Behind the Boom: A Deep Dive into Used Boom Cylinders and How to Choose the Right One

(Why Refurbished OEM Cylinders From Vikfin Might Be the Smartest Choice You Make This Year)

It’s the part you depend on every single day—whether you’re lifting rock, trenching pipe, or cleaning up a demolition site. It’s built for power, engineered for precision, and expected to perform without fail.

We’re talking, of course, about the boom cylinder—the heavy lifter of your excavator’s hydraulic muscle.

But what happens when this crucial component starts to fail? Do you go new and take the financial hit? Gamble with a risky aftermarket replacement? Or do you make a smart, cost-effective move and go for a refurbished OEM boom cylinder from Vikfin?

This blog takes you behind the boom—exploring its function, the common points of failure, and why more South African contractors, plant hire businesses, and equipment owners are turning to used OEM boom cylinders to get the job done without breaking the bank.

What Is a Boom Cylinder, Really?

The boom cylinder is one of the primary hydraulic actuators in your excavator. Its job? To lift, lower, and hold the boom arm, which supports everything downstream—the dipper (stick), bucket, and whatever attachment is in play.

Boom cylinders are:

Large bore hydraulic cylinders.
Responsible for high-load vertical lifting.
Designed to work under extreme pressure and impact loads.
Often double-acting—meaning they extend and retract under fluid power, not gravity.

Without a functioning boom cylinder, your machine is essentially dead weight.

What’s Inside a Boom Cylinder?

Understanding the internal anatomy helps explain why failure happens and what to look for in a quality replacement.

Barrel – The outer shell that contains the hydraulic fluid and supports all internal components.
Rod – The chrome-plated shaft that moves in and out of the cylinder, attached to the boom.
Seals – Keep the hydraulic fluid in and contaminants out.
Piston – Divides the two chambers of fluid and transfers power to the rod.
Head and Base – Secure the rod and house mounting connections.

All of these components must be in excellent condition for the cylinder to deliver full power and precise movement.

Common Boom Cylinder Failures

Boom cylinders are robust, but they're not invincible. At Vikfin, we’ve seen it all—and these are the most common issues that lead to failure:

1. Rod Scoring

Occurs when contaminants or poor lubrication damage the chrome-plated surface. This leads to seal damage and leakage.

2. Seal Failure

The most common issue. Happens due to:

Age and wear
Extreme pressure
Contamination
Incorrect fluid

3. Bent Rod

Usually the result of overloading, side loading, or operator error. Even a slight bend reduces stroke efficiency and increases friction.

4. Cracked Barrel

Often the end result of internal pressure spikes, impact, or poor welds.

5. Mounting Eye Wear

Ovaling of the mounting holes or bushing wear leads to play in the arm and erratic movement.

Warning Signs That Your Boom Cylinder Is Failing

Don’t wait until it fails completely. Keep an eye (and ear) out for:

Visible hydraulic oil leaks near the rod
Jerky boom movement
Loss of lifting power or slow movement
Whining or hissing noises under load
Rod appears scratched, bent, or discoloured

Ignoring these signs means risking a major breakdown—and potentially damaging other components in the process.

Your Options: New vs Aftermarket vs Used OEM

Let’s say your boom cylinder has finally given up. You’ve got three basic options:

🔧 Option 1: Buy New

✅ High quality
❌ Very expensive (often over R100,000 for larger machines)
❌ Long wait times for import
❌ May not make sense for older machines

🔧 Option 2: Buy Aftermarket

✅ Lower upfront cost
❌ Questionable quality and materials
❌ High seal failure rate
❌ Rod often undersized or poorly chromed
❌ Fitment issues with mounts and ports

🔧 Option 3: Buy a Refurbished OEM Cylinder from Vikfin

✅ Real OEM quality at 30–50% of new price
✅ Barrel and rod inspected, seals replaced, pressure tested
✅ Mounts fit perfectly
✅ Ready to install with zero guesswork

Why Refurbished OEM Is the Sweet Spot

At Vikfin, we’ve built our reputation on supplying top-tier used OEM parts that work like new. Here’s why a used OEM boom cylinder just makes sense:

✅ Built to Last

OEM cylinders are made from higher-grade steel, with chrome rods that resist wear better and barrels that can handle repeated pressure cycles.

✅ Exact Fitment

You won’t spend hours re-drilling mounting eyes or welding on adapters. It bolts on the way it’s supposed to. No stress, no delays.

✅ Tested for Performance

We pressure-test every cylinder we sell. If it doesn’t hold pressure, doesn’t move cleanly, or has any internal leakage—it doesn’t leave our yard.

✅ Seals Replaced

Each cylinder is stripped, cleaned, inspected, and re-sealed. You’re getting a unit ready for thousands more hours of performance.

✅ Cost-Effective

Let’s do the math:

New OEM boom cylinder: R120,000
Aftermarket unit: R60,000
Refurbished OEM cylinder from Vikfin: R45,000–R60,000
Savings: Massive
Risk: Minimal

How to Choose the Right Boom Cylinder

Not all used cylinders are equal. Here's what you need to look for—and what we guarantee at Vikfin.

🔍 1. OEM Part Number Compatibility

Ensure the cylinder comes from the same or interchangeable machine model. We’ll help you identify matches across:

Caterpillar
Komatsu
Volvo
Doosan
Sumitomo
Hitachi
Hyundai

🔍 2. Rod Condition

The rod should be straight, unscratched, and cleanly chromed. We inspect for bend and straightness.

🔍 3. Barrel Condition

No internal scoring, dents, or cracks. Wall thickness must be intact. We reject anything with signs of internal rust or stress.

🔍 4. Seal Quality

All seals are replaced with OEM-grade replacements. No leaks, no weeping, no surprises.

🔍 5. Mounts and Bushings

Mounting points must be true and round, with minimal wear. If needed, we re-bush the eyes to OEM spec.

🔍 6. Pressure Test Results

We test all refurbished cylinders to working pressure plus margin, ensuring full stroke and consistent response.

What Makes Vikfin the Right Choice?

We don’t just sell used parts. We specialize in keeping excavators running using top-quality, tested components. Here’s why plant hire businesses and contractors across South Africa choose Vikfin:

🔧 In-house testing on all hydraulic cylinders
📦 Large stock of boom cylinders for 20- and 30-ton excavators
⚙️ Expert advice on OEM interchangeability
💰 Lowest price guarantee on any comparable used part
🚛 Nationwide delivery to get your machine back on track, fast

Whether you’re running a Komatsu PC200, a Volvo EC210, or a Doosan DX225, chances are—we’ve got the boom cylinder you need in our yard right now.

Real-World Example: Case Study

A plant hire client in Mpumalanga came to us after their aftermarket boom cylinder began leaking just two weeks after install.

✅ We provided a refurbished Hitachi OEM boom cylinder for 40% less than the price of a new one.✅ Installed in one day.✅ No leaks. Perfect fit.✅ Still running 9 months later without a hitch.

The client has since switched all their hydraulic replacements to Vikfin.

Final Thoughts

Your boom cylinder isn’t just a part—it’s a critical structural muscle that takes on some of the most intense workloads on your site. Skimping here is like skipping leg day every week—it’s going to come back to bite you.

Refurbished OEM boom cylinders from Vikfin offer:

Better quality than aftermarket
Better price than new
Better reliability than taking a chance

So if your boom’s lost its lift, call us before you call the OEM. We’ll get you back in the dirt, stronger than ever.

Need a Boom Cylinder? Let’s Talk.

We’ve got a wide range of tested, refurbished OEM boom cylinders in stock—ready to fit machines from all major brands.

Contact Vikfin today for availability, expert fitment advice, and the best prices in the business.

📞 Call or WhatsApp now🛠️ Vikfin – The smarter way to keep your boom strong

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