Publication helps growers stay away from used sprayer ‘lemons’

It’s been said that buying a used car is buying someone else’s problem. Is the same also true of used self-propelled sprayers? Probably not, but a new Equipment Technologies publication can significantly improve a grower’s odds of avoiding a lemon.

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“Buying a Used Sprayer: Ten questions to ask before the purchase” covers the important information a buyer needs when considering preowned machines. The publication is the latest in the Equipment Technologies White Paper series. The papers are free and can be downloaded from the white paper website: http://www.etsprayers.com/white-papers/.

Because most growers upgrade their equipment every few years, used farm machinery generally is in good operating condition, said Mike Flatt, Director of Business Process Improvement at Equipment Technologies (ET), manufacturer of Apache-brand sprayers.

“That said, purchasing a used sprayer is similar to buying a used car,” Flatt said. “If you’re going to buy one you have to figure out what you want, what you’re willing to pay and the options you desire. If you don’t find exactly what you’re looking for, what will you have to do to the used machine you buy to make it what you want it to be, such as putting on new tires?”

Maintenance is another important consideration, said Jeremy Hurt, ET’s Senior Application Specialist. While most growers service and repair their own farm machinery, maintenance and repair work is not the same on every sprayer.

“For instance, when you’re looking at an Apache, it’s a simple mechanical drive transmission that you can work on yourself,” Hurt said. “Some sprayers are hydrostatic machines and come with a complex collection of hoses and hydraulic parts, and can be more challenging and costly to fix.”

The publication also addresses maintenance records, annual cost of operation, warranties, dealer support, how the sprayer was used, why the owner is selling the machine and even the trustworthiness of the seller themselves.

“It’s important to do your homework before you buy a used sprayer, because you probably won’t find a good quality used machine for under $50,000,” Flatt said. “Typically, when you start getting north of $150,000 you’re usually into units that are 1-2 years old.”

Equipment Technologies white papers cover a broad range of sprayer and application topics, including selling a used sprayer, precision technology options, choosing hoses, buying versus leasing and spray nozzle selection, among others.