Used Komatsu PC300-8 at $51,000: 2023, 3,000 Hours
The PC300-8 is a 2023 machine with 3,000 hours, listed at $51,000 FOB. For a 30-ton excavator, that is a low-hour, near-new unit. The price is higher than the older 30-ton machines in the yard, and the question is whether the remaining life justifies it.
The listing
| Field | PC300-8 |
|---|---|
| Year | 2023 |
| Hours | 3,000 h |
| Class | 30-ton |
| FOB | $51,000 |
What the premium buys
A 3,000-hour machine has most of its major component life ahead of it. If the hours are supported, the undercarriage, hydraulic pump and engine should be far from replacement compared with a 7,000–10,000-hour unit. That is the value of the higher price.
It also reduces the immediate repair risk. For a buyer who needs the machine to start earning quickly, that can matter more than the sticker. A low-hour Komatsu is only worth the premium once the hours can be tied to the machine.
What 3,000 hours does not tell you
The hour meter counts engine run time, not how hard those hours were. A machine that spent 3,000 hours grading soft fill and one that spent 3,000 hours breaking rock can show the same number and need very different repairs. Ask what the unit was used for, whether a breaker was mounted, and whether service intervals were kept.
Attachment history matters on a 30-ton machine. Hammer work sends shock through the boom, arm, pins and hydraulic circuit, so a low-hour unit with a long breaker history can be worn beyond its meter.
Calendar age is the other half. A 2023 machine has had less time for seals, hoses and wiring to degrade, which is a real advantage. But a machine that sat unused can develop fuel and electrical problems. Low hours and light use are not the same thing.
Treat the reading as a claim, not a grade. Ask for the hour-meter photo and serial plate in the same frame, then for service records that line up with the meter. If records are missing, the wear becomes the evidence.
What to verify
- Hour-meter photo and the serial plate in the same video.
- Undercarriage measurements; low hours should show.
- Hydraulic cycle and any fault codes.
- Engine cold start and smoke.
- Structure and paint; a near-new machine should not have major welds.
Transport
A 30-ton unit is not a container machine. Expect a flat rack, RoRo or breakbulk quote. Get the dimensions and the loading plan before comparing it with a 20-ton unit.
Loading a 30-ton unit: the plan, not just the rate
The freight rate is one line in the plan. The full quote depends on folded dimensions, weight, the destination port and the sailing schedule. Ask for measurements with the boom in the travel position, the bucket removed if that is how it will ship, and the counterweight configuration. The forwarder needs the centre of gravity and the lifting points, not just the model name.
Preparation usually includes securing the cab, disconnecting the battery, protecting exposed surfaces and confirming the lashing plan. At the destination, confirm the discharge equipment and the inland trailer before the unit sails.
Where the used Komatsu PC300-8 fits
It fits a contractor or quarry that needs a 30-ton machine and wants low hours, or a buyer who plans to keep the machine for years. It is not the cheapest entry into the class; it is the lower-risk one.
Cost of ownership at the low-hour end
The purchase price buys the machine; the remaining component life is what you use. At 3,000 hours, the undercarriage, hydraulic pump and engine should still be well short of replacement, which is why the unit commands a premium. That premium is only recovered if you run the machine enough to consume the life you paid for.
A low-hour machine on a low-utilization site ties up capital without returning the benefit, and a cheaper higher-hour unit may fit better. Add transport, inspection, a repair reserve, parts availability and local resale to the comparison before deciding.
The test before you commit
Ask three questions. Can the hours be tied to this machine through records and wear? Will you run it hard enough to use the life you are paying for? Can you get parts and service where it will work? If any answer is no, the premium is harder to justify.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 3,000-hour reading verified?
It is the meter reading. Ask for the records and compare the wear before treating it as verified.
Can you quote CIF?
Yes. Share the destination port and we will quote the loading method and freight.
Why is it more expensive?
The PC300-8 price reflects year and hours. A 2023 low-hour machine carries a premium over older 30-ton units.
Pay for remaining life, not the year alone.
Ask for the cold-start video and undercarriage measurements for the PC300-8.
Open the PC300-8 listing · Model page · Request an inspection