Controlling a Cat Backhoe in A Construction Area
Cat backhoe loaders are one of the most commonly used heavy construction equipment at any construction site. It is an extremely versatile machine, allowing the user to move any form of materials. It is mainstay in every construction equipment fleet. When one operates a Caterpillar backhoe, the operator has to be very cautious about the device and be fully aware of the machine’s nuances when being operated. He has to be very well trained and has some past experience in operating various types of heavy machinery.
Cat 420D Backhoe Loader
Some steps to follow when operating a Cat 420D backhoe:
Be fully aware of the location for key components:
For the sake of comprehensiveness, we have to ensure the machinist knows the location of the backhoe. He should also know the position of the steering wheel, gas pedal, emergency flashers, brake pedals, horn, emergency brake, control lever, lights, gauges as well as the ignition switch because they are all important to operating the machine and any operator clearly has to know where they are.
• Thoroughly read the guide manual:
If you are experienced and learned operator, it is still always recommended to read the instruction manual before starting to drive it. This will provide valuable information on the machine that you might have overlooked during training.
• Starting the equipment:
The next thing that the machinist has to do is to start the machine’s engine. After knowing the parts’ arrangements for the Cat 420D with the help of a guidebook, the machinist is all set to start the ignition. When starting the equipment, the machinist has to check if the back boom and the bucket are stabilized. Otherwise they start vibrating a lot when starting the engine.
• Drive the heavy construction gear:
With the engine started, the operator can now move the equipment by shifting the transmission and releasing the parking brake. Maintaining the construction equipment machine’s stability is essential and since chances are the machine will be traversing uneven terrain in construction sites. Therefore, the operator should use the second gear to maintain a constant and low speed to avoid any mishaps.
• Operate the backhoe boom and machine’s front bucket:
Clearly, we main function of a heavy backhoe is to use the boom and bucket. The operator has to take extra caution when lifting bulky materials in the construction area. Any slight distraction could very well ruin the entire process and also damage the heavy equipment at the same time. The control lever that handles the loader bucket/backhoe boom is the single most important component for the machine to fulfill its purpose.
All in all, operating a caterpillar 420D backhoe is no easy task and definitely requires a high level of experience and expertise. But once you learn the process, it gets a lot easier and soon enough you’ll be making donuts with it!
