also, check the hydraulic pump, drive shafts and oil seals around the axles. On the subject of the transmission, ensure the diff locks work as expected.
The health of a wheel loader hinges on the health of the central pivot. If the pivot doesn’t look like it has been greased on a regular basis, avoid the machine. A top tip here is to have an assistant move the bucket up and down while you look to see if the machine looks like it is flexing excessively.
Bucket
A wheel loader is useless without a bucket. Of course you can buy a new one that suits your application (and you can trade in the one you have), but it pays to make sure the fitted item is in reasonable working order.
Check the condition of the cutting edge and pay attention to the teeth. Are there any cracks? It will be expensive to repair them if there are, although naturally, you will expect the bucket on a used wheel loader to be a little worn. Be sure to check the pins for any sideways movement as well.
General condition
Like many construction machines, a quick blow over with some yellow paint and a set of original decals can deceive the eye, but this is how a lot of used equipment in the region is presented.
Bent cab access ladders, torn seats and missing or broken lights are all tell-tale signs that the previous operator has been less than careful with his machine, and if this is the case, then there is every reason to suspect that the wheel loader might have been maintained in a similar way. Never forget that condition is king.
“Condition is far more important than recorded clock hours on these machines,” as Lupton points out.
How to inspect a second-hand wheel loader
How to tell whether or not a wheel loader is worth buying
You see them working on every site, so what’s involved in getting a good deal on a used wheel loader? To begin with, the best-known brands attract the top prices, but other machines should get a look in as well.
Keith Lupton of Jebel-Ali based Word Wide Auctioneers said, “We find that loaders from Kawasaki and Hitachi as well as ‘new world’ machines such as Doosan or Hyundai sell well.”
Wheel loaders are one segment in which Chinese brands have made significant penetration in the market. There are a good number of Sany-branded machines in the region, for example, and for a period of time, Guangxi-based LiuGong claimed to be one of the world’s largest suppliers of loaders, second only to Cat.
Vital checks
Whatever the brand of wheel loader you are looking at, the basic checks are the same. First of all, check the tyres. A wheel loader is not like a car and you’ll find that each corner that needs a replacement can run to several-thousand dirhams. More to the point, a few years ago there was a waiting list of nearly six months for these tyres – and if it happened once, it can happen again.
Besides the usual tread wear and cracks or splits in the rubber, watch for ripples and bulges in the sidewall. These suggest the tyre’s inner liner is damaged, and this generally means a whole new tyre is needed.
Puncture-proof, semi-pneumatic tyres are rare in Arabia, but you might see them fitted to imported used machines. While you are looking at this area, see if the axles have any noticeable damage in them. Damage will curtail the machine’s life expectancy, and will cost you a good amount of money.
All the usual diesel engine checks apply to a wheel loader, although note that some machines might be fitted with a Chinese engine, even if the loader itself is of Japanese origin.
This may not bother you, though note that such a machine is worth less than a similar piece fitted with a known brand motor. On any loader, attention should be paid to the hard-worked transmission.
Check the oil level and colour before you start the machine. Also, check the hydraulic pump, drive shafts and oil seals around the axles. On the subject of the transmission, ensure the diff locks work as expected.
The health of a wheel loader hinges on the health of the central pivot. If the pivot doesn’t look like it has been greased on a regular basis, avoid the machine. A top tip here is to have an assistant move the bucket up and down while you look to see if the machine looks like it is flexing excessively.
Bucket
A wheel loader is useless without a bucket. Of course you can buy a new one that suits your application (and you can trade in the one you have), but it pays to make sure the fitted item is in reasonable working order.
Check the condition of the cutting edge and pay attention to the teeth. Are there any cracks? It will be expensive to repair them if there are, although naturally, you will expect the bucket on a used wheel loader to be a little worn. Be sure to check the pins for any sideways movement as well.
General condition
Like many construction machines, a quick blow over with some yellow paint and a set of original decals can deceive the eye, but this is how a lot of used equipment in the region is presented.
Bent cab access ladders, torn seats and missing or broken lights are all tell-tale signs that the previous operator has been less than careful with his machine, and if this is the case, then there is every reason to suspect that the wheel loader might have been maintained in a similar way. Never forget that condition is king.
“Condition is far more important than recorded clock hours on these machines,” as Lupton points out.
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