Skid steers and compact track loaders are workhorses. They dig, grade, carry shock loads, and run attachments for hours on end — often without the daily maintenance attention they deserve. A good one is one of the most useful machines you can own. A neglected one will drain your budget faster than almost anything else on a job site. The difference between the two isn't always obvious at first glance. This guide walks you through the six areas that matter most, plus what to check before you commit to any attachment-ready machine.
01
Pins, Bushings & Loader Arm Wear
On skid steers and compact track loaders, the pins and bushings tell the real story of how hard the machine was worked. These machines spend their lives digging, grading, running attachments, and absorbing shock loads through the loader arms — and the pivot points bear the brunt of it.
Inspect carefully for excessive movement in the loader arms, sloppy bucket linkage, ovaled-out pin bores, dry or poorly greased pivot points, and cracks around the lift arm pivots. A simple test: raise the arms slightly and watch for looseness while cycling the bucket. Any visible slop at the pivots means wear that will only get worse — and in many cases, it's a sign that basic greasing was skipped regularly.
What It Tells You
A loose machine usually means thousands of hours of neglected wear. Pin and bushing replacement isn't catastrophic, but it's a cost that belongs in the negotiation — and severe wear can indicate a machine that was run hard without routine maintenance across the board.
02
Undercarriage Condition (Track Loaders)
For compact track loaders, undercarriage wear is one of the most expensive repairs a buyer can inherit. This is the area where a few minutes of careful inspection can save you from a very large bill after the purchase.
Check track tread depth and condition. Look for cuts, chunking, or separation in the rubber tracks — especially around the drive lugs. Inspect sprocket wear and idler condition, and look for oil weeping from rollers. Also check track tension: a track that's too loose or too tight indicates either neglect or a machine that's been run in abrasive conditions without adjustment.
Pay special attention to machines that were used heavily in rock, demolition, or asphalt environments — those conditions accelerate undercarriage wear significantly, and the damage isn't always visible at first glance.
Cost Reality
Undercarriage replacement on a compact track loader can cost a significant percentage of the machine's total value. If the tracks and components are worn out, get a quote before you agree to a price — not after.
03
Hydraulic Performance & Auxiliary Flow
Modern skid steers are attachment platforms first and loaders second. The hydraulic system is the heart of the machine, and it's where a lot of deferred maintenance hides in plain sight.
Test lift and tilt speed, auxiliary hydraulic response, and the attachment couplers. If the machine is spec'd with high-flow, confirm it's working correctly — not all high-flow systems perform the same, and a machine with a weak auxiliary circuit will severely limit what attachments can be run effectively. Watch for slow or sluggish response, hydraulic whining under load, jerky operation, and any leaks around pumps or valve blocks.
If at all possible, test with a real attachment — an auger, breaker, brush cutter, or grapple. Some machines feel fine unloaded but struggle badly once hydraulic demand goes up. That's exactly what you need to know before you commit.
Pro Tip
If the seller doesn't have an attachment on-site to test with, that's worth noting. A seller confident in the machine's hydraulics should have no objection to you bringing one.
04
Engine Cooling System & Overheating Signs
Skid steers and compact track loaders are notorious for collecting dirt and debris in their cooling packages. The engine and hydraulic coolers are tucked in tight, airflow is restricted, and most operators don't clean them nearly often enough. Overheating problems are extremely common on neglected machines.
Inspect the radiator and hydraulic cooler carefully — look for packed debris, bent fins, and evidence of past overheating like discoloration or coolant residue. Check fan operation and look for any signs of coolant leaks or excessive scale buildup inside the system. Then start the machine and pay attention: a burnt hydraulic smell, warning lights, or an engine fan that seems to be working unusually hard are all signs of a machine that's been running hot.
What a Dirty Cooler Reveals
A clogged, debris-packed cooling system almost always means a machine that received minimal daily maintenance. If the operator wasn't cleaning the cooler, chances are they weren't greasing, checking fluid levels, or doing much else either.
05
Drive Motors & Travel Performance
Hydrostatic drive repairs are expensive and should never be overlooked. This is an area where the machine will tell you exactly what's going on — if you take the time to actually drive it.
Test straight-line tracking on level ground. A machine that pulls to one side under its own power has a drive issue. Check turning response in both directions, climbing ability on a grade, travel speed range, and smoothness under load. Then listen: clicking, grinding, or popping sounds from the drive system are red flags that indicate serious internal wear.
On track loaders especially, weak or failing final drives can become very costly repairs — and they often develop gradually, meaning a machine might pass a casual test but reveal the problem after a few hours of real work.
Drive it Hard
Don't just creep it around a parking lot. Push the machine — load the drive system, make tight turns, climb something. A machine with drive problems will show you within a few minutes of real use.
06
Operator Station & Abuse Indicators
The cab often tells you exactly how the machine was treated. Spend a few minutes in the seat before you do anything else — pedal wear, joystick condition, seat wear, and door hinge tightness all paint a picture of how many hours were put on this machine and whether the operator cared about it.
Check the safety restraint bar for proper operation. Review the display panel for any active fault codes or warning indicators. Then step back and look at the machine as a whole: bent buckets, cracked quick attach plates, heavy counterweight damage, homemade weld repairs, and missing guards or panels are all signs of a machine that was pushed beyond its limits or repaired on the cheap.
Cosmetic appearance matters far less than evidence of consistent maintenance and careful operation. A scratched-up machine with clean fluid levels and tight pivots is worth more than a polished one that pulls to the right and smells like burnt hydraulic fluid.
Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Pull this up on your phone at the lot. Check everything before you commit.
Pins, Bushings & Loader Arms
Undercarriage (Track Loaders)
Hydraulics & Auxiliary Flow
Engine & Cooling System
Drive Motors & Travel
Operator Station & Condition
Bonus
Verify Attachment Compatibility
Not all skid steers are configured equally — and compatibility issues only reveal themselves after the purchase if you don't check first. Confirm whether the machine has standard or high-flow hydraulics, whether it has the correct electrical connections for powered attachments, and what quick attach system it uses.
This becomes especially important if the machine will run forestry attachments, cold planers, mulchers, or other heavy hydraulic tools. A machine without the correct hydraulic package may severely limit your attachment options — and retrofitting a high-flow system after the fact is not cheap.
Also verify the rated operating capacity. A machine that's sized wrong for the work it will do is a safety issue and a reliability issue. Know what you need before you agree to a price on a machine that might not actually fit the job.
07
What to Expect to Pay
Used skid steer and compact track loader pricing varies widely based on brand, frame size, hours, configuration, and condition. Compact track loaders typically command a premium over equivalent wheeled skid steers — the undercarriage adds cost both at purchase and at maintenance time, and buyers recognize it.
Undercarriage condition, pin wear, and hydraulic performance are the three biggest price drivers in this category. A machine with worn tracks, sloppy loader arms, or a weak auxiliary circuit should be priced meaningfully below a clean comparable unit — and if a seller won't acknowledge documented issues in the price, that's the negotiation conversation to have.
The best machines in this category aren't the prettiest ones on the lot. They're the machines that start easily, run smoothly, stay cool, and show evidence of consistent maintenance. That combination is worth paying for — and it's worth walking away from a machine that doesn't have it.