How to Extend the Life of Your Used Excavator Parts

Because “Buy Less, Break Less” is the Real Contractor’s Code

So, you’ve made the smart call and bought a quality used excavator part—maybe a final drive, a hydraulic pump, or a full undercarriage from your trusted parts peddlers over at Vikfin. It was tested, cleaned, and got to you faster than a government tender approval.

Now what?

Well, if you treat it right, that part can work like a champ for years. If you don’t… well, don’t blame the part when your boom goes limp on a Friday afternoon with a project deadline breathing down your neck.

This blog is your idiot-proof guide to getting the absolute most out of your used excavator parts. We're talking maintenance, lubrication, proper use, and a few things you might be doing that are slowly killing your machine (and your budget).

Let’s keep that machine working, that cash flowing, and those repair calls to a minimum.

1. Know Thy Machine (and Part)

Before you even touch a spanner, understand this:

“The number one cause of premature part failure is operator ignorance.”

Yep. Not sabotage. Not sabotage. Not bad luck. Just plain ol’ not knowing.

Every part has:

• A duty cycle (how much stress it can take)

• Specific maintenance intervals

• Fluid requirements (grease, oil, coolant, etc.)

• Installation tolerances and torque settings

So, step one? RTFM. Read. The. Flipping. Manual.

Or better yet, call us at Vikfin and ask for the proper specs if you’re unsure.

2. Grease is Gold (and You Probably Don’t Use Enough)

You know that squeaky boom or dry swing bearing? That’s not just annoying—it’s a death sentence in slow motion.

Grease is the cheapest insurance policy you’ll ever buy.

For most used excavator parts, follow this golden grease rule:

• Pins & bushings? Daily.

• Swing bearings? Weekly.

• Final drives? Check AND top off every 100 hours.

• Track adjusters? Monthly, or when slack shows.

And use the right grease:

• For general work: lithium-based EP2

• For high-impact: moly-based (especially on booms and arms)

• For water exposure: marine-grade or calcium sulfonate

Pro tip: Keep your grease gun close. You wouldn’t drive your bakkie 5,000km without oil. Don’t run your machine 5 hours without grease.

3. Hydraulics 101: Keep It Clean or Prepare to Cry

Used hydraulic pumps, control valves, and motors are robust—but they’re also precision parts with tiny tolerances. One bit of grit or water in the system and boom—you’re buying a new one.

Follow these commandments of hydraulic health:

💧 Change your filters on schedule.

Even if they “look clean.” They’re trapping micron-level particles, not tomato sauce.

🩸 Use clean oil—every time.

If you’re topping up with half-open jerry cans from 2019, you deserve the breakdown that’s coming.

🔍 Check hoses and seals regularly.

A slow leak is the start of a fast failure.

🌡️ Warm up the system.

Don’t just start the machine and slam the controls in winter. Let the oil flow. Let seals expand. Be gentle, you brute.

4. Final Drives: Love the Part That Moves You

Final drives do the dirty work. They deal with torque, heat, and terrain—and they hate abuse.

To keep them happy:

• Check gear oil every 100 hours (top it off AND change every 1,000 hrs)

• Inspect the duo-cone seals regularly (if they leak, your oil’s gone and your gear teeth are next)

• Avoid over-speeding or “track spinning”

• Don’t use the travel motors to push through boulders (it’s an excavator, not a tank)

Treat your final drive like a gearbox, not a battering ram.

5. Undercarriage: The Part Everyone Ignores Until It’s Too Late

The undercarriage takes a beating—yet it’s often the most neglected part of your machine.

Used track components (rollers, chains, sprockets, idlers) will give years of service if you just look at them once in a while.

Maintenance Checklist:

✅ Track tension: Too tight? You’re wasting fuel and wearing parts. Too loose? You’re risking derailing. Check weekly.

✅ Clean after work: Mud + rocks = grinding paste. Wash it out.

✅ Grease track adjusters monthly.

✅ Inspect rollers and idlers for leaks and wear.

✅ Don’t turn on a dime. Counter-rotation is fun, but expensive.

Want to double the life of your used undercarriage? Slow down, clean often, and rotate gently.

6. The Operator is the First Line of Defense

Machines don’t kill parts—operators do. Here’s what you need to remind your crew (or yourself) every day:

• Avoid slamming the controls. Smooth movements = longer part life.

• Don’t overload the machine. If it’s rated for 3 tons, don’t pick up 5 and hope for the best.

• Let the machine warm up. Cold oil, stiff seals = wear.

• Shut down properly. No hard stops. Let hydraulics bleed off and cool down.

• Park smart. Leave the boom down. Tracks level. No pressure on components overnight.

Want bonus points? Do a daily walkaround. 5 minutes of inspection can save 5 days of downtime.

7. Don’t Ignore the Sounds

Used parts will often talk to you before they break—the question is whether you’re listening.

• Hissing from hydraulics? Could be an internal leak.

• Clicking from the final drive? Check the gears before they become shrapnel.

• Whining pump? It’s not homesick—it’s starving for oil or dying.

• Clunk on boom movement? Check those pins before they shear.

Think of your machine like your girlfriend—it’s quiet when things are fine, but once it starts making weird noises, pay attention before you’re in serious trouble.

8. Schedule Like You Mean It

Waiting for something to break before servicing it? That’s not brave. That’s dumb.

Instead:

• Set up a real service calendar (by hours, not just dates)

• Use hour meters, not your gut

• Rotate wearable components (swap pins, sleeves, hoses before they fail)

• Log all maintenance (so you don’t forget what was done, and when)

Used parts love structure. A properly maintained one might outlive the guy who bought it.

9. Don’t Mix OEM with Crap

Let’s be blunt: if you bought a used OEM swing motor from Vikfin, don’t go bolting on a Chinese knockoff control valve and expect harmony.

Cheap aftermarket parts can:

• Undermine system pressures

• Create leaks

• Cause alignment problems

• Void warranties (yep, even used parts have them)

Stick to quality matches—either OEM or trusted equivalents that have been tested together.

If unsure? Ask us. We know what plays nice and what doesn’t.

10. Store Spares Like You Give a Damn

So you’ve got a few used parts in the shed “just in case.”

Great. But if they’re:

• Sitting in the rain

• Caked in dust

• Half-wrapped in an old T-shirt

• And doubling as a beer table

…don’t be shocked when they seize, rust, or leak.

Proper spare part storage:

• Keep it dry, cool, and off the ground

• Seal open ports

• Grease bearing surfaces

• Tag them clearly

Treat them like money—because that’s exactly what they are.

Final Thoughts: It’s Not Just Maintenance. It’s Mindset.

Used OEM parts are a smart investment. They save you cash, deliver top performance, and keep your machines productive.

But they’re not indestructible.

The contractors who win long-term are the ones who respect the machine, understand the part, and stick to disciplined maintenance routines.

So the next time you fire up that excavator, ask yourself:

“Am I giving this machine the care it needs—or am I one more muddy Monday away from an expensive mistake?”

You don’t have to be a mechanic. You just have to give a damn.

And if you need help?Call Vikfin.We’ve got parts. We’ve got advice.And we definitely have opinions about grease.

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