How many hours is too many on a used 5t excavator?

Question

Looking at 5t excavators in the mid five-figure range. Listings jump from 3,500 to 9,000 hours. At what point do repairs usually outweigh the cheaper bid?

Tom Hydraulics · Accepted Answer

Service history and undercarriage % remaining matter more than the hour meter alone. A 7k-hour machine with time-stamped oil samples and pins within spec can beat a neglected 3k-hour unit. Budget a hydraulic health check in the inspection window either way.