It's safe to say that an excavator is the quintessential piece of heavy machinery and has probably made the greatest impact on the productivity and scale of civilization than any other piece of equipment. This is because in order to raise buildings, lay down roads, and construct bridges over huge gorges, we need to move dirt. And that's the main job of an excavator. Excavators consist of many parts, the most recognizable one is the boom, dipper or stick, and the bucket, which is the arm, if you will, that scoops up dirt and moves it. This sits on an undercarriage that consists of the wheels or track and the cab, which is where the operator sits to control the excavator. In theory, it began as a very simple idea: attach a bucket to a line and move it. Humans have expanded this exceedingly simple machine and idea into monstrous excavators that are able to move tons of dirt easily, quickly, and safely. Wagner Used Equipment offers the best used heavy equipment for sale, from backhoes and skid steers to telehandlers, Ag equipment, and excavators. We've been serving Colorado, New Mexico, and west Texas since 1976. We offer the best Cat parts, rental equipment and Cat attachments, and service. We understand that heavy machinery will at some point need a spare Cat part or service. We have over 230 field service technicians that can come out to you and quickly diagnose your used heavy equipment and get it moving again. We carry factory Cat parts so you know the superb quality you are getting. We also accept used heavy equipment for consignment. Below, we'll take a look at the parts to one of the most important pieces of heavy equipment, the excavator. Reach out to one of our Cat dealers to learn more today!

PARTS OF AN EXCAVATOR

Boom The boom of a Caterpillar excavator is the long arm you see extending up from the undercarriage. It's the first part of the arm that controls the bucket for digging, and is moved by the boom cylinder. The cylinders are where the hydraulics are housed, which is what is responsible for moving the boom. These cylinders consist of a cylindrical barrel where the piston is connected to the piston rod, which moves back and forth, inside the cylinder. The hydraulic cylinder works in conjunction with the hydraulic pump that supplies the hydraulic fluid that moves the piston. The piston divides the cylinder into the cap end and the head end. It is the play between these forces that causes movement. Dipper, or Stick The dipper, or stick, of a Cat excavator is the second part of the arm that an excavator is known for. It's the part that the bucket is attached to. It is controlled by the bucket cylinder, which works in the same way as the boom cylinder, except it is responsible for moving the stick. The stick is attached to the boom in a manner so that it can easily scoop up dirt and then tuck the bucket up underneath it so no dirt spills out. The cab, or the part that the operator sits in, usually is able to rotate a full 360 degrees, allowing the dug-up material to be deposited next to it in a pile or in a truck for hauling away. Bucket Let's face it, without the bucket on the end of the dipper, your excavator would be pretty much useless. Caterpillar makes a variety of different styles of buckets so that you can choose which of these Cat parts works best for your given situation. Clean-up buckets are used for ditch cleaning and for general digging duties. General duty buckets are used for many types of digging jobs and are one of the most common Caterpillar parts you will see on an excavator. Heavy duty Caterpillar buckets are built to cut through the hardest of materials, from semi-rocky soil to hard, caked in mud. These are superb for utility trenching, backfilling, or excavating for your construction or landscaping needs. All of these types of buckets are considered Cat attachments. This means that you can purchase different types of buckets to switch out on your Cat machine. However, in general, if you have a piece of used heavy equipment from Caterpillar, you'll want to stick to Cat attachments. This is because these Cat parts were designed to be the most productive together, from the dual radius shell to the added heel clearance. Furthermore, when you are actually doing the digging, or the grunt work of your excavation, your used heavy equipment is using the most fuel. Cat buckets are specifically designed to cut through these materials extremely quickly, saving you money in fuel operating costs. Plus, the shape of the buckets are designed to ensure little material falls out the sides as well. As you can see, a lot of thought goes into Caterpillar equipment and Cat parts. Every detail is analyzed in the quest to make the best, affordable, and energy-efficient heavy machinery for our customers so that they have more money in their pockets to continue to improve their corner of the world. Undercarriage The undercarriage of any piece of Caterpillar heavy machinery is the framework that supports the parts of the machine. An undercarriage is made out of dozens of tiny factory Cat parts, such as links, pins, brushings, sprockets, rollers, idlers, shoes, frames, and so much more. All of these Cat parts fit together to support thousands of pounds of machinery and gives your machine a platform for the attachment of the cab and the boom, dipper, and bucket — the parts that do all of the heavy work. Undercarriages historically account for over half of your Cat machine's repairs over the lifetime of your piece of heavy equipment. It's crucial to maintain your heavy equipment's undercarriage in order to avoid costly major repairs down the road. Wagner Used Equipment offers our top-notch field service technicians who can do just that. Call one of our Cat dealers today to learn more. Track or Wheels Excavators and other types of heavy machinery come with two options for movement: a track or wheels. Without a track or wheels, your piece of heavy machinery will be going nowhere fast. The track or wheels are attached to the undercarriage of your excavator. Which you choose is largely a decision of personal preference and the primary use of your excavator, as there are advantages and disadvantages to both. A wheeled excavator is incredibly handy to have when you need to transport your heavy machinery anywhere for that matter because it can drive itself. A tracked piece of Cat used heavy equipment will most likely have to be trailered in. However, track excavators are powerhouses for soft, uneven land and hills because they are able to evenly distribute their weight better, which helps the operator to feel as if they are not tipping over. Wheeled excavators, however, do come with stability arms to counteract this feeling. Wagner Used Equipment offers both wheeled and tracked excavators. Call your local Cat Wagner dealer to inquire about availability today. Cab The cab of excavators have come a long way since these machines first were invented. Today, if you get a new or a newer model piece of used heavy equipment, you can expect a very roomy, comfortable, climate-controlled environment — one that is designed with the operator in mind. Caterpillar is known for having one of the most comfortable cabs for operators. We've incorporated ergonomics into the chair, as well as a mechanical suspension seat so you don't feel the bumps as much. It offers heating and cooling, and sometimes a fan. The controls are super easy to learn and to use, and with added systems such as machine control systems from our partner, SITECH Rocky Mountain, you can expect superior performance and efficiency, which leads to less time in the cab itself. Vibrations in the cab have been significantly reduced, and these cabs feature USB ports and Bluetooth technology so you can make hands-free calls. The cab itself is mounted on the house, which, in turn, is mounted on the undercarriage. The house sits on a pivot, which is what allows the cab to rotate 360 degrees. The engine, cab, and boom are all mounted on the house and thus the undercarriage. In sum, the cab is the control center and brain of the excavator, and it's important that it is comfortable and safe for the operator.

CHOOSE WAGNER USED EQUIPMENT FOR ALL OF YOUR USED HEAVY EQUIPMENT PARTS NEEDS

Wagner Used Equipment is proud to bring Caterpillar used heavy equipment to our customers in Colorado, New Mexico, and far west Texas. We are passionate about helping our customers do their jobs better, quicker, more efficient, and with less work through our machinery. Caterpillar is one of the largest manufacturers of heavy equipment in the world. We've focused on making our machines fuel-efficient, productive, safe, and with the latest technology so that they are comfortable to operate. After all, if you're on a busy construction site, you may be sitting for the majority of the day in the cab of an excavator. This is not only mentally challenging, as you have to remain focused in order to do your job and be safe, but it's also physically challenging. By ensuring the cab of your Cat used equipment is ergonomic and comfortable, you'll enjoy your job a lot more, be better at it and more productive, and be safer. The Caterpillar dealers of Wagner Used Equipment offers a Cat Parts Store at almost every location for your convenience. Here, you can order factory Cat parts for your heavy machinery, as well as use our Wagner Parts Exchange to save money on refurbished Cat parts. In addition, every Cat dealer has a service center for when your heavy equipment is acting up, or you can call for a certified Cat technician to come to you and get your used heavy equipment up and running again. We offer every type of used heavy equipment you can imagine, from power systems and excavators to tillers, tractors, asphalt pavers, mining and forestry equipment, and more. No matter your needs, our team can help. We offer used heavy equipment financing, as well as consignment services, both of which are great options if you are looking to upgrade your Caterpillar equipment. From online solutions to fluids analysis, we've got all of your Cat equipment and parts covered. Stop by one of our Cat dealers to get started today!