From Scrap to Stock: Inside Vikfin’s Process of Refurbishing Parts

RALPH COPE
Sep 15
4 min read

1. Introduction — Why This Matters

Every contractor has seen the “mystery parts” piled up in some back-alley yard. Mud on the castings, serial numbers ground off, no paperwork. Buying from a place like that is like betting on a three-legged horse.

That’s exactly the reputation the used parts industry had for years. The good news? It doesn’t have to be that way. At Vikfin we built our name on doing it differently — stripping, testing, and stocking OEM components to a standard that keeps contractors’ machines moving, not gambling.

This blog gives you a behind-the-scenes look at how we turn scrap into stock you can trust.

2. Where Our Parts Come From

The first step is sourcing. We don’t buy just anything with a bolt pattern:

Medium-hour machines retired from big fleets.
Insurance write-offs with cosmetic or structural damage.
Dealer overstock or cancelled orders.
Fleet upgrades where perfectly good parts are removed.

Every component starts with a paper trail. Serial numbers, hours on the machine, and the OEM part number are logged before it ever hits our floor.

3. Initial Inspection — Sorting the Good from the Junk

When a part arrives at our yard:

Visual check for cracks, warping, obvious leaks.
Photograph & tag: Each unit is bar-coded and entered into our system.
Preliminary test if possible (spin by hand, check for play).

Anything that fails these first checks goes straight to scrap or into the “core” pile for rebuild.

4. Cleaning — The Dirty Work

It’s hard to see the real condition of a component under 10 years of mud and oil. We:

Steam clean at high pressure.
Use environmentally safe degreasers.
Remove old paint where necessary.

Only after this does a part go to the testing bench. It’s like peeling back layers to see the true metal underneath.

5. Detailed Testing — The Heart of the Process

This is where most “scrapyard” sellers stop. We keep going. Each type of component has its own test procedure:

Hydraulic pumps & motors: Flow, pressure, internal leakage measured on a calibrated test stand.
Final drives & travel motors: Backlash, gear wear, bearing condition, oil sample analysis.
Swing motors/gearboxes: Gear mesh inspection, seal integrity, torque test.
Engines: Compression test, oil analysis, injector pattern, turbo condition.

Results are recorded and attached to the part’s file. If a unit fails, it’s either rebuilt or stripped for spares.

6. Refurbishment & Rebuild

Many components just need minor work to be back to spec:

Replace seals, bearings, gaskets.
Polish shafts or hone cylinders.
Install new OEM wear parts where necessary.

We only use OEM-spec seals and hardware. That’s how we can stand behind our parts.

7. Painting & Preservation

Once tested and refurbished, components are:

Primed and painted to prevent rust.
Fitted with protective covers on ports and splines.
Filled with protective oil where applicable.

This isn’t about cosmetics; it’s about making sure a part sits on the shelf for months without degrading.

8. Stocking & Tracking

Our warehouse is organised by:

OEM brand (Volvo, Komatsu, Caterpillar, Hitachi).
Component type.
Part number.

Every part’s test sheet, photos, and condition report are linked to its barcode. When you call, we can tell you instantly:

What’s in stock.
Test results.
Price.
Estimated shipping time.

No guessing, no “let me check in the yard.”

9. Quality Control & Sign-Off

Before a part is cleared for sale:

A second technician signs off the test sheet.
Serial numbers are double-checked.
Warranty terms are confirmed.

Only then is the part listed on our website or quoted to a customer.

10. The Difference for Contractors

This process might sound like overkill, but it means:

Less downtime: You get a component that bolts in and works.
Predictable performance: Test sheets show actual numbers.
Traceability: If there’s ever an issue, we can trace the component back to its source and test results.
True OEM quality: You’re not paying for a gamble.

11. Environmental Benefits

This process isn’t just about reliability. It also:

Keeps tonnes of steel, copper, and aluminium in use.
Reduces energy needed to manufacture new parts.
Cuts shipping emissions.

By buying tested used OEM, you’re part of the circular economy without even trying.

12. Case Study — Final Drives Done Right

A large earthmoving contractor needed two Komatsu final drives. New OEM: R700,000+ with a 6-week lead time. Aftermarket: R350,000 but unknown quality. We supplied two tested used OEM drives with full test sheets. Installed in 48 hours, still running 5,000 hours later.

13. Why We Share the Process Publicly

Some suppliers keep their processes secret. We’re open because:

It builds trust.
It educates customers about what “tested” actually means.
It sets a standard for the industry.

We’d rather be transparent than fight price wars with sellers who skip every step.

14. How Contractors Can Use This to Their Advantage

Ask your supplier to see the test sheet before you buy.
Compare apples to apples — not “used OEM” vs. “mystery part.”
Build a relationship so you get first call when a tested component lands.

You’ll avoid surprise downtime and make your fleet more profitable.

15. Conclusion — From Scrap to Stock

Not all used parts are equal. A dirty, untested component from a random yard can cost you more than a new one in downtime. But a tested, refurbished OEM part from a reputable supplier like Vikfin is a completely different product.

We source, clean, test, refurbish, and stock components so that when your machine goes down, you can bolt in a unit you can trust — and get back to earning.

That’s how we turn “scrap” into “stock.”

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