Some fairly easy fixes, on that machine I’d fix it, but I wouldn’t be to worried about the smoke unless you’ve noticed something else with the motor.

Yeah I think it’s got more than 1400 hours, but on those old bobcats beat it into the dirt and then rebuild and keep going.

I would watch buying former rental equipment . My cousin runs a wedding repair business and some of the things rental company's want him to fix so they can get rid of of and others they tell him about but later say never-ending we painted it an got rid of it. Well its enough for me to pass. He tells them nope not doing that its not a legal manufacturer aproved repair often.

And thats just the structural band aids. Im sure there are many more mechanical he never hears about that their shop guys do. He dose work for several different rental company's and many different locations for each of tham in about 150 mile area.

We all have or will get bit by a lemon at some point. It sucks, can make you gun shy, but it the cost of education. At least its geting close to the end if the year and can be partially written off. But im betting you dont need anymore wright offs between trees and farm.

Hydraulic cylinders leak and need rebuilds. Pins in arms are shot. Has a bit of a "grind" when turning, it's been repainted, they did a good job painting it, not just a typical farmer cover-up which makes me more suspicious. Main problem was that it smokes when cold, warmed up its okay. Tracked the problem to cylinder 4, had injectors tested and cleaned, replaced a broken egr, bore scoped cylinder, cylinder looked good, still smoking with injectors replaced so were assuming it broke a ring or damaged a valve. Would have to tear down the motor or atleast remove the head to be sure

Hydraulic cylinders leak and need rebuilds. Pins in arms are shot. Has a bit of a "grind" when turning, it's been repainted, they did a good job painting it, not just a typical farmer cover-up which makes me more suspicious. Main problem was that it smokes when cold, warmed up its okay. Tracked the problem to cylinder 4, had injectors tested and cleaned, replaced a broken egr, bore scoped cylinder, cylinder looked good, still smoking with injectors replaced so were assuming it broke a ring or damaged a valve. Would have to tear down the motor or atleast remove the head to be sure

Well that sucks, sorry to hear. I was recently looking for a different skid steer and found this guide.

https://www.skidsteers.com/blog/how-to-buy-the-best-used-skid-steers/

I hate buying used stuff but could never afford new, I just sold my old skid steer, two tractors and a motorcycle to get something “better”. I decided on a Kubota tractor, the jury is still out on how I did.

If it is anything like the Carp-ota we had I feel for you, bad tractor and worse service.