As you head out to buy equipment for your business, you should know that machine hours matter far more than machine age. Two machines may have the same age, but can’t be the same if they worked different shifts. If you only judge a machine by the year on the sticker, you may end up overpaying for the tired one.
The cost of getting the wrong machine is higher than you may realize. Reports from Reliable Magazine found that unplanned equipment failure now costs the world’s 500 largest companies a combined $1.4 trillion a year. While you may not run a Fortune 500 plant yet, the lesson scales straight down to your shop.
Getting a machine that dies mid-shift barely a year after you bought it stops your revenue, blows your budget, and disappoints your customers. If you’re an entrepreneur looking to protect your business, reading usage instead of age is how you protect your capital.
Why Do Machine Hours Tell You More Than Machine Age?
Machine hours will tell you more because they measure how much work a machine has done. However, with the machine age, you only get to count the years since it was built.
Hours Measure Actual Wear
Every hour a machine runs puts stress on its engine, hydraulics, and moving parts, no matter how old it is. A machine with a few hours on it has done less work. As a result, you can expect its parts to have more life left in them.
To get value for your money, you should focus more on the hour meter instead of the model year. It’s the closest thing equipment has to an odometer.
Age Counts Time, Not Use
Focusing on the machine’s age will have you weeping if it’s been used for many hours. A machine’s age only tells you when it was made. You don’t get any information on how hard it worked.
A machine built in 2016 that sat lightly used can outperform a 2024 model that has worked for several shifts. As per WorkTrek, only 15% of equipment failures are age-related, while the other 85% may be a result of usage-driven patterns.
If you shop by year alone, you’re betting on the 15% and ignoring the 85% that determines whether the machine holds up. To bet on good machine performance, you’ll have to focus on use and care more than the calendar dates.
Does Age Still Matter When I Buy a Machine?
Just because you should take machine hours into account more, it doesn’t mean that age doesn’t matter. Machinery lifespan still matters because time wears on a machine even when it sits idle. Older models can still give you a lot of trouble.
While hours are the better single measure, they aren’t the only one. As a machine ages, some components may dry out, crack, or corrode, including:
- Hoses
- Belts
- Metal
- Gaskets
- Rubber seals
If you get an older machine, it may be hard to find spare parts for the machine as the model ages. To get it right, weigh hours first, then use age as a reality check.
How Do You Judge a Used Machine Before You Buy?
Doing some research will protect the capital you worked hard to build. For heavy equipment, you’ll find the exact service intervals and specs for a model in resources like the Caterpillar repair manuals. They’ll tell you precisely what to inspect and when.
Before you buy a machine, check these:
- The hour meters
- Full service and maintenance records
- Signs of hard use or neglect, like leaks or worn tracks
- Whether a major service is due soon based on the machine’s hours
If you know when the next major service is due, you also have an idea of whether high costs are coming. You can use this as a bargaining chip.
How Do You Make Your Equipment Last Longer?
You can extend a machine’s life by maintaining it on schedule and running it with care. This process protects both its equipment efficiency and your budget. Here are some steps you can take:
Follow the Maintenance Schedule
Your machine will last longer if it gets serviced on time. Manufacturer maintenance schedules are built around operating hours, so track your run time and service by the meter. If you skip or delay a service, you may think you’re saving money only to spend a lot more down the line.
Train Your Staff
Your machine is only as dependable as the person operating it. If your staff use it roughly, overload it, and ignore the warning lights, they’ll shorten your machine’s life fast. To protect your machine, you must train your operators on how to use the machine properly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can My Machine’s Hours Affect My Bottom Line?
The real cost of your machine isn’t the sticker price but what it costs you to run over its life. You need to run an operational cost analysis before you buy. Make sure you look past the purchase price at the full cost of ownership:
- Cost per operating hour
- Downtime
- Resale value
- Financing and insurance
- Fuel, maintenance, and repair costs over the years you’ll own it
A cheap machine with high running costs can cost you more compared to an expensive but more reliable one.
How Many Hours Is Too Many for Used Equipment?
Heavy machines like excavators and loaders can run well past 10,000 hours when maintained, while smaller machines will wear out sooner. What should matter to you is the ratio of hours to age and the maintenance history behind the machine. A high-hour machine with good maintenance will easily outlast a neglected low-hour machine.
Do Machine Hours Affect Resale Value?
Yes, machine hours will affect resale value. If you have a machine with lower hours and clean service records, you can ask for a higher price. Keeping your hours reasonable and your records complete protects your resale value down the road.
Elevate Your Business With the Right Machinery
When you’re building a business, the machine you buy matters. Assessing machine age vs. machine hours will help you pick a machine that stays efficient over the years. You can also ask a professional inspector to help you out.
Subscribe to our newsletter for more machinery tips.