A machine that arrives with a bent cylinder rod, a cracked counterweight or a twisted track frame was usually damaged while standing still: lifted from the wrong place, blocked on nothing, or chained over a hose guard. None of that damage is covered by a parts warranty, and all of it is avoidable with a thirty-minute plan. Guangzhou Shenyue Machinery Technology Co., Ltd. ships parts to importers who move machines as well as components, and the failures we hear about repeat in the same order.
Start with the weight and the centre of gravity
Use the operating weight from the machine plate, not from a brochure for a similar model, and add the attachment and any bucket or breaker that stays fitted. Then think about where the mass actually sits: with the boom forward the centre of gravity moves toward the front idlers, and a machine lifted on that basis behaves differently from one with the front retracted. Transport position — arm in, bucket curled and lowered, attachment close to the ground — keeps the centre of gravity near the middle of the track frame and is the position every tie-down plan should assume.
Lifting: the points that exist and the ones that do not
Lift only from the designated lifting points marked on the track frame or frame structure, using shackles and slings rated for the load with a documented safety factor. Never lift from the bucket, the boom, the arm, the cylinder rods, the cab, or the tie-down lugs — those lugs are rated for restraint, not for lifting, and they are frequently the first thing to tear out. A spreader beam keeps the slings vertical, and vertical slings matter more than most people realise.
| Sling angle from vertical | Share of vertical capacity per leg |
|---|---|
| 0 degrees | 100 percent |
| 30 degrees | 87 percent |
| 45 degrees | 71 percent |
| 60 degrees | 50 percent |
That table is why a two-leg lift at 60 degrees needs slings rated at twice the load. It is also why a lift that "worked last time" is not evidence of anything.
Blocking: what the machine sits on
Block under the track frame or the track shoes with cribbing that will not crush or roll, and never rely on the machine's own hydraulics to hold a raised component while anyone is underneath. For a machine on a trailer, chock both directions and block the frame so the suspension — the tracks and the recoil springs — is not carrying the transport loads alone. Blocking also protects the tie-down: a machine that can bounce will shock-load chains far beyond their working load.
Tie-down: four points, right structure
Use four points, crossed where the trailer design allows, and attach to the track frame or the designated lugs with chains or straps that are rated and inspected. Route chains over the track frame or the shoe, never over hoses, cylinder rods, the cab step or a handrail. Protect edges with softeners, keep chains off the tyres of a wheeled carrier, and tension so the machine cannot shift but the frame is not distorted. After the first ten kilometres, stop and re-check tension: chains settle, and the second check is the one that matters. The export packing guide covers the component side of the same discipline.
The damage to look for on arrival
Inspect before signing. Look for bent cylinder rods, which show as a wiped or scored band on the chrome; cracked counterweight corners, which point at a sling over the edge; twisted track frames, which show as uneven track tension side to side; crushed hose runs and torn clamp brackets; and a cab that has moved on its mounts. Guangzhou Shenyue Machinery Technology Co., Ltd. asks for photographs of the damage and the machine plate before quoting the repair, and the undercarriage and cylinder range covers the parts most often needed after a bad move, and the arm bushing LC12B02199P1 is a common casualty when a machine is chained down over the front pins.
Plan the move like a repair job. Weight, centre of gravity, lifting points, blocking, four tie-down points, edge protection, re-check at ten kilometres, inspection on arrival. Guangzhou Shenyue Machinery Technology Co., Ltd. supplies the parts for the last step, and the first six are free.
When the machine is going overseas
Container and flat-rack moves add a dimension: the machine may be partly dismantled, the counterweight may travel separately, and the lashing points change with the frame. Photograph the lashing before the doors close and again at destination, and keep the photographs with the shipping documents. For a 20 tonne machine the SK200 class page gives the working weights to plan against; Kobelco's published specification data at kobelco.co.jp is the reference for anything that decides a lift.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the lifting points on a Kobelco excavator?
On the track frame or frame structure, at the points marked for lifting. Never lift from the bucket, boom, arm, cylinder rods, cab or the tie-down lugs, which are rated for restraint only. Use rated shackles and slings, and keep slings as close to vertical as the lift allows.
How many tie-down points should a machine use on a trailer?
Four, attached to the track frame or designated lugs, crossed where the trailer design allows. Route chains over the track frame or shoe rather than over hoses, rods or steps, protect edges, and re-check tension after the first ten kilometres. Blocking under the frame prevents bounce that shock-loads the chains.
Why does sling angle matter so much?
Each leg carries a share of the load that falls with the cosine of its angle from vertical: about 87 percent at 30 degrees, 71 percent at 45 and 50 percent at 60. A two-leg lift at 60 degrees therefore needs slings rated at roughly twice the load. A spreader beam keeps legs vertical and restores capacity.
What damage should I check for after transporting a machine?
Bent or scored cylinder rods, cracked counterweight corners, uneven track tension indicating a twisted frame, crushed hoses and torn brackets, and a cab that has shifted on its mounts. Inspect before signing. Guangzhou Shenyue Machinery Technology Co., Ltd. stocks the common repair parts, including bushings such as LC12B02199P1.