Understanding Hydraulic Pump Wear: Can You Repair It or Replace It?(And How to Know When It’s Time to Call Vikfin)

RALPH COPE
Aug 5
5 min read

Let’s get something straight: when your excavator’s hydraulic pump starts acting up, it’s not going to send you a formal letter of resignation. No polite notice. No obvious red flag waving on the dashboard. Just a slow, creeping drop in performance until one day, BOOM, your machine's productivity is dead in the water—and so is your job site.

At Vikfin, we deal with the aftermath of worn or failed hydraulic pumps every week. The same story plays out over and over: delayed diagnoses, poor repair decisions, and painful downtime.

But it doesn’t have to go that way.

This post is going to walk you through:

What hydraulic pump wear actually looks like
Whether you should repair or replace
How to spot the early symptoms
Why choosing used OEM hydraulic pumps from Vikfin could save you serious time and money

Let’s get your machine moving—before it stops.

💡 What Does the Hydraulic Pump Actually Do?

In simple terms, the hydraulic pump is the heart of your excavator. It converts mechanical energy (from the engine) into hydraulic energy (pressurized fluid) that powers:

Boom and arm movement
Bucket operations
Swing function
Travel motors
Auxiliary attachments

Without the pump working at full tilt, you don’t have an excavator—you’ve got a very expensive lawn ornament.

🛠️ How Does Hydraulic Pump Wear Happen?

All pumps wear down over time. That’s normal. But some machines wear them out faster—and that’s usually because of one or more of these five killers:

Contaminated hydraulic fluid (metal shavings, dirt, water)
Overheating (often due to clogged coolers or working at high temps for too long)
Poor maintenance intervals (not changing fluid and filters regularly)
Incorrect fluid types (low viscosity, no additives, or wrong spec)
Operator abuse (overloading, rough handling, continuous overpressure)

Over time, these conditions grind down the internal components of your pump: pistons, swash plates, seals, and bearings.

🔍 Symptoms of a Worn Hydraulic Pump

Before you rush to yank out the pump, make sure you’re looking at the right signs. Worn hydraulic pumps don’t always scream—they whisper.

Here are the top signs your pump is wearing down:

1. Slow or Weak Hydraulic Functions

Boom or arm movement is sluggish
Bucket curl lacks bite
Swing feels lazy

2. Loss of Pressure

Low hydraulic pressure at key test points
Relief valves activating early

3. Excessive Heat

Hydraulic system runs hotter than normal
Reduced oil life and pump efficiency

4. Noisy Operation

Whining, screeching, or knocking from the pump
Could indicate cavitation or air in the system

5. Foamy or Discolored Hydraulic Oil

Air or water contamination
Accelerates internal scoring and damage

6. Metal Shavings in Hydraulic Filters

If you cut open your filter and find glitter… it’s not good news

🔧 Can You Repair a Hydraulic Pump?

Yes—sometimes.

Let’s break down the main factors that determine whether a pump is worth repairing:

✅ When a Repair Makes Sense

Minimal Internal Damage
- Light scoring or worn seals that can be replaced easily.
Availability of Spare Parts
- For common models like Kawasaki K3V/K5V or Rexroth A10/A11 series, rebuild kits are often available.
Experienced Rebuilders
- Rebuilding a hydraulic pump is NOT a DIY job. You need precision machining, testing equipment, and torque specs tighter than a neurosurgeon’s handshake.
Cost Comparison
- If the rebuild costs less than 50–60% of a replacement—and you trust the rebuilder—it may be worth it.

❌ When NOT to Repair

Severe Cavitation Damage
- Pitted pistons, gouged swash plates, and eroded ports usually mean game over.
Cracked Housings
- If the cast housing is cracked or warped from overheating, it’s junk.
Obsolete Pump Models
- Some older models have no parts available anymore—or they cost more than a full used pump.
No Warranty on the Repair
- If your local “bush mechanic” offers no guarantee, don’t bother.
Repeated Failures
- If the pump has already been rebuilt twice, it’s probably reached end-of-life.

🔁 Replace or Rebuild? A Real-World Cost Comparison

Let’s put some hypothetical numbers on it:

Scenario	Rebuild	Used OEM Replacement
Rebuild Kit Cost	R12,000	N/A
Labour & Testing	R15,000	N/A
Downtime (3 days)	R30,000 lost	R10,000 lost (1 day)
Total	R57,000	R45,000
Warranty	3 months (maybe)	3-6 months (from Vikfin)

In this case, the used OEM pump wins. It’s faster, cheaper, and covered.

🏆 Why Used OEM Hydraulic Pumps Make Sense

When your hydraulic pump is shot, and time is money, a used OEM unit is often the sweet spot between cost and reliability.

Here’s why:

1. OEM Means Precision

You’re getting a pump designed by the original manufacturer for your specific excavator. No knockoffs. No generic “fits-all” headaches.

2. Proven Field Life

A good used pump has already proven itself in the field—and with proper inspection and cleaning, it can go another 3,000+ hours.

3. Faster Turnaround

No waiting for rebuilds, parts orders, or failed tests. If Vikfin has the pump in stock, it can be on your machine within 24–48 hours.

4. Affordable Without Being Cheap

You're not buying a shiny new R100,000 pump, but you're also not gambling on a R15,000 rebuild that might crap out in 6 weeks.

🔎 How Vikfin Sources and Tests Hydraulic Pumps

At Vikfin, we don’t just slap a price tag on a greasy pump and call it “tested.”

Here’s what happens behind the scenes:

🛠️ Sourcing

We strip machines ourselves—Volvo EC210s, Komatsu PC200s, Doosan DX225s, Hyundai Robex models—so we know the machine the pump came from.

🧪 Inspection

Pump is removed cleanly
All ports are sealed
Gear oil is drained and examined
Pressure-tested if applicable

🔍 Visual & Mechanical Checks

Shaft scoring
Leaks
Cracks in the housing
Wear on input splines
Filter history if available

📸 Real Images + Honest Reports

You see what you get. No stock photos. No BS.

🧠 Pro Tip: Don’t Forget to Check the Rest of the System

Replacing the pump without fixing what caused it to fail is like replacing your heart but still smoking three packs a day.

Check:

Hydraulic filters
Return lines
Case drain flow
Oil cooler
Contamination in the tank

Flush your system before installing the new pump, or you’ll be calling us again next month.

💬 What Our Customers Say

“We replaced a failing pump on our EC240 with a used one from Vikfin. It was half the cost of new, came with clean oil, and we were back up in 2 days. No drama.”— Johannes M., Durban

“Tried rebuilding the pump twice on our DX225. Finally bought a used OEM unit from you guys—it hasn’t missed a beat since.”— Mandla S., Gauteng

🧰 Which Brands of Pumps Do We Stock?

We regularly have used hydraulic pumps for:

Volvo (K3V112, K5V160, etc.)
Doosan / Daewoo
Komatsu
Hyundai Robex
Caterpillar (select models)
Hitachi
And more…

Let us know your:

Machine brand
Model number
Pump part number (if known)
Any markings or serials on the existing pump

We’ll check stock, give you photos, and confirm compatibility.

📦 Fast Delivery, Clear Pricing, No Nonsense

We know downtime costs you real money, so we don’t waste time.

Quick quotes
Nationwide delivery
Whatsapp updates and photos
Tech support to guide installation
Trade-ins accepted for rebuildable cores

👷 Final Thoughts: Don’t Let Pump Wear Grind You to a Halt

If your hydraulic pump is giving you warning signs—don’t ignore it.

Whether you:

Want to extend its life with better maintenance,
Need help deciding whether to repair or replace, or
Just want a used OEM replacement that works out the box…

Vikfin has your back.

We’ve helped dozens of contractors avoid disaster and keep their machines moving with quality, tested pumps at fair prices.

Let’s save your next breakdown before it happens.

📲 Ready to Talk Pumps?

Send us a WhatsApp or email with your machine details. One of our guys will get back to you fast.

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