Komatsu PC200 LC-8 3000 lbs over listed weight.

We bought a PC200 LC-8 from an online listing through Machinery Trader. We have arranged everything from here in Mexico, and the machine is located in Louisiana.

The deal has been done and today it was supposed to be loaded and hauled to the border. However, we got an email from the trucking company rep yesterday, a cc of one also sent to the sellers, asking about the weight of the machine so he could be sure to send the right truck. He said he understood this model could be up to 54,000 lbs.

The list weight of the model is only up to 47,000 lbs, and the machine doesn't have a jackhammer or the kit for that, or an extension on the arm, or anything else, based on all the photos and video we saw, that could make it heavier than the list weight. Perplexed, i called the sellers and asked about the weight question. I was just told they didn't know how much the machine weighs and they'd look into it later.

We didn't hear anything more, so we figured there must have been a misunderstanding and the machine is the normal weight. But at the end of the day today, when it was already too late to call the office, i got an email from the trucker rep, which again was cc'ed to the seller, saying that upon loading the machine was weighed at over 50,000 lbs. He asked us to send $500 for the permit needed for a machine of that weight. The seller remains silent. I called the rep and the seller but have not been able to get anyone on the phone. I will call in the morning, of course, but we had hoped to get the machine moving as quickly as possible, and i would like to know what is going on before the machine is already on its way.

How do machines end up weighing so much more than list for no readily apparent reason? Should i be nervous?

I always add more weight than the book says once it's been used. You can think a machine is clean and be lucky if it's only 2000 lbs over its original weight. It's just dirt, dust, mud, oil, grease, etc in every nook and cranny on the machine. It's all part of doing business BUT....the trucking company maybe trying to gouge you a little bit if they have a blanket permit for Texas. Is the truck actually hauling your machine based in Texas?

The plaque on the machine says it weighs 20800 kg, which is 45,760 lbs. If it is 'over 50,000 lbs', that is more than 4000 lbs overweight. All in grime? I just can't imagine that - but of course i have no way to judge.

The trucking co. is All-Ways, they just had the low bid and that's all we know. They must deal with a wide range of truckers. They may also be miffed that they sent a truck and the load was too heavy, especially when they specifically asked about this, which must mean money lost to someone. Yes, we aren't there and we can't do much about anyone's little tricks. I already sent a message that we'd wire the $500 first thing in the morning. Their bid was much lower than the others and other things have already been put into motion - we aren't too inclined to haggle now.

But seriously - over 4000 lbs???

I do remember around the time of the dash-8 komatsu did offer a thumb package machine that did have a little more counterweight that may be your problem

From my experience the manufacturers weight is always lighter than what the machine really weighs. How much fuel is in the tank. Does it have a bucket on it. Those things add weight to the machine also.

It doesn't have a thumb.

I would have thought the specs would include the weight of the bucket, but again, i don't know. You'd think that would be the reason why the list weight is a range, depending on which bucket you get. The fuel, sure, that must be part of it...

It just seems like an awful lot of weight. I guess we are just going to pay and shrug, but it seems a little weird to me and that makes me a bit uncomfortable.

According to the brochure, upper limit on weight at 47,310 pounds with standard stick, 36" wide shoes, 1 yard bucket, full fuel and operator. Bigger bucket might add a ton, could easily be another ton of stuff packed in it somewhere, but then you subtract a couple hundred for an operator and his lunch, I doubt the fuel tank is full, most dealers suck out all but about a quarter tank, LOL. Sounds sketchy to me, unless it has a long stick and some extra counterweight, or something like that.

http://www.komatsu.com/ce/products/pdfs/PC200_200LC-8_.pdf

Hey yeah - now i see that on page 10 under Operating weight. I called the seller and they have no explanation. They work a lot with the All-Ways rep doing this and maybe don't want to rock the boat, they just said weight is always different.

In my husband's opinion, the truck must be the cause of most of the extra weight, there is no other good explanation. That maybe they didn't weigh it empty and low-balled its weight during the weighing to shift blame onto the machine. It doesn't really matter now, we've paid.

Well in the scope of things just feel lucky their only asking for 500 bucks more! So when it get to the border do they have to weight the truck and machine before they cross or are you picking it up at the border....

If so i would be asking for proof of weight with scale tickets where they weighed in the first time, to come up with the extra weight and for any scale ticket between shipping location and yours.Then when they unload make them weight there truck and trailer.Then you will know the truth of the machine real weight.

I also understand when your a long ways from the machine and depending on getting it from point A to B you have to deal with things the best you can.Look at it this way $500 dollars won't go to far on plane ticket and all the hassle that would bring.Just hope the machine is what you thought it was .
Good luck

Yeah, that's the attitude we've taken. We still paid a good price for the transport. It registers in my mind as interesting that the All-ways rep *asked* about this the day before the pick-up. I don't know whether to count that as due diligence or fair warning. They sent us a photo of the scale ticket - which really proves nothing, all it tells me is the machine and the truck together weighed 83,000 lbs. Our driver isn't concerned about weight, the rules are really different down here. He has no reason to weigh it, and neither to we.

Is it a 200LC-8 or a 200HD-8? Where did the trucker weigh it? It doesn't take much dirt on an undercarriage to add up to 1500-2000 lbs. Not to mention everywhere else. If it has a long stick, like most do, that will add a good 300-400 lbs. Is the bucket clean? Once again, doesn't take very much dirt to add up to 300 lbs. Nowadays, I am more shocked if a 200 or 210 hoe weighs LESS than 49,000 lbs.