What to look for when buying Used Excavator!!! 

When I was in High School I worked in the lumber yard of my uncles company, my jobs were greasing machines, touching up paint, painting scaffold, he always wanted his equipment looking good at construction sites, heck I painted the chain link fence silver with a brush one summer. I really enjoyed that job...paid good too for a high school kid.

Hands down, the best excavator inspection video I have seen. Thats coming from a guy that spent many years working for one of the biggest Caterpillar dealers in the world! I will add 1 more point, run the serial number, seen many sellers passing off a machine for a newer year than it actually is! I always remember the advice of my Italian fisherman friend - "if you got it for free, you might have paid too much!"

I’m late to the party, but great advice. For a man 1/2 my age, you’ve got a lot of sage advice and common sense not seen in so many today. 👍👍

Here in New Zealand we quite often fit a receiver socket on the top of the blade so that we can tow a trailer with our project materials onboard

Dealer support goes so far. Not just who's closest, but who will take time to help you.

Regarding dried up grease in a grease zerk, if you have the problem, try heating it up, as long as there are no seals in the section that has a problem, heat will soften the grease enough to use a grease gun.

Matt my dad used to use little disk magnets over the grease fittings to keep the dirt out very cheap solution to a common problem ( neodymium )

I've been working for a heavy equipment distributor in my area for a little under two years and seeing things like the last few minutes of this video will always make my inner 6 year old smile. Glad the Komatsu is still going strong (more or less) and great to see some attachments I deal with ordering every day in action.

The main things is, PRESSURE WASH the machine after every job, that way you can quickly spot oil leaks and broken parts and replace them, washing also stops mud getting packed into bushings and bearings, the mud turns very abrasive after it dries up and starts eating into parts.

sounds to me like you know your machine , and you should keep her . pointing out the grease and its life thats good stuff ! Love the videos !

Matt, all your videos are informative and entertaining. Always look forward to all your videos no matter what the content is. Continue the good work.

Also need to look at how you plan to fuel it and how much fuel it will use every day as individual 5 gallon cans will get to be a pain fast.

Do your due diligence ! That’s one of your favorite sayings !

This is definitely the most informative video I've seen on the subject, great work!

watching you work on these second hand machines makes me feel I could buy and repair machines of my own easily if I can make enough money with said machine

Thanks for taking the time to show us all the no no’s 👍.

I know this is an older video, but a very good one indeed. I told a a former boss years ago that a machine or truck is only as good as it's product support. Many sellers list machines with 80% undercarriage when in fact it's like 20. Good info on what to look for.

Excellent job. It’s good to see someone who knows and understands equipment, unlike so many others running their mouths and obviously don’t know what they’re talking about. Nothing wrong with buying used equipment, so many people are more conserved with shiny looks than the mechanical condition. I’m a used equipment dealer the buyers out there today know very little about equipment let alone their business. Most manufacturers build good products, however it really comes down to dealer support - parts and service. Keep up the good work!

That was most informative! I'm never likely to buy one, but I spent many years as a mechanic! I was fascinated! Thank you Matt! :-)

Excellent content! A prospective buyer can save thousands of dollars and untold headaches by heeding this advice.

Thanks Matt for the review. Personally I’d keep the machine, what you have there is an ideal series of vlogs showing it’s refurbishment and re paint. That way you will get another 10 years without concern.

Getting into heavy equipment and this video has been super useful. Thanks, Matt

Great video covering what to look at when buying a machine. The only thing I could add is if your looking at a machine at an auction, look up high in the nooks and crannys of the engine bay for signs of mud or flood marks....could have been buried in the mud deep at some point and the electrics don't like that at all.

I would add, if it has a hydralic jack hammer, run away. Those demo hammers put a ton of vibration stress on the machine, and often have early problems.

Thanks Matt , your matter of fact open commentary is good and informative . Good stuff from South Africa ,

Great Video Matt, Keep it, fix it and make videos of the repair work!

Excellent information Matt. Right on with everything. I have a 2001 Bobcat 331E and love it. Like I tell my customers "my shovel works better than yours".

Very good advice Matt Lord I've seen and used some completely scrapyard ready equipment. thank you , do take good care Central California watching.

Thanks for tips Matt. Love anything I can get.

Great advice thanks , when you said watch out for poorly greased machines , also watch out for well greased ones that appear tight until you run them for 30 mins and then go all sloppy

Great video and really informative and helpful - many thanks for your efforts on producing this 👍🏻🙏

Hey Matt, love yur no nonsense style. Much enjoy all yur equip utilized. Stay safe thanks 4 all yur time & effort filming & editing. Go Matt go!

Last one I bought was a Hitachi 50 4800 hrs ,I bought it sight unseen from another state. The guy told me it was overheating he delivered it to me. I lucked out all it need was a radiator and some work on the throttle other than that no other issues. It was a good little machine I kept it for 6 years but really wasn't big enough for what I wanted to do with it, I need a 60 to 100 size machine. I'm like you I don't like the backhoe swing or a offset boom options to many wear points, but they are great for plumbers and people that need those options. I add a manual thumb to mine. Great tutorial on what to look for when buying one. I was lucky to grow up with a dad that owned a construction company so I learned early on what to look for when buying a machine. I have run and hauled machines from the smallest to the 1200s over the years

Another great episode !!

Just a suggestion from someone who knows heehaw about excavators: keep the machine you know; do the repairs; then start maintaining it properly. You know what you're doing and you said yourself that it's laziness, so sort out the issues with the machine and start a proper maintenance regime. Apart from anything else, you won't get a good price for *that* machine if the buyer follows your own recommendations when viewing it. Very interesting to watch and, as usual, educational as well as entertaining. Cheers for now, Dougie.

Very god information. Well thought out and great delivery.

Super helpful. I'm in the market for one and learned alot here. Thanks.

Very informative. Just bought my first excavator for working my land. 4 days solid use so far & invested in a good grease gun as a couple of pretty dry pins. Trouble is once you have it you need the rest of the kit. Now on the look out for a dumper and possibly roller as I need to lay in a new road!

Very useful information. I had a 96 EX50 grey imports, 4600hours, 2011, R Red center spool seals, a few hoses, pins, rubber tracks over 10 years of good work (home builder), sold it by 8800hours, with everything working properly, real quality excavator, love it.

Great video man, lots of valuable info. Keep em comin.

Excellent video, learning is great

Very useful information, Matt thanks.

I'd say fix it, better the machine you know.

Thank you Matt! Very much appreciated. Unless you have the experience..... you never know.

Thank you so much for being religious with grease. I've ran backhoes, trackhoes, dozers, ect for a few years. A grease gun is a MUST! I always keep one in the cab with me along with a fresh tube. Grease when done with work at the end of the day. You can never over grease equipment.

Good job explaining the inspection Matt

I have been looking for one of those for years to give me more that my bobcat skid steer can't do. When I find a good deal, I don't have the money. When I have some money, I can't find a deal. Lol. You gave sone good info and a few things I haven't thought about. Thanks.

Thanks, all great info as I keep my eye out for a mini excavator.

Excellent work and thanks for the content stay safe and take care

This was a very good video on the does and don'ts on buying a piece of machinery.

Good review Matt, thanks!

Thanks for the knowledge. Greatly appreciated.

I must say that you did a real fine job making this video!

Great info! Thanks

Good video, I appreciate the information Matt! 👌🏻👍🏻👍🏻

Hope I'm adding my little bit, i am absolutely hooked on your vids, you are the best you tuber of all time!

Very helpfull video for a complete novice. Thx and greetings from Sweden !

Hey bro it's very well explained. Thank you so much, very niece video.

Thanks for the excavator tutorial. I've always wanted a mini excavator for use on my property. Kubota, Bobcat and Takeuchi are the brands that I see being used around my area.

That was very helpful! Thanks for a great video.

Matt thank you you’ve been very informative about what to look for in buying a piece of used equipment I’m looking at a mini excavator you’re right once you have them you don’t know how to live without them had skid steer in the past sold them to upgrade haven’t found the right deal yet take care stay safe happy holiday junkman do

I got super lucky with mine. I wish I had known the things you mentioned. This video was really well done and very helpful. Thank you!

good ! educational as well as entertaining. it shed some light on oe of my next purchases thank you !!

Thanks brother, definitely information i needed

I doubt I'll be using an excavator anytime soon and certainly won't be buying one, yet I can't stop watching your videos. Thanks for all the tips!

I enjoying buying the old beat up equipment. It always turns out someone just was fed up with it. Or thats the last money I will put into it. Just finished a Ford 1700 backhoe.

Solids review / info. Always enjoy your videos.

The only thing I’m looking for is the videos that come out of people fixing them. That’s prime entertainment.

Very informative great job and great advice

Great for any beginner well explained

Great video. lot of info. thanks for the video.

Lots of good advice..

Great video, very informative...Thank you !!

thanks buddy, buying a small unit this summer to do tree and stump clean up in back acreage at my properties in bc cariboo, i appreciate the insights.

Great vid. Good material and advice.

Great video and I've watched heaps of them on the same subject.

Thanks for the review. I learned a lot about what to look for.

Really useful video. Thanks so much.

Thanks Matt from the UK Andrew Camarata likes the Komatsu/Yanmar and he agrees with you it's the most reliable to him too than any other brands they break and you can't do the damn job! :))

One thing you said I don't agree with and that is warming the engine and opening the radiator cap . I think you did a great job talking about the machine and what to look out for . Your machine does need repair and I have seen how much work they are but please get fixing it , it will be to your advantage and it will be worth more .

My wife from across the room: "No, you CANNOT buy an excavator". But it's useful :(

I'm never gonna buy one of these. But I'll watch this whole thing

Doubt I'd ever be buying one but still cool to watch and learn! As for me (and very selfish reasons), seeing videos of the repairs you noted would have me watching each one! But it's pretty clear you have plenty to do too!

Love the video keep up with the great work

Good little machine.

Love the vides

Komatsu makes a great machine. I have a PC150 I bought about 18 mouths ago with 8000 hrs on it and it runs as if was new.

Main valve and pump are also important to look at for leaks and other problems

Good info! Thanks for sharing!

thanks for the information, big help

Another good video but like you pointed out if you get another excavator it too is going to have problems if you buy used. Keep up the good work!

Good education video!!

very helpful! thank you!

great info thanks

Sometimes the devil you know is better but a new machine brings new enthusiasm lol

Great advice. Repair or sell you have to crunch the numbers.

Great video! Great information!

Hi Matt. Up to you but has for me I would replace the seals and Pins,bushing,Etc. Cheaper than another machine, unless of course there are major problems. Has always I liked,shared. All my best.

Thanks- very helpful

Great info.