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Tried to save a few bucks on a used stump grinder and it cost me big time
Found a 'lightly used' Carlton 7015 on a local buy and sell site for $3500, which seemed like a steal compared to new. The guy said it just needed a new belt and some fresh teeth, so I figured maybe $500 in parts and a weekend of work. Got it home, and the whole hydraulic system was shot, leaking fluid everywhere. The pump was basically toast and the hoses were all cracked. Ended up spending another $2200 at the shop to get it running right, plus my own labor. So that 'deal' turned into a $5700 machine that's still older than my other gear. Learned the hard way to bring a magnet and check for metal shavings in the hydraulic fluid before you hand over any cash, or just walk away. Anyone got a good checklist for checking out used stump grinders before buying?
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lisa8201mo agoMost Upvoted
Man, that's such a classic and painful story. I've been burned on a 'project' skid steer in a really similar way, where the seller just glossed over the major hydraulic issues. That magnet trick for the fluid is solid advice, something I only learned after my own mess.
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