Volvo Excavators

hargrove · Nov 5, 2014

The company I work for is looking at Volvo 300 size excavators due to the price difference about 50000.00 less than Cat or linkbelt any thoughts would appreciated. thanks

Graham1 · Nov 5, 2014

In UK/Europe Volvo are considered premium excavators. I have a wheeled 360. Very nice to operate, comfortable cab, good power and reliable. Here parts and service are second to none, but not sure what the dealer network is like in the US.

hargrove · Nov 5, 2014

The dealer here is poor at best very few parts in stock.

AntonioRocha · Nov 5, 2014

They use to be Smasung excavators, almost the same type of construction from a daewoo/doosan and Hyundai, but since they where painted in Volvo colors people tend to like them more...

SeaMac · Nov 5, 2014

Here in our area Volvo dealer support/service is exceptional and Volvo makes a VERY good Excavator contrary to what some might think Volvo Excavators are descendants from Akerman Excavators. I can tell you from personal experience they have roomy, comfortable cabs, are powerful are extremely fuel efficient and reliable too. Dealer support is critical in the decision making process, even the best machine will need dealer support from time to time, if it's not there that should be a deal breaker. Good luck.

clintm · Nov 5, 2014

volvo bought samsung the first one just a different color the b's had volvo engines POS :IMO no good dealer =no a good machine

hargrove · Nov 6, 2014

We had 8 A40D Volvo trucks parts and service is why they are gone now,but 40 to 50000.00 less than the completion will make the owners look at them.

Graham1 · Nov 6, 2014

hargrove said:
The dealer here is poor at best very few parts in stock.

If the dealer is no good I would look at other makes with a good dealer. Rubbish back up would be a deal breaker for me.
Graham

uffex · Nov 8, 2014

Good day Hargrove
The product is only as good as the dealer support, unfourtunatly you only find this out when you hit trouble. Part of customer dealer cooperation is built by contact from both party's. Often its benificial to visit the dealer meet the support folk and get some impression of who can help, dealers change along with people and what has been good in the past may well fall down with some personell leaving.
Just some thoughts may be of help.
KInd regrds
Uffex

JGibson · Nov 8, 2014

Volvo is an awesome excavator, but they don't last as long. In my opinion Link Belt is the best all around excavator. They do have somethings I like better in volvo, but Link Belts last a long time. They have great resale, great power, smooth, comfortable etc. The 300X3 is a great excavator as is the 300D, but If I were you I would get the Link Belt

ih100 · Nov 9, 2014

SeaMac said:
Here in our area Volvo dealer support/service is exceptional and Volvo makes a VERY good Excavator contrary to what some might think Volvo Excavators are descendants from Akerman Excavators. I can tell you from personal experience they have roomy, comfortable cabs, are powerful are extremely fuel efficient and reliable too. Dealer support is critical in the decision making process, even the best machine will need dealer support from time to time, if it's not there that should be a deal breaker. Good luck.

Seamac, you would have been right about 15 years ago, but the ex-Akerman machines were too expensive to be competitive, so Volvo went in with Samsung. There's no Akerman in the new Volvos. They have a good rep here, and a good dealer network. I haven't been on the new machines much, but enough to be impressed.

tootalljeffro · Nov 9, 2014

We have recently acquired 2 new EC300D's and a EC160D. So far, the 160 has been a good machine. The 300's (one of which is my everyday machine) have had some issues. To be more exact, they have both had issues with re-gening. Also, they don't compare to a Cat 330. Maybe a 325 at best.

plantman.uk · Dec 19, 2014

I ran a Volvo 460 for awhile. Nice cab. Plenty of power in my opinion Volvo are a very nice machine. Let the big dog eat

LiecaMan · Dec 19, 2014

I run a Volvo 305 , very good digging power excellent fuel economy and operater comfort is descent despite the fact it's a short radius machine and has smaller cab, one problem worth mentioning is it has burnt oil since new , the dealer says Volvo will stand good for it , when it gets too a certain point , otherwise a good machine .

Ben Witter · Dec 19, 2014

LiecaMan, Your dealer should have a document that you can use to record your oil and fuel consumption. I would request they print you off a handful of them and religiously fill them out. Make sure you fill it out completely and regularly. Oil consumption is measured by hrs and fuel consumption. Also some oil consumption is normal.

farmerlund · Dec 19, 2014

I have a 2005 Volvo EC210BLC 5500hrs, 2000hrs on it when I got it. It has been a very good machine to own and operate. Very few problems. the dealer here is ok, good service help, parts are not on hand most of the time but will come next day most of the time. I realize I don't put a huge amount of hours on per year but I would buy one again. I tried a 2008 deere 200lc and I liked the Volvo better.

The Cat, Komatsu and JD dealers here think there machines are made of gold.

LiecaMan · Dec 20, 2014

Witter, thanks i will check into that, I usually add about 5 litres every 500 hours , any thoughts on whether that's normal?

GregD1 · Dec 20, 2014

Two major issues I`ve seen with anything that says Volvo. Relays and ECU programs. They will go through relays with no other circuit problems more than any other machine. Change relays and keep going till the next surprise. I have seen machines get unloaded from the transport and parked, get back in it and it won`t start. Search fault codes and it has lost the program in one of the ECU boxes. Get it reloaded and all is good.
Price will probably overcome any issues no matter what brand you are looking at.

Ben Witter · Dec 20, 2014

I would say that is probably above normal. But you really need to have it all documented. Sometimes we perceive things are worse than they end up being. Not saying you arent accurate but you need it written down. Also if the machine is used very lightly the oil consumption is likely to be higher. I would definitely be check for signs of leaks also, and don't forget the turbo can be a good source for those leaks.

ben46a · Dec 21, 2014

1L every 100hrs is nothing to get to excited over.

Volvo Excavators

Well-Known Member

Senior Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Well-Known Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Well-Known Member

Senior Member

Member

Well-Known Member

Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Member

Well-Known Member

Senior Member

Senior Member