If you are in the market for an excavator lift, carry, or place something, you might not be familiar with this requirement. The lift capacity of the excavator can differ from one model to another, but understanding what you will be able to lift will pay dividends in performance, safety, and efficiency on the project.
The excavator lift capacity is vital to know when choosing the right machine for your needs. It refers to the maximum weight an excavator can safely lift, and factors like size, hydraulic power, and ground conditions affect this ability. To ensure you choose the right equipment, always refer to the excavator lifting capacity chart provided by the manufacturer. This will help you make a more informed decision and avoid costly mistakes.
Now that you can see how crucial it is to know the lift capacity or your excavator, let’s talk about how you can, and how you should, measure that lift capacity.
What is Excavator Lift?
Excavator lift refers to the machine’s ability to hoist or move loads using their hydraulic system. This is an imperative specification for anyone buying or operating an excavator because it directly relates to how well the machine functions when it comes to things like pick and place, digging, and material handling. How well you can do that is typically limited by the horsepower of the hydraulic system on the machine that is lifting or hoisting that load.
Types of Excavator Lifts
There are several types of lifts that an excavator can perform, depending on the task and how the load is being handled. They include:
Vertical Lifting
This is the simplest form of a lift that you can do with an excavator. You are just picking the load up directly above the machine. Vertical lifts are generally the safest lift you can do, and they are often used when picking up a heavy, stable load like construction debris or a big, heavy material.
Reach Lifting
spread both your tracks and your blade out as far as it will go. I usually think of it as a very wide crab. When you pick the load up, remember to keep an eye on the ground and get close to the pile before you reach out as far as you can. When you hook the bucket up to the load, connect the chains at the top. Then, stand off to the side and slowly slide the load around on the hook until it shifts over the machine.
Side Lifting
Side lifting consists of the boom reaching to move loads at an angle. angle, and the distance from the machine will determine the amount of weight that can be safely lifted in this configuration. Side lifting is used for lifting a load from the side, on a slope or in a trench. This is a common lift for pipelayers or placing beams during building construction.
Bucket Lifting
This is the most common type of lift where the excavator uses the bucket on the end of the arm to scoop, move, and lift material. The bucket is used to move dirt, gravel, or other loose materials. The weight the bucket can safely lift will depend on the size of the bucket, the weight of the material, and the hydraulic power of the machine.
How Does an Excavator’s Lift Vary with Different Tasks?
The capacity of an excavator to lift is versatile and varies greatly by the type of lift being made. For example:
Heavy Lifting Tasks
When an excavator is used for heavy lifting such as moving large rocks, steel beams, or construction equipment, having enough lift capacity is important. The machine needs to have enough power to lift these awkward, heavy materials safely.
Material Handling
For moving things like sand, gravel, or dirt, lift capacity is often more about being steady and consistent rather than having brute lifting power. A smaller machine with a medium lift capacity may be the right machine for the job of loading things into a truck or on a conveyor inside a building where overhead space is tight.
Knowing what type of lift you’re making is important because that tells you what specific lifting method to use to do the work as safely and efficiently as possible. Picking the right way to lift ensures you keep the machine lifting within its rated safe limits without putting extra wear and tear on the hydraulics.
Why is Excavator Lift Capacity Important?
Excavator lift capacity is crucial in making sure the machine can safely lift whatever is needed for the task at hand. If you exceed the lift capacity, you face significant risks including:
- Hydraulic Failure: You can damage the machine’s hydraulic system if you make it work too hard, resulting in expensive repairs and downtime.
- Tipping: If you overload the machine, it can tip over, creating a very dangerous situation for the operator and other people in the area.
- Structural Damage: By lifting more than it’s rated for, you can also cause structural damage to the machine. You could fatigue the boom, the arm, the frame, or the undercarriage. This kind of damage results in shortened life, can impair your productivity, and impacts future resale value.
What Factors Affect the Lifting Capacity of Excavators?
The size of the machine directly affects how much you can lift. A smaller machine like a mini excavator, small backhoe, or small frame trackhoe has much less lift capacity just because the machine itself is lighter and has a smaller hydraulic system. These small machines are great for certain types of work like landscaping or digging in tight places.
In contrast, a large machine like a big trackhoe, crawler excavator, or hydraulic excavator has much more lift capacity. They have a big giant hydraulic system, a huge boom and stick, and a massive base. They can physically lift and keep under control a much heavier weight. You might be able to lift ten tons or more with a large excavator, so you can pick up and set big beams, huge culvert pipes, and massive materials for a large construction project.
What Role Does the Hydraulic System Play in Lifting Performance?
The hydraulic system is the heart of how the machine lifts. The hydraulic system uses pressurized hydraulic fluid to create force and move the machine’s components. The bucket, the stick, and the boom are all powered by hydraulic cylinders that make the machine do the work. A more advanced hydraulic system generates more pressure and can move more fluid, giving you the ability to lift a heavier load.
A poorly maintained hydraulic system on an excavator is like taking a kid’s game and replacing his record-breaking fast, slick tires with four baldies. Your hydraulic pump, hydraulic cylinders, and hydraulic hoses are the major components. As they wear, your system may leak and the ability to lift can be decreased. Maintaining the hydraulic system will ensure that your equipment can still execute its full capabilities and maintain its full excavator lift potential.
How Do Attachments Influence the Lifting Capacity of Excavators?
In addition, the choice of attachment can greatly impact the overall lift capacity of an excavator. Attachments such as a heavy-duty bucket, grapple, or a lifting hook can all change the stability and weight distribution of the machine. For example, by using a larger bucket, you increase the total operating weight. Consequently, you reduce how much the machine can lift.
When you’re choosing attachments, think about their weight and what you will be using them for. Always keep in mind to never exceed the lifting capacity for the two combined that the manufacturer says is allowable with your excavator lift.
What Exactly is Lifting Capacity in Terms of an Excavator?
Lift capacity is how much weight the excavator can safely pick up under certain conditions. It is often listed in metric tons and depends on the design of the machine, the hydraulic horsepower it has, and what it is lifting. The lift capacity may vary. Lift Capacity The capacity of a hydraulic excavator to pick up a load. All other things being equal, the same excavator will lift more when fitted with a smaller bucket, and less when an oversized bucket is used. The power of the engine, the capacity of the hydraulic pump, the size of the hydraulic cylinders, and the capacity of the hoses used determine the lift capacity of the excavator.
- Maximum lift: The most weight the excavator can directly lift over its head.
- Working lift: When you pick up a load and move it this much distance from the center of the excavator, you lift this much weight at a whole bunch of different angles.
How is the Lifting Capacity of an Excavator Typically Measured?
How do they figure out the lift capacity? They figure it out through controlled load tests. These controlled load tests utilize specific parameters to simulate lifting, which allows the manufacturer to determine how much weight the machine can lift under given circumstances. These tests are typically carried out under controlled conditions where the machine is put through various angles, radiuses, and distances from the center of the machine to see how much it’ll lift.
They do those tests to make sure that not only is the machine rated properly, but it’ll safely lift that amount. They do everything possible to push the lift to its limits within the manufacturer’s safety ratings. They want to make sure not only will the machine lift that much weight, but also it will do it safely at different positions and angles. When they do these tests, they check stability, verify all the hydraulics will lift these heavy loads, the boom doesn’t bend or distort, and everything works mechanically. All these tests ensure when we buy the machine, it can safely lift the maximum amount of weight for its rated capacity.
How to Read an Excavator Lifting Capacity Chart?
It’s important to understand how to read and interpret the capacity chart. Always ensure you are using the appropriate values for the angle or distance you require based on the configuration of your machine. Also, keep in mind that the chart values are always based on the excavator sitting on firm, stable, and level ground. If you are operating on a slope or when the machine has to lift a load from any other position than directly in front, you are altering its stability and ability. It will ensure the machine can handle the load you are lifting.
Reading the lifting capacity chart involves understanding several key pieces of information:
- Distance from Center: The distance from the center of the excavator to the load being lifted. The farther away you are, the less it can lift.
- Lift Angle: The angle at which your excavator arm is positioned. Lifting overhead is obviously the best and lifting vertical overhead is even better.
- Maximum Lift: The most that it can pick up. This is typically a certain amount and it will tell you if you’re a such-and-such angle and so far away from the center.
How to Choose the Right Excavator for Lifting Tasks?
For lifting heavy loads, such as heavy pieces of equipment, you can use an excavator to lift those heavy objects. Things like traction elevators or big steel beams are usually lifted using a large excavator, such as a crawler excavator. These big excavators are designed from the ground up to lift big things. They have big hydraulic systems designed to lift that heavy stuff, a longer boom, and a more robust structure to get that weight in the air. These machines are best suited for large construction sites, mining operations, and any place where you need significant lifting capability.
When selecting an excavator for lifting tasks, ensure that the machine can handle the expected load. Key factors to consider include:
- Lifting Capacity: Some excavators are not designed to lift heavy loads like a crane or to lift heavy specimens.
- Positioning: The machine must be able to lift in the desired position. Positioning requirements are often forgotten.
- Vertical reach: The closer the machine can get to the ground, the easier it is to load the material on the truck or into a dumpster.
- Stability: In the “up and out crowd,” people try to reach things to the max. When out, the machine will tip sideways unless the ground is very solid and level.
To lift heavier loads, such as when picking and placing heavy objects, you will need a bigger machine, usually an excavator. Big excavators such as crawler excavators from CAT or Komatsu can lift up to 20 tons or even more. Small ones, such as mini-excavators, are used mostly for material handling in a confined area. They might only be able to pick up 2,000–3,000 kg, but they’re excellent for loading material into side-dump trucks.
How to Choose Between Large and Small Excavators for Lifting Tasks?
When deciding between a larger or smaller excavator for your lifting needs, consider the following factors:
Project Size
In the construction business, the heavier the materials that need to be lifted, the larger the size of excavator required. For example, a large excavator is used in highway construction where large amounts of dirt and rock are being moved. Another example could be in a mining application where large rocks or equipment need to be moved. So, the larger the stuff you need to move, the larger the excavator. If you are doing a light construction project where you need to move dirt, gravel, or small pieces of equipment, you can use a smaller excavator.
Lifting Requirements
The weight and type of materials you need to lift will determine the boom length and lifting capacity you need. If your loads are regularly heavier than 10 tons, you need a large excavator that can lift 25 tons or more. However, if all you do is pluck small pipes, rocks, and construction debris pieces, a mini-excavator will do fine for you.
Space Considerations
The availability of a mini-excavator can make all the difference when working in close quarters. Because of their maneuverability, a mini-excavator provides an operator the ability to maneuver in tight spaces in ways not possible with a full-sized excavator.
Budget
Larger excavators are more expensive to buy and maintain because of their size and complexity. Small excavators have lower operating costs and are more affordable to purchase, making them ideal for small jobs.
Choosing the right lift for your task comes down to your specific lifting needs. Larger machines are built to lift heavy items and can handle materials up to 20 tons or more, making them a great choice for large industrial or construction lifting jobs. Smaller machines, like mini-excavators, are far more maneuverable and can handle materials like the smaller metal plate on the construction site in a confined space. Always make sure the material can be lifted by the machine and consider both the size of the item and the space within which you’ll be working.
Conclusion
Understanding the excavator lift and the capacity of the machine is essential to your safety, the efficiency of the work, and the overall success of the project. By choosing the right machine, reading the lifting capacity chart, and avoiding common mistakes, you’ll ensure your excavator performs at its best.
If you are in the market for a used excavator, HIXEN can help you find reliable machines that can accurately lift the capacity that you need.
