If you are in the market for a used machine, here are five tips to ensure that you get the most bang for your bucks and don’t find yourself sitting with a lemon. 1) Look for Play or Movement Fire up the excavator and turn the cab at least a quarter rotation. You want to look for play or movement in the slew ring. It is a costly and complex exercise to replace the ring gear and slew motor, and an exercise you what to avoid at all cost. You also want to look for play or movement at the connection points of the boom, stick and bucket. Ideally, all pins and bushings must be tight. Any loose connections, especially at the connection points between the stick and bucket can lead to 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 the stick, or the stick and the bucket. The existence of bends or dents may mean that the overall structural integrity of the machine has been compromised, and the boom or stick will need to be replaced. This may mean that the boom or stick needs to be replaced.
3) Leaks Open the hydraulic pump department and look for signs of leaks. Check all hoses, lines, and cylinders. Also, look for leaks in the swing bearing which could forewarn any excessive play or movement. Any leaks will need to be repaired in order to ensure the continued use of the excavator.
4) Inaccurate or Broken Hour Meters Sometimes the meter does not reflect the true age of the machine. If you find a low meter reading which is not congruent with the apparent age of the machine, have a look at the wear on the control pedals. If there is substantial wear on the pedals this could indicate that the machine is not as young as the hour meter would have you believe.
5) Scalloping on the Bucket
Check between the excavator bucket teeth for signs of scalloping or a half-moon shape. The straighter the section between the teeth, the more life in the bucket. If you see a half-moon shape, it means that the cutting surface has been reduced and the life on the bucket is shorter.
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