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Hunter alignment machine


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I found a hunter dsp 400 r611 alignment machine with the lift for $6500 or best offer. Does sound like a good deal to anyone? I'm not familiar with this model. Any input would be greatly appreciated. I plan on making an offer this weekend

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Thanks for the quick response xrac. I called Hunter and he said yes they still update and service, but that particular model does NOT have USB... So if a mouse or keyboard goes bad, they would have to replace the entire unit... So I'll have to keep looking for another model

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Do you know how much $ you will generate from alignments? I'd suggest maybe looking into that first with quality number projections. It may be in your best interest to look into financing some new equipment rather than purchasing used and wasting your time setting it up, learning how to use it and then fixing it when it finally takes a poop on you.

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  • 4 months later...

We have that equipment and bought it used from a dealership, so far it has worked for us.

....Then again We're a new shop and started with used equipment to build out clientele. It's really hard to start a new business with no customers and have a monthly payment. Now after a year, we make an average of 32 alignments monthly and totally justified the expense of a new one.

At this point, we're looking into updating the computer and software and have code link... According to Hunter Sales rep, we still have support for this machines....

 

Regards

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  • 1 year later...

Give nothing away, you'll go broke. Charge more and be happy. Focus on quality and not price.

 

OP, I'd look at getting a used hawk eye, I've seen them go for $7-10 k on Craigslist. Way better investment than an outdated model.

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  • 3 months later...

I Just got a used dsp600 camera system to replace my '89 d111. IMO a camera system is the way to go. Mount the targets on the wheels, roll the car back a foot, roll it back on the pads and its compensated. 2 minutes. If you are paying a tech to do alignments this type of system is the only sensible choice because it's so much faster. Buy from your Hunter dealer because sooner or later your going to need service.

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I Just got a used dsp600 camera system to replace my '89 d111. IMO a camera system is the way to go. Mount the targets on the wheels, roll the car back a foot, roll it back on the pads and its compensated. 2 minutes. If you are paying a tech to do alignments this type of system is the only sensible choice because it's so much faster. Buy from your Hunter dealer because sooner or later your going to need service.

 

I think you mean target system? camera systems are horrible in terms of efficiency and productivity. You have to mount the clamp and then mount the camera. Target system you just mount the target to the wheel.

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  • 4 weeks later...

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  • Have you checked out Joe's Latest Blog?

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      I recently spoke with a friend of mine who owns a large general repair shop in the Midwest. His father founded the business in 1975. He was telling me that although he’s busy, he’s also very frustrated. When I probed him more about his frustrations, he said that it’s hard to find qualified technicians. My friend employs four technicians and is looking to hire two more. I then asked him, “How long does a technician last working for you.” He looked puzzled and replied, “I never really thought about that, but I can tell that except for one tech, most technicians don’t last working for me longer than a few years.”
      Judging from personal experience as a shop owner and from what I know about the auto repair industry, I can tell you that other than a few exceptions, the turnover rate for technicians in our industry is too high. This makes me think, do we have a technician shortage or a retention problem? Have we done the best we can over the decades to provide great pay plans, benefits packages, great work environments, and the right culture to ensure that the techs we have stay with us?
      Finding and hiring qualified automotive technicians is not a new phenomenon. This problem has been around for as long as I can remember. While we do need to attract people to our industry and provide the necessary training and mentorship, we also need to focus on retention. Having a revolving door and needing to hire techs every few years or so costs your company money. Big money! And that revolving door may be a sign of an even bigger issue: poor leadership, and poor employee management skills.
      Here’s one more thing to consider, for the most part, technicians don’t leave one job to start a new career, they leave one shop as a technician to become a technician at another shop. The reasons why they leave can be debated, but there is one fact that we cannot deny, people don’t quit the company they work for, they usually leave because of the boss or manager they work for.
      Put yourselves in the shoes of your employees. Do you have a workplace that communicates, “We appreciate you and want you to stay!”
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