Learning to operate an excavator can be intimidating, especially if you’re a beginner. It’s crucial to understand the controls and safety procedures so you can operate an excavator efficiently and safely. By doing so, you’ll be able to get the job done faster and keep everyone on your project safe. In this ultimate guide, we’ll dive into the details of operating an excavator like a seasoned professional.
To operate an excavator effectively, start by familiarizing yourself with its controls and conducting pre-operation checks. Understand the functions of the joystick, foot pedals, and throttle. Always prioritize safety by inspecting the machine and wearing appropriate gear. Practice smooth, controlled movements to enhance performance and reduce accidents. This foundational knowledge sets you on the path to successful excavation projects.
So now, let’s get into the nitty-gritty of how to run an excavator—everything you ever wanted to know.
What Are the Basic Controls of an Excavator?
The first step to being able to operate the excavador effectively is understanding your controls. Typically, you have a joystick that’s going to run your boom and bucket, foot pedals to steer, and a fast and slow throttle to set your engine speed properly. Knowing your controls allows you to operate the machine efficiently. Your left joystick usually controls your height and your bucket’s angle, and your right joystick operates your swing and lateral movement. Each control has a purpose, allowing you to do all the broad range of motions you need for different applications.
So if you push the left joystick forward, your boom will go up. If you pull it back, your boom will go down. With your right joystick, you’re going to swing the boom right or left to help position the bucket. The foot pedals operate the tracks on your machine so you can drive it around the job site.
How to Conduct Pre-Operation Checks?
Before you even start digging, make sure you’ve done a pre-operation inspection. Check all the fluids and make sure you don’t have any leaks. Make sure everything looks good. Be proactive, so the machine doesn’t fail on you when you’re trying to do your thing. Double-check your hydraulics, oil levels, and all the hoses and cables. Look at your tracks. Make sure they’re not worn out and that your bucket is tightly attached.
Take a quick look at your hydraulics. No visible leaks. As long as you don’t have any leaks, you won’t lose any power, and everything will work as intended, and you’ll be like a rock star. Now check your oil. You need to make sure you have some in there. If somebody else is working a machine, it’s their responsibility to add oil or anything else it’s going to take to be able to complete your task. Then check all the way around your undercarriage.
Are your tracks still there, or are they laying on the ground? Lastly, check your safety devices. Make sure you have an alarm. If it’s twenty years old, you’re probably okay without an alarm, but make sure you have your lights, strobes, and everything you need to make sure everybody knows where you’re at and what you’re doing.
What Safety Gear Should You Wear?
Safety is the number one thing to remember if you’re hopping in a piece of equipment. You need to have all of your personal protective equipment (PPE) on. If you’re running up to get inside of a machine, you need leather gloves, a hard hat, and safety glasses. The whole nine yards. Those all protect you from different hazards on a construction site. If you don’t want to be rolled over, wear steel-toed boots so your toes don’t get smashed off if something falls on your feet. Also, wear high-visibility vests or shirts with reflective tape. That way nobody runs over you. Plus, you’re going to be more comfortable and focused if your PPE fits and feels good.
If it’s really noisy, wear something in your ears. Trust me. No matter what you hear, you’re better off being able to hear it. Depending on your specific work environment, you might need a respirator or a face shield because you’re digging in dirt, rock, or grinding somewhere, and you’re going to stir up all sorts of bad things. So whatever you need to be safe and able to do your job without sticking some part of you anywhere it shouldn’t be, wear it. Make sure your PPE is compliant with your local, risk-adverse rules so that you stay safe and have a career.
How Do You Start the Excavator?
Starting the machine is simple. You turn the key. The engine fires up. Sit there for a second and let it warm up the hydraulic oil. Now you’re going to make sure all your controls are in a neutral state. That’s when bad things happen to good people, if you drop the boom on somebody, or push the arm down on a truck, or something else terrible. Just verify that all the controls are where they need to be before you start moving anything. All of a sudden, what was a really happy day will turn sour in a hurry if you push the boom through the windshield of some guy’s pickup behind you.
Once you’re getting ready to start your digging, if you hear some noise, see smoke, or notice some lights on the dash you haven’t seen before, check it out. Ground engaging tools (GET) will make noise, especially when they’re new and tight. Your warning lights that tell you about temperatures and pressures or if your engine’s going to blow up or fall out will all be up on your dashboard. familiarize yourself with the symbols that will light up. Anything that signifies your engine will break if you don’t pull over right now should be the first items you learn. Ignore everything else that might flash at you so you can concentrate on the task at hand.
After you start your engine, let it idle for a few minutes. Give it a couple minutes at idle just to make sure everything is warmed up and the oil is flowing where it needs to go. Once the machine is ready to work, take a quick look around before you start anything. Use the stressed orange palpable organic object operating determination or the open operator determination for you guys who don’t do medical stuff. While you are idling, have a look around the machine.
How did everything look to you when you did your walkaround a couple of hours ago? All the hoses are still there. the tracks are in good shape. When you lower your tracks down to the ground and then pull them up, do they make you jump to beat hell and scare you, or do they run smoothly under the machine? Anything that’s going to beat you to death or kill you needs to be found and fixed now. Once you start operating, you need everything in top-notch working order to help you succeed and avoid a trip to the emergency room.
What Techniques Should You Use While Operating?
When you start digging, be smooth and easy. You don’t want to be jerky because that will beat the machine apart pretty fast. Use those three-pronged feet to provide the widest-based tripod “footprint” to steady your machine. Get a long reach so you don’t have to stick the machine way up on your hole or work too close to the edge of a trench. If you’re up on an uneven slope and have a completely filled bucket, be careful swinging around because your machine is going to be tippy. Use the bucket to scoop versus trying to push into the pile of material.
And always remember your center of gravity. Where is my bucket or anything else I’m carrying in front of me? Did I stick my machine too far out over the edge? Did someone load material in the bucket that’s too heavy and now I can’t manage it? Don’t get yourself into a bad situation. Side loading a machine is a quick way to roll it over. Then you could spill your coffee, your sandwich, or, worse yet, put a rock through your radiator. No bueno.
Also, layer your movements. Lower your boom, open your bucket, scoop up your dirt, and then start bringing your bucket back up while you’re swinging to deposit your dirt. Layering your moves is a very smooth and safe way to operate your machine. Keep looking at your environment and see if there’s anything that might be a game-changer for what you’re trying to do.
How to Safely Move the Excavator?
When moving the excavator, use the left joystick to control forward and backward movement and the right joystick for steering. Always be aware of your surroundings and keep a safe distance from bystanders. When navigating around obstacles, make sure to check your blind spots and use your mirrors effectively. Before moving, use the horn to alert others of your presence, especially in busy work sites.
By the way, only drive as fast as you can control the machine. When you’re on a slope, you always go up the hill in reverse. That way, you can see over the hood and maintain better control. By all means, make sure your tracks don’t have any crap in them. If you’re on slippery surfaces, make sure your feet have pretty clean shoes because you’ll fall down on your butt if you aren’t careful. Whether you’re driving forward or backward, remember which way your shoes are pointed and your feet are planted. If you’re not thinking straight, you can easily lose control of a good-sized machine.
What is the Proper Shutdown Procedure?
After you have everything done and all your work is finished, always put your boom on the ground. That way, you’ll know where it is when you need it next time. Turn the engine off and put all the controls in the neutral position. Check your machine real quick. See if anything is worn out, blown apart, popped, broke, or fell off. Then start noting things that might be going wrong, need lubrication, or have any leaks that require attention.
Also, note it in your maintenance log. Whether you are a big company or a one-man show, it will always be good to know what you did to your machines last week, last year, and six years ago. This can provide you with valuable historical information that can save your company thousands of dollars down the road.
Shut the machine down and take your key home, so nobody can play with your stuff. Make sure your work area is clear of everything. That way, when you come back tomorrow, you can start all over again. Keep a good post-operation inspection log and a consistent routine for your final check of your machine.
How to Maintain Your How Do You Operate an Excavator Effectively??
Maintain your machine. Schedule regular maintenance checks. Keep everything clean. Take care of your equipment, so it will take care of you. Understand that spending a little money right now will save you a ton later. French-fry your hydraulic system and you’ll be out several thousand dollars in a heartbeat. Change your oil more frequently than you think you need to, and make sure you use the correct filters. Keep your air filter clean. Your engine needs to breathe just like you do. Inspect your undercarriage and your attachments. Check your bolts to make sure they are tight. Then you won’t drop anything in a hole or break something expensive.
Keep detailed maintenance records. Know everything about your machine. You can use that information to analyze another problem and ensure you covered a similar event from last time. Or when someone wants to know what maintenance was done to your machine for the warranty to be valid, you’ve got all the answers.
Preventative maintenance will save you some money. In the long run, depend on it religiously. Always know that if you’re not using that machine, it’s broken. It’s just a matter of when it will need some kind of attention. If you don’t use a single machine for a month or three, something will be up with it next time you need it. Get everyone in that mode and get the machine fixed before you need it.
What Are Common Mistakes to Avoid?
Being aware of common mistakes can help prevent accidents and machine damage. Avoid overloading the bucket, which can lead to tipping or loss of control. Don’t ignore warning signs from the machine, such as unusual noises or performance issues. Additionally, avoid using the excavator in unstable conditions or on steep slopes without proper precautions. Always adhere to the manufacturer’s guidelines regarding load limits and operational procedures.
Be wary of the weather. Don’t be pushing your luck out here when it’s pouring down rain. Don’t be doing stupid stuff. Stand back and take a look before you start or continue working in nasty conditions. Take a moment to think about it, give yourself another treat, and then go out and do the work. You’d be surprised how much time you’ll save, and you might save yourself a costly trip to the emergency room.
How Can You Improve Your Skills?
Be an expert operator. Take what you’ve learned here and move on to something else. Take some training from a formal training operation, either in person or online. Get in touch with your operators and some people who are a little bit better than you are to learn some advanced tips. Try different things and practice operating the machine in different scenarios. Join an operators’ group and learn from other people’s experiences. The best operating stories never come from a manual—they come from guys who have been there and done that.
Seeking mentorship from seasoned excavator operators can also be beneficial. They can offer insights and tricks that may not be covered in formal training programs. Regularly challenge yourself with new projects to further develop your skill set and adaptability.
What Are the Different Types of Excavators?
You should understand the different types of excavadoras. Mini-excavators are great for getting into small areas. You can get them into tight spots, and they will do a great job for you. Standard-sized excavators will do a good job on almost everything else. Big excavators should handle most landscaping jobs if they are digging some big ditches or something equally as substantial. Amphibious excavators can dig in a swampy, boggy or watery saturated area. Check out the different excavators and figure out which one will work best for your project. That’s where you’ll have to be comfortable operating your machine. With the best machine and yourself, you should be good to go.
For instance, you can work in a lawn or landscaping project, tear up a sidewalk or a driveway, or maybe dig a swimming pool. I mean, this is Bobcat City right here. You can use a mini-excavator for some of your home projects, bury cables, and sometimes even a deck project. If you’re in heavy construction, you’ll need a big excavator to tear out roads, move trash, or dig an 8-foot trench.
Go look at the different types of machines and what everyone uses them for. Then decide which one of these machines will work for the things you need to do. You have to be comfortable with your machine. With your best machine and your best performance, go out and start operating.
For instance, you can work in a lawn or landscaping project, tear up a sidewalk or a driveway, or maybe dig a swimming pool. I mean, this is Bobcat City right here. You can use a mini-excavator for some of your home projects, bury cables, and sometimes even a deck project.
If you’re in heavy construction, you’ll need a big excavator to tear out roads, move trash, or dig an 8-foot trench. Go look at the different types of machines and what everyone uses them for. Then decide which one of these machines will work for the things you need to do. You have to be comfortable with your machine. With your best machine and your best performance, go out and start operating.
How to Choose the Right Excavator for Your Job?
Choosing the right machine means looking at what you want to do. What’s your project? What type of project do you have? Is it small and residential? Do you need to break up a sidewalk and tear out a drive? Maybe, you’re going to dig a little hole for a swimming pool, put some cables in the ground. Is it a big project where you’re going to tear out some roads, move some trash around, or dig a ditch that’s big enough for a three-car garage? Look at the machines, look at what people are using them for, and at which machines seem to be used in your area.
If you’re in a heavy construction area, you’ll probably use a bigger machine instead of a smaller one. Check out with a dealer who knows about excavators and can answer your questions. Which machine is going to work best for your project? Summary: You have to be comfortable in your machine. Once you get the best machine for you, you need to go out and start doing the work.
Before you put your money down on a machine, you need to know what you’re going to do with it. You have a ton of YouTube videos to look at as well. Search for videos according to which machine you’re interested in. Go kick the tires with your local dealer about their different machines. Try out three different machines with attachments if you’re going to use them.
Consider renting different machines for a week or two to see if it will handle the different things you’re trying to accomplish with the machine. Then go back to the dealer and see if you can make a deal. If you’re not going to use a backhoe or a high-capacity front-end loader, it’s best to rent. Research and find the best excavator for your job, your hands, and your heart. Then go out and start using that machine.
Resumen
By our working together on this, you’ve learned how to be a safe and efficient operator. Thus, you’ll get the most work done with the least amount of hassle. Remember, practice makes perfect, but focus will bring a perfect practice. It’s not the number of switches that are on the machine, but the quality practiced day after day that makes you the best. Improve daily, learn new things, and stay informed what the best in the business are doing to help you be the best. For more information or professional advice, feel free to contact us.
