3 Tips to Consider Before Buying Construction Equipment Parts

All construction jobs require extensive use of heavy equipment. However, after all that usage, it is natural for some of your equipment’s parts to wear down. Accordingly, it is necessary to replace these parts from time to time; otherwise, you could do significant damage to your equipment and put your safety at risk. But how do you know exactly when to replace certain parts?

The average amount of time that a part tends to last before needing to be replaced can vary greatly depending on the part. The following guidelines should be kept in mind regarding the replacement of heavy equipment parts:

Air Filters

It is important that you replace your heavy equipment’s air filters based on how they appear rather than focusing on a fixed schedule. In simpler terms, if the air filters look dirty, they need replacement. Changing air filters as needed will prolong the life of the equipment’s engine, reduce emissions, and increase fuel efficiency. It is crucial to always use new air filters when replacing old ones.

Batteries

Equipment with diesel engines tends to have two batteries—one for powering the starting system and one for supplying energy to the machinery’s electrical components. The average OEM battery needs to be replaced after four to five years. However, these batteries may need to be replaced sooner if they are charged improperly, corroded, or used with low alternator output.

Belts

In most cases, heavy off-road equipment contains a serpentine belt that helps to power the air conditioning, power steering pump, air injection pump, compressor, and cooling fan. You should keep an eye out for cracks, wearing, and stripping, as these are all signs that the belt needs to be replaced. If such signs are spotted, prompt replacement is necessary, as waiting too long could lead to engine failure. It is also important to follow the recommended change intervals found in your equipment Operators Manual.

Hoses

On average, hoses need to be replaced every four years. However, when heavy equipment is used more rigorously, hoses can wear out faster, so you should check your hoses regularly for cracks, bubbles, or wear spots. Any of these can lead to bursts. Depending on the PSI of your hose, busts can cause serious injuries and environmental spills. It is also important that you always use new hoses when replacing old ones.

Factors to Consider Before Buying Construction Equipment Parts

When purchasing replacement parts for your construction equipment, there are a variety of important tips to keep in mind. The following are some of the most essential things to consider during this process:

1. The advantages and disadvantages of buying new replacement parts 

When you decide to buy new parts, it is much easier to guarantee that they will fit and work precisely with your equipment, eliminating the necessity for guesswork. Whether you are looking to replace spark plugs, hoses, or belts, you simply have to match up the part numbers, and you can rest assured that the new parts will function just like those you are replacing. 

In addition, new parts are often backed by a warranty, which you can benefit from if any issues arise. However, one of the biggest cons of using new parts is that they are typically the most expensive option available, so purchasing them may or may not be feasible, depending on your budget.

2. The advantages and disadvantages of buying used replacement parts

It is also an option to buy used replacement parts that came off another piece of equipment that was likely deemed uneconomical to fix or that was reclaimed and sold by an insurance company. Although used parts often only cost about a third of the price of new parts, they can offer high quality and are usually rigorously tested to ensure they are still performing optimally. 

Used parts are especially worth considering when they are to be used in components of equipment that do not wear down as hard or as quickly. However, it is also important to keep in mind that used parts will have varying degrees of wear depending on how long they were used, meaning their lifespan may not be as long as new parts. Additionally, used parts may only come with a limited warranty or no warranty at all.

3. The advantages and disadvantages of rebuilt or remanufactured replacement parts

In some cases, when certain components of your equipment are faulty, they can be taken apart and rebuilt with new components to match factory specs. These remanufactured parts are made to perform at an equal calibre to new parts; however, it is typically less costly to take this route. Rebuilt parts are also a sustainable option because it requires less energy to build them than it does to build new parts. 

Warranties may or may not be an option and may differ in length, depending on the kind of rebuild that you require. Once a part is rebuilt, some areas will be new, while others will remain old, meaning it will likely have a shorter lifespan than a new part. In addition, rebuilds can take several days or weeks to complete, increasing your equipment’s downtime. To avoid this downtime, some companies offer rebuilt parts for sale instead of rebuilding the part from your machine. 

Why Great West Equipment is a Great Option for All Your Construction Equipment Parts Needs

No matter what kind of heavy equipment you have, if you need construction equipment parts in British Columbia, you can find a wide selection of them at Great West Equipment. Our parts departments are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, because we understand that sometimes unexpected issues can arise with heavy equipment, and when they do, a quick fix is what you need. 

Whether you need parts for our equipment brands or others, our qualified personnel can help deliver the solutions you are looking for and provide you with the highest quality parts designed and manufactured to OEM standards. 

The OEM parts that we have to offer will help maintain the performance of your equipment and extend its lifespan. All OEM parts are also thoroughly tested to ensure they are high quality. We carry everything from undercarriage parts and swing bearings to ground-engaging tools, as well as filters, hoses, fittings, lights, and batteries so that you can take care of all your part replacement needs through us. 

We also regularly offer promotions on our parts, including common wear items, big ticket items, and seasonal items, to ensure our customers get the best possible deals on the parts they need. 

If you decide that you would like to opt for used replacement parts over new ones, we also have a large variety of used parts for sale at extremely affordable prices. This includes both complete components and individual used parts for Deere, Caterpillar, Volvo, and many other brands. Our used parts are also tested to ensure their functionality so that you can depend on them for use in your construction equipment. 

For more information about our new and used heavy equipment parts or to learn more about the promotions we currently have to offer, call Great West Equipment at 1-833-730-0613 or contact us here.