Author: Christina

Mevas service – Oil analysis on used machines

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Why take oil samples from heavy used machinery?

Analyzing the oils used in construction machinery can be useful to get information about wear from the contents of the used oil. An analysis of the existing oils only makes sense if you have an approximate idea of ​​how long the oil was in use. If the oil has only recently been changed, an analysis of the condition is not very useful. There are then too few analyzable particles in the oil. If the oil used is much older than permitted, i.e. the change intervals have been significantly exceeded, the values ​​will also be incorrect. But if the oil is in a normal change cycle, you can read a lot of information from the trace elements. It is therefore important to know whether the prescribed maintenance intervals on the construction machine have been observed.

Sennebogen 830 E – inspected by Mevas including oil sampling.

How to take an oil sample from heavy used machinery?

For meaningful results, it is necessary to warm up the machine first. Otherwise there will be many particles deposited on the bottom of the oil pan or in the filter. The oil must therefore be vigorously moved and the viscosity increased in order to obtain meaningful results. Then use a very clean container and a pump to remove the oil, e.g. from the engine/the hydraulic circuit or from the gearbox. The extracted oils need to be sent to a certified laboratory. There, the lubricants are analyzed for their ingredients using various methods. It can be used to determine whether there are increased levels of silicon, sulphur, copper, coolant or other trace elements in the oil.

Inspector Wolfgang just took an oil sample
Heavy Machinery Oil sampling

What can I read from the results?

A professional laboratory for the analysis of construction machine oils usually provides us with an interpretation of the analyzed values. Too much silicon means dirt gets into the machine’s systems and you have to look at where and how dirt gets into the system. If coolant is found in the engine oil, there is a problem in the cooling system. If traces of aluminum are found in the transmission oil, one can conclude that there is increased wear in some components. The same applies to the presence of chromium, copper or magnesium.

Mevas offers oil sampling as additional service during inspections. As soon as we have the results of an oil analysis, our technicians will advise you and describe the possible causes. A hint is given on what to do to avoid early problems. Do you have any questions? Feel free to comment below the blog or send us a message.

Truck and concrete equipment inspections

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When is a pre-delivery inspection recommended?

Beside our core business of used machine inspections for earthmoving machinery we have qualified within the last years also for inspection of used mixer trucks, tractor heads and concrete pumps.
The service can help buyers to find the right equipment in good quality for a fair price.

Concrete equipment is constantly in use and subject to high wear. If you want to buy a mixer or a concrete pump in used condition, it is therefore recommended to check the visual condition and the functioning carefully. Because you do not want to have a machine on the construction site, which doesn’t work. With a pre-delivery technical inspection you can plan possible repairs and check if the purchase price is ok. If you want, we can do that for you. We have been inspecting and evaluating used heavy machinery throughout Europe since 2006.

What kind of used equipment do we inspect?

  • Concrete pumps
  • Ready mix trucks
  • Used (tipper) trucks and tractor heads

MEVAS is performing inspections on used concrete pumps and mixer trucks of various brands. So far we have done pre-delivery inspections on machines of Schwing, Stetter, Liebherr, Sanny, Putzmeister and some others, mounted on Mercedes, Scania and MAN trucks. Depending on the machine, we have a detailed checklist on which all components are listed. In the case of a mixer, we look at the mixer drum and whether it contains hard concrete residues or whether the drum has holes. When inspecting a concrete pump, we carry out a water test and, of course, also check whether the remote control works. Our service is to helped our customers to select the best equipment.

Renault Kerax chassis with concrete pump during Mevas inspection

What advantages do I have when I order this service from Mevas?

We are well connected with technicians all over Europe, which means we are quickly on site. You will receive an all-round inspection in which everything is documented in pictures and a report. Even if you are not familiar with the technology, you can use our documentation to understand any weak points. For mixers and concrete pumps, we also create a video. An inspection costs you less than you can lose. Either you get confirmation that the machine is in good condition or the actual condition shows that buying it is not a good idea.

Where are Mevas Truck Inspectors available?

The service for inspection of used trucks is available in all countries in Europe. Additionally we have inspectors in the U.A.E., the USA, in some countries in Africa and in Turkey.

Used Caterpillar for sale?

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Who can inspect heavy equipment in Europe, Middle-East and Africa?

Mevas can! We help buyers with independent valuations of used construction machinery. Our inspection service helps selecting reasonable machinery. Leave the bad equipment for others and just buy equipment in good condition. We check used machinery from all brands, such as Volvo, Komatsu, Liebherr, Doosan and several more. For Caterpillar machines we download of the ECM-report (PSR). This is very useful to get information about the machine history and to check if the displayed working hours correspond to reality. Unfortunately, there are some dealers who install “matching” hour meters in order to get a better selling price.

What does a Mevas inspection include?

In addition, we also measure the Undercarriage on tracked Caterpillar machines. Since we have reference values, we can determine the remaining service life. Our engineers perform a machine test, take photos & video and write a detailed inspection report. The inspection is adapted to the needs of our customers, if necessary we measure hydraulic pressures or take oil samples.

In addition to construction machinery such as tracked excavators, wheeled excavators, wheel loaders, track loaders, motor graders, rollers and pavers, we also test material handling and recycling machines.

CAT D8 inspected by Mevas

We regularly post some impressions of our inspections on our Youtube channel. If you are interested, please take a look. Here, for example, you can see the inspection of a CAT 990F wheel loader.

Where can we find used CAT machines?

If you are looking for used Caterpillar equipment have a look at www.used-equipment.de. It is an independent selection of used machinery websites. There is not only CAT machinery but many other brands.

Don’t miss these items when a used excavator is being inspected

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Where can I find a excavator inspection checklist?

Inspection of used excavators is not everyone’s daily business. Less experienced technician sometimes miss important items such as a leaking swivel, play in swing bearing, cracks in boom or worn idler guides. A good strategy before you inspect used equipment is using a detailed inspection checklist. For excavators or any other machinery you need to check or get checked. So you make sure to check every component and make sure no important item will be missed. Here you can find a sample for such an checklist.

Mevas checklist

If no own engineer is available for the inspection – talk to us. We have local technicians in many countries.

CAT 374 tracked excavator

Which items should be inspected during an excavator inspection?

During inspection of a used track excavator, the following items should be inspected:

  1. Engine and transmission (wheel excavator)
  2. Hydraulic system and pumps, pump drive
  3. Undercarriage components and tires on wheel excavators
  4. Cab and controls
  5. Boom and stick
  6. Bucket and teeth
  7. Electrical system, ECM, ECU, monitoring system and alert lights
  8. Swing bearing and swing gear

It is important to inspect each of these items thoroughly, as they are critical components that affect the excavator’s performance and overall condition. Some of these items are more critical than others, such as the engine and hydraulic system, which directly impact the excavator’s power and operation, while others, such as the cab and controls, affect the operator’s comfort and safety. The importance of each item will depend on the specific use case and requirements for the machine.

Tracked Excavator Inspection

How to inspect used equipment before buying?

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Who can inspect used machinery?

Looking for reliable used equipment can be tricky. Therefore, you should take a close look at the condition of the used machine before buying it. If you do not know the seller, be especially careful.

Here are 7 things to look out for:

  1. Check the seller if you don’t know him. You can read more about this in the section below.
  2. Check the working hours of the machine. Does the general condition of the machine match with those hours (and the year of manufacture)? Can you get information about the machine’s history from the seller?
  3. Check the machine for signs of wear. Are the ROPS, the chassis, the boom/stick in good condition? Or are there signs of dents/bents, re-welded areas or small cracks? You don’t want to purchase something that will cause you costly and time-consuming problems later.
  4. What about the hydraulics? Are the hydraulic oil levels within the normal range? Or even too high? In this case, it makes sense to check for leaks.
  5. The tyres or the undercarriage are a big cost factor. Therefore, check the tyres or the drive components for remaining service life.
  6. Once you have checked all these points, the next step is the function test/test drive. Start the machine and check how it performs. Also listen for unusual noises and the exhaust fumes.
  7. If attachments are sold, also do a careful visual check.

Check used equipment carefully

Another important note

We want to remind you to be carefully when negotiating heavy equipment which is offered on the Internet. A few of those sites have just been created for fraud.

Be attentive if: 

  1. Machine price is far lower than for comparable units
  2. The seller makes pressure to decide very quickly: He pretends other people are interested in the same machine.
  3. The seller has just a mobile phone number and no landline.
  4. The seller requests a down-payment to reserve the machine.

We are Mevas – die Heavy Equipment Inspectors

Hopefully our list has been helpful to you. If you are unsure about any of the points, just get in touch with us. This is our WhatsApp. We inspect machines like excavators, wheel loaders, dumpers, graders, rollers, material handlers and dozers every day and know these machines very well.

Is it a good idea to buy used machinery at auctions?

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Who can inspect equipment at EuroAuctions Dormagen?

It can make sense to buy machines at auctions. However, to avoid problems, we recommend that you inspect the machine you are interested in before bidding.

Mevas has technicans available who can inspect the lots you are interested in at this auction. We offer quick inspections where we focus on the most important points and full inspections. You discuss with us what scope is required and what is important to you.

Of course, we can also be found at most upcoming auctions. Par example at the rb auction in France. We offer used machinery inspections in more than 25 countries with an international team of technicians. MEVAS provides inbiased pre-delivery inspections and appraisals for second-hand machines since 2006.

Inspection at an auction

How to order the inspection?

You can order this inspection online at our shop. But it is more easier if you contact us via our contact form and we will reply with an price offer. You can also contact us if you have any further questions. Our technicians analyse the condition of many different makes, such as Caterpillar, Komatsu, Hitachi, Cummins, Volvo and Liebherr.

How to estimate the remaining life of the undercarriage of a dozer?

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Did you ever measure undercarriage components to know their remaining life?

The most expensive and most important assembly when evaluating a bulldozer is certainly the undercarriage. Therefore, when inspecting bulldozers, we pay special attention to the condition of the undercarriage. We have reference values for Caterpillar machines and measure all components. This allows us to accurately determine the remaining service life. We have created an instruction in which we explain our procedure step by step. Click here to watch it. After watching you know what to look for when measuring the track shoes, sprockets, track links, bushings and idlers. If you are not sure about measuring or have any questions – just contact us.

Do not forget to check

Other important points when inspecting a used dozer are the play in the joints and bearings, especially in the so-called equalizer bar. This cross member connects the right and left undercarriage frames on many bulldozers. Together with the pivots in the rear area of ​​the drive frame, this cross member enables the drives to move horizontally. If you want to know more – get here to a short film. Make sure  that you look for these points, otherwise very expensive repairs may become necessary.

Undercarriage meassurement at idler with caliber

Trained technicans for used bulldozers

If you need assistance in evaluating used machines, Mevas technicians can help you. We are trained for the special requirements when inspecting second-hand machines. We view a machine as you would as a buyer. Small things are noted, but not highly weighted. However, we thoroughly examine the condition of the expensive and important components.

Functional test for heavy equipment

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How to perform the stall test on a CAT 777D?

Warm up the engine and the transmission, drive the machine to a flat area and engage the Service brake with all efforts. Activate the parking brake and put the transmission into Reverse. Rev up the engine and check the rpm gauge – this will be the stall speed. Compare the values with the factory specs.

Who can inspect used heavy equipment?

If you don’t have reference values or the possibility to look at a machine before buying, please contact us. We have experts who will do it for you. Not only in Europe, also in many other countries worldwide.

CAT 777
Caterpillar CAT 777D quarry truck – inspected by Mevas

Independent inspections for used Equipment

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Where to buy road construction machinery?

Do you know where to buy used road construction machinery? You are looking for an excavator, a grader, roller, a paver, an asphalt feeder, scraper or soil stabilizer? We don’t sell any machinery, but maybe our site Usedequipment will help you. There you will find search portals for road construction machinery in Europe.

At Mevas, we inspect around 600 construction machines and road construction equipment per year and document the actual condition for customers worldwide. If you do not have the opportunity to see the machine before the sales negotiation, we are there for you as an independent service provider. We read the ECMs (electronic control units) of Volvo and Caterpillar machines. For many machines we can get service history information.

If required, we can take oil samples of engine and hydraulic oil and have them analysed in the lab.

Whether asphalt milling machines, road pavers, concrete pumps, recycling plants, screening machines, pipe layers, wheel dozers, drilling rigs/pile drivers, motor graders, soil stabilisers, cold milling machines, etc. – We have specialised technicians in our team. Our technicians are available in many countries worldwide. If you need details of a specific inspection or a price quote, please contact us.

Vögele 1800 paver asphalt
Vögele 1800 paver – inspected by Mevas

Farm Machinery Inspections

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Who is doing inspections for used farm machinery?

Most people in the machinery industry know Mevas as inspection service for used construction machinery. Did you know we also inspect agricultural machinery? This year we have already checked some tractors, sprayers, telehandlers and trailers for our customers.

Expert opinion for used agricultural machinery 

Are you going to buy used agricultural equipment? If you don’t have the opportunity to check them by yourself, Mevas can support you. Especially if you do not know the seller, it’s recommended to check if the condition of the used machine matches the seller’s offer. Instead of “bought as seen” we offer to inspect and test used agricultural equipment for you at many locations in Europe before you buy.

We check tractors, harvesters, sprayers and trailers for you. To give you an idea of the scope of our services, you can download a sample report for a tractor here.

Hardi Sprayer