Five Things to Look for When Buying a Used Excavator

1. Play or movement

A damaged slew ring can be one of the most costly items to repair or replace in a used hydraulic excavator, so make sure to rotate the hydraulic excavator housing to a quarter turn and check for any play or movement in the slew ring.

Look for play or movement at the connection points of the boom, stick and bucket as well. Ideally all pins and bushings should be tight. Any loose connections, particularly at the connection points between the excavator stick and bucket, could mean a loss in excavation accuracy and a need for repairs.

2. Cracks, bends and dents

Cracks are never a good sign, especially when they exist in key connection point welds, such as between the boom and stick or stick and bucket. The existence of cracks or significant bends could mean the excavator’™s overall structural integrity has been negatively affected and the boom or stick will need to be replaced. The existence of large dents on the hydraulic excavator’™s undercarriage or to the top of the excavator€’s stick could mean the machine was used without proper care by its operator.

3. Leaks

Open the hydraulic pump compartment and look for signs of leaks. Check all hoses, lines and cylinders. Also check for leaks in the slew ring or swing bearing, which could forewarn of excessive play or movement. Any leaks will need to be repaired to ensure the safe and continued operation of the hydraulic excavator.

4. Inaccurate/broken hours meter

If the hour meter is not operating or the reading is in question, check the control pedals for wear. Excessive wear could indicate the hydraulic excavator has more operating hours logged than noted.