Who This Checklist Is For
You're looking at a used Metso HP200 cone crusher for sale, maybe a C140 jaw crusher. That's smart—if you know what to check. I'm a quality compliance manager for a heavy equipment dealer. I review roughly 200+ pieces of equipment annually before they reach customers. I've rejected about 12% of first deliveries this year alone. Not because they were broken—because they didn't meet the specs we agreed on.
So here are the 6 things I check every single time we integrate a used Metso crusher into a customer's plant. Print it or save it. It'll save you from a redo that costs way more than the purchase price.
Step 1: Verify the Machine History & Hours
This isn't just asking the seller. You need documentation.
What to ask for:
- Original serial number—cross-reference with Metso's records if you can. The HP200 and C140 have long production runs, and parts compatibility changed over the years.
- Operating hours on the main frame, not just the motor. A C140 with 8,000 hours on the frame but a rebuilt motor tells you the frame is worn.
- Previous application: hard rock (granite, basalt) wears components 2-3x faster than limestone or gravel.
Red flag: If the seller says "hours are unknown," assume high hours. I learned this the hard way when we bought an HP200 that supposedly had "low hours." We opened the main frame and found the seat liners had already been replaced twice. The seller just didn't have records.
Step 2: Inspect the Wear Components
Don't just look at the liners. Feel them. Check the profile.
For the HP200 cone crusher:
- Check the mantle and concave wear pattern. Uneven wear means the crusher was running with wrong feed distribution. That stresses the main frame.
- Look at the bowl liner. If it's worn to the point of witness marks (the lines where the bowl meets the adjustment ring), the adjustment ring threads might be worn, too. Replacing that isn't cheap.
For the C140 jaw crusher:
- Check the jaw die wear profile. A straight, even wear line is good. A stepped or angled profile means the pitman might be out of alignment.
- Look at the cheek plates. If they're pitted or cracked, the frame sidewalls might have stress fractures.
I once rejected a C140 because the seller claimed the jaw dies were "like new." I ran a caliper across the bottom of the fixed jaw—it was 15mm thinner than the spec for that serial number range. That batch had been operating for 2,000+ hours on a partial liner. The main frame had a hairline crack near the rear frame end.
Step 3: Check the Automation System
Metso's IC70C automation is a game-changer for the HP200. But if it's not working, you're buying a dumb machine.
Checklist:
- Does the control panel boot up without error codes? If it shows a hydraulic pressure sensor fault, that's not a "minor fix." That sensor tells you if the crusher is overloaded.
- Ask the seller to run the crusher through a simulated start sequence. Watch the hydraulic setting adjustment. It should move smoothly, not chatter.
- Check that the tramp release system (for uncrushable material) is functional. I've seen sellers bypass this to keep the machine running—dangerous for your downstream equipment.
Assumption I made once: I assumed that older C140 units didn't have automation worth checking. Turned out the C140 had a basic hydraulic adjustment system that needed a specific accumulator pressure. We didn't check it. First day in our plant, the set point drifted by 8mm. Cost us a weekend of downtime and a $4,500 service call.
Step 4: Evaluate the Spare Parts Situation
This is where most buyers trip up. You found a Metso HP200 cone crusher for sale at a great price. Great. Then you find out that the specific wear parts are a non-standard variant and shipping takes 3 weeks.
What to verify:
- Can you still get OEM spare parts for this serial number range? Metso supports older models, but some HP200 variants used different manganese grades. Cross-check the part numbers on the liners.
- Check the availability of OEM hydraulic filters and seals. Aftermarket options exist, but for the HP200's adjust mechanism, OEM seals often last longer. I ran a blind test with our service team: same HP200 with OEM vs. aftermarket hydraulic seals. 80% identified the aftermarket set as "less precise" after 6 months without knowing which was which. The cost difference was $40 per seal. On a full rebuild, that's $320 for measurably better reliability.
- Find out if there are any legacy parts that require a long lead time. Some C140 toggle plates have been discontinued. You might need to order from a third-party manufacturer.
Step 5: Check for Structural Integrity
This step requires getting your hands dirty.
Frame:
- Crack test the main frame. Dye penetrant is cheap. I recommend it for both the HP200 and C140. Even hairline cracks near the adjustment ring threads can turn into a $20,000 repair.
- Check for weld repairs. If you see suspicious-looking beads, ask for a weld map. I rejected a C140 frame in Q1 2024 because the seller had weld-repaired a crack in the main frame's sidewall. The weld was 6mm thick, which is outside the 3mm maximum per Metso's repair standard. The vendor claimed it was 'within industry standard.' We rejected it. They redid the replacement at their cost. Now every contract includes a written weld repair policy.
Bearings:
- Spin the main shaft by hand (if possible) or with a bar. Listen for grinding. If you hear anything, the bearings might have been contaminated with dirt.
- Check the oil sample. Send it to a lab if you can. High iron or copper content means bearing wear.
Step 6: Calculate the True Cost of Ownership
The purchase price is just the start. Don't fall for the penny-wise-pound-foolish trap.
Hidden costs I've seen:
- Shipping: A C140 jaw crusher weighs about 40 tons. That's not a simple flatbed. If you're not experienced, the freight quote might double your budget.
- Installation: Baseplate rework. If your plant's foundation was built for a different crusher model, you might need to cut and re-pour concrete. One quarry I worked with saved $15,000 buying a used HP200, but spent $22,000 on foundation modifications.
- Commissioning: You'll likely need a Metso technician or a qualified independent service provider to commission the automation system. That's $2,000-$5,000 plus expenses, depending on location.
Risk weighing example I faced: The upside of buying the budget-priced HP200 was $8,000 in savings. The risk was that the main frame had undisclosed cracking. I kept asking myself: is $8,000 worth potentially losing a month of production? Calculated the worst case: complete main frame replacement at $18,000 plus $4,000 labor and 5 days downtime. Best case: savings of $8,000. The expected value said go for it, but the downside felt catastrophic for that plant's annual throughput. We passed. I still don't regret it.
Common Mistakes I See
Let me save you some headache.
- Assuming the listing photos are current. They often aren't. Ask for photos taken today, with today's newspaper or a timestamp.
- Skipping the oil analysis. You don't know what's inside the gearbox. A $100 analysis could save you from a $6,000 gearbox failure.
- Ignoring the local dealer support. Even if the price is great, if your local Metso dealer can't service the specific model, you're in trouble. Check with their parts desk before you buy.
- Thinking you can fix everything later. I get it. The machine is in front of you. You want it installed. But I've seen too many "fix it later" crushers that never got fixed because production couldn't stop. The defect ruined 8,000 tons of product before someone finally noticed the quality was off.
Bottom line: A used Metso HP200 cone crusher or C140 jaw crusher can be a fantastic investment—if you do the homework. Use this checklist. Ask uncomfortable questions. And if a deal feels too good to be true, it probably hides a cost you haven't found yet. I'd rather spend 10 minutes explaining the inspection process to a buyer than deal with the mismatched expectations that come from skipping it.