The 7 Most Common Excavator Breakdowns — And the Used OEM Parts That Fix Them Fast

Every contractor eventually learns this universal truth:

Excavators don’t break down at convenient times.They break down:

• In the middle of a deadline,

• With three trucks waiting to be loaded,

• On a Friday afternoon,

• While your client is watching.

And when they do, you don’t have time for cheap experiments, incorrect parts, or dealership backorders.

You need the right OEM part, fast — and that’s exactly what used OEM components deliver.

Below are the 7 most common excavator breakdowns, why they happen, and which used OEM parts get you back to work without burning the budget.

1. FINAL DRIVE FAILURE

The Breakdown

This is the king of catastrophic excavator breakdowns.A dying final drive gives you:

• Weak travel power

• Sluggish movement

• Metal grinding noises

• Leaking oil

• One track that won’t move

• Or worst case… complete failure

When a final drive goes, your machine becomes a 10-ton paperweight.

Why It Happens

• Running with low gear oil

• Worn bearings

• Seal failures

• Cheap aftermarket drive motors

• Overworking the machine on steep terrain

• Contamination inside the drive

The Fix: Used OEM Final Drive

A used OEM final drive:

• Fits perfectly

• Matches hydraulic flow specs

• Handles torque correctly

• Lasts for years

• Costs a fraction of new OEM

• Avoids the gamble of aftermarket rebuilds

This is one of the top-selling used parts at Vikfin, and for good reason — when you need one, you need one now.

2. HYDRAULIC PUMP FAILURE

The Breakdown

Hydraulic pump failure is brutal.Symptoms include:

• Weak boom or bucket power

• Slow cycle times

• Overheating hydraulics

• Strange whining noises

• Fluctuating pressure

• Total hydraulic shutdown

Why It Happens

• Dirty hydraulic oil

• Contaminated fluid

• Running the wrong oil type

• Seal breakdown

• Cheap aftermarket pumps

• Cavitation damage

A faulty pump can also damage cylinders, motors, and valves — so it’s not something you ignore.

The Fix: Used OEM Hydraulic Pump

A used OEM pump:

• Restores full hydraulic power

• Runs cooler

• Maintains proper flow rates

• Works with your machine’s ECU

• Avoids catastrophic downstream failures

Vikfin tests every pump before sale — no guessing, no surprises.

3. SWING MOTOR OR SWING GEARBOX FAILURE

The Breakdown

The swing system is what allows your excavator to rotate.When it goes, you get:

• Jerky rotation

• No rotation

• Stalling during swing

• Grinding or clunking noises

• Leaking seals

Why It Happens

• Low or contaminated oil

• Cheap aftermarket swing motors

• Gear tooth wear

• Bearing collapse

• Overloading the upper structure

• Shock loads during operation

The Fix: Used OEM Swing Motor or Swing Gearbox

OEM swing components are precision-engineered.Used OEM parts:

• Fit perfectly

• Match torque loads

• Run quietly

• Last for thousands of hours

This is one area where aftermarket parts struggle badly — they often fail early.

4. TRACK MOTOR FAILURE (TRAVEL MOTOR)

The Breakdown

The track motor is what drives each track.When one fails, the machine becomes impossible to move properly.

Symptoms include:

• Weak travel power

• One track slower than the other

• Leaking hydraulic oil

• Loss of drive under load

• Burning smell

• Total lock-up

Why It Happens

• Overloading on steep slopes

• Bad seals

• Water contamination

• Using incorrect oil

• Cheap aftermarket motors

• Internal wear

The Fix: Used OEM Travel Motor

A used OEM track motor:

• Restores proper travel speed

• Handles heavy loads

• Maintains pressure

• Fits the machine’s hydraulic curve

• Lasts long-term

These are among the most requested parts for brands like Volvo, Doosan, Hyundai, CAT, and Komatsu.

5. CYLINDER LEAKS OR FAILURE

The Breakdown

Cylinder issues are extremely common:

• Boom cylinder leaking

• Arm cylinder drifting

• Bucket cylinder losing power

• Blow-by under load

• Rod pitting

• Seal failure

When a cylinder is weak, you lose serious digging power.

Why It Happens

• Old seals

• Pitted rods

• Bent rods

• Cheap aftermarket cylinders

• Overpressure

• Contamination

• Wear and tear

The Fix: Used OEM Cylinder (Boom, Arm, or Bucket)

Used OEM cylinders:

• Come with perfect OEM tolerances

• Have hardened rods

• Use original-spec seals

• Handle high pressure

• Provide full digging power

Aftermarket cylinders often have incorrect tolerances — causing premature seal failure.

6. ENGINE TROUBLES (D6D, D6E, Perkins, Isuzu, Cummins, Yanmar, etc.)

The Breakdown

Engine failures range from “annoying” to “call your bank manager.”

Common symptoms:

• Hard starting

• White or black smoke

• Power loss

• Overheating

• Misfiring

• Oil consumption

• ECU errors

Why It Happens

• Worn injectors

• Failing turbo

• Blown head gasket

• Weak fuel pump

• Electrical issues

• Poor servicing

• Bad-quality diesel

• Overheating

The Fix: Used OEM Engine Components

Examples include:

• Injectors

• Turbos

• ECUs

• Fuel pumps

• Alternators

• Starters

• Cooling components

Used OEM engine parts deliver original performance at a fraction of the cost.

7. ELECTRICAL FAILURES (THE SILENT KILLER OF MODERN EXCAVATORS)

The Breakdown

Electrical failures are the nightmare of modern machines.

Common culprits:

• Wiring harness failures

• ECU issues

• Failed sensors

• Control module problems

• Alternator failures

• Bad connectors

Symptoms:

• Excavator not starting

• Random shutdowns

• Error codes

• No power to controls

• Stalling

• Fuel cut-out

• Limp mode

Why It Happens

• Vibration

• Heat

• Poor grounding

• Water ingress

• Cheap aftermarket sensors

• Bad rewiring jobs

• Previous shady mechanics

The Fix: Used OEM Electronics

This is one area where OEM absolutely crushes aftermarket.

Used OEM electronics:

• Communicate properly with the machine

• Give accurate sensor readings

• Don’t create false alarms

• Are plug-and-play

• Prevent ECU damage

• Maintain proper voltage

Fleet owners especially love OEM electronics because aftermarket versions cause chaos.

Why Used OEM Parts Are the Fastest Way to Fix These Breakdowns

Because OEM parts were designed for your excavator.And even used, they outperform new aftermarket alternatives in:

• Reliability

• Fitment

• Performance

• Precision

• Lifespan

Plus:

• They arrive faster

• They cost far less

• They reduce downtime

• They protect the rest of the machine

• They keep your excavator earning, not standing

Vikfin stocks hundreds of used OEM parts for all major excavator brands — ready to ship, tested, and guaranteed.

When a breakdown hits, you don’t need a miracle.You need the right OEM part, today.

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