What to Look for When Buying a Used Scissor Lift

When you buy a used scissor lift, look past the hour meter: check where the machine worked, the age and care of the battery, the tires, and exactly what the seller's inspection covered. These are the questions worth asking before you commit.

Anyone shopping for a used scissor lift starts in the same place: the hour meter. It's usually the first number on the listing, and it feels like the easiest way to compare two machines. The meter is worth reading, but it is not a condition report. It only says how long the machine has run. It doesn't tell you how the lift was treated, where it worked, or what shape its major components are in today.

Why can two lifts with the same hours be in different shape?

Two used scissor lifts with the same hours can be in very different shape because where a lift worked matters as much as how long it ran. A scissor lift that spent its life on a warehouse floor and one that worked outside on a dusty jobsite can show the same hours and still be in very different condition. Dust, moisture and rough ground are harder on a machine than a clean indoor floor. So when you compare two listings, ask where each machine worked before you compare what the meters say.

A low-hour machine isn't automatically the safer buy, either. A lift that sat unused for a long stretch can have its own problems, and the battery is one of the parts most affected by sitting.

How do I check the battery on a used electric scissor lift?

Ask when the scissor lift batteries were last replaced, and get it in writing if the seller says they are new. If the seller can't answer, make a note of it.

On an electric scissor lift, the battery's age and how it was cared for matter as much as the hours on the machine. A battery that was charged correctly and used regularly holds up differently than one that sat half-charged in a yard.

What should I check on the tires of a used scissor lift?

Check a used scissor lift's tires for uneven wear, flat spots, cracked sidewalls and chunks missing from the tread. On a machine that has worked outdoors, also check for debris stuck in the tire.

Tires get overlooked, yet they decide how the machine grips, how it rides, whether it marks a finished floor, and how often it is down for service. Worn tires on an otherwise solid machine are a fair point to raise on price. Worn tires on a machine that shows other signs of neglect are a reason to look closer at everything else.

What should a used scissor lift inspection cover?

A thorough used scissor lift inspection covers the hydraulic system, the electrical system, the structure, the safety devices, the battery and the tires, not just whether the platform goes up and down. Ask the seller to walk you through what was checked and what was replaced.

"Runs good" and "fully inspected" can mean different things depending on who says them. The more specific the seller's answer, the more you actually know about the machine.

What happens if something goes wrong after I buy?

Support after you buy a used scissor lift depends on the seller, so ask before you commit what support, if any, comes with the machine, and get the answer in writing. A written answer is easier to rely on later than something said in passing on the lot.

If you're shopping for a used scissor lift, whether it's one machine or several, get in touch with The Lift Bros and we'll help you work through these questions.