Industry Study Reveals: 90% of Excavators Are Only as Strong as Their Hydraulic Pump

International Construction Research Center – Morning Release

A newly released industry study has confirmed what mechanics have secretly known for years:
an excavator without a good hydraulic pump is basically a very confident paperweight.

Researchers observed hundreds of excavators in real job sites. The results were clear:

• Strong pump → smooth digging

• Weak pump → slow movement and angry operators

• No pump → long coffee break

“We changed the pump, and suddenly the machine remembered how to work,”
said one technician, still surprised by the results.

The report also highlights that hydraulic pumps operate under constant pressure, high temperature, and heavy load, yet are expected to perform silently, smoothly, and without drama.

When pumps fail, common symptoms include:

• Buckets that move like they’re thinking about it

• Arms that lift with emotional hesitation

• Operators blaming the joystick (again)

Experts strongly advise machine owners to invest in high-quality hydraulic pumps to avoid unnecessary downtime, job site jokes, and uncomfortable calls to the parts supplier.

At the end of the study, researchers concluded:

“If the engine is the brain,
then the hydraulic pump is the muscle,
the heart,
and the reason the excavator gets paid.”

Recommendation:
Treat your hydraulic pump well.
It remembers everything.