Which Excavator Brands Have the Most Interchangeable Parts?
- RALPH COPE
- Aug 7
- 6 min read
You’ve got a Doosan down and no parts in stock. A Hyundai final drive's just lying around the workshop. The question hits you:
Can I swap it in? Will it work?
If you’ve ever run a mixed fleet or work with used OEM parts, you know how often this question comes up. Interchangeability is one of the best-kept secrets in the heavy equipment world. The ability to fit parts from one excavator brand onto another can mean the difference between immediate uptime or weeks of frustrating, wallet-emptying downtime.
And at Vikfin, we’ve been doing this long enough to know: interchangeability is a weapon—if you know how to use it.
This blog is your down-to-earth, no-BS guide to which excavator brands share parts, where it works, where it doesn’t, and how to take full advantage of cross-compatible OEM components without blowing something up.
🔍 Part 1: What Does “Interchangeable” Really Mean?
Let’s get one thing straight: interchangeable doesn’t mean identical.
When we talk about parts being interchangeable, we mean:
Fitment is the same (bolt pattern, shaft size, splines, etc.)
Functionality is close enough (same RPM, torque, pressure rating)
Performance won’t be noticeably different in real-world use
Safety and reliability remain intact
This can apply to:
Final drives
Travel motors
Swing motors
Hydraulic pumps
Track adjusters
Idlers and rollers
Cab parts (occasionally)
Engine components
But it does not mean every part on a Hyundai will bolt straight onto a Doosan without checking specs. You need to know where the crossover exists—and that’s where we come in.
🤝 Part 2: Brands That Share Parts (Because They’re Basically the Same)
Let’s start with the most obvious pair:
🔷 Hyundai and Doosan (Develon)
History: In 2021, Hyundai Heavy Industries bought a controlling stake in Doosan Infracore. While the two brands remain separate publicly (Hyundai and Develon), their platforms now overlap like crazy—especially in the mid-size to large excavator range.
What’s interchangeable:
Final drives (especially 20–30 ton class)
Travel motors
Swing motors
Control valves
Hydraulic pumps
Boom cylinders
Caution: Newer Develon models may use slightly different software or electronics, but for mechanical parts, the crossover is substantial.
Pro Tip: We’ve swapped a Hyundai R210LC-9 swing motor into a Doosan DX225 with zero issues. Just needed a minor fitting tweak.
🔷 Volvo and Samsung
History: In the late ‘90s, Volvo bought out Samsung’s heavy equipment division. Early Volvo machines like the EC210B were heavily based on Samsung DNA.
What’s interchangeable:
Undercarriage components
Some final drives
Swing motors (older models)
Main pumps
Watch Out: Volvo gradually updated the hydraulic and electronic systems, so pre-2006 crossovers are more common.
Pro Tip: If you’re working on an old Samsung SE210 or SE280, Volvo EC parts are your best friend.
🔷 Hitachi and John Deere
History: Deere and Hitachi entered into a manufacturing partnership in the '80s, making jointly developed excavators for years. In North America, a Deere 200D is basically a rebadged Hitachi Zaxis 200.
What’s interchangeable:
Boom & arm cylinders
Final drives
Travel motors
Pumps
Valves
Warning: This applies mostly to US-sourced machines. In South Africa, Hitachi models are more common than Deere, but parts importers often carry Deere units—and they fit.
Pro Tip: Need a Hitachi Zaxis pump? A Deere 240D pump may be a match.
🔷 Sumitomo, Case, and Link-Belt
History: These three brands share Sumitomo DNA in many of their models, especially in the 13–30 ton class. Link-Belt and Case both used Sumitomo as an OEM manufacturer.
What’s interchangeable:
Swing drives
Travel motors
Control valves
Boom/arm cylinders
Look out: Paint it red or yellow—it’s often the same part underneath.
🔷 JCB and Isuzu (Engine Crossover)
While not full platform matches, many JCB excavators use Isuzu diesel engines—the same 4HK1 and 6HK1 engines found in Hitachi and other brands.
What’s interchangeable:
Injectors
Turbos
Fuel pumps
Cylinder heads
Pro Tip: Always check the engine plate before assuming compatibility. Just because it’s a 4HK1 doesn’t mean the ECU is the same.
⚠️ Part 3: Brands With Limited Interchangeability
Some OEMs play nice. Others guard their ecosystem like Apple.
❌ Caterpillar
CAT builds most of their own components in-house (or specs them so tightly, they might as well be proprietary). You’ll find some crossover in:
Undercarriage parts (pins, bushings, rollers—standard sizes)
Some bearings and seals
Generic engine parts (if they use Perkins engines)
But for the most part, CAT = CAT. Expect limited crossover and tight tolerances. Faking it is risky.
❌ Kobelco
Kobelco plays it close to the chest. While some models share components with older Case machines (from a partnership era), the modern ones tend to use:
Proprietary swing drives
Unique pumps
Complex electronic systems
Use caution when assuming crossover here.
❌ Komatsu
While popular worldwide, Komatsu designs most of their systems in-house. Interchangeability exists within the Komatsu family (PC200 and PC210 often share final drives, for example), but not much outside of it.
That said, we’ve swapped Komatsu PC200-7 and PC200-8 undercarriage parts between machines successfully many times. The trick is knowing the serial prefix.
🛠️ Part 4: What You CAN Safely Swap (with Minimal Risk)
Whether you’re running Volvo, Doosan, or Hitachi, here’s a list of commonly interchangeable parts across multiple brands:
Part Type | Common Interchange Notes |
Final Drives | Many Hyundai/Doosan units are 100% compatible. Some overlap with Volvo and Hitachi in older models. |
Travel Motors | Especially in 20–30 ton class. Match flow and displacement. |
Hydraulic Pumps | Rexroth, Kawasaki, and Kayaba pumps appear in many OEM brands. Serial number and spec plate are key. |
Swing Motors | High crossover within brands like Doosan, Hyundai, and Volvo. |
Track Adjusters | Surprisingly universal across several brands of similar size. |
Undercarriage Components | Rollers, sprockets, and idlers often share dimensions—watch pitch size and bolt patterns. |
Boom/Arm Cylinders | Shared platforms = interchangeable, especially in Korean and Japanese brands. |
📉 Part 5: Why Interchangeability Saves You a Fortune
Let’s talk business.
Interchangeable parts mean:
✅ Less downtime – You get back to work faster.
✅ Better inventory use – That part lying around finally earns its keep.
✅ Smarter buying – Opens up more options on the used parts market.
✅ Lower cost – Especially if you buy used OEM from a dismantler like Vikfin.
Case Study:
Customer had a Doosan DX225 swing motor fail. Replacement quote: R65,000 new.We supplied a Hyundai R220-9 swing motor (same specs). Cost: R38,000.Bolted straight in. Machine was working again the next day.
🔐 Part 6: How to Make Sure a Part Will Work Before You Swap It
Don’t just “try your luck.” Here’s how to avoid wrecking your machine with a bad fit:
✅ 1. Get the Part Number
OEM part numbers are gold. Use them to check compatibility—even between brands.
✅ 2. Match the Specs
Look for:
Flow rate (L/min)
Operating pressure (bar)
RPM / Torque specs
Mounting dimensions
Shaft diameter / splines
✅ 3. Call a Specialist (Like Us)
At Vikfin, we’ve built our database from hundreds of real-world swaps. If you’re unsure, send us:
Machine make/model
Old part number (if available)
Photos
Symptoms
We’ll match it—no guesswork.
🧠 Part 7: Why Vikfin Knows Interchangeability Better Than the Dealership
Dealers will tell you “It has to be OEM.”
They have to say that. It’s part of the script. But at Vikfin, we deal with machines in the dirt, not in the showroom.
We’ve stripped hundreds of excavators, logged part numbers, and tested real-world swaps.
We don’t guess. We know.
🧰 Final Checklist: Before You Swap That Part...
Question | If YES → |
Do the bolt holes match? | Keep going |
Are the pressure ratings within 10%? | Good |
Is the shaft identical (splines, length)? | Proceed |
Same flow rate (pumps, motors)? | Safe |
Part number shows up across brands? | Green light |
No odd-shaped brackets or mounts? | Swap it |
If any of these is a hard NO—call before you fit. Or you might be calling for a replacement part and a tow truck.
📞 Want to Know If Your Part Can Be Swapped?
Contact the pros.
WhatsApp us a photo + machine model
We’ll tell you instantly if we have a matching part—even if it’s from a different brand
Nationwide delivery in South Africa
All used OEM parts are tested, stripped, and verified
📲 Contact Vikfin
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