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.

Hydraulic systems are the heart of an excavator.Power, precision, lift capacity, digging strength — it all comes down to one thing: The hydraulic oil you choose. Pick the right oil, and your pumps, valves, cylinders, and final drives last thousands of extra hours.Pick the wrong oil, and you’ll destroy components faster than any operator mistake can. Most excavator owners know oil matters — but very few understand why  it matters.This blog breaks down the science, the logic, a

(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

(Educational, clear, practical — written for real excavator operators and buyers in South Africa) When you walk into a parts yard or message a supplier, the first thing they’ll ask isn’t your excavator’s colour, bucket size, or where it last got stuck in the mud.They’ll ask you one thing : “Do you have the OEM part number?” For many machine owners, that question instantly triggers panic. They flip open a manual from 2004, scratch their heads, and pray the number they send isn

Counterfeit excavator parts are becoming a global plague — and South Africa is no exception. They look like OEM. They’re packaged like OEM. Some are even stamped like OEM. But inside? They’re time bombs. Cheap metals, sloppy tolerances, low-grade seals, and zero quality control. The worst part?Contractors buy them thinking they’re getting a “good deal.”Then their machine detonates three jobs later — and suddenly that “cheap” part becomes the most expensive decision they’ve ma

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

Save Money, Reduce Downtime, and Get OEM Reliability Without Paying OEM Prices When an excavator breaks, you’ve got two problems: the machine is down, and your wallet is about to cry. Modern OEM parts are insanely expensive — especially from brands like Volvo, CAT, Komatsu, Hitachi, Doosan , and Hyundai . Even simple components can cost more than the entire machine is worth if it's older or high-hours. But here’s the truth smart contractors understand: Some excavator parts ar

How to Make Sure You’re Getting the Best OEM Components (and Not Expensive Scrap Metal) Buying used excavator parts can save your business a ton of money — but only if you know how to identify what’s high-quality and what’s a ticking time bomb . The harsh reality of the used parts world is this: There’s good stock…There’s bad stock…And then there’s the absolute horror show that some sellers try to pass off as “good condition.” At Vikfin, we’ve built our entire reputation on s

Sawubona, truth-seekers and wallet-watchers. Ralph and Justin here, standing in the middle of the Benoni strip yard with two identical Komatsu PC400-6 final drives on the bench: Left bench: genuine Komatsu OEM final drive, 9 800 hours, pulled from a low-abuse coal loader. Price from Vikfin: R48 000. Right bench: brand-new Chinese aftermarket copy bought by a customer who “saved” R28 000 up-front. Ran 2 410 hours. Now looks like it lost a fight with a blender. We’ve stripped,

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

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

In the earthmoving world, profit margins can be razor thin. Between fuel prices, operator wages, site delays, and maintenance, it doesn’t take much for a good month to turn bad.But there’s one area where you can make massive savings  without compromising performance — and that’s your parts strategy. If you’re still paying top dollar for new OEM parts or gambling on cheap aftermarket ones, you’re missing the sweet spot: tested, used OEM excavator parts  from a reputable suppli

In the world of heavy machinery, parts are often as valuable — sometimes more so — than the machine itself. At Vikfin , we understand that even as a Komatsu PC350-8 comes to the end of its working life, its components still hold tremendous value. That’s why we’ve decided to strip and harvest every viable part from our PC350-8, ensuring each item is inspected, refurbished (where needed), and offered to buyers seeking reliability, performance, and value. In this blog, we’ll wal

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