If you are buying a used Kifco water reel, check four systems before you talk price: the polyethylene (PE) hose, the drive (turbine or engine), the gearbox and levelwind, and the chassis with its guncart and tires. The hose matters most, because damage there can be expensive to fix. A used reel is worth considering when the hose is sound, the drive runs under water pressure, and you can identify the parts you still need.
Victory Irrigation sells new Kifco reels, so this guide is a neutral checklist for a private or dealer sale you found elsewhere. It helps to know the model family first. Kifco builds the smaller B Series water reels as well as the larger Ag Rain reels. Find the spec plate on the frame, then write down the model and serial number before you go further.
Key Takeaways
- Inspect the hose and watch a full retrieve under water pressure.
- Record the model and serial number before you price any parts.
- Compare the repairs you can already see with a new-reel quote.
What Should You Inspect on a Used Kifco Reel?
Inspect the hose, drive, gearbox, levelwind, guncart and running gear in a consistent order so you do not miss a major problem. Walk the machine cold and in daylight before anyone starts it.
- Spec plate: confirm the model and serial number match the listing.
- Hose: check the full length for cracks, flat spots and splices.
- Drive: look for a turbine or an engine, and ask when it last ran.
- Gearbox and levelwind: look for oil leaks, play and worn chain or cable.
- Guncart, frame and tires: check for bends, rust at welds and dry rot.
- Records: ask for hours, service notes and winterizing history.
How Do You Check the PE Hose for Damage?
Pull the hose out on flat ground and inspect its whole length, because damage rarely shows while it is wound on the drum. Walk the hose slowly and turn it as you go. Look for:
- Flat spots or oval sections that no longer spring back to round.
- Kinks and permanent bends, often near the gun end.
- Deep gouges or abrasion from being pulled over rock or stubble.
- Surface cracking or chalky, brittle sections from sun exposure.
- Old repair couplings spliced into the run, and how many there are.
- Damaged or leaking connections at the drum and the guncart.
A water-pressure test gives you a better view of active leaks, so ask the seller to run the reel and watch for weeping seams, pinholes and uneven ballooning. If the seller will not pressurize the hose, treat the hose as unknown and price it that way.
How Do You Test the Drive and Gearbox?
Test the drive and gearbox by running the reel under real water pressure and watching it retrieve the hose, because a static machine hides most problems. Kifco reels use either a water turbine or an engine drive, and each needs a slightly different look.
Running the Reel Before You Buy
- First, check the gearbox oil level and color cold, and look for weeping seals.
- Second, turn the drum by hand if you can, and feel for binding or heavy play.
- Third, connect water and bring the reel up to pressure. Watch the inlet plumbing and swivel for leaks.
- Fourth, let the reel retrieve the hose. It should pull steadily, and the speed control should make a clear difference.
- Fifth, listen. Grinding, knocking or a rising whine from the gearbox is a serious warning sign.
- Sixth, watch the levelwind lay the hose in tight, flat layers across the drum.
- Seventh, if the reel has an automatic shutoff, confirm that it stops the reel at the end of travel.
On an engine drive, also check cold starting, exhaust smoke, throttle response and whether you can still get parts for that engine. On a turbine drive, listen for cavitation noise and watch whether retrieve speed stays steady as pressure changes. Hose that stacks to one side of the drum calls for a closer look at the levelwind and the drum alignment.
What Parts Are Most Often Worn Out?
Inspect common wear points, including the hose, gun and nozzle, swivels and seals, levelwind chain or cable, bearings, tires, and the drive. Photograph the spec plate, because the model and serial number help you ask about compatible Kifco OEM replacement parts.
| Component | What to check | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| PE hose | Flat spots, kinks, cracks, splices | Get a current replacement quote |
| Gearbox | Oil leaks, noise, shaft play | May require professional repair |
| Levelwind | Worn chain or cable, uneven wrap | Can contribute to hose wear |
| Gun and nozzle | Worn nozzle, sticky swivel, drive arm | Affects the spray pattern |
| Guncart and tires | Bent frame, dry rot, wheel wobble | Can affect safe operation |
| Turbine or engine | Noise, smoke, speed control | Confirm parts availability first |
Suction hose, foot valves and primers wear out too, and they are often missing or sun damaged on a used package. If the sale includes a pump, inspect it as its own machine.
When Does a New Reel Make More Sense Than a Used One?
A new reel may make more sense when the repair list is long or when parts for the drive are hard to find. Build the real number first. Add the asking price, the parts you already know you need, freight, labor and the days you will lose during the season.
Pricing a Used Reel Honestly
Here is a hypothetical way to run the math, using placeholder figures rather than real prices. Suppose a used reel is offered at price A. You expect a hose replacement at cost B, a gearbox repair at cost C, and two days of shop time at cost D. If A plus B plus C plus D lands close to a comparable new-reel quote, weigh the two options on model, expected repair work and available parts. For maintenance reading, see the irrigation reel repair guide before you estimate repairs.
Used can still be the right call, especially for a second reel on a hay or pasture operation or a backup machine for an arena or sports field.
Questions to Ask the Seller
- How many hours or seasons has it run, and on what water source?
- Has the hose ever been replaced or spliced, and when?
- Was it drained and winterized every fall, and stored under cover?
- Can we run it on water today so I can watch a full retrieve?
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Look for the spec plate or decal on the reel frame near the drive and control area. Photograph it during the inspection. You need those numbers to look up published specs and to ask about the correct parts for that machine.
Neither is better in general, and they require different checks. On an engine drive, inspect starting, fuel and maintenance condition. On a turbine drive, run the reel under water pressure and watch for steady retrieval. Judge the specific machine on condition and parts availability.
Sections are often spliced with couplings, and a small number of good repairs is normal. Many splices, brittle hose or widespread flat spots usually call for full replacement instead. Price a complete hose when damage is spread along the run rather than in one spot.
There is no single cutoff, because storage and maintenance matter as much as the meter. Weigh the hours against hose condition, gearbox noise, service records and whether the reel was drained and winterized each year before you set a price.
Bring a flashlight, gloves, a tire gauge, a rag for checking oil, your phone for photos of the spec plate, and this checklist. Plan enough time to unroll the hose and watch a full retrieve cycle under water pressure.
Pump sizing follows the reel's hose diameter and length, the gun and nozzle, and your field layout, not the machine's age. Confirm the model specs first, then match flow and pressure to that reel and your water source.
Buying a Used Kifco Water Reel and What to Check Before You Pay
When you are buying a used Kifco water reel, what to check comes down to the hose, the drive and the math. Walk the full hose length, run the machine on water, listen to the gearbox, watch the levelwind wrap, and look hard at the guncart and tires. Then add the asking price to the repairs you can already see. When that total approaches a comparable new reel, or parts for the drive are hard to source, new is usually the safer buy.
Victory Irrigation sells new Kifco Ag Rain and B Series reels, pumps and OEM parts, and offers system design help if you want a reel and pump matched to your field. Tell us your acreage, water source and layout, and get a quote at Victory Irrigation.
