Used Hydraulic Pumps for Construction Equipment: Performance and Savings with Codimatra

The Different Hydraulic Pumps on Construction Equipment

There are several types of pumps in a construction machine's hydraulic circuit that work closely with other key components such as the hydraulic distributor and swivel joints.

The main hydraulic pump converts hydraulic energy into mechanical energy for the machine's primary mechanisms and cylinders. It is the most heavily used part of the circuit and therefore the most in-demand on the resale market.

The secondary hydraulic pump supplies the components that the main pump cannot handle alone, already tasked with the machine's most critical functions.

The steering hydraulic pump pressurizes the oil in the cylinders connected to the steering system, making movements easier and providing more power to the steering wheel or control lever.

The rotation hydraulic pump converts hydraulic energy from a distributor into mechanical movement, typically to rotate the slewing ring of a tracked excavator. Controlled by a joystick, it translates the operator's commands into motion, operating at variable speed as regulated by the hydraulic distributor which sets the pressure to apply.

The travel hydraulic pump converts energy from the thermal engine into hydraulic energy, drawing oil from the reservoir and supplying it at a precise flow rate to move the machine.

Piston, Gear or Variable Displacement Pumps: Which Technology for My Machine?

Axial piston pumps excel in high-pressure systems, reaching operating pressures up to 400 bar on the main circuits of hydraulic excavators, often achieving volumetric efficiencies above 90% during intensive use. Gear pumps, known for their robustness and simple design, are ideal for secondary circuits of loaders, with typical operating pressures between 180 and 250 bar. Variable displacement pumps automatically adjust their displacement to the machine's actual needs, optimizing energy consumption compared to fixed displacement pumps.

Used Main Hydraulic Pumps for Caterpillar, Liebherr, Case, JCB, Volvo, Hyundai, Komatsu, Hitachi and O&K

For your wheeled excavators and tracked excavators, our extensive range of hydraulic pumps improves power steering, adds force to the boom operating the bucket, or replaces a faulty travel pump. The hydraulic pump generates flow at the heart of the system by drawing fluid from the reservoir, providing the necessary power to the boom and stick cylinders to maximize machine efficiency.

Our dismantling activity covers main hydraulic pumps for Liebherr and Caterpillar, two brands well represented in our inventory. For Liebherr, the German manufacturer produces its LINDE main pumps in-house, fitted on models such as the R912 Litronic or the A902 wheeled excavator equipped with an LPVD075. For Caterpillar, we have main pumps for loaders in the 963 series, with manufacturer references and serial numbers provided for each part; this range also includes hydraulic distributors and control blocks suited to series D and E.

For Case, the main A8VO80 pump notably equips the 1188 tracked excavator, a reference we regularly dismantle with its associated rotation and steering pumps.

For JCB, Volvo, Hyundai and Komatsu, our technicians identify the exact reference based on your machine’s model and serial number, regardless of the machine's age.

Our dismantling operations also extend to less common brands such as Hitachi and O&K, frequently represented in our stock. O&K pumps, rarer in the used market, receive special care during each dismantling to preserve this specific supply for professionals who need them.

Used Power Take-Off (PTO) Hydraulic Pumps: A Different Application

On certain agricultural or industrial equipment, the hydraulic pump works coupled to a power take-off directly driven by the tractor’s engine. This setup differs from the hydraulic pumps on construction machines, which are driven by the machine's own thermal engine through a closed system specific to the equipment. If you’re looking for a pump for construction machinery, ensure your requirement matches a main, secondary, steering, rotation, or travel pump rather than a PTO-driven pump.

Signs Indicating a Hydraulic Pump Needs Inspection

Several symptoms should raise concern before a more costly failure occurs. An abnormal increase in circuit temperature, exceeding 70 to 80°C under load, combined with jerky cylinder movements, usually indicates advanced failure of the pumping system — a sign that can also point to a malfunctioning hydraulic distributor, which is why a complete circuit diagnosis is essential. Unusual metallic noises during operation indicate internal component wear, while cavitation caused by improper suction in the circuit gradually damages the pump’s internal shafts and gears.

Contamination of the hydraulic fluid accounts for most issues found in secondary pumps: metal particles from normal wear cause progressive erosion of internal surfaces, accelerated by inadequate preventive maintenance when filter replacement intervals exceed 500 operating hours. This contamination also affects swivel joints and solenoid valves in the circuit. For rotation pumps, debris accumulation over time damages internal components progressively, and their replacement must be accompanied by a complete system purge.

How to Diagnose a Faulty Hydraulic Pump?

The flow and pressure measurements performed by our specialized technicians accurately determine your pump's condition before any replacement. This thorough diagnosis ensures you won’t replace a still-functioning pump when the problem lies with another component in the hydraulic system, such as a faulty grease lubrication unit that can accelerate overall system wear.

Our Refurbishment Process

Each used hydraulic pump undergoes rigorous inspection before reintroduction to the market. Our technicians check every component and validate hydraulic performance in the workshop, systematically replacing wear parts such as seals, bearings, and pistons as identified during diagnosis. A detailed report, including tests and observations, is provided before shipment.

If your circuit also requires replacing a rotation hydraulic motor, a travel hydraulic motor or a hydraulic distributor, our hydraulic parts catalogue covers all related components for your machine’s system. Our network of specialist carriers ensures careful handling of these technical parts, with reinforced packaging adapted to hydraulic components.