Nothing enrages an excavator owner faster than this sentence: “We just put in a new pump… and it’s already failed.” At first glance, it feels impossible.New pump. Fresh install. Dead again. So the blame lands where it always does: The pump manufacturer The parts supplier The “cheap aftermarket unit” But at Vikfin, we know the uncomfortable truth: New hydraulic pumps almost never fail on their own.They are killed by the system they’re installed into. This blog explains exactl

When you’re repairing or maintaining an excavator, choosing the right parts comes down to one question: Am I getting a genuine OEM part, or a cheap aftermarket imitation? That question matters because the difference between the two is HUGE. A genuine OEM component will last longer, fit perfectly, protect your machine, and deliver the performance the manufacturer intended. A bad aftermarket imitation can ruin an engine, damage a final drive, or create safety problems on site.

When an excavator pump fails, everything fails.No digging. No lifting. No swinging. No productivity.And no contractor wants to explain to a client why an entire site is standing still because the heart of the machine just died. The bad news? Pump failures are expensive — sometimes the most expensive repair an excavator will ever need. The good news? Most pump failures don’t happen overnight. They build up slowly, silently, and predictably. And even better — they are highly p

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

Hydraulic pumps are the heart of an excavator’s operational system, driving critical functions like boom movement, arm articulation, and...

When you think of the powerhouse that drives an excavator, your mind probably jumps to massive hydraulic cylinders, roaring diesel...

When you think of an excavator’s strength, you might picture the massive boom lifting tonnes of rock, the arm digging through hard-packed...

Excavators are the backbone of earthmoving, and at the heart of these machines lies a complex and powerful hydraulic system. This system...

When running an excavator, downtime is the enemy. Every hour your machine is down costs you money, whether you're working in...

Excavators are the backbone of modern construction, mining, and earthmoving operations. Keeping them running efficiently is critical for...

At Vikfin, we understand that machinery downtime can be costly, especially when a critical piece of equipment, such as a front end...

The construction and mining industries are heavy on equipment wear and tear, and excavators bear the brunt of this relentless demand....

In the competitive world of earthmoving machinery, Volvo stands out as a top-tier Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). Known for its...