(An educational, step-by-step guide for anyone purchasing used OEM final drives in South Africa) A final drive isn’t just another excavator part.It ’s the heart  of your machine’s travel system — and one of the most expensive components you’ll ever replace. Buying used OEM final drives is one of the smartest ways to save money… if  you know how to check their condition properly. Because let’s be honest:A final drive can look fine on the outside and still be an expensive disas

Every excavator part has a story. Some live long, some die young, and some soldier on through rebuild after rebuild until they finally give up and get thrown onto the scrap pile behind a workshop in Germiston. Understanding the full lifecycle of an excavator component  helps you: plan maintenance better budget more accurately know when to repair instead of replace avoid catastrophic failures buy smarter when sourcing used OEM parts Most failures don’t come out of nowhere — th

Because Cheap Pumps Are the Fastest Way to Turn Your Excavator Into an Expensive Garden Ornament Let’s get something straight right from the start: If you buy a cheap aftermarket hydraulic pump for your excavator, you’re not “saving money.”You’re delaying the pain . And when that pain hits, it hits hard — blown hoses, slow hydraulics, cooked oil, trashed cylinders, destroyed spool valves, and a machine that suddenly works like it’s got emphysema. Hydraulic pumps are the heart

Because Some “Rebuilt” Parts Belong in a Scrap Bin — Not Inside Your Machine Let’s get brutally honest: The word “rebuilt”  gets abused in this industry more than an old rental excavator. Some rebuilt components are excellent  — done by real professionals using genuine OEM specs and proper tolerances. But others? They’re slapped together in a backyard workshop using whatever parts the rebuilder could find, guess, grind, weld, or pray into place.Those “rebuilt” parts will rob

If You Ignore These Symptoms, Your Machine Is About to Eat Your Wallet Alive Let’s be brutally honest: when a final drive fails, it’s almost never “sudden.”It’s never “unexpected.”And it sure as hell isn’t “bad luck.” Final drives warn you .Loudly.Repeatedly.Aggressively. It’s contractors and operators who ignore those warnings — until the machine is limping across the job site like a wounded buffalo and everyone is suddenly shocked that the bill starts at R40,000  and goes u

Sawubona, mfowethu! If you’ve ever stood next to a 40-tonne excavator that’s been sitting dead for three weeks waiting for a R280 000 hydraulic pump from Japan, then this 3 000-word deep-dive is written specifically for you. My name is Ralph – I’m one of the guys at Vikfin who actually turns the spanners, drives the forklift, and argues with customs officials so your parts land in Kitwe or Walvis Bay without drama. Today I’m pulling back the curtain on exactly how Vikfin has

Sawubona, boet! The Vikfin yard in Benoni is looking like a Komatsu Christmas tree right now. We’ve just put the finishing touches on stripping a proper high-hour Komatsu PC400-6, and the result is one of the fullest 40-tonne parts spreads we’ve had all year. The engine walked out the door within 48 hours (R128 000, thank you very much), and the main valve bank went to a mine in Mokopane yesterday, but literally everything else is still here, steam-cleaned, photographed, pric

When you look under the hood of many Japanese excavators — and quite a few Korean and European machines — there’s a good chance you’ll find a Mitsubishi engine quietly doing its job. Mitsubishi’s industrial diesel range has earned a reputation for reliability, simplicity, torque-rich performance, and long service life. Whether you’re running a 1.5-ton mini excavator or a 20-ton earth-mover, Mitsubishi has produced an engine for that class. This extended guide dives into the f

If you’ve ever stood on a construction site and watched two excavators side by side — one with steel tracks grinding through the mud and another with rubber tyres rolling smoothly over asphalt — you’ve probably wondered: Why the difference? It’s not just about looks. The choice between a steel-tracked excavator  and a wheeled excavator  completely changes how the machine behaves, what kind of terrain it can handle, how it’s maintained, and even how the operator should think b

When you’re in the market for a hydraulic excavator, there’s one question that always rises to the surface before anything else: Do you go for a wheeled excavator or a tracked one? Both look similar from a distance — a powerful boom, a bucket, and that familiar rotating cab — but what lies beneath makes all the difference. Whether you’re digging trenches, clearing debris, or handling material on a construction site, the type of undercarriage (wheels or tracks) determines how

Your excavator’s engine isn’t just another component — it’s the heart of your machine. When it’s healthy, everything else flows smoothly: power, productivity, and profit. But when it starts to struggle, the whole operation suffers. And here’s the kicker — most engine failures aren’t sudden. They’re slow-motion disasters caused by neglect, shortcuts, or the wrong parts. In this post, we’ll unpack exactly how engine wear creeps up on you, how preventative maintenance keeps mone

When your excavator goes down, the clock starts ticking — and every minute of downtime costs you money. The pressure is on, and the temptation is real: you find a cheaper, non-OEM part online, it looks close enough, and you think, “How bad could it be?” Well… bad enough to cost you an engine, a final drive, or your next big contract. Mixing non-OEM (aftermarket) parts into an excavator designed with precise OEM tolerances is like putting cheap tyres on a Ferrari. It might rol

There’s one sound every excavator operator dreads — the grinding, groaning death rattle of a failing final drive. It’s like your machine is screaming for mercy while your wallet quietly cries in the corner. The final drive is the powerhouse of your excavator’s movement system. It transfers hydraulic power into track rotation — which means when it goes, your entire machine goes with it. No tracks, no work, no profit. And yet, it’s one of the most commonly neglected — and most

Buying used excavator parts can be like walking through a scrapyard minefield — full of hidden gems and total junk, often side by side. One part could save your project thousands; the next could cost you your machine. In South Africa’s tough construction scene — where margins are tight and downtime kills — knowing how to tell a high-quality used OEM excavator part  from a worn-out dud isn’t just good business sense. It’s survival. This guide from Vikfin , South Africa’s leadi

In the world of heavy-equipment maintenance, one of the most crucial decisions you’ll face is whether to go with original equipment manufacturer (OEM)  parts or cheaper aftermarket  alternatives. For those working with excavators — especially contractors, fleet owners, and maintenance teams in South Africa — this isn’t just a theoretical debate. It’s a decision that impacts downtime, reliability, costs, and ultimately profitability. In this post, we’ll dig deep into why OEM e

You’ve probably heard it before: “Oil is the lifeblood of your machine.”It’s not just a catchy saying—it’s literal truth. For an excavator, oil testing isn’t some optional extra you do when you’ve got time. It’s an essential diagnostic tool that tells you what’s going on inside the machine long before you hear the first grind, smell the first burn, or see the first warning light. Skipping oil testing is like ignoring your own blood test results because “you feel fine.” The re

The construction industry is evolving rapidly, with excavators remaining the unsung heroes of earthmoving, demolition, and site preparation. As we head into 2025, certain models continue to dominate the market due to their reliability, efficiency, and versatility. From compact machines for urban projects to heavy-duty beasts for large-scale infrastructure, understanding trending excavator models can help owners and operators stay ahead. But with heavy use comes wear and tear,

In the demanding world of construction, every decision about your excavator’s maintenance can impact project timelines, budgets, and equipment longevity. When it’s time to replace a worn or damaged part, contractors and fleet managers face a critical choice: OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) used parts or aftermarket alternatives. While both options have their place, OEM used parts often provide superior quality, compatibility, and value, making them the preferred choice

Excavators are the backbone of many construction projects, tirelessly digging, lifting, and moving earth to keep your operations on track. However, like any heavy machinery, excavators experience wear and tear over time, and failing to address worn or damaged parts can lead to costly breakdowns and project delays. Recognizing the signs that your excavator needs new parts is critical to maintaining efficiency and avoiding unexpected downtime. At Vikfin, we provide high-quality

In the high-stakes world of construction, keeping your excavator in peak condition is crucial for meeting tight project deadlines and staying within budget. When parts wear out or fail, replacing them with reliable, cost-effective components is essential to minimize downtime and maintain productivity. For contractors and fleet managers, OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) used excavator parts strike an ideal balance of quality, compatibility, and affordability. At Vikfin, w