Hey brothers! Your old pal Thomas is back! Today I’ll teach you how to expose a used excavator’s true colors โ guaranteed to be sharper than customs X-ray scanners! Last month I helped a Wenzhou boss dodge a repainted “Frankenstein” machine. Follow my moves!
STEP 1: Engine “Stethoscope Therapy”
Bring sunflower seeds (don’t actually eat them!) and squat by the engine:
- โ Healthy: Tick-tick-tick like a Swiss watch
- โ Dying: Bang-clang-bang like construction workers demolishing walls
Killer move: Stuff an A4 paper into the exhaust pipe for 10 sec
- Paper flies 3 meters: Olympic-level lungs
- Flutters down: Start saving for a heart transplant, bro!
(Used this on a Komatsu PC300 in Suzhou last week โ seller dropped 20k CNY instantly!)
STEP 2: Hydraulic System “Yoga Challenge”
Make the excavator strike a “Thinker” pose:
- Lift arm to max height
- Lock extended bucket
Watch:
- โ๏ธ Steady as Mount Tai: Good seals
- โ๏ธ Slow droop: Leaks worse than my cousin’s homework excuses
Pro move: Pour half a Coke bottle into the hydraulic tank
- Bubbles like champagne: Call 120 (Chinese 911)!
- Calm as West Lake: Pump’s got 3 more years
STEP 3: Structural “Makeup Removal”
Scratch three spots with keys:
- Arm weld joints
- Slewing bearing edges
- Chassis beam seams
Reality check:
- โท Flakes like dandruff: Normal wear
- โท Metal shavings rain: Frankenstein welding!
(Caught a Caterpillar in Shenyang last year โ 2.5kg weld residue!)
STEP 4: Electrical “Epilepsy Test”
Flick all switches like a madman:
- Headlights disco mode: Wiring messier than spider webs
- Wipers doing TikTok dances: Control board dying
Ancient secret: Connect a power bank to the diagnostic port
- “ERROR 66”? That’s the cancer code of excavators!
STEP 5: Ultimate Move โ “Transformers Dance”
Make it do the robot:
- Spin 3.5 circles
- “Heart hands” while moving
Sound check:
- โ Rhythmical squeak: Just needs grease
- โ Crunch-crack! Slewing bearing became popcorn
๐ฐ Bargaining Ammo ๐ฐ
- Point at hydraulic oil: “This oil’s darker than my kitchen exhaust grease! Deduct 200/hour cleaning fee…”
- Slap the arm: “These weld marks are brighter than the Shanghai Tower light show! Chop 18k CNY!”
๐จ Red Alerts ๐จ
Run if you see:
- Serial numbers looking like Minecraft pixels
- Radiator smelling like a fish market
- Seat buttons wrapped in cling film
Final wisdom:
“New paint = deep trap; Shiny oil = shady deal”
Need backup? I’m on call 24/7 โ From XCMG to Liebherr, no scam survives Old Thomas!
๐ทโ๏ธ Through storms or sun, at construction sites I run
โ Thomas, Shanghai Excavator Truth Bureau Director
P.S. Share this guide โ you’re saving not just wallets, but brothers’ sweat-blood money! ๐ธ #AntiScamSquad
