Inspection and verification
What to check before buying a used excavator
A short, practical checklist for the machine you are actually buying - by video or in person.
Before you pay for a used excavator, check the machine itself, not the photos. This is the order most buyers use.
- Cold start. Watch the first start: smoke colour, engine sound and idle stability.
- Engine. Confirm the engine model plate matches, and check for blow-by and leaks.
- Hydraulics. Test combined movements, travel power, swing, and listen for pump noise.
- Undercarriage. Track chains, rollers, idlers and sprockets are a large cost if worn.
- Structure. Boom, arm, bucket and the boom foot - look for welding, cracks and repairs.
- Pins and bushes. Loose pins mean expensive work later.
- Machine identity. The machine plate and serial should match the paperwork.
Meter hours are a reference, not proof; compare them against wear. Ask for a walkaround video, a live call, or your own third-party inspector. See how we report condition before payment.
Have a specific machine in mind?
Send the model, year and destination port. We reply with the unit in stock, its own FOB price and the documents for that shipment.