An excavator is a great investment for your company. It is a versatile piece of equipment that allows you to complete various tasks around the work site without spending money on additional machinery. You can also use an excavator for different kinds of projects. Whether you’re working on a construction, mining, or roadwork project, an excavator can be a valuable asset.
However, buying an excavator for your project is not cheap. You need to spend a significant amount of money to purchase an excavator made by a reputable brand like Volvo.
In order to make the most out of your investment, you need to ensure the durability of the excavator you’re looking to buy. You can achieve this by following this checklist, which contains all the components that you need to look at:
Boom and Arm
An excavator’s boom and arm are considered the most vulnerable part of the machine. This is because these parts are always exposed and often take the most damage when being used on the work site.
To protect them from being damaged easily, manufacturers cover the boom and arm with steel plates. But the thickness of these plates may vary per manufacturer. So, before buying an excavator, make sure to inspect the steel cover of its boom and arm.
It’s also important that you check the warranty protection of these parts. There have been some cases that owners had to pay for the costly repair of a boom or arm because it wasn’t covered by the warranty.
Undercarriage
If you’ll be using your excavator on rough terrains, you need to be sure that its undercarriage is well protected from any debris and materials that may damage it while being used on the work site. To achieve this, you should check the excavator’s undercarriage and see if it has strongly welded thick, protective plates.
Make sure to look out for any splits in the plates’ stress points because it may be the starting point of a future breakage. You should also check for any insufficient welds, especially if the manufacturer doesn’t include the undercarriage in the lifetime warranty.
Wear Plate
Traditional excavators often have heavy bosses at the end of their arms, where the bucket is attached. Over time, these bosses will start to wear out and have to be cut off and replaced. Then, you need to line-bore new bosses to repair the arm end, which can be too complex and costly.
To avoid having to deal with this, you should look for an excavator that is designed with an arm with bolted-on, hardened wear plates. Even if the wear plates get old with usage, you can easily replace them in a few hours without spending too much time and effort.
Track Motor Cover
Track motor covers protect the exposed bolt heads of an excavator. Without any cover, these bolt heads can be easily damaged by flying debris, which can then lead to leaks.
That is why it’s important that you look for an excavator that has complete track motor covers. These covers should have fully recessed areas, which will effectively secure the machine’s bolt heads.
Also, make sure that the covers are made from durable materials like cast steel or aluminum. These materials can withstand flying debris and other impacts that can damage the bolt heads.
Slew Ring Grease Bath Cover
The slew ring grease bath is one of the most important parts of an excavator. It helps keep the machine’s slew ring properly lubricated, which is essential in maintaining the excavator’s performance.
However, the slew ring grease bath is also one of the most vulnerable parts of the machine. This is because it’s constantly exposed to debris, dust, and other elements that can contaminate the grease.
To prevent this from happening, you should look for an excavator that has a properly designed slew ring grease bath cover. This cover should be raised above the deck and tight enough to keep water from entering the bath. You should stay away from seal covers that are flush with the deck because it is more prone to letting water in.
It’s also better to look for an excavator with an easy-to-access slew ring grease bath. This will make it easier for you and your staff members to regularly check if water got in.
Electrical Harness
The electrical area of your excavator should be kept away from water and dust. Otherwise, it will be susceptible to corrosion and other damage.
To avoid any problems with the wiring of your machine, you need to look for an excavator that has a waterproof electrical harness. You should also check if the equipment comes with an electrical distribution box that contains spare fuses, diodes, and relays. These will allow you to repair your excavator should water get into the electrical area.
Find a Durable Excavator for Your Project
Use the checklist above to look for an excavator that will be durable enough to withstand the rigors of your construction project. Choosing durable equipment ensures that any excavator type you buy will last for many years.
For a selection of reliable excavators, turn to us at Topspot. We offer various Volvo excavators that are perfect for any construction project. Contact us today to learn more about our products and services.
Contact Us
Learn more about Volvo Excavators by talking to one of our team members. We’ll give you all the information you need to allow you to make the perfect decision for your firm.
