How to read the numbers on an hour meter

Hours are one of the parameters buyers ask about most. But hour meters can be replaced and readings can be adjusted, so it is easy to get caught out looking at the numbers alone.

The safer approach is to compare the hours with the actual wear on the machine. The points below can help you judge.

Cab. Check whether wear on the joystick grips, seat and pedals matches the stated hours. On a machine showing 3000 hours, if the grip covering is already worn through, ask a few more questions.

Undercarriage. Wear on track links, pin and bushings and drive sprockets depends heavily on working conditions, but you can still get a rough idea of how hard it has been used.

Pins and bushings. Play at the boom, stick and bucket joints generally grows with hours.

Maintenance records. Factory or dealer maintenance records show the hours at each service and can be used to cross-check.

On some brands, engine running hours can also be read from the controller or the remote management system, and that figure is harder to alter than the dashboard reading.

If the reading does not match the wear, it may simply be that the instrument has been replaced. In that case, ask the seller to explain, and a record of the replacement is best.