loader, maybe knuckleboom

[Hogdaddy]

Looking for a loader, thinking about a knuckleboom. I have a 210D prentice to go look at in a couple of days, what should I look for? I have NEVER been around a knuckleboom.   

[mike_belben]

cracks and weld repairs around the main boom and cylinder mounts, straightness of the cylinder rods, welds on the stick and boom, leaks around the cylinder packings, pumps and valve spools. condition of hoses, how much slop is in the pins and bushings, are the control handle pins all worn out and ready to tear through the spool eyelet? how many gallons a day it will leak, how many hours are on it and if any of the major components have been changed.  condition of the rotec bearing and strength of the slew in both directions, hopefully no missing teeth or dead spots or fouled seal.. lifting carbody is not a job for the faint of heart. if its got a heater, does the heater core get hot or is it clogged full of calcium, lime, rust and mouse fluff.  if the radiator full of packed oil mud on the outside and corrosion on the inside?  does it have removable tanks that can be rodded out or is it a throwaway radiator?

check to see that combustion gas isnt coming out the radiator overflow vent, thats a bad headgasket, cracked head or block, sunk liner, liner o-rings etc.  likely an out of frame job and those motors are up pretty high for someone without a crane or excavator.  if in doubt blackstone labs oil analysis.  see that it will cold start without ether and once warm, makes full power. engine should wind up easily without hesitation or a bunch of farting and burbling or clouds of coal. thats fuel issues usually.  should idle stable and not have a bunch of clacking in the valve train or individual rough sounding cylinders. look for signs of coolant stain coming down the water pump weep hole area.  with engine off, grab any tensioners or fan hubs and yank around, look for bearing play.  same in the alternator shaft.  look for burnt wires and shot belts.. not a deal breaker but good to notice.  listen for a basketball boing boing boinging on concrete from the air intake.  thats the sound of trouble on the exhaust valve side.  if a pushrod or valve stem is bent and the valve is not opening, compression fires out the intake and sounds like dribbling a basketball. 

 if youve got visions of a bucksaw, see that it has provisions to plumb one. 

[Hogdaddy]

Wow, thanks Mike.