Before the start
Lock the serial number, attachments, claimed year, meter reading and trade term. Photograph fresh leaks and fluid condition while the machine is cold.
Used Excavator Inspection Checklist: Downloadable Pre-Purchase PDF
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Used Excavator Inspection Checklist: Downloadable Pre-Purchase PDF
Use one checklist for the exact machine, not the model family. It records cold condition, hot performance, measured wear, defects, packing dimensions and the evidence required before payment.
What the checklist decides
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01Identity
Does the serial, year, hour claim and quoted configuration describe this exact unit?
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02Condition
Does the machine pass a genuine cold start and a 45-60 minute hot work test?
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03Wear
Are undercarriage and joint decisions based on measurements rather than appearance?
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04Commercial risk
Which defects require repair, price allowance, specialist review or rejection?
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05Shipping
What are the measured packed dimensions, piece weights, lift points and proposed mode?
One rating code for every inspection point
Use one checklist for the exact machine, not the model family. It records cold condition, hot performance, measured wear, defects, packing dimensions and the evidence required before payment.
| PPass | Condition is acceptable for the stated use. |
|---|---|
| MMonitor | Usable now, but record wear and future cost. |
| RRepair | Price or repair scope must be agreed before purchase. |
| XReject / escalate | Stop the decision until a specialist resolves the risk. |
| N/ANot applicable | Item is not fitted or outside the agreed scope. |
A purchase-grade inspection sequence
Cold start
Record the first crank, warning lights, idle, smoke, noise and temperatures. A warm machine cannot provide cold-start evidence.
Hot work cycle
Dig, lift, swing, travel and combine functions continuously for 45-60 minutes. Recheck drift, leakage, fault codes and component temperatures.
Measure and reconcile
Measure undercarriage wear, joint play and packing dimensions. Link every defect to dated evidence and a repair or price decision.
Release or reject
Release payment only after the exact machine, defects, documents, agreed repairs and shipping configuration are reconciled.
Conditions that should stop an automatic approval
Escalate serial mismatch, high-stress structural cracks, severe overheating, unsafe travel or braking, major hydraulic contamination, undisclosed component replacement, or refusal to complete a hot work test. A lower price does not resolve an unidentified safety or identity risk.
Minimum evidence package
- Serial plate and frame identity
- Cold meter and first-start video
- Exhaust under digging load
- Engine bay and hydraulic pump area
- Both final drives and oil condition
- Measured undercarriage values
- Boom, arm, carbody and weld zones
- Pins, bushings and bucket linkage
- Full hot work cycle
- Measured packed dimensions and piece weights
- Defect register and repair allowance
- Signed purchase decision
Use the checklist with these planning tools
2026 inspection reportSee why published hours and appearance are not a condition grade.Shipping dimensions databaseScreen a model, then replace references with measurements from the exact unit.Landed cost calculatorConvert machine, freight, duty and destination charges into a landed-cost estimate.Current used excavatorsCompare available machines and request dated evidence.
Inspection method references
The form follows inspection priorities reflected in manufacturer guidance: Caterpillar's Certified Used inspection process, Komatsu's measured undercarriage inspections and Hitachi's used-excavator checklist and maintenance guidance. It does not claim that every machine shown on this website has passed this form.
Used excavator inspection checklist FAQ
Is the checklist a mechanical warranty?
No. It organizes evidence and decisions at the inspection date. Warranty terms must be stated separately in the sales contract.
How long should the work test last?
Plan 45-60 continuous minutes after a genuine cold start, with digging, lifting, swing, travel and combined functions under representative load.
Can meter hours prove condition?
No. Compare the reading with controller data where available, wear, maintenance records, cold start and hot performance.
Must undercarriage wear be measured?
Yes when remaining life affects the purchase decision. Model age and paint do not quantify links, bushings, rollers, idlers or sprockets.
Why record shipping dimensions in a mechanical checklist?
The purchase is incomplete if the exact unit cannot be shipped at the expected cost. Measure the packed machine and every dismantled piece before booking.
Can an overseas buyer appoint an independent inspector?
Yes. Agree the serial, test scope, access, evidence format and acceptance conditions before the visit.
Published and reviewed: 17 August 2026 · YUANJIAN MACHINERY INTERNATIONAL TRADING LIMITED