To achieve the goals of safety efficiency and productivity, you need to
understand some of the design features found on the compact excavator. These
features are what make the compact excavator unique and able to perform as
no other machine can. This is a Bobcat compact hydraulic excavator. It's main
structural components are track frame with tracks, upper structure or house
with 360 degrees slew rotation, boom with independent swing, arm or dipper, bucket
or attachment, blade, and a canopy or cab. Tracks provide operational benefits, and
independent track controls provide excellent maneuverability.
Some models have a retractable track feature to reduce the overall width
temporarily, and allow the excavator to access narrow areas to get to the
worksite.
The Bobcat compact excavator offers the convenience and versatility of compact
excavation. The compact excavator's ability to get into places or work along
objects that traditional backhoes can't, makes it an extremely useful piece of
equipment. Knowledge is a major ingredient for safety. Knowing yourself,
your machine, and the jobsite all contribute to getting the job done
efficiently and safely. It is important that you and everyone who operates a
Bobcat compact excavator understands proper machine operation, and recognizes
situations that could result in an accident injuring yourself or someone
working with you. Safe operation and maintenance is the
responsibility of the operator. The Bobcat compact excavator operation and
maintenance manual is your primary guide for safe excavator operation and
maintenance. Another excellent source is the bilingual compact excavators safety
manual in English and Spanish, produced by the association of equipment
manufacturers. The operators handbook, located by the operator seat, is another
convenient reference for operator instruction. It is essential that you
become familiar with the operation of your particular excavator. You will see
this Safety Alert symbol throughout the presentation as well as in various
manuals, the operator's handbook, and on machine safety signs or decals. It
identifies important safety messages. When you see it, be alert to the
possibility of serious injury or death. Always follow the instructions in the
safety message. This symbol points out actions you should avoid to reduce the
potential for injury. Bobcat compact excavators are equipped with many safety
features including grab handles and safety treads for entering and exiting, a
rollover protective structure or ROPS, and/or tip over protective structure or
tops, a seatbelt for operator restraint, and control console walkouts. When the
console is raised, the hydraulic and traction system functions are locked and
will not operate. A secondary exit has been provided on excavators equipped
with a cab. When entering the cab, always face the machine. Use the grab handles,
step on the track, then on the safety tread, always maintaining a three-point
contact. Once seated in the operators seat, fasten your seat belt snugly, lower
the control console, and start the engine.
When parking the machine, always stop on level ground and allow the engine to
cool. Lower the work equipment and blade to the ground. Stop the engine and remove
the key or lock the keyless panel. Unfasten your seat belt and raise the
control console. As you exit the cab, remember to face the machine. Use grab
handles, safety treads, and the track. Never, under any circumstances, leave the
operators seat while the engine is running.
If you must park the excavator on a slope, never park with the tracks pointed
downhill. Keep the work area free from bystanders. Always look before slowing
the upper structure or swinging the boom. Never allow riders on the excavator.
Your Bobcat excavator is a one-person machine. When lifting a load with the
excavator, always use a lifting device adequate for the load. Read and
understand the rated lift capacity decal on the excavator. Do not exceed the rated
lift capacity of your excavator. See the operation and maintenance manual for
your model excavator for additional rated lift capacity information, such as
accessories, attachments, and optional equipment. Overloading could cause
tipping and result in injury or death or damage to the machine. When transporting
an excavator, always follow the instructions in the operation and
maintenance manual for loading, unloading, and tie-down procedures. It is impossible
to cover every situation you could encounter on the job. But by following
good safety practices and using good judgment, you will protect yourself and
those around you. Doing your job well and doing it safely
is the mark of a professional.
Before you arrive at the job-site, know the
capabilities and limitations of your equipment. Keep your equipment serviced
and know your job requirements. Before you begin any job, make sure the
excavator is in good operating condition. Follow daily inspection guidelines found
in the operation and maintenance manual and on the service schedule decal. Keep
the excavator properly maintained.
Once you have completed the daily checks and performed the required services,
you're ready to check the job site. Know the terrain and ground conditions at the
job site. Be sure the machine is equipped with the proper bucket size or other
approved attachments necessary for the job.
Use appropriate personal protection such as a hardhat, safety glasses, or hearing
protection. Check to see whether you will need shoring equipment. Be aware of
potential jobsite hazards such as overhead or underground utilities. Call
before you dig. Since the daily checks have been performed and you are
knowledgeable about the job site, it's time to learn the operating fundamentals.
Always look in the direction of rotation and the direction of travel before
moving the excavator. The travel and steering functions are controlled using
two steering levers or foot pedals. When operating the excavator, move the
steering controls slowly for smooth efficient movement of the machine. The
excavator moves forward or backward depending on the direction the steering
controls are moved. Remember, a forward motion of the steering controls will
always move the machine in the same direction as the blade. If the upper
structure is swung 180 degrees so the blade is behind the operator, pushing the
steering controls forward will actually move you backwards. Remember, always look
to the rear before backing up. To make a left turn, slowly move the left steering
control backward while moving the right control forward. To make a right turn,
slowly move the left steering control forward while moving the right control
backward. The blade is a very useful part of the Bobcat compact excavator and its
primary purpose is to backfill your work. The blade is raised and lowered using
the blade control lever. Pushing the lever forward lowers the blade. Pulling
the lever backward raises the blade. The blade also serves as a stabilizer for
the excavator. It can be lowered for increased digging or lifting performance.
Some models have an available blade float feature. To engage float, push the
blade lever forward until the lever is in the locked position.
Pull the lever backward to unlock from the float position. The boom, arm, bucket,
and upper structure are operated by using the left and right control levers
or joysticks. These joysticks can be used in either a standard control pattern or
in ISO control pattern. This means the joystick control lever functions for arm
and boom are reversed. Know which control pattern your excavator is set to before
operating. If you are using a machine set to ISO control pattern, the left joystick
controls the arm and slew of the upper structure. Pushing forward moves the arm
out, and pulling backward moves the arm in. Moving the joystick to the right
rotates the upper structure to the right, and moving it to the left rotates the
upper structure to the left. The right joystick with an ISO control pattern
controls the operation of the boom and bucket. Pulling backward raises the boom,
and pushing forward lowers it. Moving the joystick to the left curls the bucket.
Moving it to the right rolls out or dumps the bucket.
The boom swing function is controlled using a thumb switch on the left
joystick, or a boom swing pedal located on the floor on some models. It offsets
the boom with respect to the upper structure of the excavator. This is
useful when the operator needs to dig close to a building or other structure.
Other controls provide for activation of the auxilary hydraulic system. To operate
compactors, breakers, hydraulic clamps, and other attachments. All of these controls
are located inside the operators cab. Never start the excavator or operate a
control while outside the operators position. See the operation and
maintenance manual for more detailed information on controls for your model
excavator. One of the reasons for creating this training course is to make
you aware of the importance of understanding basic operating skills.
These basic skills must be properly exercised every time you operate the
compact excavator. No matter what conditions you are operating under,
remember to always wear your seat belt. The compact excavator offers excellent
visibility not only for viewing your work, but also for keeping bystanders
away from the machine while operating. When driving the excavator to the site,
choose a path that is reasonably flat. Go around obstacles, holes, or drop-offs.
When driving down a slope, position the work equipment has shown with the boom
and blade pointed downhill. When driving up a slope, position the work equipment
has shown with the poom and blade pointed uphill. Do not attempt to change
direction until you have reached the top of the slope. When traveling across a
side slope, keep your boom centered. Never exceed the slope angles found in the
operation and maintenance manual for your compact excavator. Always make sure
that you have adequate traction when traveling or working on slopes, to
prevent the possibility of sliding. If it is necessary to dig on a slope, first dig
a shelf into the slope to create a level surface from which to operate. Place the
spoil on the top side of the slope, to make backfilling easier. If you can't
level the area remember the following: Avoid working with the tracks across the
slope. Position the excavator with the blade downhill and lowered. Avoid
swinging or extending the bucket farther than necessary in the downhill direction.
If you must swing the loaded bucket downhill, keep the bucket low and swing
slowly. When swinging the bucket uphill, keep it close to the ground.
When preparing the machine for transport on a trailer, remember to check that the
trailer and towing vehicle are of adequate capacity. Begin by blocking the
wheels of your tow vehicle. Driving onto a trailer is similar to driving up a
slope. Be sure your ramp angle does not exceed 15 degrees and it is strong
enough to support the weight of the excavator. Position the excavator as
shown and then begin driving slowly onto the trailer. Keep the track centered on
the ramp and remember when the center of the length of tracks reaches the top of
the ramp, the excavator will drop down.
After loading the excavator, lower the blade and position the dipper and bucket as
shown. Engage the upper structure slew lock if equipped.
Stop the engine, and remove the key or lock the keyless panel. Install
chains using designated tie-down points and recommended tie-down procedures as
indicated in the operation and maintenance manual. To become an
efficient operator, you need to understand and follow these basic
techniques. Once you've mastered them, you will begin using your excavator to its
fullest potential. Follow the guidelines in this program and those found in the
operation and maintenance and other manuals provided with your excavator for
safe, efficient, and productive compact excavator operation and maintenance.
For additional information about training resources for all Bobcat equipment, see
www.training.bobcat.com or contact your Bobcat dealer.