[UncleRay]

When you settle on a machine you'd like to buy, request a demo and put it to work for an hour to bring it fully up to operating temp with a combination of digging, pushing, lifting, dumping and road gear traveling and importantly stopping to see how it sorts out. You'll know if it over heats, leaks, creaks groans etc. Look for slop and play in the slew actuator, eyes of hydraulic cylinders, bucket linkage and cracks in stress areas. Jack up the front and check the wheels for loose bearings and slop in the steering. Couple pics of my 1978 JCB Mark 3C. Got this for digging stumps, moving logs to clean up after a bad storm went through the woods around the cabin. Not a lot of these around. It's a good digger. Biggest expense for me so far was replacing the tires. Standard sizes but they don't give them away. Good luck with your search. Ray