If you’ve spent more than five minutes in the construction or earthmoving game, you already know the truth: an excavator is only as good as the parts inside it . When something goes down—a final drive, a boom cylinder, a swing motor, a hydraulic pump—you feel the pain immediately. Projects stall. Clients start breathing down your neck. The whole site slows to a crawl. And then comes the worst part: You start shopping for parts. That’s when you’re hit with the sticker shock of

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

When you think about the heart of an excavator, you probably picture the engine, the hydraulic pumps, or maybe the final drive. But buried inside that network of moving parts and high-pressure hoses is a small, often-ignored component that has a huge influence on how your machine performs: the rev cable . It doesn’t look like much—a simple mechanical cable—but it plays a critical role in engine speed control. And when it starts failing, the whole machine starts behaving like

The final drive on your excavator is the unsung hero of your entire operation.It ’s not flashy, and it doesn’t get the attention that engines or hydraulics do — but without it, your multi-tonne machine is just an expensive lawn ornament. The final drive takes hydraulic power and converts it into the torque that moves your tracks. Every time your excavator crawls forward, spins around, or climbs a slope, the final drive is the component doing the heavy lifting. Unfortunately,

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

Let’s cut through the marketing bullshit: when you see a giant excavator, wheel loader or other earth-moving beast in South Africa (or anywhere), there’s a very good chance the engine heart under the hood comes from Perkins — a company owned by Caterpillar. Their relationship shapes how big machines move dirt.We’ll trace: the history of Perkins, how Caterpillar acquired it, why it matters for earth-moving gear, the technical/repair implications (our bread & butter at Vikfin),

When a machine as mighty as the Hitachi ZX520  rolls into Vikfin’s yard, you know something serious is about to happen. This isn’t your average teardown. This is a mechanical autopsy —the careful dismantling of one of Hitachi’s most powerful heavy-duty excavators to give new life to other machines still out there doing the hard yards. For contractors, operators, and fleet managers across South Africa, this is big news. Because every time Vikfin strips a giant like the ZX520,

Field Edition — Practical Guide for Everyday Operators 1. INTRODUCTION Congratulations — you’re in control of one of the most powerful and versatile pieces of machinery on any site.This manual will help you operate your excavator safely, efficiently, and with confidence. It covers: Basic machine knowledge Daily inspections and maintenance Safe operating techniques Working on different terrains Transporting and parking Emergency procedures Whether you’re a new operator or an o

When you climb into an excavator, you’re not just taking the controls of a machine — you’re taking responsibility for tonnes of steel, hydraulics, and raw mechanical force. Whether you’re moving earth, trenching for utilities, or loading a truck, the smallest mistake can turn a productive day into a life-threatening disaster. At Vikfin , South Africa’s trusted supplier of used excavator parts , we’ve seen it all — broken swing motors, snapped booms, cracked final drives, and

When you watch an excavator in action, it’s easy to focus on the big stuff — the roaring engine, the swinging boom, the bucket biting into the earth. But behind every precise movement, there’s a powerhouse component working under immense pressure to make it all happen: the dipper arm cylinder . It’s one of those parts that most operators only think about when it starts leaking — but by then, you’re already losing power, precision, and money. At Vikfin , South Africa’s trusted

When it comes to excavators, most operators think power means horsepower, torque, or hydraulic muscle. But there’s another kind of power hiding down below — one that doesn’t get the spotlight but literally keeps the whole machine moving. It’s the track adjuster , and without it, your excavator wouldn’t get far. This small but mighty component ensures your tracks stay tight, your undercarriage stays aligned, and your productivity stays on track — literally. At Vikfin , South A

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

If you run excavators in South Africa, you already know: keeping them moving isn’t just about buying machines — it’s about keeping them alive.And when things break (because they will  break), your real profits come down to one question: “Can I get quality replacement parts — fast and affordably?” That’s where two of the biggest names in the industry come into focus: Volvo  and Doosan . Both are powerhouse brands with loyal followings, solid engineering reputations, and huge g

When you think about what kills profitability in the heavy equipment game, you probably picture catastrophic breakdowns — snapped hydraulic lines, seized engines, or a final drive that decides to commit suicide mid-project. But here’s the truth most operators learn too late: It’s not the big failures that drain your profits. It’s the small, silent ones — like leaks. That tiny drip of hydraulic oil? That faint smell of diesel? That slow coolant loss you top up once a week? The

In today’s world, efficiency  isn’t just about how much dirt your excavator can move in an hour — it’s also about how smartly you run your operation. And part of running smart means thinking about sustainability. Construction and mining companies are under growing pressure to reduce waste, limit emissions, and cut their environmental footprint — all while staying profitable. But there’s a simple, powerful way to do both: using used OEM excavator parts . When you buy from Vikf