An excavator is a very useful machine for builders and farmers alike with some good value currently available on the secondhand market. Many people will buy a used machine to carry out their own work, such as land drainage or building, which can in some cases work out cheaper in the long run than hiring in a plant hire contractor. But, remember, if you buy an excavator you have to be capable of operating it confidently and maintaining it mechanically. A cheap excavator on day one may end up the most expensive option in the long run; it is vital to take the time to inspect the machine thoroughly following these top tips on what to watch out for before you commit to buying.
Slew Ring
The entire excavator’s upper carriage sits on top of a slew ring, which enables it to rotate. A worn or damaged slew ring can be very expensive to replace and should be checked by rotating the excavator a quarter turn at a time and checking for any excessive play or movement. Two to three inches is normal but anything over that may indicate a problem. The excavator should rotate smoothly without any noise or grinding, which would again indicate that something is not right.
Connection Points
Check the connection points between the boom arm and upper carriage, as well as the connection point between the dipper arm and boom for excessive wear or movement due to worn pins or bushings. If an excavator was poorly maintained, these points will be loose and will give you a good indication on what the overall condition of the machine may be like. Finally, check the connections at the attachment end for wear and tear, bearing in mind that there will be a certain amount of play due to the majority of work happening here. Excessive wear will mean less accuracy when digging and may require repairs.
Hydraulics
Check the hydraulic pump compartment for signs of leaks. This will give you a better understanding of whether the machine was misused or maintained correctly. Check all hydraulic hoses, lines and cylinders for leaks or potential problems such as cracks or wear. Also, check for leaks in the slew ring or swing bearing, which could give an indication of excessive play or movement. Any leaks will need to be repaired to ensure the safe and reliable operation of the excavator. A leak may be a simple fix such as a seal but in the worst case scenario may require a new pump, so it is best to have these fixed before buying.
Engine
Open the engine compartment and check for signs of leaks or excessive black smoke in the form of soot. This will give a good indication of the engine’s mechanical condition. A stall test where the engine is cut out or stalled at low revs by working the hydraulics will give a good indication if there is a problem with the engine or hydraulic pump. The engine should be started from cold and allowed to work up to its ideal temperature taking note of how it runs. A good engine will run smoothly without any unusual noise or excessive smoke.
Exterior Condition
A lot can be told about a machine by its general appearance. The exterior should be closely examined for cracks, bends or dents especially around key connection point welds, such as between the boom and dipper arm or dipper arm and bucket. The existence of flaws like these could mean that the excavator was subjected to abuse and will require expensive repairs. Welded plates or reinforcing is a telltale sign that there was a problem previously and should be investigated further.
Hour Meter
The hour meter should be checked and authenticated to ensure that the proper number of hours have been logged on to the machine.
If you suspect it is not working correctly or has been tampered with, a good rule of thumb is to inspect the cab interior for wear around the pedals and controls, which may give you a better indication of the machine’s true hours.
Tracks
Another important part of the excavator to check is the tracks.
Special attention should be paid to the components such as track links, drive sprockets, idlers and rollers in relation to wear.
Check for slack in the track itself which may indicate it needs to be tensioned or could also be a sign of poor maintenance and excessive wear.
What can you buy for under €18,000?
There are many secondhand excavators on the market and now that you know what to look out for, let’s take a look at what is available in Ireland for under €18,000.
Currently for sale, you can find such examples as a:
Kobelco Acera SK120 (12t): €13,000.Hyundai 180 LC-3 (18t): €8,750.Daewoo 130 LC-V (13t): €14,995.Fiat Hitachi 150 (15t): €16,500.So, as you can see, there are options out there in the secondhand excavator market and with a small bit of research and time spent checking over the machine, you can get yourself a very useful tool for carrying out a multitude of tasks on the farm or building site.
Read more
Special focus: plant power
An excavator is a very useful machine for builders and farmers alike with some good value currently available on the secondhand market. Many people will buy a used machine to carry out their own work, such as land drainage or building, which can in some cases work out cheaper in the long run than hiring in a plant hire contractor. But, remember, if you buy an excavator you have to be capable of operating it confidently and maintaining it mechanically. A cheap excavator on day one may end up the most expensive option in the long run; it is vital to take the time to inspect the machine thoroughly following these top tips on what to watch out for before you commit to buying.
Slew Ring
The entire excavator’s upper carriage sits on top of a slew ring, which enables it to rotate. A worn or damaged slew ring can be very expensive to replace and should be checked by rotating the excavator a quarter turn at a time and checking for any excessive play or movement. Two to three inches is normal but anything over that may indicate a problem. The excavator should rotate smoothly without any noise or grinding, which would again indicate that something is not right.
Connection Points
Check the connection points between the boom arm and upper carriage, as well as the connection point between the dipper arm and boom for excessive wear or movement due to worn pins or bushings. If an excavator was poorly maintained, these points will be loose and will give you a good indication on what the overall condition of the machine may be like. Finally, check the connections at the attachment end for wear and tear, bearing in mind that there will be a certain amount of play due to the majority of work happening here. Excessive wear will mean less accuracy when digging and may require repairs.
Hydraulics
Check the hydraulic pump compartment for signs of leaks. This will give you a better understanding of whether the machine was misused or maintained correctly. Check all hydraulic hoses, lines and cylinders for leaks or potential problems such as cracks or wear. Also, check for leaks in the slew ring or swing bearing, which could give an indication of excessive play or movement. Any leaks will need to be repaired to ensure the safe and reliable operation of the excavator. A leak may be a simple fix such as a seal but in the worst case scenario may require a new pump, so it is best to have these fixed before buying.
Engine
Open the engine compartment and check for signs of leaks or excessive black smoke in the form of soot. This will give a good indication of the engine’s mechanical condition. A stall test where the engine is cut out or stalled at low revs by working the hydraulics will give a good indication if there is a problem with the engine or hydraulic pump. The engine should be started from cold and allowed to work up to its ideal temperature taking note of how it runs. A good engine will run smoothly without any unusual noise or excessive smoke.
Exterior Condition
A lot can be told about a machine by its general appearance. The exterior should be closely examined for cracks, bends or dents especially around key connection point welds, such as between the boom and dipper arm or dipper arm and bucket. The existence of flaws like these could mean that the excavator was subjected to abuse and will require expensive repairs. Welded plates or reinforcing is a telltale sign that there was a problem previously and should be investigated further.
Hour Meter
The hour meter should be checked and authenticated to ensure that the proper number of hours have been logged on to the machine.
If you suspect it is not working correctly or has been tampered with, a good rule of thumb is to inspect the cab interior for wear around the pedals and controls, which may give you a better indication of the machine’s true hours.
Tracks
Another important part of the excavator to check is the tracks.
Special attention should be paid to the components such as track links, drive sprockets, idlers and rollers in relation to wear.
Check for slack in the track itself which may indicate it needs to be tensioned or could also be a sign of poor maintenance and excessive wear.
What can you buy for under €18,000?
There are many secondhand excavators on the market and now that you know what to look out for, let’s take a look at what is available in Ireland for under €18,000.
Currently for sale, you can find such examples as a:
Kobelco Acera SK120 (12t): €13,000.Hyundai 180 LC-3 (18t): €8,750.Daewoo 130 LC-V (13t): €14,995.Fiat Hitachi 150 (15t): €16,500.So, as you can see, there are options out there in the secondhand excavator market and with a small bit of research and time spent checking over the machine, you can get yourself a very useful tool for carrying out a multitude of tasks on the farm or building site.
Read more
Special focus: plant power
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