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What Kind of Machine the SK210LC Is
The SK210LC is a ~21-ton class long-carriage crawler excavator aimed at earthmoving, utility trenching, site prep, and light quarry work. Balanced chassis geometry, a long undercarriage for stability, and a quick, efficient hydraulic package make it a favorite in mixed fleets where fuel burn, smooth controls, and uptime matter more than raw breakout alone.
Core Specs at a Glance
Hydraulic Architecture in Plain Terms
A contractor’s SK210LC started losing boom lift near the end of long days, but travel remained strong. Pressures checked fine cold. The crew finally graphed pilot pressure after two hours under load and found the pilot circuit drifting 0.8 MPa low as oil warmed. A plugged pilot return screen and a tired pilot relief spring were the culprits. After cleaning the pilot return path and replacing the spring, the machine regained full authority even at dusk when oil was hottest.
Another Real-World Fix: Chronic Swing Overshoot
A drainage crew complained of swing overshoot during fine grading. The swing brake released early but re-engaged sluggishly. Pressure was in spec on paper. The solution was two-fold: reseal the swing brake piston to restore crisp engagement, and recalibrate the controller’s swing decel map. Operators reported smoother placement and shaved seconds off each cycle.
Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
The SK210LC rewards methodical care. Start with pilot health, confirm reliefs, keep the cooler stack pristine, and document pressures and timing when the machine is truly warm. Do that, and you’ll keep cycle times snappy, fuel burn reasonable, and components living long, productive lives.
The SK210LC is a ~21-ton class long-carriage crawler excavator aimed at earthmoving, utility trenching, site prep, and light quarry work. Balanced chassis geometry, a long undercarriage for stability, and a quick, efficient hydraulic package make it a favorite in mixed fleets where fuel burn, smooth controls, and uptime matter more than raw breakout alone.
Core Specs at a Glance
- Operating weight: typically 20–22.5 t depending on configuration
- Net power: roughly 150–165 hp across generations
- Standard bucket: about 0.8–1.0 m³
- Max dig depth: about 6.0–6.7 m
- Hydraulic flow: twin variable-displacement pumps in the ~2×200–230 L/min band
- System relief: commonly in the 31–35 MPa range for implement circuits
- Travel speed: about 3–5.5 km/h with auto two-speed
Hydraulic Architecture in Plain Terms
- Closed-center, load-sensing control manages flow so the machine only delivers what the joystick demands, saving fuel and heat.
- Twin main pumps supply implements and travel; a smaller pilot pump feeds low-pressure pilot circuits for smooth proportional control.
- EP/ECU controller monitors pressure sensors, joystick signals, engine load, and temperature to modulate pump swash and engine rpm.
- Swing priority and boom regeneration logic helps keep cycle times crisp without wasting flow.
- Engine oil: heavy-duty diesel oil meeting current OEM spec; typical 10W-30 or 15W-40 based on climate
- Hydraulic oil: premium anti-wear hydraulic fluid with correct zinc content per OEM spec; consider higher viscosity index for wide temperature swings
- Coolant: long-life coolant with the right inhibitor package for wet-sleeve engines if equipped
- Final drive oil: 80W-90 or 85W-140 gear oil per ambient conditions
- Grease: lithium complex NLGI #2 for general points, high-moly for high-load pins
- Typical intervals: engine oil 250–500 h, hydraulic filters 500 h, hydraulic oil 2,000–4,000 h or by fluid analysis
- Keep return, case drain, and pilot filters on schedule; monitor differential-pressure indicators.
- Grease every shift when trenching or hammering; more often in mud or dust.
- Inspect radiator, oil cooler, and intercooler fins weekly; clean with low-pressure air and back-flushing water.
- Log hydraulic and fuel consumption; step changes often precede faults.
- Machine feels weak or “lazy” on the boom and stick
- Possible causes: clogged return or pilot filter, worn main relief valve, drift in pump control pressure sensor, incorrect pump swash neutral setting, blocked tank breather.
- Quick checks: confirm pilot pressure at spec; compare actual main relief to decal; inspect breather, change filters; run a simple stall-test and log pressures.
- Possible causes: clogged return or pilot filter, worn main relief valve, drift in pump control pressure sensor, incorrect pump swash neutral setting, blocked tank breather.
- One track slower than the other or stalls on slope
- Possible causes: travel motor case drain high, stuck center bypass in the travel valve, contamination in proportional solenoid, low pilot pressure on one side.
- Fix path: measure case drain flow/temperature side-to-side, clean and re-shim travel reliefs, swap left/right pilot hoses to see if the fault follows control or hardware.
- Possible causes: travel motor case drain high, stuck center bypass in the travel valve, contamination in proportional solenoid, low pilot pressure on one side.
- Swing slow, jerky, or coasts too long
- Possible causes: swing brake release pressure low, sticky swing priority valve, worn swing motor center section, contaminated brake piston seals.
- Remedies: verify brake release pressure, check swing relief and cushion valves, flush priority spool, inspect brake friction plates.
- Possible causes: swing brake release pressure low, sticky swing priority valve, worn swing motor center section, contaminated brake piston seals.
- Hydraulic oil runs hot
- Possible causes: fan not moving enough air, cooler clogged, bypass valve stuck, over-relieved system, auxiliary flow deadheading to tank.
- Actions: temperature-gun the cooler face, verify fan rotation and shroud seals, service cooler stack, check auxiliary quick couplers for internal collapse.
- Possible causes: fan not moving enough air, cooler clogged, bypass valve stuck, over-relieved system, auxiliary flow deadheading to tank.
- Cab throws intermittent pump or sensor codes; power cycles “fix” it
- Likely a marginal harness or ground, moisture in sealed connectors, or pilot supply drifting.
- Triage: wiggle-test harness near the pump controller, clean grounds to shiny metal, dielectric-grease weather-packs, and log live-data to find a repeatable trigger.
- Likely a marginal harness or ground, moisture in sealed connectors, or pilot supply drifting.
- Pilot pressure: typically 3.5–4.5 MPa stable at warm idle
- Implement relief: commonly mid-30 MPa; both sides should match within a small tolerance
- Travel relief: a touch higher than implement to keep mobility under load
- Case drain temps: a hot outlier motor indicates internal leakage
- Warm the machine to operating temperature.
- Verify pilot pressure first; nothing is “right” if pilot is low.
- Check main reliefs with boom/stick stalls against spec.
- Compare left/right functions by swapping pilot or solenoid commands to isolate hydraulic iron from electrics.
- If pressures are right but speed is slow, measure pump flow (or use cylinder timing with a stopwatch) to spot volumetric losses.
- Use oil analysis to confirm if you’re chasing wear metal vs. varnish/oxidation.
- Pump angle sensor, main pressure sensor, and engine ECU load signal are the “big three” for feel and fuel.
- A corroded ground can masquerade as a bad pump—always voltage-drop the grounds.
- If joystick feels “laggy,” check pilot supply filter element and pilot accumulator pre-charge.
- Keep track tension set per manual—too tight eats idlers and fuel; too loose derails on side-cuts.
- Rotate pins and bushings only with a plan; sometimes it’s cheaper to run to 100% and replace as a set.
- Measure and log link height, bushing OD, and sprocket tooth profile every 250 h.
- For thumbs, tilting buckets, or hammers, verify auxiliary relief and flow match the attachment’s rating.
- Always install a proper case-drain for hammers and high-speed mulchers.
- Use return-to-tank plumbing for heat-sensitive tools; avoid dumping return through the main valve if the attachment allows.
- In winter, down-grade hydraulic viscosity within spec and let the machine warm through automatic warm-up.
- Cycle each function lightly for a minute to pre-heat the circuits before loading.
- In hot seasons, keep the cooler stack spotless and consider a reversible fan kit if you’re constantly in chaff.
A contractor’s SK210LC started losing boom lift near the end of long days, but travel remained strong. Pressures checked fine cold. The crew finally graphed pilot pressure after two hours under load and found the pilot circuit drifting 0.8 MPa low as oil warmed. A plugged pilot return screen and a tired pilot relief spring were the culprits. After cleaning the pilot return path and replacing the spring, the machine regained full authority even at dusk when oil was hottest.
Another Real-World Fix: Chronic Swing Overshoot
A drainage crew complained of swing overshoot during fine grading. The swing brake released early but re-engaged sluggishly. Pressure was in spec on paper. The solution was two-fold: reseal the swing brake piston to restore crisp engagement, and recalibrate the controller’s swing decel map. Operators reported smoother placement and shaved seconds off each cycle.
Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
- Cold start: look for quick light-off, clean idle, and minimal white smoke
- Hydraulics: stall-test boom and stick at temperature; verify reliefs and note cycle times
- Swing: check for abnormal end-play and listen for growling at constant speed
- Travel: track straight on high speed and climb a slope without hunting
- Undercarriage: measure wear systematically; price the machine based on remaining life, not just “looks”
- Electronics: scan for active and logged codes; confirm display functions and working work-modes
- Leaks: pay attention to pump shaft seal dusting, swivel joint weeping, and final drive seals
- Guarding for the belly and swivel if you work in stumps or demo
- High-capacity breathers and magnetic drain plugs for finals and hydraulic tank
- Reversing fan or periodic air-pulse wand for the cooler stack
- LED work lights and a camera kit for the counterweight corner
- Keep movements smooth and avoid deadheading cylinders at full stroke for long periods
- Use the right work-mode; heavy digging in a fuel-saver map heats oil and kills cycle time
- Park with the stick and boom retracted to reduce dust on chrome and protect hoses
- Main pump cavitation noise that persists after air side checks
- Case drain flows rising rapidly with temperature
- Recurrent ECU communication faults that survive harness re-pins and ground refresh
- Unexplained hydraulic heat despite clean coolers and correct reliefs
The SK210LC rewards methodical care. Start with pilot health, confirm reliefs, keep the cooler stack pristine, and document pressures and timing when the machine is truly warm. Do that, and you’ll keep cycle times snappy, fuel burn reasonable, and components living long, productive lives.
