When you buying a used excavator, you’re buying someone else’s mechanical problems and potential headaches. Without a proper inspection, you might end up with a piece of junk that costs thousands to fix—way more than you saved. Focus on these things when shopping for a used machine to make sure that doesn’t happen.
Before buying a used excavator, check its overall condition, hours of usage, fair pricing, and the reliability of the supplier. A detailed inspection can save you from costly repairs and performance problems.
Let’s explore what you need to focus on during your purchase.
1. What to Check on a Used Excavator?
When you are buying a used excavator, you need to first determine the physical and mechanical condition of the machine. What does it look like? The machine’s physical appearance will give you a good indication if this particular piece of equipment received regular maintenance.
Look at the undercarriage, slew ring, engine, hydraulic system, and any dents or scratches you find. Even a small dent might tell you a big story about the engine and the undercarriage.
Check the following key areas to evaluate the excavator’s performance, maintenance history, and potential resale value.
- Physical appearance
- Cleaning
- Check undercarriage
- Look at the slew ring
- Look under the hood or cover at the engine
Detection work and a detailed inspection of things like these help reveal hidden issues that could spell disaster if you buy the machine sight unseen. If a machine is clean and shows no signs of leaking or failure, then that’s a big plus.
Get underneath the machine and take a look at the belly of the beast. All of this inspection work upfront will save headaches.
2. What to Consider When Buying an Excavator?
When it comes to buying an excavator, it involves a lot more than just looking at the machine. You also have to think about how you’re going to use it, and how long you need it based on your needs.
Consider the size, brand, and how old it is. Also think about how much money you have. Obviously, that’s a very important one. Then you’ve got to think about maintenance costs, parts availability, and the warranty.
As you review your options, think about the hours on the machine, whether it needs new wheels or tracks, and how nice the cab is. Then think about how it’s going to work over the long run. Is it going to be able to do what you need it to do over your timeframe, and how often is the machine going to be down for maintenance work or broken down? Keep in mind your budget doesn’t just include the cost; it also includes maintenance and potential breakdowns.
3. Is 5000 Hours a Lot for an Excavator?
The amount of use the machine has had is a great indicator of what kind of life is still left in it and how much it may cost you in the long run for maintenance or breakdowns. This is a great data point to consider.
5,000 hours kind of seems to be a benchmark for used excavators. It seems that in the used equipment world, machines with 5,000 hours or more are when you’re going to start dealing with more frequent breakdowns. Machines with fewer than 5,000 hours are generally considered to still be in the middle of their life.
Most people figure the average life of an excavator is somewhere between 8,000 and 10,000 hours, depending on the brand and how well it has been maintained. A well-maintained machine with over 5,000 hours on it can still do a great job for you. Just be sure to ask what it’s been doing and when it last had service.
4. How Do You Inspect an Excavator?
An extensive inspection of the machine is needed to make sure it’s going to work for you without any issues on your projects. It will take a while and you’ll have to look at several major components.
Give the cab, engine, hydraulics, and undercarriage all a good visual once over. Now, let’s test the machine. Start it up. Run the controls and move the boom and stick. See if there is any play or any unusual noises coming from your slew ring or attachments when you move them.
Then let’s see how it does. Run it out about ¼ open and let it run at full RPM. Is the machine all over the place moving around? Do you hear any unusual noise? Put the controls to neutral to see what happens and see if everything settles down.
Now let the machine warm up, then operate the engine. When you push a control, does it respond right away, or is there a delay? Check for any leaks in the hydraulic system and undercarriage. If it’s on wheels, what kind of condition are they in? If it’s tracks, check their condition as well. Test and make sure all controls inside the cab are working properly.
5. What Brand of Excavator Is Most Reliable?
The brand of excavator you select has a big impact on how reliable it will be for you and how much it’s going to bring when you’re ready to turn it back in. There are many great brands out there known for standing the test of time.
Caterpillar (CAT), Komatsu, and Sany are recognized as some reliable brands when it comes to getting good money for your machines at trade-in time. They are also known for their durability, availability of replacement parts, and excellent performance.
Selecting a good brand will give you several advantages: you’ll be able to get parts when needed, and you’ll receive decent change when ready to turn it back in. These brands have great warranties and many authorized service centers across the country to keep your machine up and running smoothly.
6. What to Check Before Starting an Excavator?
Before starting your excavator, it’s wise to do a pre-start inspection just to ensure everything works correctly.
When inspecting your machine, check for any oil leaking from hydraulics or anything that looks out of place on the machine. Is your bucket in good condition? Are your teeth secure?
Then check your engine as well as everything inside the cab—does everything look good? How does your engine sound when turned on? Open up its cover; do you see anything unusual? Look around again for leaks; if nothing seems out of place, you’re ready to go!
7. What Not to Do in an Excavator?
To save time and money with your machine while preventing accidents that could lead to costly repairs:
- Never overload your machine.
- Always perform your pre-start inspection.
If something goes wrong after skipping this step, it’s entirely your responsibility.
Make sure your machine is level while working; never run it cocked sideways or in positions that could lead to tipping over.
8. What Are the Three Main Hazards of Using an Excavator?
Excavators are powerful machines but come with risks if not properly managed:
- Tipping over
- Unsafe operation of attachments
- Working near unstable ground
Any of these hazards can lead not only to damage but also serious accidents affecting both people nearby and equipment integrity.
Safety training is crucial for anyone operating an excavator; keep safety as a top priority!
Summary
Thoroughly inspecting an excavator, knowing its history, and choosing a reliable brand will ensure you make a smart investment when buying a used machine. You can contact us for any brand of used excavators any time. We have wide selection in stock.