excavator do's and dont's

goodB0Y · Feb 18, 2009

hello all...

I'm a new member here and thought I'd get your opinions on the proper and safe way to operate an excavator... might be good for the new guys and reminder for us old guys... or atleast me...lol

my biggest Don't is... don't run the machine's counter weight through the mud or rocks!!! like my first boss said " this machine is worth more than a Lamborghini... would you knowingly scratch your Lamborghini?"

anyone else got any?

joispoi · Feb 18, 2009

Don´t hit the trucks with the bucket.

JDMGrading · Feb 18, 2009

Always keep your tracks straight up and down hill.....If you know your machine you can get away with a little more.

Try to be as smooth as possible. It irritates people hearing the clanking of the bucket on every move.

Don't dig over drive motors.

When you exit the machine, put the attachment on the ground. (bucket, blade, etc.)

JoeS1989 · Feb 18, 2009

Don't dig over drive motors

Why cant you dig over the final drives?

d4c24a · Feb 18, 2009

drive motors

JoeS1989 said:
Why cant you dig over the final drives?

you will upset the drive motor gods

have a look here for some pointers
but generaly where practical you should dig over the idlers
https://www.heavyequipmentforums.com/Forum/showthread.php?t=5008&highlight=digging+drive+motors

Clayton M · Feb 18, 2009

NEVER sit to close to a steep edge or slope! Also, be careful not to hit the teeth on the tracks and the arm when you have the bucket fully crowded. If you have room try to stick the boom all the way out to try and get the cylinders retracted as far as you can when you are done for the day ( it will save on hydraulic cylinder life ). Be careful when you are working in a tight area not to sit crooked on dirt because if your weight shifts it could possibly cause you to hit something or somebody. Be careful of your counterweight over-swing don't back trucks up to far. When you are loading trucks don't pick your bucket up until the truck is almost ready to be loaded, because if you fall asleep your gonna have a butt of a truck sitting in ya cab!

wilddanz71 · Feb 18, 2009

I have a question? Is it a bad habit to clean up a grade, by using the edge of the bucket and swinging side to side. Will this cause excesive were on something? I try not to do this, but some times I will have to smooth out rutts in some mud on the way out of a job, so it can dry or freeze relitivy flat. If this is something I should definetly not do, please tell me. thanks

td25c · Feb 18, 2009

goodB0Y said:
hello all...

I'm a new member here and thought I'd get your opinions on the proper and safe way to operate an excavator... might be good for the new guys and reminder for us old guys... or atleast me...lol

my biggest Don't is... don't run the machine's counter weight through the mud or rocks!!! like my first boss said " this machine is worth more than a Lamborghini... would you knowingly scratch your Lamborghini?"

anyone else got any?

Always keep counter wieght& swing area out of mud, rock,trees,ect.Thats how alot of them get stuck,when they lose the ability to swing.Dont use the bucket like a hammer,watch the power lines,wear the seatbelt,and halve fun.

KMB83 · Feb 18, 2009

good posts.

i'm a rookie in an excavator as well.

better coming from experienced hands rather than learning the hard way...

JimBruce42 · Feb 18, 2009

wilddanz71 said:
I have a question? Is it a bad habit to clean up a grade, by using the edge of the bucket and swinging side to side. Will this cause excesive were on something? I try not to do this, but some times I will have to smooth out rutts in some mud on the way out of a job, so it can dry or freeze relitivy flat. If this is something I should definetly not do, please tell me. thanks

Knockin over little windrows or spreadin out mud like I think you mean isn't too bad for it.

That being said I wouldn't recommend trying to move piles or heavy objects like that, because it will wear out the pins, strain the boom, stick, and swing drives.

Another suggestion, do your best to stay out of really soft muddy stuff unless you have to (or you're dirtman

:notworthy) However, if you have to get on or in it, take your time, and plan each step carefully and should you start to get that... "sinking" feeling, it's always gonna be better to try to pull yourself along, pushing down with the bucket might get that end of the machine out, but it will tend to just push the "rear" in deeper.

cat 385 · Feb 18, 2009

learn the reach of your machine,get a feel for it it will save you moving back and forth,plan your dig don't paint yourself in a corner.keep full buckets when possible and keep your swing cycles short when you can, remember a hoe works in a 360 degree radius you have to be aware of whats going on around you ,you have a lot of blind spots that people that have not been in one do not understand.

goodB0Y · Feb 18, 2009

JoeS1989 said:
Why cant you dig over the final drives?

it also prematurely wares the idlers and frame...

goodB0Y · Feb 18, 2009

how about... sweep and clean out the machine after the end of the day... if you share a machine, there's nothing worse than opening the door first thing in the morning and looking at mud, cigarette buts and coffee cups... especially when there not yours...

Xcopterdoc · Feb 18, 2009

From a mechanics point of view.. shovel out the tracks at the end of shift, grease the fittings you can reach once a year( if it's not too much trouble!) and muck out the cab of all yur cans, bottles and spit cups...
(tounge in cheek) {sorta}
thanks..

CM1995 · Feb 18, 2009

there's nothing worse than opening the door first thing in the morning and looking at mud, cigarette buts and coffee cups... especially when there not yours...

Or dip spit bottles.:throwup

Dirtman2007 · Feb 18, 2009

JimBruce42 said:
Another suggestion, do your best to stay out of really soft muddy stuff unless you have to (or you're dirtman:notworthy)

That's going to be mudman instead for the next month!

Each morning I like to just do a walk around the machine and just look over things, check your fluids and stuff. You can be surprise and some of the stuff you can spot by just simply walking around it. Keep your two main bucket pins greased daily, the grease wears out quick with all the dirt that gets in the main pin. Try not to curl your bucket all the way up and that should keep a lot of the dirt out. Don't slam the bucket all they way back when you dump it. I think the others pretty much have the rest covered.

Most of all have fun!

goodB0Y · Feb 18, 2009

wilddanz71 said:
I have a question? Is it a bad habit to clean up a grade, by using the edge of the bucket and swinging side to side. Will this cause excesive were on something? I try not to do this, but some times I will have to smooth out rutts in some mud on the way out of a job, so it can dry or freeze relitivy flat. If this is something I should definetly not do, please tell me. thanks

using the sides or back of your bucket is kindof a grey area... I personally think that flatining a bit of mud or spoil is no bigie... but on allot of biger sites or rock jobs an experienced super will give ya a third degree thrashing for doing that. I try to use the bucket edge... it looks beter and it's good practice at fine grading

Iron Horse · Feb 18, 2009

Excavator do's and dont's .

Do , go and learn how to use a computor as theres no money in machines

.

Dont , even think about it

.

ddigger · Feb 18, 2009

Treat it like you bought it! And have to pay to fix it.

john1066 · Feb 18, 2009

try to sit somewhat level while working saves alot of stress on the swing drives

excavator do's and dont's

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