Excavator Controls User Guide

How to Work with an Excavator

Before you enter the excavator, make sure the door is secure and locked to the side of the machine so you can use the handle to climb in safely and so the wind doesn’t blow it shut against you. Keep your three points in contact as you climb in. At this point, you should go through the following steps:

• Always put your seat belt on first.

• Release the door lock and close the door.

• Make sure you’re familiar with the controls before you start to operate the excavator.

Driving and Parking

Offline the control before you ever try to drive the excavator. Here is exactly how to do it:

• Turn the key to start the excavator.

• Check the display for error codes and ensure it has fuel.

• Engage the safety lock lever (the controls won’t work while it’s locked).

Generally, the bars used to operate a track excavator are the hand levers and the foot pedals for each track.

The foot pedals will enable you to operate with the motion of your feet as well. If you push the lever in a forward motion, the excavator will follow the same motion on the track. Yet, if you pull the lever backward, the track and the movement of the machine will be in a backward motion.

The steering and driving of the excavator require that you manipulate the pedals in a complex way. It is advisable to have one foot on the appropriate track pedal and another on the respective hand control.

If you align the cab’s front with the tracks, it becomes simpler to drive the excavator. Therefore, here is a piece of advice to you, square the cab to the tracks, you will get more information in this way if the orientation is well defined.

To accomplish a parking procedure, the operator needs to lower the bucket to the ground, put the safety lock lever down, and turn off the power using the key.

Digging and Trenching

For the most stability while digging, line up in a straight line. Here are some tips that will guide you on how to use the excavator bucket for digging:

• Extend the dipper/stick and bucket all the way out, then lower it till you’re about a foot off the ground.

• Point the bucket teeth downwards, move the bucket down to pierce the ground, and then curl the bucket for digging and fill the bucket.

• Lift the bucket five to six feet off the ground, then left (or right) swing to discharge.

• Keep doing this activity.

When you gain more skills, you can use both levers miserly to remove a tiny layer from the top of the ground.

Backfilling

To fill again, you may go in the reverse of the digging steps. What to emphasize here is that you don’t have to raise the bucket so high. While digging the hole, you can press down and swing the bucket carefully along the right area at the same time to make the filling process more efficient. In the process of swinging back or sideways, you may also use the back or side of the bucket to move the material into the hole. The gear should not be too heavy in order to carry out the operation easily.

Grading

The excavator can be utilized to alter the grade/slope of the land, for instance, on a construction site or to change the direction of the water flow. You can perform it by means of an excavator bucket or grading implement, by respecting the followings steps:

• Direct the bucket downwards and scratch the ground with it to loosen the soil.

• Draw the bucket straight back on the ground to scrape and collect the material and carry it to the place you want to raise. Use the bucket’s bottom to spread it evenly.

• Ensure that the bucket is held at a constant angle for a uniform grade.

Are Backhoe and Excavator Controls the Same?

The SAE and ISO controls are quite common in the operation of many present-day backhoes and excavators. In the past, though, it was considered unusual for a backhoe to be run on ISO since SAE was the mode of operation.

At present, backhoe and an excavator can both have the same joystick control pattern, but the controls of the machine as a whole are different. Controls also vary depending on the manufacturer and the machine itself.

This is because, in addition to the backhoe being equipped with a front loader and wheels, the pedal and controls for its operation are different from those of an excavator with tracks.

1. Excavator Safety Tips

If you are going to handle a mini-ex...

• Inspect under the machine to observe damage or leaks.

• Check the tracks to see if they are tight and if there are any loose/missing parts.

• Look at the boom and bucket.

• Inspect the fuel, fluids, and filters for any issue and, if necessary, correct them.

• Attempt all the lights and controls.

2. Be Aware of Your Surroundings

You always need to be vigilant and always be aware of your surroundings and always be careful with your equipment when you are on-site and also aware of other equipment and people. Use proper driving or digging techniques, and still, make a careful check for overhead and underground utility lines.

To have the best visibility, keep the bucket parallel and 1 to 2 feet off the ground. If there are overhead hazards, then the dipper can be pushed down and the bucket can be curled all the way in. However, keep in mind that this will reduce your view from the front entirely.

3. Maintain Your Equipment

Always refer to the operator manual to learn the best way to operate and maintain your equipment properly. The manual contains all the basic information about the safety features and controls, the parts of your excavator, and other important things that you should know.