Caterpillar excavators hold value when they are maintained—and hide expensive surprises when they are not. Before you wire a deposit on a used CAT, run a focused inspection so you are buying a machine, not a story. This checklist works for on-site visits and for live video calls with a Shanghai exporter.

Identify the machine correctly

Photograph the serial number plate and any Product Identification Number labels. Match model designation (for example, a 320-series vs a 330-series class) to the listing. Confirm hour-meter reading on the monitor and ask whether the meter or ECM has been replaced. Save photos of the cab hour screen next to the plate. If numbers do not line up with the invoice draft, stop until they do.

Structure, pins, and swing

With the machine on firm ground, look along the boom and stick for welds, bends, or cracked bosses. Check pin and bushing play at boom foot, stick, and bucket. Excessive movement means near-term downtime. Inspect the swing bearing for unusual noise or metal debris around the seal area while slowly rotating the house. Frame cracks near the undercarriage mounts deserve special attention on high-hour units.

Undercarriage reality check

Measure or estimate remaining life on links, rollers, idlers, sprockets, and shoes. Even wear is better than one-sided wear. Ask what percentage life the seller claims and compare it to what you see—marketing percentages without photos are weak evidence. For rubber-track compact CAT models, look for cuts, missing chunks, and drive-motor leaks.

Track sag and dry joints
Sprocket tooth tip wear
Final drive oil condition if a sample is practical

Engine and hydraulics under load

Start cold if you can, then work the machine to temperature. Watch exhaust smoke during digging and swinging. Listen for abnormal knocks. Check for oil, fuel, and coolant leaks around the engine and pumps. Cycle boom, stick, bucket, and swing against a load; weak or uneven speed suggests pump, valve, or relief issues. Cylinders should hold position with minimal drift. Note any active fault codes on the CAT monitor and photograph them.

Cab, electrics, and attachments

Test lights, wipers, HVAC, travel alarm, and control pattern if selectable. Sticky joysticks and dead switches hint at poor care. Confirm what attachments are included—bucket width, coupler type, thumb, or breaker lines. Operate auxiliary hydraulics on camera if you need high flow later.

Deposit discipline

A deposit should reserve a specific serial-numbered machine after you have seen current evidence of condition—not after a promise to “fix everything.” Put in writing: machine ID, deposit amount, what triggers balance payment, inspection window, and what happens if a major defect appears. Prefer smaller deposits on first deals with a new supplier. Keep all WhatsApp and email records.

Working with an exporter in Shanghai

Ask the yard for a walk-around video that follows this checklist in order: plate → undercarriage → engine bay → function test → attachments. YC Used Machinery can support overseas buyers who want English communication and clear photos before funds move. You still own the decision; the checklist keeps that decision grounded.

Red flags that justify walking away

Fresh paint that hides weld repairs without explanation, a refused request for a running video, hour readings that conflict with wear, or pressure to wire a large deposit the same day are all reasons to pause. Another seller with clearer evidence is almost always available. Paying slightly more for a transparent machine usually costs less than repairing a rushed purchase.

A used CAT excavator is a tool with a history. Spend one careful hour verifying that history before the deposit leaves your account—you will sleep better, and your first job with the machine will start sooner.

About YC Used Machinery
Shanghai Yongcheng Used Machinery · No.68 Qinggao Road, Fengxian District, Shanghai, China
WhatsApp: +86 166 8175 4290 · Email: vangher43@gmail.com
Website: selldigger.com
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How to Inspect a Used CAT Excavator Before You Wire a Deposit