Excavator digging technique for beginners 

I'm aware. My thinking was that's a more advanced technique than what a novice operator would be able to manage

@@MessicksEquip it would be cool Neal if you combined novice with advanced techniques... show the n00b way, then show the pro way... that would be kewl👌🏾

I learned this way too

Diggind over water gas sewer or electrical always teeth down so the spotter can see as soon as you are on or near a line

If I wasn’t on a pipe crew, I wouldn’t even work in construction. I dig every once in awhile but prefer the loader guy job. It’s fast paced and very busy all day

Yes, exactly my thought's too. Plus blade at the rear gives you more vision in the trench and no chance of catching the blade with the bucket teeth when digging deep. So cowboy taking the top layer off like the video shows aye. Rough as guts haha

"You should be slicing off layers two to three inches thick going horizontally about 3 ft long until you get to the bottom of the trench." I'm sure your method is good for soft soil, but for hard clay you should do it the complete opposite way, in my experience. Scraping takes forever i hard clay, and there is no reason to worry about the trench collapsing or getting uneven when the clay is hard. Therefor, if the clay is hard, you should first digg all the way to the bottom of the trench in any way you want. Then you should make the wall nearest yourself (I'm not talking about the sidewalls) as vertical as possible (get rid of the swing shape at the bottom of the trench). And then, when the wall in front of you is vertical to the bottom, you should start chipping of parts of it from topp to bottom, about a feet at a time. And then chip of a new vertical line. It is important to keep the wall as vertical as possible (still not talking about the sidewalls) for each vertical chipping round. This way, I think, will be a lot more effective in hard clay, because you need to be breaking it up instead of scraping it. Think about it as rock. You would never think of trying to scrape off rock in layers.

Coordination comes with hours of practice, whereas in order to load a truck/trailer i'd suggest to never swing over the cab or vehicle that's towing the trailer. The golden advice is to stay safe and get those hours in, you'll get better in no time

Tracks squared up to the slope - in other words, tracks up and down the slope, not sideways with the slope (see bench for alternate) - be careful with the swing though. you can still tip if the bucket isn't close to the house and/or the swing is too fast, stops abruptly, or not a fluid motion. You can also cut a bench if the slope is large enough or steep enough. The last option is to tie off to a dozer or some other anchor point - but that is something only highly experienced operators should do. Two other thoughts - on a slope work over your idlers - so going uphill they should be in front, going downhill is the opposite. If you have a blade, put it down below the machine on the slope and gently dig it in. Where your spoil goes is also important, because it either has to go back in or be hauled away! Consult the operator’s manual to determine safe operating ratios for working directly on a slope with your particular excavator. Do not exceed these ratios!

You suppose to check your FLUIDS 😎 pre trip the MACHINE

He made a backhoe video digging french drains that you can look up

Well, when a "machine" contacts something or someone unintentionally, that something or someone gets crushed or killed... so there is that.

They shouldn't! If they operate the machine to hard and blow a hydraulic line and high pressure hydraulic fluid sprays into someone's blood stream they have minutes to live. So many things can go wrong if someone doesn't know what they are doing. Anyone can run those machines few can operate them!

@@davidray4285 I been around guys who’s blown lines before and got hydraulic all over me. I guess you mean if you somehow have a gaping wound and it goes in your blood stream ? Idk but yea running machines isn’t for everyone

Do you know why you should dig with the blade behind you?

I've never ever seen anyone digging with their blade behind them

You're spot on mate,take it out in lairs.If a novice excavated like this on his test he wouldn't have much chance of a pass.

@@2pacalypse25 That's because it's counter-intuitive. But it's the correct way. Otherwise you can't get the downward force necessary for lots of soil types.

Nothing about the machine changes magically at 24 in. Probably a change in your soil conditions.

Brian Pritt: I agree, I almost cried watching that! :) But otherwise a good video.

Demonstration and testing is part of almost any sales business tho.

Use an auger. You'll end up with a large hole without it.

No.I bet the boss would say:"damn that's funny as hell!Now it's my turn!"

That WAS the boss mate. That's what happens when you turn up late to work after a night on the grog.

Depends on where you live. I live out in the country, and I have 0 buried utility lines that I haven't put in myself...

@Eric Wood there are kubota dealers all throughout southern California

you NEVER dig on your final drive idc what the manual says

Plenty of Scarifiers out there even after market lots of them trouble is they're really expensive I'm in the process right now building my own if you can't do that go to a machine shop and have them do it for you way cheaper than buying 1 new. I bought a used machine never been to the dealership but it sounds to me like your dealer doesn't know what the heck he's talking about

With a small bucket, yes

That's true and also not, with the smaller machines especially Minis, doesn't really matter. when it comes to larger machines that are very heavy that is an issue

I was just thinking that I was taught to take it off the top and not dig so deep because of underground buried utilities

Come on guys he’s teaching basics for digging not a surgical trench were pg&e and all other utilities have all ready bin marked and you would have to be digging across, above,or adjacent to water,gas, electric conduit or any other. Fuck all you guys just try finding microscopic criteria tu bring up in any videos no one is perfect!!!

Thanks for your explanations,

no it’s not you never dig on your final drive idc what your manual calls for

@@cadenlowery4364 Not only does it act as an anchor preventing the machine tipping back as you apply pressure in the dig, but it also allows you significantly improved visibility down into the trench, which is especially helpful when working in close proximity to live services

Newbie here. Please explain!

curling the bucket, rather than pulling flat back into the machine? I know that, but in my mind that's a lot for a novice operator.

Have to agree , I teach machine operation and all I can add is if you don't know how don't post a video thinking you can . Nice try , but fail sorry

It's a few basics for someone who may rent a small machine for a simple job! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I disagree mr Gustafson- he's just showing people the fastest way to dig thru an underground service, with zero chance of seeing it.