Used Excavator and Construction Equipment Counterweights

Why an Excavator Needs a Counterweight

With the arm extended and bucket loaded, the load creates a torque that tends to tip the machine forward. Mounted at the rear of the turret, the counterweight balances this torque and repositions the center of gravity above the tracks or wheels. Its weight is calculated by the manufacturer with the original equipment: it determines the lifting capacity shown on the load chart. A counterweight from another model, even a similar one, distorts these values. It rests on the upper chassis and directly stresses the slewing ring.

Used Counterweights by Brand

• Caterpillar: excavators 312E, 315F, 323F, 325F, 336E, 345C, wheeled excavators M313D and M318D, loaders 966K and 980M
• Liebherr: wheeled excavators A311 and A924, excavators R936 and R954C
• Volvo: excavators EC140D and EC210B, loaders L45G, L110F, and L120E
• Kubota U36-4 and KX080-4, Hitachi ZX85US and ZX140W-5, Komatsu HB215LC-1
• Mecalac 714MW and 12MTX, backhoe loader Case 580SLE

Counterweights for Mini Excavators: Short Offset and Additional Counterweight

On a mini excavator with a short rear offset, like the Kubota U36-4, the counterweight is shaped to stay within the track gauge during rotation: allowing the machine to turn alongside a wall without contact. Other models accept an additional counterweight, a bolt-on plate option that increases lifting capacity, especially when using a hydraulic breaker or heavy bucket. This ballast must be approved: only manufacturer-specified counterweights for your model respect the load limits of the turret and slewing ring. For all mini excavator structural parts, see the mini excavator chassis and counterweights page.

One-piece, Plates, or Loader Counterweights

• One-piece: cast iron block or weighted steel box, the most common type for excavators
• Additional Plates: bolted onto the base counterweight, depending on the manufacturer's options
• Loader: rear counterweight that also serves as a bumper and often protects the radiator
• Backhoe Loader: front mass that balances the rear excavator

Handling and Transporting a Counterweight

From a few hundred kilos on a mini excavator to several tons on a 30-ton excavator, counterweights must be handled only with lifting equipment, using their original lifting eyes or rigging points. Reassembly uses new bolts tightened to the manufacturer's specifications. Codimatra ships these heavy parts throughout France, with transport costs quoted based on weight.

What We Inspect Before Sale

• No cracks in cast iron or welds of the box
• Threads and bearing surfaces on the turret
• Intact lifting rings and points
• Matching part for the original model

Getting the Counterweight for Your Excavator

Provide your machine's brand, model, and serial number, along with the installed equipment. Our advisors search for the original counterweight among around 17,000 references and respond at 05 18 23 21 34.