a set can set you back over a grand
over $1300 for ONE hose on my truck
without counting, I think theres 16 or so of them
Engine and transmission I can check them but other than that I don’t know what to look for. It’s a chip dump truck as well. Owner said it needs PTO and pump. I have no clue what it means or how much does it cost to get those fixed. Any advice would be appreciated!
pins, annual inspection, hoses, function, does the boom make any sounds or shakes? should be dead silent when operating (minus hydraulic sounds)
a hellacious squeal from a cylinder is most likely the counterbalance cartridge out of adjustment, this is a MUST FIX item, boom is unsafe without those adjusted properly (takes 10 minutes to do all of them if you know what you're doing)
the leveling chains can become worn and out of adjustment also, check for knicks in the fiberglass or chipped gel coat (both may be repairable, although major damage isn't)
check for non factory welds, make sure all functions operate good (upper and lower)
the PTO and hydraulic pump alone can set you back a few thousand quickly, the PTO alone may be $2500 or more, same for the hydraulic pump
how old is the truck? anything over 20 years old and I wouldn't really consider buying it knowing what I know now (mines 32 years old and beat)
is it a brand that still has parts available (Altec, Terex?) mines a Holan and parts are impossible to find
check the turret mounting bolts and the U bolts holding the turret to the frame, they must be torqued correctly, if not things can shift around or break
also check the bucket mounting, and bucket corners for cracks, also check the bottom of the bucket for wear holes from the headache rack, check the boom near the boom rest for cracks, I've seen multiple booms broken from forgetting the boom rest strap and trying to boom up out of the cradle, that boom section and anything else damaged by it has to be replaced to pass inspection, not cheap to do
Bucket trucks are built on a cab and chassis combo, in the truck there is supposed to be the factory owners manual for the truck chassis, and the boom, if not, then you need to find them to be OSHA compliant, ESPECIALLY THE BOOM MANUAL, the manual has all the critical information (including some service info such as bolt torques, how to check swing motor play, hydraulic fluid spec, etc)
as for the dump bed, make sure the hoist works, and isn't rusted out, check the floor of the box for cracks (and the roof, not uncommon to hit the truck with stray limbs)
if the PTO is shot, you may be able to plumb a skidsteer or chipper (anything with hydraulics) into the system to test it, although you WILL ruin ALL the dielectric integrity of the dielectric hydraulic fluid in the system, (supposed to be DE fluid anyhow) and you will have to flush the entire system, not a huge deal but these systems hold a lot of fluid (20+ gallons sometimes), also make sure to run low flow, these systems operate on 10GPM or thereabouts, most equipment is 18-40GPM and will LAUNCH a boom like nobody's business
