When planning foundation work, sheet piling, or utility construction, pairing the right excavator with a hydraulic vibratory pile driver is critical for efficiency, equipment longevity, and job site safety. The excavator must provide sufficient hydraulic flow, working pressure, lifting capacity, and overall stability to operate the attachment safely and efficiently. Different models are designed for different excavator weight classes. Based on the specifications of the YG Machinery series hydraulic vibratory pile drivers, the recommended excavator sizes range from approximately 12 tons to 40 tons. The YG-45 model is suitable for 12–18 ton excavators, the YG-80 model is suitable for 20–27 ton excavators, and the YG-125 model is suitable for 30–40 ton excavators. Selecting a model within the correct excavator range helps ensure stable operation, effective vibration, and better equipment service life.
Technical Data of the Excavator Pile Driver for Sale
| Model | YG-45 | YG-80 | YG-125 |
| Suitable Excavator | 12–18T | 20–27T | 30–40T |
| Working Flow Rate | 113L | 200L | 260L |
| Maximum Working Pressure | 35Mpa | 35Mpa | 35Mpa |
| Maximum Vibration Force | 343KN | 450KN | 695KN |
| Impact Frequency | 2500rpm | 2500rpm | 2080rpm |
| Maximum Pile Extraction Force | 120KN | 120KN | 168KN |
| Outer Diameter Of Pipe Piles | ≤300mm | ≤300mm | ≤300mm |
| Machine Weight | 1350KG | 2300KG | 2800KG |
| Dimension | 2306*1268*680mm | 2306*1268*680mm | 2610*1616*746mm |
Understanding Hydraulic Vibratory Pile Drivers
A hydraulic vibratory pile driver is an excavator attachment that uses hydraulic power to generate high-frequency vibration. The vibration is transferred through the clamp and pile to help drive or extract piles from the ground.
Compared with conventional impact pile driving equipment, a hydraulic vibratory pile driver works through rapid vibration rather than repeated heavy impacts. This makes it suitable for a variety of applications, including sheet pile installation, steel pipe pile installation, foundation work, temporary structures, cofferdams, bridge construction, and pile extraction.
One of the major advantages of a hydraulic vibratory pile driver is its compatibility with excavators. Instead of using a dedicated piling machine, contractors can install the attachment on an existing excavator, provided that the excavator meets the required hydraulic and weight specifications.
However, excavator tonnage should not be considered the only selection factor. Hydraulic flow and pressure are equally important. An excavator that is too small may not provide enough hydraulic power or stability, while an excavator that is significantly larger than the recommended range may not always provide the most economical combination.
Recommended Excavator Tonnage for Different Models
The YG series mainly provides three hydraulic vibratory pile driver models for different excavator weight classes.
- The YG-45 hydraulic vibratory pile driver is designed for excavators weighing approximately 12–18 tons. Its recommended working flow rate is 113L, with a maximum working pressure of 35 MPa. The maximum vibration force is 343 KN, and the impact frequency is 2500 rpm. Its maximum pile extraction force is 120 KN.
- The YG-80 model is suitable for excavators weighing approximately 20–27 tons. It requires a working flow rate of 200L and has a maximum working pressure of 35 MPa. Its maximum vibration force reaches 450 KN, while the impact frequency is 2500 rpm. The maximum pile extraction force is also 120 KN.
- The YG-125 is the largest model in this series and is designed for 30–40 ton excavators. It has a working flow rate of 260L and a maximum working pressure of 35 MPa. The maximum vibration force reaches 695 KN, while the impact frequency is 2080 rpm. Its maximum pile extraction force is 168 KN.
If you want to find the right vibratory pile driver, please contact us and tell us your excavator information; we will reply to you as soon as possible.
Why Is Excavator Tonnage Important for a Vibratory Pile Driver?
Excavator tonnage is an important consideration because a hydraulic vibratory pile driver can generate substantial vibration and dynamic force during operation. The carrier excavator needs enough weight and stability to control the attachment and maintain safe operation.
If an excavator is too small for the attachment, several problems may occur. The machine may become unstable during pile installation or extraction. It may also struggle to provide the required hydraulic flow and pressure. In demanding ground conditions, insufficient carrier capacity can reduce productivity and make the equipment more difficult to control.
For example, the YG-125 generates a maximum vibration force of 695 KN. This is substantially higher than the 343 KN vibration force of the YG-45. Therefore, it is logical that the larger YG-125 requires a much heavier excavator, with a recommended range of 30–40 tons.
Hydraulic Flow Is Just as Important as Excavator Weight
When choosing a hydraulic vibratory pile driver, excavator tonnage is only part of the equation. Hydraulic flow rate is another critical specification.
The hydraulic system of the excavator supplies power to the pile driver. If the excavator cannot provide sufficient hydraulic flow, the attachment may not reach its intended operating performance.
The three YG models have different hydraulic flow requirements. The YG-45 requires a working flow rate of 113L, while the YG-80 requires 200L and the YG-125 requires 260L.
This difference is important when selecting a carrier machine. An excavator may technically fall into the correct tonnage range but still be unsuitable if its hydraulic system does not provide the required flow.
For example, simply choosing a 20-ton excavator does not automatically mean it can operate every hydraulic vibratory pile driver designed for this class. The excavator’s hydraulic specifications should be checked against the attachment requirements before installation.
Working Pressure and Hydraulic Compatibility
Maximum working pressure is another key specification. The YG-45, YG-80, and YG-125 models listed in the specifications all have a maximum working pressure of 35 MPa.
Although the maximum pressure is the same, the required hydraulic flow differs between models. This demonstrates why both pressure and flow should be considered together.
A suitable excavator hydraulic system should be able to deliver the required flow while operating within the appropriate pressure range. The attachment should not simply be connected to an excavator without confirming hydraulic compatibility.
Before purchasing a hydraulic vibratory pile driver, it is recommended to check the excavator’s hydraulic pump specifications, auxiliary hydraulic circuit, flow rate, operating pressure, hydraulic connections, and control system.
Matching Vibration Force With Excavator Size
Vibration force is another useful indicator when selecting a hydraulic vibratory pile driver.
The YG-45 provides a maximum vibration force of 343 KN. The YG-80 increases this to 450 KN, while the YG-125 reaches 695 KN.
Higher vibration force can be advantageous when working with larger piles or more challenging ground conditions. However, greater vibration force also means that the carrier machine must have sufficient stability and hydraulic capacity.
This is why the larger YG-125 is matched with 30–40 ton excavators rather than smaller machines. The heavier carrier provides a more suitable platform for handling the attachment and its dynamic forces.
The correct combination of excavator weight and vibration force can improve operating stability and help contractors achieve consistent piling performance.
Pile Extraction Capability
A hydraulic vibratory pile driver is not only used for pile installation. It can also be used for pile extraction.
This is particularly useful when temporary sheet piles, steel pipe piles, construction supports, or other reusable piles need to be removed after a project.
According to the specifications, the YG-45 and YG-80 have a maximum pile extraction force of 120 KN, while the YG-125 provides a maximum pile extraction force of 168 KN.
The larger extraction capacity of the YG-125 makes it particularly suitable for heavier-duty applications involving larger or more difficult-to-remove piles.
However, actual extraction performance depends on many factors, including pile size, pile length, soil conditions, pile embedment depth, friction, and the condition of the surrounding ground. Therefore, maximum extraction force should be viewed as a specification rather than a guarantee of performance in every application.
Conclusion: How to Choose the Right Excavator?
- First, check the recommended excavator weight range. For the YG series, this means selecting a 12–18 ton excavator for the YG-45, a 20–27 ton excavator for the YG-80, or a 30–40 ton excavator for the YG-125.
- Second, check hydraulic flow. The excavator must be capable of supplying the required working flow for the selected hydraulic vibratory pile driver.
- Third, check hydraulic pressure. The excavator’s auxiliary hydraulic system must be compatible with the working pressure requirements of the attachment.
- Fourth, consider lifting and stability. The excavator must be capable of handling the attachment and pile safely, particularly when working with long piles or when the pile driver is positioned at greater reach.
- Fifth, consider the pile specifications. The outside diameter, length, material, and weight of the piles should be compatible with the selected clamp and pile driver.
- Finally, consider the actual working environment. Soil conditions, access restrictions, working height, pile installation depth, and available space can all affect equipment selection.
Are you looking for a suitable excavator pile driver for your excavator and projects? For more detailed information, please contact us freely.
