If you’re considering buying a second-hand excavator, it’s likely because you want to save money but you still want a good machine. You decide the best way to do that is to buy a used machine. If that’s the case, then you need to pay attention and understand what you are getting. In this guide you’ll learn the steps to buying the right machine, so you get what you pay for and you don’t get stuck with a lemon.
To select the best second-hand excavator, inspect the machine's condition, review its history, and test its performance. Focus on factors such as brand reputation, operating hours, maintenance records, and supplier credibility. By following a structured approach, you can minimize risks and secure a high-quality excavator that meets your project needs.
Now, let’s talk about those 10 things you must consider when buying a second-hand excavator.
What Are the Key Factors to Consider When Buying a Used Excavator?
Your particular project requirements directly inform which machine you need. Consider the machine’s application or type of work it’ll perform. For instance, if you’re using the machine for digging trenches to lay pipeline, then dig depth is an essential requirement in the machine. If you’re using it for demolition, then you need hydraulic power instead of dig depth, and you need the attachment to go with it.
Also take into account the weight and size of the machine in relationship to your local job requirements. Compact excavators work great in urban environments or smaller test sites. The heavy-duty units obviously work great for big construction projects. One thing to consider is to find the machine with the most horsepower for your money. It’s probably working a lot harder than you think, and you’re going to wish you’d bought the horsepower.
Another thing to consider is the fuel cost. Do you care how thirsty your machine is for fuel? Then last but not least, make sure parts and service are available locally. That means if you buy a brand of machine and parts or service aren’t available nearby, that’s bad. If you rarely need to repair this type of machine, great! If you always need to repair this type of machine, you’d better buy a machine you can get fixed close by.
How to Inspect a Second-Hand Excavator Thoroughly?
Start by looking around on the outside of the machine. Look for damage like dents, cracks, or rust. Pay particular attention to the stress points, such as where the boom mates up to the arm, where the arm mates up to the house, and where the bucket mates up to the arm.
Inspect the hydraulic system next. You’re looking for leaks. Make sure the hydraulic cylinders, pumps, and hoses aren’t leaking. Work the hydraulic controls to see if the hydraulic system responds as it should. Be concerned if the movement is jerky or hesitant.
Check out the engine. Listen to it run. Does it sound weird? Does it make a lot of noise when it starts up? Does it make a ton of noise after it’s been running? Pay attention. Also, check the color of the exhaust. Black smoke or white smoke indicates problems.
Climb under the machine and look at the undercarriage. The tracks and rollers are especially critical. Are the tracks worn unevenly? This can indicate alignment issues or lack of maintenance.
Which Brands Are the Most Reliable for Used Excavators?
Caterpillar (CAT) is number one by miles and miles. CAT has good iron and is well supported by the contractor universe. It makes a good machine that’s generally fuel efficient. They are particularly strong in high hours per year type of work. Hitachi is often colorably better on the hydraulic side, for when you need the most delicate control of hydraulics. Hyundai is a good middle-of-the-road type product. Finally, Sany produces a decent machine at a very competitive price point.
When you choose a brand, you also have to think about what you’re doing long-term. Just be aware that if you buy a machine that doesn’t have local service, parts, or support, then you won’t be able to get it repaired quickly. Even if the manufacturer makes a quality machine, if none are in your hometown being fixed, that’s not going to help you. So choose a brand that you can easily get repaired nearby.
What Are Common Red Flags to Avoid in a Used Excavator?
Be very careful looking at the critical points in the excavator. Critical points include the boom, the arm, and the bucket. If the machine has had a rough life and been poorly operated, then what’s cracked? Somebody has abused it.
Also, some machines have a bunch of welds on the arm, bucket, or both. This fact indicates that somebody has knocked the crap out of this machine and it’s been repaired. The number of times something has been welded usually ties to how many times the machine has been hit. Is it possible the machine has been hit or abused a few times and still a good buy? Sure. However, all things being equal, I’d want a machine that nobody has whacked before just for the structural integrity.
Watch the hour meters on these machines. If it reads one thousand hours and looks like it’s been in the ground since the year one, the hour meter has probably been turned back. Why does this matter? If the hour meter doesn’t show the right number of hours, then maybe the service cycle doesn’t happen at the right number of hours either. Makes sure every machine you’re looking at has zero oil leaks at the engine or around the hydraulic system. If you see oil coming out anywhere, the machine hasn’t been well-cared for as a general rule. Whenever you look at a used machine, the first thing to ask for is the maintenance record and service history.
What Documents and History Should Be Verified Before Purchase?
Lastly, always request the legal right to sell and ownership documents. That way, you don’t buy a stolen machine, someone else’s problem, or a machine someone bought on a whim and is now trying to offload. Always ask for the service record and maintenance record of the machine.
Next, ask for all the repair records. When you buy a machine that’s eight years old, I’d like to look at a machine’s history. If it’s had seven hydraulic pumps, then I know at 1,500 hours or so normally the hydraulic pump was supposed to be replaced. That probably means the machine will get FedExed a new hydraulic pump when you’re not looking.
The number one way thieves break into and prove they own a piece of equipment is the serial number. Why? They scratch it off because the company they stole it from writes the serial number down. The easiest way to limit fraud or stolen equipment is to require that equipment sellers validate their serial with the factory, a third party, or the local lawman to make sure you have the legitimate serial for the machine. If they don’t have any of this, just go ahead and walk away.
How to Evaluate the Price of a Used Excavator?
Start by figuring out the average price of the excavator you want. Look at machines of the same make and model to determine what a machine with X hours on it sells for. Machines with fewer hours cost more. Inevitably, the fewer hours a machine has on it, the less it has been used and the less likely things can wear out. But you have to consider the age of the machine as well.
They could be trying to stick it to you with an old machine that looks pretty and hasn’t moved, but it hasn’t been maintained either. Make sure you evaluate the cost of shipping, taxes, and import duties if you buy it out of the country. You hold more power in negotiations when you have all this at your disposal number. With the more info you have, the more you should be able to beat them on price.
What Role Does a Test Drive Play in Selecting a Used Excavator?
Test drive the machine. Start the machine up to see how it behaves. If the engine doesn’t fire up in a heartbeat, then the engine might be hurt. Pay attention to how smoothly the machine starts. Smythe says it’s easy to get fooled on an engine. Everything sounds good sitting still until you work the machine. Work every control on their machine. Now is your chance to make it move.
Pay attention because pay attention to this. Every brand and every kind of machine responds a little differently to your commands. There is a minimum amount of delay your excavator should have while grabbing dirt and dumping it to the side. Any delay likely indicates a control problem or the machine’s hydraulic system isn’t working as it should. While operating the machine, does it make any strange sounds? For example, is it growling or making any angry noises at you from anywhere on the machine? That could be a very expensive sound. Make it move. Drive the machine around. Operate the controls. Move the tracks.
Does everything feel nice and smooth? Or is something dragging the tracks? For instance, if you turn left, does the tracks never come off the left side? Or if one side doesn’t want to pull hard enough, then wait until they’re broken. The number one watch item here is if the tracks aren’t letting you push, pull, or turn properly? What could be wrong? You may have something out of adjustment. That would be an ideal thing, but you are likely to have a destroyed final drive that needs to be replaced or repaired. Again, this is not the time to wish you knew more about an excavator! Get a plan together and take someone with you.
How to Decide Between Different Models of Used Excavators?
But it all comes back to what you need for what you’re doing. For example, the Caterpillar 320D is a great all-around machine. If you’re a general contractor and buying a machine that will never leave the construction zone where you work, the 320D a fine machine that will last you a long time. But you’ll want to know the features of each group.
That might be useful for certain applications, such as for stripping off topsoil off of a lot of acres and you’re going to run a lot of hours and tear up a lot of land. Make sure the machine you get is able to do all the things you were planning on it doing. Also, all you paid for here is a French-fried console with a quick coupler and the only other things that will fit on the end of this machine that you bought are those made by this manufacturer.
You might want to think long and hard about whether you want a machine like that. You know how deep you need to dig and how big a bucket you need-- how big a bite at a time you need to take. How high and how far you need to pick something up and carry it. When you figure all those things out, that’s when you’ll want a machine that fits all those parameters and you’ll be very glad you did.
Why Partnering with a Trustworthy Supplier Matters?
In short, a supplier you can trust will do everything necessary to make sure you get a machine that meets your expectations. Trustworthy suppliers have machines inspected thoroughly and have reports prepared detailing the machines’ condition. They have dependable payments and clean documentation.
All this effort and attention is made to prevent surprises and to get you into a quality used machine. Established brands like HIXEN take these steps for you because they care about your success and want to build a long-term relationship. For you, the customer who is doing their due diligence, having a professional like HIXEN fight for you and do the hard work will give you the peace of mind and confidence to buy with confidence.
How Can Long-Term Support from the Supplier Benefit You?
Post-sale support from a supplier can dramatically increase the value of your investment. A supplier that provides spare parts, training, and technical support lets you maintain your excavator, which translates to less downtime and staying on-hire. A supplier that warranties key components like the engine or hydraulic pump gives you peace of mind. Failure of these critical components on a used machine can make the repair costs outweigh the value of the entire machine. By buying from a supplier who is committed to long-term support of your machine, you will maximize its efficiency and lifespan.
Summary
Selecting the right second-hand excavator takes a little effort to look at the machine, evaluate the price, and check the supplier’s credibility. If you follow those 10 steps, you can be confident in your purchase and know you’ve done your homework. You’ve done what you can to protect yourself rather than just rolling the dice and hoping everything works out. Plus, you’ve utilized the expertise of a company like HIXEN that only sells high-quality equipment, has fantastic documentation of everything you are buying, and will be there after the sale to help you out. That way, you’re in the best excavator for your business, and it’s efficient and successful on every job you have.
