used trailed mower

Look at the ad for a used trailed mower? and you think - well, it would seem, what’s so complicated? Iron, knives, wheels. In fact, if you haven’t gone through this yourself, you can run into such “surprises” that the new unit will seem cheaper. Many, especially beginners, are chasing a low price, not realizing that the key here is not the fact of purchase itself, but the condition of the components and the operating history. Now I’ll explain what I look at first, and why sometimes it’s easier to turn to trusted manufacturers, the same Chinese ones that make good quality new cars, than to suffer with a dead “used” one. apparatus.

What is hidden behind the “used” nameplate?

The first and most important thing is mileage and engine hours. This is not a car where everything is fixed. Meters often “die” on agricultural machinery. or they are rewound. Therefore, you look not at the numbers, but at the traces. Wear on the pins on the frame fastenings, the condition of the welds - if patches or cracks are visible, it means that the unit has clearly been worn out. This is especially critical for trailed mowers - they are dragged over uneven surfaces, shocks and vibrations do their job.

The second point is the cutting apparatus. It happens that they sell a mower in which, it seems, the frame is intact and the bearings are in order, but the knives or beam segments are already on the verge. Replacing a cutting set requires some money and time. I always ask you to lift the unit and manually rotate the PTO (power take-off shaft) - if there is play, jamming or grinding, it is immediately clear that there is a problem with the gearbox or blade drives. Sometimes it is cheaper to buy a new Chinese mower than to rebuild the entire cutting unit on a used one.

And third is the hydraulics and lifting mechanism. On trailed models this is often a weak point. You check how the device rises and falls, whether there are any oil leaks on the hoses or cylinders. If the hydraulics are ?thoughtful? or it works jerkily, get ready for repairs. And this, again, is simple during the season when every day counts.

Practical experience: successes and failures

I had a case about five years ago. I bought what I thought was an excellentused trailed mowerPolish production. It looks almost new, the price is attractive. I checked everything, it seems. But he didn’t take into account one nuance - the previous owner worked in very rocky areas. The first season showed that the cutting plates were already “tired”, microcracks appeared after a couple of hectares. I had to urgently change the entire beam. It cost a pretty penny.

But here is another experience, a positive one. I purchased a used mower, but from a well-known brand that always has spare parts in stock. Yes, the condition was average, but all the components were original, without handicraft alterations. Knowing the model, I ordered a set of consumables (bearings, belts) in advance and went through everything in the off-season. She served four more seasons without serious breakdowns. The conclusion is simple: buying used makes sense only if you know exactly the model, its weak points and where to get spare parts. Otherwise it's a lottery.

It also happens that it is easier and more reliable to consider the option of new equipment, especially when it comes to specialized tasks. Now there are many worthy manufacturers on the market that offer good value for money. For example, if we take the company ?Jiujia? (Hulunbuir Machinery Manufacturing Company), they have a range of modern solutions for harvesting feed. Their websitecn-fascar.rucan be viewed to compare characteristics. They are precisely positioned as an integrated enterprise with a full cycle - from development to service. This is important because for new equipment, the availability of service and spare parts is half the success.

Key nodes that few people look at

Besides the obvious, there are details that are overlooked. For example, the support wheel (or wheels) and its height adjustment mechanism. If the threaded connections are stuck or stripped, it will be impossible to adjust the cutting height. This is critical for the quality of the mowing.

Next is the driveshaft from the tractor. Its crosspieces and protective casing. A worn cardan causes vibration that kills both the mower gearbox and the tractor PTO. Always have it connected to the tractor and test it at different speeds.

And perhaps the most important thing is the frame and its geometry. You need to place the mower on a level surface and see if it is skewed. If the frame was being driven, it could have been hit hard somewhere. It is difficult to straighten this, and it will work unevenly, quickly wearing out one side.

When to buy used and when not to

So, let me summarize. Takeused trailed mowerIt’s worth it if: you have the time and skills to diagnose it and possibly repair it; you know exactly the history of the unit (for example, from a familiar farm); This is a popular model with spare parts available; the price is actually 40-50% lower than the new one, and you are ready to potentially invest these saved funds in upgrading the units.

You shouldn’t get involved with a used one if: the season is just around the corner and you urgently need a working unit; you do not understand mechanics and will rely on the seller’s word; this is a rare or old model, spare parts for which can no longer be found; The mower has obvious signs of a makeshift overhaul (non-author's welding, non-standard parts).

In the latter case, it is often more profitable and calmer to consider new options. Modern manufacturers, including Chinese ones, often offer very competitively priced new cars that are no longer inferior in reliability to many European brands. Just for example, the company “Jiujia”, which I mentioned. They focus on smart manufacturing for agriculture and livestock farming. This is not just an assembly, but our own developments. For a person who wants to work without constant repairs, this option may be more interesting than chasing dubious profits on the secondary market.

Instead of a conclusion: personal opinion

Now the used equipment market is a mixture of everything. There are really well-maintained examples that are sold when the fleet is updated. Is there outright rubbish that has been “reduced to marketable condition?” for quick sale. It is very difficult to distinguish one from the other without experience.

My approach has now become more conservative. For critical work, where deadlines and quality are important, I prefer either new equipment with a guarantee, or used equipment, but only from trusted sources. And the time spent on searching, bidding and repairing a used car can be spent on the work itself.

Therefore, when you see this very “used trailed mower”, the first thought should not be about the price, but about how much effort and money you will have to invest in it so that it goes out into the field and works stably. Sometimes this amount, added to the original price, is unpleasantly surprising. Be careful and consider not only what you give now, but also what may be needed tomorrow.