Trac-hoe control ?

[Richard]

Brother in law informed me he recently acquired a trac-hoe. He is experienced as a backhoe/loader operator. He called me last night to confirm how the two controls operated on my backhoe.

Left stick forward/back = boom lower/raise
Left stick right/left = boom rotate right/left

Right stick forward/back = dipperstick crowd/uncrowd
Right stick right/left = bucket uncurl/curl

I'm not really sure I have the right names for the right parts but I think I have butchered it accurately enough to get the question across.

Seems his left stick when pushed right/left, instead of rotating hoe right/left, operates boom up/down or something he is otherwise unaccustomed to.

Upshot, I suggested to him that (given I had NO clue) maybe they had been tinkered with and plumbed back wrong.

So the question is, do the sticks operate the same "commands" on a track-hoe as they do on a "regular" hoe? Did someone maybe replumb things backward, or do they just work differently?

Thanks
Richard

 

[DarinRay]

Richard,

You really already answered your question with the plumbed back wrong. Because actually you can run it anyway you want if you just reverse or redirect the hoe's functions. I have operated track-hoes (excavators) crawler hoes, backhoe, & some other hoes /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif and except for the last they all operated the same. Oh boy I hope nobody jumps on me for that, just playing, comment. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Darin

 

[Richard]

Thank you Darin. As I was talking with him, I was sort of thinking, "Just change it!!!" /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Richard

 

[dmccarty]

Richard,

I was reading up on track hoes a few months ago since I'm thinking about renting one some day and I was very curious on how the controls operated.

Some of the different brands and models have a switch that allows the operator to select HOW the controls work. The operator could select the controls to work like a JD product or some other manufactuers.

There might be a swtich he can through to change things over.

Later...
Dan McCarty

 

[Anonymous Poster]

There are actually 3 different patterns that I have seen. Almost all excavators use "Cat Controls" that Caterpillar uses, then there is what we use on our Kubota, JD etc then one other.

Yes some newer machines are electronically switchable, but you can't just change the hoses and have it all work.

I had that brainy idea so I could "practice" before renting an excavator. Your valve block is also arranged differently.

For instance when you lift with the boom, you have full flow, when you drop the boom on your backhoe it is restricted, otherwise (as I found out) when you lower the boom it falls, LIKE A ROCK.

If I was going to be permanently going from one to the other I'd actually switch the valves around so both are the same so you can act by reflex without thinking.

Once in a while it doesn't matter, after an hour or so I was getting to the point that I didn't look like Joe Goofball on the excavator, but I was just in clear land digging stumps. Don't think I'd want to be on one digging next to a house. I've already dented a few of my downspouts being careful with my Kubota, can't imagine what would happen if I swung the excavator into the house /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif.

To me the typical compact setup is the most straightforward and sensible pattern, pull the lever towards you, boom comes towards you, swing the lever left, boom moves left, etc.

When I got on the excavator, it was the first day of school again, I actually said the movements out loud that you need to do to dig for awhile. Kind of like learning to walk again.

Don't ask me to put pipe in a trench with workers below me, but hey, open field stump digging I can handle.

del

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Almost forgot, the left right power is different as well compared to pushing and pulling with the boom. Especially with an excavator, I was surprised at how little force a could exert sideways before the hydraulics would stall, most likely a safety mechanism to keep the "house" from being torn off of the carriage./w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

I had trouble even doing light grading of a ditch with one, then I saw a real operator use one, he was always pulling bucket towards him while going sideways a little at the same time. Perfect job, couldn't have done better if I'd been able to use my tractor and rake.

del

 

[DarinRay]

Del,

Not sure on this one. I've ran the Komatsu 220LC, Kubota 191, Cat backhoe, JCB backhoe, magnatrac, and probably few more but can't remember. So these must all have the same controls that I'm use to. Which equipment has the different controls?? Is it JD controls or Cat controls or are there more options available (different functions with levers)?? Thanks in advance for all the info.

Darin

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Darin,

I believe Deere and Case controls are the same, Cat are different. Not sure about Komatsu or other brands. By the way, have you ever come across a machine that looks like a dozer but has a backhoe on the back. I recall seeing one of these years ago but can't remember the make.

Russ

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Rus, that's a backhoe attachment, some of the small dozers and track loaders, JD and Case like the 350 size had those as options, I tried to find a decent one in the early 80s and never could, seems like a nice idea for the one machine has to do it all people, but the hoe makes the dozer more tippy, and a typical backhoe is not as versatile as a true track-hoe. They still seem like a neat machine though.

del

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I figure after I go completely nuts trying to successfully use more then one lever pattern I want to rent one of those small excavators that also has the articulating boom so I can speed up journey to the funny farm. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

del