• Thank you for visiting HeavyEquipmentForums.com! Our objective is to provide industry professionals a place to gather to exchange questions, answers and ideas. We welcome you to register using the "Register" icon at the top of the page. We'd appreciate any help you can offer in spreading the word of our new site. The more members that join, the bigger resource for all to enjoy. Thank you!

Excavator operators - How do you know??

stock

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 4, 2008
Messages
2,022
Location
Eire
Occupation
We have moved on and now were lost....
I still consider myself very "green" when it comes to operating, but I have a question for all you experienced operators out there: When do you really know that you are a good operator?

I am operating since I had all me teeth and hair,now I am bald with gaps in me gob but I still watch a operator to see if he has some that I can learn,in management now but what I have found is that anyone that comes to me blowing their own trumpet is a waste of their time and mine.As the old saying goes
Empty vessels make the most sound

I have worked with many a operator and the better ones you wont have any issue with; does what they are told; keep the machine in good nick; are careful; with everyone going home safe.That is all most want....
 

Buckethead

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 4, 2007
Messages
1,055
Location
Waterfront
Occupation
Operator
never assume your good, always think you have more to learn..if you start struttin around thinking your all bad ass you'll get a nickname like primadonna..or worse:eek:


I agree. Always take the attitude that you will never stop learning. Watch the more experienced people, and observe how they do things.Copy the things that seem to work for them. Constant improvement is the name of the game. Only take advice from people you know and trust.
 
Last edited:

Vantage_TeS

Senior Member
Joined
May 28, 2008
Messages
495
Location
Calgary, Alberta
Occupation
HE Operator. Surprise?
A sign you're doing ok is when the only time your boss talks to you is "hello" in the morning, a chit chat mid day to discuss future plans and a "see you tomorrow" at the end of the day.
 

Deeretime

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 12, 2009
Messages
344
Location
High River Alberta
Occupation
superintendent
Your a girl and from what i have found you are already ahead of any boy starting out because all of the girls i have seen are far easyer to get along with and are gentle with the equipment

A good oporator shows up and can pull a decent grade. A great oporator is aware of their surroundings, and what is going on at all times,they should know what has to be done in the next hour so that as soon as your done one thing you move on to the next task with out stopping your machine. Like people have said you need to be easy to work with and to be able to take advice and learn the good points of your other oporators and adapt them to fit your style.

once you get good you will get board unless you are constantly thinking of ways to keep yourself more productive.
I can teach a monkey to load a truck in 5 minutes, but a great oporator will know how to place his truck,machine,material to load a tandem in 30 seconds.

Ps A clean painted counterweight with no scraches shows the caliber of the oporator
 

2stickbill

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 1, 2009
Messages
677
Location
Romayor Texas
Occupation
Sniffin diesel fumes.
Your a girl and from what i have found you are already ahead of any boy starting out because all of the girls i have seen are far easyer to get along with and are gentle with the equipment

A good oporator shows up and can pull a decent grade. A great oporator is aware of their surroundings, and what is going on at all times,they should know what has to be done in the next hour so that as soon as your done one thing you move on to the next task with out stopping your machine. Like people have said you need to be easy to work with and to be able to take advice and learn the good points of your other oporators and adapt them to fit your style.

once you get good you will get board unless you are constantly thinking of ways to keep yourself more productive.
I can teach a monkey to load a truck in 5 minutes, but a great oporator will know how to place his truck,machine,material to load a tandem in 30 seconds.

Ps A clean painted counterweight with no scraches shows the caliber of the oporator

You mean those scratches aren't on the machine when it's new?:D
 

2stickbill

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 1, 2009
Messages
677
Location
Romayor Texas
Occupation
Sniffin diesel fumes.
I am operating since I had all me teeth and hair,now I am bald with gaps in me gob but I still watch a operator to see if he has some that I can learn,in management now but what I have found is that anyone that comes to me blowing their own trumpet is a waste of their time and mine.As the old saying goes
Empty vessels make the most sound

I have worked with many a operator and the better ones you wont have any issue with; does what they are told; keep the machine in good nick; are careful; with everyone going home safe.That is all most want....

Well around here I know of about four that are the best operators there is.They can operate any thing.And yes they are the best.
But the funny thing is they are never working.They have no Grey hair because their age is 17 to 22.Their best work is operating a beer can.:D:D
 

Allen66

Member
Joined
Sep 28, 2008
Messages
24
Location
New York, USA
All these ideal conditions responses make me laugh. Some of you "operators" need to get out in the real world. I've been in plenty of places where the slop is up over the tracks and the counterweight is dragging on the ground and you have to bang the bucket against the stops to get the goo to come out. I'm sure if all you do is load trucks in a rock quarry you can avoid scratches and extra noise but it doesn't work that way in the real world.
 

Vantage_TeS

Senior Member
Joined
May 28, 2008
Messages
495
Location
Calgary, Alberta
Occupation
HE Operator. Surprise?
All these ideal conditions responses make me laugh. Some of you "operators" need to get out in the real world. I've been in plenty of places where the slop is up over the tracks and the counterweight is dragging on the ground and you have to bang the bucket against the stops to get the goo to come out. I'm sure if all you do is load trucks in a rock quarry you can avoid scratches and extra noise but it doesn't work that way in the real world.

Is that so? I've taken this 385C LME straight through some pretty nasty swamps, melting frost piles and mud holes and I've never dragged my counterweight all over everything. It's a simple matter of knowing which way you can push or pull to not sink, and smoothing out any dirt that squishes up so you have room for the rear when you swing. Knowing when to dig under the tracks to self rescue before you go down is a handy skill too.
 

Attachments

  • n511185265_327088_1443.jpg
    n511185265_327088_1443.jpg
    61.7 KB · Views: 748
  • n511185265_327085_5763.jpg
    n511185265_327085_5763.jpg
    58.4 KB · Views: 742

Buckethead

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 4, 2007
Messages
1,055
Location
Waterfront
Occupation
Operator
All these ideal conditions responses make me laugh. Some of you "operators" need to get out in the real world. I've been in plenty of places where the slop is up over the tracks and the counterweight is dragging on the ground

Yes, you're not always going to have the textbook conditions. As long as nothing is unsafe you do the best you can.
 

JDMGrading

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 26, 2007
Messages
188
Location
Charlotte
Scratchs do happen, but if your constantly swinging into the same pile all day long without a clue as to where your counterweight is there might be a problem. '

Same as for curling the bucket. You may need to give it a little shake, but not constantly banging it all day long lever yanking.


As for being a great operator, I always tell people its my first time.
 

swampdog

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 25, 2008
Messages
393
Location
Canada
Being good is the feeling that the machine has become an extension of one's body. When I first learn to operate any new machine, I need to think about which hand or foot movement is necessary in order for the machine to do what I want it to do. In time, the machine becomes an extension of one's body and instinct or habit takes over.

Another aspect of being a good operator involves knowing the machine well enough to feel if it is healthy and to operate it in such a way as to keep it healthy. To reach that point requires time and sensitivity. Usually, if one treats the machine well, it will return the favor.
 

Vantage_TeS

Senior Member
Joined
May 28, 2008
Messages
495
Location
Calgary, Alberta
Occupation
HE Operator. Surprise?
As for being a great operator, I always tell people its my first time.

Haha that's the way to do it!

Another good line is "Oh I'm the second greatest operator". Everyone always goes on about how they are the best so I figure I'll take second with no contest :D
 

digger242j

Administrator
Joined
Oct 31, 2003
Messages
6,628
Location
Southwestern PA
Occupation
Self employed excavator
When do you really know that you are a good operator?

IF you're truly honest enough with yourself to actually ponder the question and want to know the answer, then I'd have to say...

When you're no longer worried about whether you're a good operator. :cool2

(Been at it for 30+ years, and still have room for improvement.)
 

trainwreck

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 26, 2007
Messages
247
Location
oregon
i knoew i was a good operator when i was sent to a job because the company we were working for requested that I be the operator for there jobs.
 

stock

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 4, 2008
Messages
2,022
Location
Eire
Occupation
We have moved on and now were lost....
From following this thread it appears that a poll should have been started..for my two cents worth this is number one
  1. Always be willing to learn
 

DoosanFan

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 5, 2009
Messages
171
Location
Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
Occupation
Forester
What makes an operator good: getting the best out of the machine. Counter weight scratches, no one worries about that in S.A, its not like the paint holds it on or anything like that... Though, a good looking, silent machine means that it has a good operator.
 

qball

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 30, 2007
Messages
1,072
Location
il
Occupation
local 150 operator
hell, if i can make the day without wrecking anything, that's a good day:)
 

Hendrik

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 5, 2009
Messages
1,232
Location
Adelaide South Australia
The most important part of being a good operator is being a safe operator.
In my operation I deal both with professionals that know how to work with machines and civilians who are clueless. I have to take this into account and be extra careful when I am working with civilians to make sure they don't wander behind my machine or rush into the work area.
Next is the ability to communicate with the team to make sure the work gets done right the first time, this is also part of safety. You are ultimately responsible that your machine does not hurt anyone.
Another thing that makes a good operator is one who can be in tune with the machine and know if it is sick, this also goes for the ability to inspect and service it. Plenty of wallys out there who think they are top notch operators but drive their machines into the ground.
So basically I would say if you work safe, get off the machine to discuss the job and stop if you are not sure, plus look after the equipment you operate then I would say you are a good operator, which is the basis to become a top notch operator.
 
Top