Swing lock and position
If the machine stopped mid-swing, the house may be at an angle. Tell us how it's sitting. A house stuck at an angle can still be loaded, but we need to know which way it faces.
Home / Non-running excavators
Won't start · won't track · won't swing
We Buy Non-Running Excavators, Exactly as They Sit
Won't start, won't track or won't swing? We buy it where it sits and bring the gear to load it.
Running or notFree pickup on most machines
Free offer · No obligation
Get your excavator offer
About a minute. We call back with a number.
- Dead engines, failed hydraulics
- Seized tracks, sunk machines
- Winching planned before we arrive
Why they stop
What we see most
Won't crank
Batteries, starter or a seized engine.
Runs, won't move
Travel motors or final drives.
No swing
Swing motor or bearing trouble.
Weak hydraulics
Tired pump or a burst line.
Blown engine
Overheated, cracked head, spun bearing.
Long storage
Rodents, seized pins, rotten tracks.
Recent pickups
Dead machines we hauled this year
- LangleyNon-running CASE excavator
- BurnabyNon-running excavator picked up
Have an excavator to sell? Get a number in minutes.
Loading a dead machine
Tell us these four things
- Do the tracks turn? Free tracks make winching easier.
- Where's the boom? Up, folded or on the bucket.
- What's underneath? Gravel, pavement, grass or mud.
- How far to the truck? And any slope, ditch or gate.
Fix or sell?
When repair stops making sense
- Big-ticket repairs: final drives, swing bearings, pumps, engines.
- They stack up: undercarriage often wears out at the same time.
- Get our number first. Then compare it to the repair quote.
Dead machines in depth
Moving an excavator that won't run
A dead excavator can still be loaded safely.
Boom and bucket
A boom stuck in the air needs to be lowered or secured before transport. If the boom is stuck up, keep people out from under it and don't try to force it down.
Tracks
Seized travel motors mean the tracks won't turn. A winch and a lowbed usually manage it. Tell us whether the machine sits on firm ground or has sunk in.
Common causes
Failed pumps, electrical faults, seized engines and fuel problems are the usual reasons. Tell us what you know. A technician's diagnosis, if you have one, helps us price it fairly.
Parts value
Engines, pumps, final drives and swing motors often have resale value. That's why a dead excavator is worth more than its weight in steel.
Don't fix it first
Repairs rarely pay off on a machine being sold as is. Get a repair quote and our number if you're unsure, then compare.
Sunk in or frozen
Machines that sat for a long time can sink into soft ground or freeze in place. A winch from firm ground usually frees them.
Lost keys
Keys help but aren't required. We need reasonable proof that the machine is yours.
Machines that sat for years
Batteries, seals and hoses suffer when a machine sits. That's normal and priced in. Tell us how long it has sat.
Questions
Common questions
My excavator hasn't started in years. Is it still worth anything?
Almost always. Even a machine that will never run again has a lot of steel, a counterweight, cylinders and a slew ring. Long storage just means we plan the loading differently.
How do you load an excavator that won't move?
Smaller machines get winched up a tilt deck. Larger ones may need a winch truck on a lowbed, or a second machine on site to help. Telling us whether the tracks turn and where the boom is sitting lets us pick the right setup.
Should I try to get it running before you come?
Don't spend money on it. If a new battery gets it to crank, great, that helps. Anything beyond that is rarely worth it before a sale.
What if the tracks are frozen or sunk in the mud?
Tell us. Seized or buried tracks change the equipment we send and sometimes the timing. After a wet stretch we may suggest waiting until the ground firms up.
Do you need the keys?
Keys help, but a missing key isn't a deal breaker on a non-runner. Proof that the machine is yours matters more.
Do you buy machines with a seized engine?
Yes. A seized engine is common on machines that sat, and the rest of the machine still counts.