How to Identify a Wrecked or Overhauled Used Crane Before Purchase
When sourcing used truck cranes from China, the biggest hidden risk is purchasing equipment that has suffered serious collisions, rollover accidents or large-scale structural overhaul.
Bad merchants will polish welding marks, repaint the whole machine and adjust the working hour meter to cover up historical faults. Once shipped overseas, these defective cranes cannot pass local safety inspections and are prone to tipping and mechanical failures, causing huge economic losses and safety accidents.
We summarize the most intuitive and effective inspection items that buyers can follow step by step to judge the true condition of a crane.
1. Check the Boom for Hidden Welding & Deformation
The telescopic boom is the core load-bearing part.
- Carefully observe the inner and outer surfaces of each boom section. Uneven paint, tiny grinding traces and inconsistent color mean the area has been welded and repaired after cracking.
- Stretch the boom fully and watch its running state. If it shakes severely, gets stuck or tilts obviously during extension, the boom is bent and deformed from past accidents.
- Inspect pulley blocks and wire rope grooves; abnormal wear often proves the crane once tipped over.
2. Inspect Chassis & Outriggers for Frame Damage
The chassis and outrigger legs directly determine lifting stability.
- Walk around the undercarriage to check for uneven paint, patch welding and twisted metal on the main frame.
- Extend all outriggers and support the crane on level ground. If any leg sinks abnormally or cannot lock firmly, the outrigger structure has been damaged and overhauled.
- Check the connection between the upper rotating platform and chassis. Disassembled screw marks and gaps indicate the machine has been split and overhauled entirely.
3. Verify Engine & Hour Meter Authenticity
Rolling back the hour meter is the most common trick in the used crane trade.
- Start the cold engine and check exhaust gas. Blue smoke means the engine burns oil due to major internal wear or previous overhaul.
- Compare the meter reading with the wear degree of pedals, steering wheel and control handles. Heavy wear with low displayed hours is a clear sign of adjusted meter data.
- Check the engine block for dismantling traces and new sealing glue, which represents a full engine overhaul.
4. Test Hydraulic System for Hidden Failures
A crashed crane will inevitably damage the hydraulic pipeline and valve assembly.
- Run no-load lifting and slewing operation. Slow response, drifting boom and weak rotation point to overhauled hydraulic components.
- Check all oil cylinders for paint touch-up and scratch repair; repainted cylinders usually have been disassembled for maintenance.
- Look for residual old oil stains that cannot be completely cleaned up, proving long-term leakage and repeated maintenance.
5. Cross-Check Serial Numbers to Avoid Stolen & Disassembled Machines
Confirm that the serial numbers on the chassis, engine and factory certificate are fully consistent.
Mismatched numbers imply the crane is assembled from multiple scrapped machines, which will be detained and fined by customs during import.
Our Pre-Shipment Inspection Promise
Every used crane in our inventory will go through a strict multi-point inspection before being listed for sale.
We eliminate accident machines, rolled-back meter units and heavily overhauled equipment in advance, provide real photos and test videos of key parts, and support on-site yard inspection for all clients. Complete and matching export documents are guaranteed for smooth customs clearance.
Final Reminder
Never place an order only relying on edited pictures and brief videos. Always ask for detailed close-up shots of the boom, chassis and engine, or arrange a live video inspection before deposit payment.
If you need professional condition verification and trustworthy used crane resources, feel free to contact our team for transparent purchasing support.
