Auction Inspection Tips For Common Used Farm Equipment

Are you thinking about purchasing additional pieces of farm equipment? If so, you may be concerned about taking on extra debt. But, you can still purchase the farm equipment you need. Rather than buying a new machine, you should check out at local auction to see if they have anything you are looking for. This post will go over everything you need to know about inspecting used farm equipment at auction.

General tips for inspecting farm equipment at auction

If you have ever bought a used car, you know that one of the most important things you need to do is an inspection. When inspecting used farm equipment, check out the serial number first. You can use this number to verify the year, make, and model of the machine. Here are some other tips that you can use to inspect used farm equipment.

• If this is your first time at an auction, watch what other people are doing first.
• Make sure to read the rules for the auction before you join.
• You can check out what will be up for auction by looking at the catalog the auction house provides.
• Research the pieces you are interested in so you can be prepared.
• Farm equipment auctions usually have great deals that many people want. Stick to your budget and try not to get caught up in bidding wars.

Headers

If you are purchasing a header, then you need to think about what best fits your needs. For example, do you need a flex draper, corn, or rigid? Once you know what type of equipment you need, examine the body of the used farm equipment. Make sure that the teeth are intact and that the blades are in good condition. You should check for rust, dents, and bends or damage to the hoses and rams. During your inspection, you should remember to check if the equipment is hydraulic or manual.

Grain carts

To inspect a grain cart at auction, work your way from the front to the rear or top to the bottom of the machine. Start by checking out the hitch and looking for any wear or damage from being pulled. Inspect the frame and pay close attention to the stress points too. Continue this inspection with the auger. You should check the flighting for rust and damage and make sure the hydraulic hoses don’t have any holes or tears. Don’t forget to check the roll tarp to make sure it isn’t rusted or damaged.

Once you’re done with the top, check out the undercarriage and suspension. If the cart has tires, look at the make, size, and quality of the tread. You should also inspect the rim for bends, deficiencies, or cracks. If the cart has tracks, then you should check for missing rubber or tears, wear to the rollers and drive sprockets, and the depth of the tread.

Bailers

Similar to the other pieces of equipment, you want to check out the hitch for any wear, damage, or stress points. You should also check out the drive shaft and confirm its power take-off rating. You need to make sure that the tractor you plan on using has sufficient power to operate the machine and has the right hookups. The next most important thing to inspect is the pick-up. Look for issues with hydraulic hoses and verify the unit is functioning (i.e. the side shields work and the belts are functional). You should also check out the ejector and confirm all parts work correctly. You should also look for dents, worn areas, or missing shields.

Once you’re done checking out the top, move your way to the undercarriage. You should check the tires for wear and tear and look at the rims. Make sure the suspension is working and verify that it has steering axles.

Take a look at the maintenance logs

There are many more things that you can do to inspect used farm equipment at auction. One of the most important things is looking at maintenance log and supporting documents. Hopefully, the seller has these documents available for review. Take a look at how frequently the equipment has undergone inspections and repairs. When was the last time routine maintenance was conducted? Have any major repairs been done?

Used farm equipment auctions in Texas?

If you’re looking to purchase more equipment, contact the experts at High Plains Auctioneers today. You can reach us at (806) 244-6776 or Contact Us by email for information about our events. Don’t forget to check out our Upcoming Auctions to see what we have available!