Hello I am looking at a 2004 PC600-7k to run in our quarry, the machine is in very good condition and has around 13000 hours, has anyone any experience with them regarding reliability, fuel consumption etc, I just need an older machine to run 3 days a week ripping rock and throwing over the face to the jaw crusher, thanks
Take oil samples, hire a mechanic that is competant to do a complete examination of it. If it costs you $1000 , it will be the equivalent of toilet paper in comparison to the cost of one big item repair on that unit. Find out if they have maintenance records and let the mechanic check them all over. Otherwise just write a blank check with your signature on it is my suggestion. Caution is always wise when thinking about 13000 hour machine. Simon C
A machine that size you really don’t want a big repair/surprise while under your ownership…
That engine is worth probably $125000 or more. That is often seen on huge road construction, or mining job. Just the price to rebuild cylinders can be significant. Heavy tracks and everything with a crane. Simon C
Not my first-hand experience but for what it's worth I am friendly enough with many a contractor that runs Komatsu equipment and the reputation is great. These guys keep the machines a long time instead of trade into new ones out of fear of downtime on an older machine. Heed the advice above about having a seasoned heavy equipment mechanic spend some quality time inspecting this machine if its going to be your only one for that task. As great of shape as it may be anything at that hour mark needs something or will right around the corner.
Just be aware that big machines, generally require big money when they break. At 13,000 hours, hopefully it’s been maintained well but at that point, anything could go on it! Make sure the undercarriage is sound, check the finals and if entirely possible, have oil samples done on everything!
My former neighbor is in demolition and runs Komatsu excavators. From what I can tell he puts a lot of hours on them before replacing. I saw one with a magnet at the RB site with over 19,000 hours on it. He claimed he put 30,000 hours on another one. I think it was the first Komatsu he bought before he got big. It might have been used when he bought it too. Don't know how Komatsu dozers compare but there are a lot very loyal Komatsu excavator owners.
I have seen size 200,220 size machine with 30,000 hours used for loading logs especially or other logging jobs. They were built with quality components for their day. They were amongst the best of the Japanese fleet. Simon C
I think my former neighbors first was a 300 size.
If it's currently a quarry machine the track gear should be reasonably good, they don't do a lot of travelling. As for the rest of it I won't offer an opinion until I see pics.
Worked on a few, see alot of them run hammers, usually have pumps leaking on them between the mating faces they fret, keep an eye around that area primarily, gets expensive you need to strip the pumps machine the faces, set prelaods on the rotating assembly etc, have done ones before people have had other shops do and absolutely butcher it. Itll definitely need a tune up too at those hours, need to find someone who knows what they're doing on those to correctly match the pump outputs etc, been to heaps that have been incorrectly adjusted, need to be careful on older ones too as the orings in the TVC and ncco valves stick so you can only wind in and don't want to return. Engine speed sensors on the bell housing and harnesses in the engine bay rubbing. Check for cracks around the boom foot pin, boom lift cylinders and the control valves as well. Check the slew bearing play as alot of them failed early on, bolts came loose etc. They're a good machine, just being nit picky