10 Things to Check Before Buying a Used Attachment

Buying used attachments can be a great way to save money and build out your equipment fleet. There are a lot of good used attachments out there that still have plenty of work left in them.

The key is knowing what you're looking at.

A used attachment doesn't have to look brand new to be a good buy. Wear is normal. What matters is understanding what has worn, how much life is left, and whether there are problems that could turn a good deal into an expensive repair.

Before you buy, take a few minutes and go through these 10 things.

1. Check the Overall Structure

Start by looking at the attachment as a whole.

You are looking for anything that suggests the attachment has been overloaded, abused, or repaired.

Look closely at:

Main frame Side plates Mounting frame Cross members Corners Gussets Welds High-stress areas

Small scratches and dents are usually not a big deal. Construction attachments get used.

Cracks, bent frames, or major structural repairs are a different story.

Pay particular attention to areas where the attachment takes the most force. On a bucket, that could be around the mounting points and corners. On a grapple, look around the main frame, pivot points, and cylinder mounts.

A good used attachment can show plenty of wear and still be a good purchase. Structural damage is where you need to slow down.

2. Look Closely at the Welds

Don't just look at the attachment—look at how it has been repaired.

Factory welds are one thing. Repairs are another.

Look for:

Cracked welds Fresh welds Welds over existing cracks Multiple layers of repair Grinding around repaired areas Welds that don't look consistent Cracks extending away from a weld

A repair isn't automatically a reason to walk away.

A properly repaired attachment can still have a lot of life left in it.

The question is why was it repaired and how was it repaired?

A clean repair on a high-wear area may be perfectly acceptable. A frame that has been repeatedly cracked and welded can be a completely different situation.

3. Check the Pins, Bushings and Pivot Points

Anything that moves needs to be checked.

On attachments with pivots, inspect:

Pins Bushings Pin bores Pivot points Cylinder mounts Retaining hardware

Look for excessive movement or play.

If you can safely move the attachment or its components by hand, see if there is noticeable looseness. Excessive play can mean worn pins, bushings, bores, or other components.

On grapples, thumbs, couplers and other moving attachments, this becomes especially important.

Pins and bushings are wear items.

They can often be replaced, but you need to know what you're buying before you decide what the attachment is worth.

4. Inspect the Hydraulic Components

If you're buying a hydraulic attachment, spend some time looking at the hydraulic system.

Check:

Hydraulic cylinders Cylinder rods Hoses Fittings Hydraulic motor Valve blocks Quick couplers Hydraulic connections

Look for oil leaks, damaged hoses, bent cylinder rods and damaged fittings.

Pay particular attention to cylinder rods.

A small amount of surface wear may not be a major issue, but a badly pitted, bent or damaged cylinder rod can lead to a much bigger repair.

Also look for signs that hydraulic oil has been leaking for a while.

Fresh oil doesn't always tell the whole story.

If possible, operate the attachment and watch the cylinders or hydraulic components while they're working. Look for leaks, hesitation, unusual movement or anything that doesn't operate smoothly.

5. Check the Wear Parts

This is probably one of the biggest areas to pay attention to when buying a used attachment.

Different attachments have different wear parts.

Buckets

Check:

Cutting edge Teeth Tooth adapters Side cutters Bucket bottom Heel Grapples

Check:

Tines Teeth Pivot points Pins and bushings Breakers

Check:

Tool/bit Bushings Retainers Housing Hydraulic connections Compactors

Check:

Wear plate Drum or pad Hydraulic components Mounting points

The important thing is to determine how much usable life remains.

A bucket with 50% of its cutting edge left may be a very good buy.

A bucket that needs a new cutting edge, teeth, adapters and structural repair may not be.

6. Check the Mounting System

This is one that gets overlooked.

An attachment can look great and still not be the right attachment for your machine.

Verify:

Coupler type Pin size Pin spacing Mounting width Mounting configuration Machine class Attachment weight

For skid steers, make sure the attachment matches the machine's quick-attach system.

For excavator attachments, don't assume an attachment fits simply because it is listed for the same size excavator.

Pin dimensions matter. Coupler compatibility matters. Attachment weight matters.

If you're buying a pin-on attachment, measure the important dimensions before you buy.

A few minutes with a tape measure can save you a lot of headaches.

7. Check the Attachment's Weight and Your Machine's Capabilities

Bigger isn't always better.

Before buying, make sure your machine can actually handle the attachment.

Look at:

Attachment weight Machine operating weight Rated operating capacity Hydraulic flow Hydraulic pressure Lift capacity Machine balance Manufacturer requirements

This is particularly important with hydraulic attachments such as:

Mulchers Brush cutters Breakers Cold planers Augers Trenchers Hydraulic compactors

A hydraulic attachment needs to match the machine's hydraulic system.

Too little flow can result in poor performance. A hydraulic system that isn't compatible with the attachment can create performance and reliability problems.

Don't buy the attachment first and figure out the machine requirements afterward.

8. Look for Signs of Abuse

Construction attachments are built to work, but there is a difference between normal use and hard abuse.

Look for clues.

Examples include:

Excessive dents Bent components Cracked frames Heavy welding Broken teeth Deformed mounting points Deep gouges Missing hardware Uneven wear Homemade modifications

Think about what the attachment was probably being used for.

A bucket used for normal digging is going to show wear.

A bucket that has been used to pry out concrete, hammer against rock or do work it wasn't designed for may show a completely different type of damage.

The condition of the attachment can tell you a lot about how it was used.

9. Look at the Serial Number and Identification Information

Before buying a used attachment, get as much information about it as possible.

Look for:

Manufacturer Model Serial number Year, if available Attachment size Original specifications Previous ownership information Any available service records

The serial number can sometimes help verify the attachment and its specifications.

It can also be useful when you're trying to find replacement parts.

If the seller has the original documentation, manuals or specifications, that's even better.

And if something about the identification plate doesn't match the seller's description, ask questions before buying.

10. Look at the Attachment as a Whole—Not Just the Price

This might be the most important one.

It's easy to look at two attachments and immediately choose the cheaper one.

But the cheaper attachment isn't always the better deal.

Consider:

Purchase price + repairs + transportation + downtime = actual cost

For example, an attachment that's $1,000 cheaper might need:

New pins and bushings Hydraulic hoses Teeth Cutting edge Cylinder repair

Suddenly that $1,000 savings isn't really savings.

On the other hand, an attachment that looks worn but is structurally sound and only needs normal wear parts could be an excellent buy.

Don't be afraid of used equipment. Just know what you're buying.

A Quick Used Attachment Inspection Checklist

Before you buy, run through this list:

☐ Overall structure looks good ☐ No major cracks or bent components ☐ Welds and previous repairs checked ☐ Pins and bushings inspected ☐ Hydraulic cylinders checked ☐ Hoses and fittings checked ☐ Wear parts inspected ☐ Mounting system verified ☐ Attachment weight verified ☐ Machine hydraulic requirements verified ☐ Signs of abuse checked ☐ Serial/model information verified ☐ Replacement parts availability considered ☐ Repair costs considered

One More Thing: Ask for Good Pictures

If you're buying an attachment online, pictures matter.

Don't be afraid to ask the seller for additional photos.

You should be able to see:

The entire attachment Mounting area Pins or coupler Cylinders Hydraulic connections Wear areas Cutting edges Teeth Any repairs Serial number Any damage

And if the seller is upfront about the wear and provides good pictures, that's generally a good sign.

You don't need a used attachment to be perfect. You need to know exactly what condition it's in.

Final Thought

There are a lot of good used attachments available, and buying used can make a lot of sense for contractors, landscapers, farmers, municipalities and equipment owners.

The trick is knowing the difference between normal wear and an attachment that's going to need major work.

Take your time. Check the structure. Check the wear. Verify the fit. Look at the hydraulics. And don't let a low price make the decision for you.

At AttachmentOne, the goal is simple: help you find the right attachment for the job and give you the information you need to make a smart purchase.

Find the right attachment. Know what you're buying. Get to work.