Excavator 101?

Hi Guys, I'm relatively new to excavator driving but am so keen on this as a career that I went out and bought an old EX60 (6000 hrs) to learn on(done about 300 hours on it) and somehow ended up making my living using it to clean drains, make farm roads and instal culverts. I have 4 kids relying on me for a feed so I want to know the most efficient, effective, profitable way to operate my machine.

What I want to know is are there big no-no's that you guys take as a given (eg I have read on here that slewing into substantial objects is a deeply sinful act).

And are there more and less efficient ways of doing stuff, like what is the best way to turn your machine, bit by bit as you go, or stop and drive one track to do a donut turn?

One thing I notice is when I slew quick with a big load of drain mud the slew makes a bit of a whir, is this best avoided?

Also when on uneven ground and the machine is rocking on its tracks is it bad to slew?

Hope to hear from some wise heads soon. Thank You for listening!

There are many skills needed to operate an excavator to it's best potential without destroying it, but without being specific I guess the golden rule is, if it feels like the machine is struggling to do something then see if you can do it an easier way. Things like, don't slew with a full bucket and the stick out at speed with the machine facing down hill as it will overload the slew drive when you try and stop and possibly even capsize the machine.
You can generally feel if you are being hard on the excavator. Digging is generally the least taxing thing on an excavator as long as you keep the teeth pointing in the direction you are digging. Always keep the machine as level as possible and as stable as possible so it doesn't rock when digging. If you slew and the machine rocks you can tip the machine over in extreme cases. Don't run the motor flat out unless you can operate smoothly and safely at full throttle. If the machine is reluctant to turn, either have another approach or reduce the load on the undercarriage by lifting the front of the ground slightly and slewing in the direction of turn. Don't use any part of the machine as a hammer, especially slewing. If you keep yourself aware that an excavator is not bullet proof, can fall over, and can get stuck, you are at least half way there.

Thanks thebaz, tried to be more conscious of where the teeth were while digging today and it made a difference. Something I'd never really thought a lot about. Also tried the slew turns, which speeds things up quite a bit. And have taken in the "not a hammer" bit, so being more gentle when packing dirt with the bucket. Your advice is much appreciated!

Hi Logan . Sure hope your kids don't eat much . I agree with the thebaz and keep it off full trottle until you get good , just feel the machine ,if its boucing and banging around change what you are doing or slow it down until you can operate it smoothly . If its got a blade put some weight on it when digging . Don't fight it just get it to flow . Good luck Haddy

Thanks Haddy, they eat plenty! Sometimes wish it did have a blade for that reason and to speed up tidying up jobs but that will come later. What kind of
machines are you running? Is it true the bigger diggers are easier to drive?

Haddy said:

Hi Logan . Sure hope your kids don't eat much . I agree with the thebaz and keep it off full trottle until you get good , just feel the machine ,if its boucing and banging around change what you are doing or slow it down until you can operate it smoothly . If its got a blade put some weight on it when digging . Don't fight it just get it to flow . Good luck Haddy

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My uncles best friend was killed when an excavator toppled over. He was on uneven ground and was trying to pull roots out of a drainage ditch. They are built like a tank, but they have their limits. I think most people killed in an excavator have the mind set, of it being indestructible.

My uncles best friend was killed when an excavator toppled over. He was on uneven ground and was trying to pull roots out of a drainage ditch. They are built like a tank, but they have their limits. I think most people killed in an excavators have the mind set, of it being indestructible.

Hi Logan . I was thro your area last week , looked like you had a lot of rain recently , Gisbourne to Wairoa washed out real bad , I went to Taui for gypsie day and brought a load of c**p back , I have found bigger machines smoother , not nessasary easier . I'm running a 14 ton , and a 5 1/2 ton Doosan , KW truck and trailer , skid steer and even a portable mill , Another contractor who works with us is running 100 hp 2109 Mustang ( Would NEVER buy another one , he bought it brand new and he his had a s**t of a run with it ) and his 6x4 truck . I just brought a Wabco 111A motor scraper , it is in shop now getting checked over . We mainly work for dairy farmers and with a good payout we are busy

Haddy said:

Hi Logan . I was thro your area last week , looked like you had a lot of rain recently , Gisbourne to Wairoa washed out real bad , I went to Taui for gypsie day and brought a load of c**p back , I have found bigger machines smoother , not nessasary easier . I'm running a 14 ton , and a 5 1/2 ton Doosan , KW truck and trailer , skid steer and even a portable mill , Another contractor who works with us is running 100 hp 2109 Mustang ( Would NEVER buy another one , he bought it brand new and he his had a s**t of a run with it ) and his 6x4 truck . I just brought a Wabco 111A motor scraper , it is in shop now getting checked over . We mainly work for dairy farmers and with a good payout we are busy

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Yep we've had plenty of rain alright Haddy. Was trying to run a firewood business with the ex60 but too wet to get wood out, too wet to dry wood, and too goddam warm to sell it so luckily some high rollin farmers needed some work done. What kind of portable mill ya got?. And what was your target market for the Doosan? A friend has one in his logging crew and reckons they're good machines.

Forklift123 said:

My uncles best friend was killed when an excavator toppled over. He was on uneven ground and was trying to pull roots out of a drainage ditch. They are built like a tank, but they have their limits. I think most people killed in an excavators have the mind set, of it being indestructible.

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Sorry to hear that Forklift. I am being careful, have been fully immersed in the safety culture for some time after my former life painting tall buildings for a living. Ya always got to have a safety margin built in to what ever crazy asd thing you're up to. I'm a bit of a welder as well so am working on a ROPS/FOPS unit so it's compliant for hill work as I have a bit of that coming up. I heard of a guy who broke his cab window by his boom. Early next morning he poked his head thru the window space to pass a guy a torch, somehow he bumped a control, lowering the boom. Cut his own head off. Scary stuff. My machine has bars over the window to stop that ever happening thanks to some clever character at Hitachi.

It's warm alright Logan , can't remember it being so warm in June ever . Firewood guy I know in Rotorua says it is very slow too . Got the Doosan because of the dealer and they have been good , actually the 14 ton is one of the best balanced machines I have operated . They have quite a few operating in the bush where they get hammered . The mill is a Mohoe , was going to be a fill in job for slow times but is not happening at the moment . What sort of work you doing for farmers ?

Drains, culvert instals, water storage. Got a big contouring job soon where I'm gonna need a d6 or maybe an earthmover of some kind but will have to lease it. Have you run that Mahoe? Would you be interested in leasing it out for a week? Got some macs and lawsons that were too nice to cut for firewood, stockpiled and waiting
for an idle moment.

We had a D6R on a contouring job last year and was working with a tractor scoop , worked very well together . Haven't run the mahoe yet , but have got a couple of good blocks lined up for it . Once the dairy farmers start calving they won't to know us so will get it cranked up then . The mill hasn't got reg or WOF so would have to be transported , have operated a Mahoe before ?

PS might pay to check that slew ring is getting plenty of grease and slew motor has oil in it

Thanks for that, slew looks like it has excess oil in it and is slightly cloudy but not really what you'd call milky. Don't know how it got overfull?
When I get it back up to the truck will drop it out and investigate further. I saw a tractor scoop the other day, will have to go and check that out. Haven't run a Mahoe yet, done a couple months on a petersen swing blade mill, cutting totara etc that you needed a 60L drum to climb on before you could get on top of them. Mahoe has the 2 blades right? Are they quite high production?. You might have to throw a lesson in.? I'm insured to hell and back by the way so got that side covered.

I know jack about it yet so I couldn't give you lesson if I wanted too !!! The guy I work with run them for years and knows them as well as the guy's who make the mills ( they used to send potental buyer's to him to see how it's done ) . 0272732845 , it's a Telecom XT number and has very limited coverage , just leave a message