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The Parts of an Excavator

Oct. 13 2021 Ownership Tips By Upstate Equipment

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While you’ve likely seen an excavator before or even used one on your construction site, do you know everything there is to know about this machine? There are numerous parts on an excavator and it’s good to know how they function and work together to make the excavator perform its job. 

Upstate Equipment is your New York excavator dealer, so we’ve broken down the parts of an excavator below to help you better understand the way this machine works.

1. Undercarriage Parts

The undercarriage of your excavator consists of four primary parts: the tracks, the track frame, the final drives and the blade.

  • The tracks are what allow your excavator to move around the work site, in lieu of wheels. Each track is made up of a series of reinforced rubber track plates that are connected with pins and run over rollers.
  • The track frame is the body of the undercarriage, which consists of a sturdy rectangular frame connected to the house with a center pin. The swing bearing, slew ring and swing gear are also located in the track frame, ensuring that it can hydraulically swivel around.
  • The final drives are comprised of a gearing system and hydraulic motor that are both connected via a drive shaft to the excavator’s engine. The final drives provide the tracks with the power they need to move together and separately.
  • The blade may be an optional attachment on your excavator which helps the machine move loose material underneath it.

2. House Parts

Above the undercarriage sits the house of your excavator, which is made up of the operator’s cab, the counterweight, the engine and fluid tanks.

  • The operator’s cab is where the driver of the excavator sits to operate the machine. Typically, the cab has glazing all around it for maximum visibility and its sturdy roof protects the operator from the elements as well as from any materials that may fall from the boom’s attachment.
  • The counterweight is a crucial design element in every excavator, as without it, the boom would probably tip the entire machine forward when it’s fully extended. Older counterweights tended to stick out past the back of the tracks, but more modern designs have a more compact counterweight that improves maneuverability.
  • The engine is the powerhouse behind the entire machine, driving it forward and ensuring that all three of the hydraulic pumps installed on the excavator can function properly. Usually, excavators have a diesel engine to produce maximum power.
  • The fluid tanks are where the fuel and hydraulic fluid are kept, in the rear housing that encloses the engine.

3. Arm Parts

Last, but certainly not least, you have the long arm of the excavator that bends in the middle, not dissimilar to your own arm with its joints. The arm is made up of the boom, the stick, the bucket and attachments.

  • The boom (this term is often used to refer to the entire arm as well) is the upper portion of the digging arm that is attached to the excavator’s house. The boom dictates how the excavator moves up and down. Most booms only move in these directions, but knuckle booms move left and right.
  • The stick is the lower end of the arm, attached to the boom via a hinged joint. The dipper cylinder extends from the top of the boom to the stick’s end, pulling the stick towards the boom so the bucket drags across the ground. This is how the excavator digs.
  • The bucket is the metal container that scoops up loose material like dirt or gravel and it’s attached to the stick.
  • Any attachments used with your excavator are optional, and they replace the bucket. Augers, drills, compactors and log splitters are just a few of your attachment options.

When you’re ready to shop excavators, visit Upstate Equipment in Lockport, NY, to check out our wide stock of new and used excavators for sale. We can even assist you with financing options. Our dealership serves greater Buffalo, NY, as well as the city of Amherst.