Roofing and Building Center

Buying a Used Mini Digger

Posted on January 4, 2010 by Samuel Cheeseman ----- Advertisement

If you are a small builder or a homeowner wanting to complete a landscaping or building project then you may require a mini digger. When purchased from new these machines have high price tags and will be expensive for all but the largest construction companies. You do however have the option of shopping around for used mini diggers which can be purchased at more reasonable prices from many suppliers. You will likely be able to save a few thousand pounds or dollars if you find a good quality used mini digger for sale that will be suitable for the work you wish to complete. One that has been well looked after and is just a few years old will often still be covered by the original warranty and should last for many more years. Many of these diggers are designed to operate for around 10,000 hours so try and find out how much usage a machine has had in the past and how long the model is expected to last. These numbers should be considered when deciding how much you are willing to pay. Obviously you should be paying an amount in proportion to the age of the digger and how much usage it has received.

Inspecting a Mini Digger Before Purchase

You will definitely want to have a working knowledge of mini diggers before you start looking at used machines. If you do not then be sure to bring along someone who has a good understanding of these devices and will be able to advise you well. Anyone offering a used mini digger for sale should be willing to let you test drive the vehicle before you make a purchase. It should obviously run well in all directions and the tracks should be in good condition with no signs of damage or serious wear and tear. The engine must be checked fully along with the body work and undercarriage. Question any parts that you feel are not in a satisfactory condition. Check the hydraulic fluid seals for leaks along with hoses and belts for any cracks or excessive wear. You basically want to be checking as many different components as possible. While evaluating the condition of a used mini digger make sure you are not fooled by a machine which has just been given a new coat of paint. This could have been applied just to try and gain a higher price from any buyer but in some cases will have the intention of distracting you from other problems with the machine.

While inspecting a mini digger for signs of damage you should also be checking that it would be suitable for your needs. The power of the digger along with its own weight and the weight it can support will also be important for some jobs. Some tasks may require a digger that is particularly small and mobile for working in confined spaces. Kubota mini diggers are often some of the smallest and versatile machines. You will need to be certain that you are capable of operating any digger you plan to purchase. If you are not then short mini digger training courses can be completed over a weekend or even in a single day. If you would prefer not to operate the machine yourself and have no other alternative driver then you may want to consider mini digger hire and opt for a package that includes a driver in the daily rental cost.

Mini Digger Sales

When purchasing one of these machines there are many high quality brand names to choose from. A JCB mini digger or a Kubota mini digger will be well designed and manufactured. Volvo, Komatsu and Dingo mini diggers for sale will also be good machines. Many of these manufacturers will also sell various mini digger parts and attachments such as mini digger buckets. Good quality used machines will often start at around £3500 or $5500 depending on the age of the digger and the usage it has so far received.