Hey there guys and gals, Im looking to expand a little and am pondering purchasing a hydraulic excavator. Ive ran them before, but I really know very little about what to look for when buying a used one. I am most likely going to be looking at excavators at ritchie brothers auctions, and they have lots of pictures, and generally not a whole ton of info. One thing I keep seeing is stick size, but i cant really determine which part of the boom that would be referring to. I really have no idea what Im looking for, I dont have to have any certain brands, but I would like it to be reliable. i would take reliability over power. Anyways im hoping to start here and learning a few things, so school me up! Thanks for any and all comments!
The stick or dipper arm is where the bucket is attached. There are different lengths that fit different applications. A long stick for pipe laying and reach. A short stick for moving dirt as the breakout force and cycle time is quicker with a shorter stick. Be vary weary of machines at auction - the Ritchie Brothers "overhaul" is a term coined with wisdom. IE - put a slick paint job on a bucket of bolts and roll it across the auction floor. There are many things to look for when buying used equipment, I am sure other members will chime in.