When you think about maintaining your excavator, you probably picture greasing pins, checking hydraulic hoses, or replacing filters. But here’s a truth that separates the smart operators from the expensive repair stories — oil testing  is one of the most powerful, yet most overlooked tools in extending the life of your machine. In South Africa’s tough working environments — from the red dust of the Northern Cape to the coastal humidity of Durban — your excavator’s oil isn’t j

If you run excavators, supply excavator parts, or simply deal in soil, rock and steel on a regular basis, your bucket is everything . For the team at Vikfin—South Africa’s leading used excavator-parts supplier—it’s one of the most critical attachments in the business. And if you’re in the market for a used excavator bucket, or thinking about re-selling or refurbishing one, then buckle up: this blog dives deep into types, wear-and-tear, maintenance, fitment, and the all-import

When you think about an excavator’s hydraulic system, the first parts that come to mind are usually the pump, the cylinders, and the control valves. These are the muscle and the brains of the machine’s movement. But sitting quietly between the engine and the hydraulic pump is an often-overlooked hero — the pump bell housing . It may look like a simple chunk of cast metal, but the bell housing plays a critical structural, alignment, and vibration-damping role  that directly im

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

Your excavator’s engine governor quietly controls speed, fuel use, and power under load. Learn how it works, common signs of failure, and where to find quality used OEM replacements from Vikfin — South Africa’s trusted supplier of excavator parts. When your excavator is working hard — trenching, digging, or swinging a heavy load — it needs to deliver smooth, consistent power. You probably never think about how  your engine stays steady when the hydraulic load changes. But beh

Excavators are incredible machines on their own, but what makes them truly versatile are attachments.  Buckets, hammers, grapples,...

When people think of excavators, they usually picture raw hydraulic power, heavy steel, and giant diesel engines. But there’s another...

Excavators are engineering marvels. They rip through rock, lift enormous loads, and stretch their arms into trenches as if they were made...

Excavators are built to dig, lift, and shift. But none of that would be possible without one often-overlooked system: the swing...

Excavators are built to move mountains, but even the toughest machine can be brought to its knees by one invisible enemy: heat. When an...

When you look at an excavator, it’s easy to get caught up in the obvious: the giant boom, the roaring diesel engine, the steel tracks...

When it comes to excavators, the undercarriage is where the rubber (or steel) meets the dirt. Literally. It’s also where up to 50% of...

Hydraulics are the beating heart of every excavator. Without hydraulic pressure, your 30-ton machine is nothing more than an oversized...

If excavators had gravestones, most would read: "Here lies a hardworking machine. Taken too soon by dirty hydraulic fluid." It sounds...

If the engine is the heart of your excavator, the undercarriage  is the legs. And just like with humans, if the legs give out, nothing...

Let’s be real: nobody buys an excavator because it looks pretty. You buy it because it can dig, lift, and spin around like a mechanical...

Excavators are built to move earth, crush rock, and work harder than most of us on a Monday morning. But if there’s one thing they...

Ask most operators what the most important part of an excavator is, and they’ll say the engine, the hydraulics, or the bucket. Rarely...

You can have the biggest bucket, the toughest boom, and an engine that roars like a lion… but without a working final drive , your...

If your excavator were a human, the hydraulic system would be its muscles, the engine its heart, and the cooling system… well, that’s the...