How to Operate an Excavator

Whether you are a seasoned pro or new to the game, you are always learning when you find yourself inside an excavator cab. In this blog, we will go over five important aspects of operating an excavator, including controls, driving/operating, digging, backfilling, and parking.

Controls

Right Joystick: Controls the Boom and Bucket

• Boom: The boom is an angled arm that is attached to the excavator itself that moves up and down. It is controlled by pushing the right joystick forward (boom down) and backward (boom up).

• Bucket: The bucket is located at the end of the stick. It is controlled by tipping your wrist to the left (bucket open) and to the right (bucket closed).

Left Joystick: Controls the Stick and Swing

• Stick: The stick is pinned to the boom and moves forward and backward. It is controlled by pushing the left joystick forward (away from the cab) and backward (towards the cab).

• Swing: The swing can rotate the excavator cab 360 degrees. It is controlled by tipping your wrist to the right or left.

Driving

Generally, you are either digging or driving. If you’re new to operating the excavator, we recommend keeping it simple. To drive, you want to become familiar with your track pedals, which control the direction of your tracks. You can use your hands or feet with the track pedals. If you are facing forward, your track pedals will operate as follows:

• Both pedals pressed forward: The excavator will move forward in a straight line.

• Right petal: Your track will move to the right.

• Left petal: Your track will move to the left.

• Both petals pressed backward: The excavator will move backward in a straight line.

Digging

Like the controls, learning the correct way to dig is essential to becoming efficient as an excavator operator. Safety is key. Remember to start straight over your tracks, which should keep your machine the most stable. Here are tips to help you dig effectively:

• Take your feet off the track petals before digging.

• Start by extending the stick straight out.

• Make sure the teeth of the bucket are angled enough to dig into the ground easily.

• Lower your bucket into the ground. When you have enough dirt, curl your bucket.

• Raise your boom high enough off the ground to prevent dragging.

• Use your swing controls to move towards the direction you’d like to drop your dirt.

• Open your bucket to drop the dirt.

Backfilling

Backfilling with a bulldozer is preferred, but if nothing else is available, you can backfill effectively with an excavator. It takes a lot of stick time to become proficient, so new operators should take it slow and follow these general steps:

• Start at the furthest point out from the excavator and work your way in.

• Scoop as many piles of dirt as possible back into the hole. Avoid digging below the surface.

• Once you move the majority of the dirt, you can use the side of the bucket to move the remaining dirt over the hole.

Parking

Properly parking your excavator is extremely important. This will ensure that you are able to climb out safely and that the excavator is ready for the next job.

• Position yourself so you are square with your tracks.

• Lower the bucket so that it is flat to the ground. Lower the bucket so that it is flat to the ground.

• Pull up on your safety lock lever/parking brake to lock the machine.

• Turn the throttle down.

• Leave the machine idling for the manufacturer’s recommended amount of time and turn off the ignition.

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