Basic Excavator Controls

What happens here

To start, engage the safety lever by pulling it down. The excavator features two joysticks: one on the left and one on the right. The left joystick controls the boom's swing (left and right) and its vertical movement (pushing forward lowers the boom, pulling back raises it). The right joystick controls the bucket's scooping action (left/right for open/close) and the boom arm's extension/retraction (forward extends the arm, back retracts it). There are also two track levers for moving the excavator forward and backward, with each controlling one track. The front blade can be raised, lowered, and angled left or right using separate controls, typically integrated with the joysticks or foot pedals. The external hydraulic thumb/claw, often on the right joystick, allows for grappling and picking up objects.

Goal: Master the fundamental movements and functions of the excavator's arm, bucket, tracks, and blade.