What NOT To Do in a Backhoe | Tractor Loader Backhoe Operator Training

My dad ran backhoes for 50 years. He would climb banks, pull himself out on elevated RR platforms, pull and push himself in and out of ponds... It was next level. The more time you spend on the machine, the more you realize it will do just about anything. If you could only take one machine to do a job, it would be a backhoe. He was amazing to watch. He would pull the boom tight and swing it full to each side and use the counterweight of it to tilt the front bucket edge for crowning and light ditching on driveways. He was always tedious and slow so that the maneuver was performed safely. I learned a lot over the years from him.

A few things I do. I’m in West Virginia where flat ground hardly exists. The boom and stick makes a very effective counter weight, and i often swing it to the high side for added stability if working cross slope is necessary. If it’s really steep, cut a bench as you progress across the slope to create a level work space. You can grade it back when you back fill. Next thing is turning downhill with a loaded front bucket is the most unstable position. Keep the bucket close to the ground, and if needed do a three point turn to approach the steepest part of the slope from the top and perpendicular to the slope. Last thing is that they put differential brakes on machines for a reason. ( if your lucky to have them.) They are for steering control when the front end is vulnerable or sliding down a slope. They are a God send on steep or slippery ground.

I second what RP said about having your outriggers close to the ground when on a slope. If it starts to tip and the outrigger touches it makes it MUCH harder for it to roll over. 34 yrs exp as an owner/operator, btw.

I can second-hand attest to the importance of that first tip, about starting the machine while facing the front. Many years ago, my dad made that mistake: the backhoe would start in gear, and it had gotten knocked out of neutral at some point. He started the machine not realizing that, and before he could turn around to try to turn the machine off, or gain control, the backhoe had flipped a car. A very dangerous, expensive, and easily avoidable mistake!

Thanks for these videos, just started sorting through them. I live on a very steep mountainside in the Appalachian mountains and I don't want to die.

Sometimes a mistake I make is when I’m digging, I have those RPMs up and I’m in a hurry I’ll turn the seat to move up and I’ll forget those RPMs are up and kicks you forward when you go into gear. Just a little reminder, RPMs dowwwwwn before you move

Also dont go grabbing shovels or rakes from the back of the machine while its running. I did that once and the shovel hooked the rake...rake hooked boom swing lever👀 and swung towards me almost smashing me between boom and outrigger. Popped a few nuggets out on that one.

Call me crazy but watching you fiddle with all the buttons, knobs, etc makes me appreciate my old 4 stick Case 580SE even more. Not as fancy but I think the controls are more intuitive which in my case is safer. There's a lot going on in any backhoe and the less the operator has to fiddle with the better.

I have a JCB 214S with all four tires the same size. It's like a big bobcat, great in terrain, and the stability is better due to the large front tires. It has four wheel steering and no computers since it's a 2001. Sometimes on steep cross slopes I lower the stabilizers just in case. Cycle the levers when the machine is shut down to relieve hydraulic pressure. Good video,....so that's what that strap on the seat is for ;) Cheers from Canada.

When parked up engine off for extended periods I was taught to move the levers to release the hydraulic pressure, and to refuel the machine after it has been working all day, if left to the following morning there will be a chance condensation has built up in the tank. And when digging on an unknown area ask the contractor you are hired to if there are any buried pipes or cables, if they say no and there is, the machine operator will not be held liable for any damage caused.

In a slope or hill NEVER NEVER rise up the outriggers before turning the seat forward and having your feet on brake pedals. Bucket down isn't secure, the machine may slide down hill.

Great class thanks, I found vthat making sure doors are shut right and seat belt is rolled back properly helps gasket and protects straps and a cloth to put over gauges will do lots good in the long run and cause a owner to have better resale value and operator value. Turning a machine over to a opertor and it not all beat up will cause the to value the machine and enjoy the job. And anyone who don't like operating equipment is lying,

This video couldnt be timed any better, I just started my Backhoe course on Monday! Thank you

Two things: The outriggers take space when they are down. I keep my old backhoe in a garage with limited space so it isn't an option. You can keep them uplifted if you secure them by putting a ratchet strap between them. (Just remember to take the strap off BEFORE you put the outriggers down. I tell this from experience :)) And if you're going to store your backhoe for a longer time, I think it's better to let the bucket rest on the ground. This means less weight on the tires and saves them.

We are primarily a backhoe company with 7 580 case hoes(4 stick and pedals). All good starter safety points but the biggest thing I tell guys I'm teaching is to know your limits and know your comfort level. Even if the machine has joysticks it is not an excavator. Backhoes are an animal all their own. We generally get 700 to 800 feet of ditch open pipe installed and cleaned up with 2 guys in an 8 hour shift depending on utilities. Had backhoes in positions and places that should never be talked about that's for sure.

If on a slope, like in the video, it is safe to keep the rear boom slightly swung up the hill. This keeps so much weight from dangling downhill. If ever traversing a slope it should be the same way.

The only thing I would add, use rear STABILIZERS to your advantage, when working on SLOPES. if you start moving at angle where your starting to tilt Lower STABILIZER to just ABOVE ground, continue to watch them as you move, adjust accordingly When you finish your dig on slope DON'T raise STABILIZER all the way up, just raise it off ground so you can remove yourself from slope, watching rear STABILIZER as you move off slope, with them being just off ground enough to move machine forward or backwards. Also having to lift HEAVY load with Back of Backhoe ( using backhoe) and load is extended LOWER stabilizer just ABOVE ground, without a FRONT counterweight, the Backhoe will want to pop wheel-ez-s, with stabilizer's just OFF ground a bite will help counter act the rising of the FRONT of Backhoe. At end of any of what I have just wrote in this text, always and I mean ALWAYS make shour your Stabilizer's are RAISED fully, never drive around LEVEL job site with Stabilizer's DOWN or HALF way UP.

If your rear wheel falls into a hole or soft spot and makes you tip to an unsafe amount, swing the stowed backhoe arm to the high side before driving out

Some people will disagree with me, but as operator I want to park a backhoe with the rear boom down and the stick extended so the bucket is cupping the ground. It makes the machine much easier and quicker to grease at the end of the shift or the beginning of the following shift.

If you have to dump to the low side you can keep your bucket close to keep the weight close until you dump the bucket