Make sure that you understand the many important items that need to be considered.
Case provides handy information to take note of when purchasing a new excavator. In this issue of Logging-on, we cover the first four:
- Operating weight, size and application. The machine size must be matched to the application. Tracked excavators are usually grouped into three size-classes; compact/mini (up to 6 metric tons or 13,000 pounds), mid-size (6 to 10 metric tons or 13,000 to 22,000 pounds) and standard/full-size (10 to 90 metric tons or 22,000 to 198,000 pounds). One must therefore investigate the application, the spec requirements for the job (e.g. bucket capacity) and the size machine needed before any information is collected.
- Hydraulics. The hydraulic flows required for each attachment you plan on working with must be known. The machines coupler options must also be determined. This will help determine the scope and variety of attachments you can use with the machine.
- Transportation and access. Transportation is important because depending on the current fleet, a larger trailer may be needed to haul the excavator. There may also be other transport limitations such as traveling on weight-limited roads bridges and the requirement for additional certification for drivers.
- Controls. Consider the needs of the operator when purchasing a new excavator. Most operators have a strong preference between ISO or SAE control patterns. To make things easier, many new excavator models offer an easy pattern control selector that allows the operator to adjust the machine to their preference.
Source: http://www.casece.com/en_us/News/Pages/Ten-Tips-for-Buying-a-New-Excavator.aspx