Pins, Bushings, and the Small Parts That Make a Big Difference in Your Excavator

Ask most operators what the most important part of an excavator is, and they’ll say the engine, the hydraulics, or the bucket. Rarely will anyone say “the pins and bushings.”

But here’s the truth: those tiny, unglamorous bits of steel are the difference between an excavator that runs smoothly for years… and one that feels like it’s got arthritis in every joint.

In this blog, we’re diving deep into why pins and bushings matter, how they wear, what happens when you ignore them, and why getting the right used replacements from Vikfin can save you headaches (and repair bills) down the line.

🔩 What Are Pins and Bushings, Anyway?

Think of an excavator like a human arm:

• The pins are the bones.

• The bushings are the cartilage.

• The boom, stick, and bucket are the muscles and hands.

Pins hold everything together. Bushings allow those pins to rotate smoothly without grinding metal-on-metal.

Every time you dig, lift, or swing, the force of that movement goes through your pins and bushings. Without them, your boom and stick wouldn’t last a week.

They might be small compared to engines or hydraulic pumps, but they’re what keeps all the “big stuff” working properly.

⚙️ How Pins and Bushings Work

• Pins act as pivot points, connecting parts like the boom, stick, and bucket.

• Bushings act as the wear surface between the pin and the housing. Instead of grinding away your expensive boom or bucket, the bushing absorbs the damage.

• When one wears out, you replace the cheap bushing or pin instead of the entire arm.

Basically, they’re sacrificial heroes: small parts designed to wear down so the expensive parts don’t.

🛑 What Happens When You Ignore Worn Pins and Bushings

Here’s where it gets ugly. Ignoring worn pins and bushings doesn’t just mean a “little play” in the joints. It leads to massive, expensive failures.

1. Sloppy Movements

Your bucket won’t line up right. Precision digging? Forget it. Instead of a smooth cut, you’ll dig trenches that look like a toddler with a shovel went at it.

2. Accelerated Wear on Bigger Components

If the bushing is gone, the pin starts grinding against the boom or stick itself. Now you’re looking at line boring and welding repairs—jobs that cost thousands.

3. Excessive Vibration

Loose joints transfer vibration back into the machine, stressing hydraulics and operators alike.

4. Hydraulic Strain

Sloppy pins create misalignment, forcing your hydraulic cylinders to work harder. Result? Leaks, premature cylinder wear, and angry mechanics.

5. Downtime

Eventually, a pin snaps or a joint seizes up, and you’re parked on-site while everyone else keeps working. That “small wobble” you ignored suddenly just cost you a full day of production.

😂 Signs Your Pins and Bushings Are Begging for Help

• Play in the joints: If your bucket wiggles like a loose tooth, that’s not “normal wear”—that’s “repair me now.”

• Squealing or grinding noises: That’s your excavator screaming in pain.

• Uneven bucket teeth wear: The bucket’s not aligned properly.

• Excessive grease consumption: If you’re pumping grease daily and it still squeaks, your bushings are toast.

• Cracks around joint areas: Extreme wear can actually stress the arms themselves.

🧰 Repair vs Replacement – The Pin & Bushing Dilemma

Good news: pins and bushings are designed to be replaced. The bad news? Operators often wait too long, which makes repair much more expensive.

• Repair makes sense if:

  • Only the pins/bushings themselves are worn.

  • The housings are still round and not egg-shaped.

  • There’s no cracking around the boom/stick joints.

• Replacement (bigger job) is needed if:

  • Wear has reached the actual boom or stick housings.

  • You need line boring or welding to restore alignment.

  • Pins have snapped or bent.

💡 Why Used Pins and Bushings Make Sense

Pins and bushings may be small, but OEM parts are still pricey. And guess what? A lot of excavators that get scrapped have perfectly good pins and bushings—or at least lightly worn ones that can be reconditioned.

At Vikfin, used pins and bushings:

• Come from genuine OEM machines (not cheap knock-offs).

• Are inspected and measured for wear before being sold.

• Cost a fraction of new parts.

• Fit seamlessly with your existing components.

For budget-conscious operators, they’re a no-brainer.

🛠️ Maintenance Tips to Make Your Pins and Bushings Last Longer

1. Grease daily – Seriously. It’s the cheapest insurance policy you’ll ever buy.

2. Use the right grease – High-quality grease with moly for high-pressure joints.

3. Keep dirt out – Wipe fittings before greasing to avoid pumping mud straight in.

4. Inspect regularly – Don’t just look—physically check for play.

5. Don’t overload the machine – Lifting beyond rated capacity punishes pins.

6. Work smoothly – Slamming buckets into the ground accelerates wear.

😂 Funny But True Operator Habits

• “Grease is optional.” No, it’s not. That’s like saying “oil is optional” in your engine.

• “I’ll just wiggle it a bit, it’s fine.” Sure, until the wiggle becomes a full-on shake, rattle, and roll.

• “I’ll wait until it fails completely.” Great idea—if you enjoy unplanned downtime and massive repair bills.

📈 The Cost of Neglect

Here’s a quick cost breakdown:

• New bushings & pins (used) = a few thousand Rand.

• Line boring a worn boom = tens of thousands.

• Replacing a cracked stick = don’t even ask, it hurts too much.

So yeah… replacing pins and bushings early is not just smart—it’s financial survival.

🏁 Conclusion

Pins and bushings may not look important, but they’re the unsung heroes of your excavator. They take the beating so your expensive boom, stick, and bucket don’t have to.

Ignore them, and you’ll end up with sloppy movements, misalignment, and massive repair bills. Maintain them, replace them on time, and your excavator will run smoother, dig straighter, and last much longer.

And when replacement time comes? Skip the overpriced new parts. A quality used set of pins and bushings from Vikfin will get you back to work faster, cheaper, and smarter.

Because in the end, it’s the little things that keep the big machines moving.

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