LeeBoy 685 Grader for Sale? 8 Budget Questions Before You Buy

If you're here, you're probably trying to answer one of these:

• Is a LeeBoy 685 grader for sale actually worth the asking price?
• Can I save money with used LeeBoy paver parts without causing downtime?
• Why does a Subaru truck keep appearing in my equipment search?
• Should I use a Kubota skid steer instead of a motor grader?
• And why does 'heron vs crane' show up on my screen?

I'm a procurement manager at a 45-person asphalt paving company. Over the past 8 years, I've managed a $1.6M annual equipment budget, negotiated with 35+ vendors, and documented every order in our cost tracking system. This FAQ is the one I wish I'd read before writing those PO numbers.

1. What's the real cost of a LeeBoy 685 grader for sale?

When I search for a LeeBoy 685 grader for sale, I ignore the asking price first. I filter by hours, year, blade condition, frame wear, and service history. A cheap machine can become expensive faster than you can say 'circle shoes.'

In Q3 2024, I compared four used 685s. The lowest-priced one had 2,100 hours but a worn circle. Another cost $18,000 more with 1,750 hours and a replaced circle. I nearly went with the cheap one until I ran the numbers: new circle parts, hydraulic labor, and two days of downtime. The difference turned out to be a $6,200 projected repair, not $18,000. I still got the second machine because the first one had a cracked weld I could not un-see.

Bottom line: ask what's NOT included before asking for the price. If the dealer will not generate an inspection report, that is a red flag. For current asking prices, I check MachineryTrader and IronPlanet; as of January 2025 those listings varied widely by hours and region.

2. Where do used LeeBoy paver parts fit into a maintenance budget?

Used LeeBoy paver parts can save a serious amount of money when they are the right parts. I've bought screed plates, augers, and conveyor chains from a dismantler at roughly half the OEM list price. But 'used' is not one category.

In 2023, I said 'used paver parts' on the phone. They heard 'cheapest aftermarket option.' Result: a wear plate that did not match our paver's existing holes. We were using the same words but meaning different things. I discovered it when the crew had to drill new holes on a Saturday.

You're gonna want the OEM part number, a photo, and a return policy before you wire a dime. Now our procurement policy requires quotes from three sources minimum. If a seller says 'compatible' but cannot name the original part number, skip it. The first thing you buy is the part number, not the part.

3. Subaru truck? Why does that show up near heavy equipment searches?

Search engines sometimes mix up the word 'truck.' A Subaru truck—if we're talking about the old BRAT/Baja or anything with a Subaru badge—is rated for a few hundred to maybe 1,000 pounds of payload. A LeeBoy 685 motor grader weighs well over 30,000 pounds. Do not search for 'Subaru truck' when you mean 'hauling equipment,' and do not try to haul a grader with one.

A few years ago, our yard manager asked why we couldn't use an F-450 to pull a paver frame. Same logic. The truck's tow rating is irrelevant if the trailer and machine combination exceeds its gross combination rating. For a LeeBoy 685, you need a semi lowboy and the right permits. Your state DOT website publishes permit requirements—verify before you haul.

4. Can a Kubota skid steer replace a LeeBoy motor grader?

No, but not for the reason you might think. A Kubota skid steer is a great machine for tight spaces, loading, and cleanup. With a grading attachment, it can handle parking lots and small pads. It is not a substitute for a motor grader on production grading.

A LeeBoy 685 has a 12-foot blade, frame articulation, and enough power to carry a grade for miles. A skid steer will do the same pass in smaller bites, use more operator time, and still leave a different surface profile. In our fleet, both work together: the Kubota skid steer handles shoulder work and site cleanup; the LeeBoy handles mainline grading.

If someone tells you to replace a motor grader with a skid steer on a road job, ask them to show you the production math. I can only speak to our mix—if you're doing 500-square-foot pads, the calculus is completely different.

5. Heron vs crane: why does that belong here?

Because 'crane' is both a bird and an expensive piece of lifting equipment. If you searched 'heron vs crane' to settle a birdwatching question, you're probably not shopping for a LeeBoy. But if you're in construction, 'crane' means a machine that lifts heavy loads. Neither type of crane grades roads.

This matters more than you'd think. A few years ago, a purchase requisition listed 'crane' for a job that actually needed a motor grader. The two words are easy to mix up when everyone is typing fast. The only thing worse than confusing a heron and a crane is confusing a motor grader and a skid steer.

So if you're here because of a search glitch, stay for the cost advice. It applies either way.

6. What hidden fees should I budget for when buying used LeeBoy equipment?

Hidden fees are my favorite topic, because you can catch them before they catch you. For any used LeeBoy equipment purchase, I add line items for freight, delivery windows, permits, inspection, first fluids and filters, and consumables. That 'free delivery' quote cost us $700 in detention once because the driver had to wait past his appointment window.

Here's the risk-weighting exercise I use. The upside was saving $4,200 on a used tack distributor. The risk was shipping it blind. I calculated the worst case: $2,000 in repairs plus another week of rental. Best case: save $4,200. The expected value said go, but the downside felt too high. So I asked the seller to send a video walkaround. It was free, and I spotted a cracked valve.

The vendor who lists all fees upfront—even if the total looks higher—usually costs less in the end. I do not trust a quote that has one number and a lot of silence.

7. Should I buy new OEM parts or used LeeBoy paver parts?

I use both. For wear items like cutting edges, circle shoes, and anything that touches the road, I'd rather buy OEM from the LeeBoy dealer. A slightly higher price is worth not redoing a 2-mile stretch because a part failed.

For structural parts, brackets, and non-wear items, used OEM parts can be a no-brainer if they come from a known machine and you have the part number. The trick is verifying that 'used' means pulled from a working unit, not pulled because it broke.

As of January 2025, I'm still using the same spreadsheet I built after getting burned on a non-returnable hydraulic valve. It now has columns for OEM part number, core exchange availability, photo, and freight terms. That spreadsheet has cut our part-related budget overruns by a bigger margin than any discount I've negotiated.

8. What about the smaller LeeBoy graders and tack distributors?

LeeBoy's line extends beyond the 685. Smaller graders like the 635 fit for municipalities and contractors doing light maintenance. The 785 and 8500 models are for larger roadbuilding operations. Tack distributors are a separate category, but used ones get the same total cost treatment.

I don't think you should buy a 685 just because it's the most common in the search results. I can only speak to our mix: for 10,000-square-yard parking lots and rural resurfacing, the 685 is the sweet spot. If you're doing mostly 12-foot-wide bike paths, a smaller machine is going to be easier to move and cheaper to run. If you're paving interstate ramps, look at the bigger models and make sure your crew has the training for them.

The right size is the boring answer: the one that matches your job mix, your dealer support, and your operators. Everything else is marketing.