How Do Backhoes Work?
I get asked this quite a lot, so I thought I'd put up a rough guide to how backhoes work. Even though I couldn't give a detailed set of instructions for every different make and model of backhoe, I can sure outline the basic movements and how the controls work on most backhoes.
Firstly, when we talk about backhoes, we sometimes mean the backhoe part, which is the digging arm and the bucket, or we can mean the whole machine. The whole machine is often called a backhoe loader.
Now that might get confusing, so for the purposes of this article, I'll just focus on the backhoe part. If you want further information on the loader then leave a comment or shoot me an email and I'll put something together about that too.
Just before I explain what the controls do, I ought to go over what the main parts of the backhoe are called.
As you sit in the cab, facing towards the backhoe (which is more often than not actually backwards, as on a backhoe loader or tractor) the big arm with the scoop on the end usually has three parts to it.
The first part is between the cab and the middle pivot is called the boom. The boom can be raised and lowered and also moved from side to side. Moving the boom up and down is called raising and lowering the boom. Turning it from side to side is called swinging the boom left and right.
The second part which is between the boom and the bucket, is called the dipper-stick. This can also go up and down, although it looks more like it's going towards or away from the cab.
The last part is called the bucket. The bucket is on a pivot so that it can curl towards the dipper-stick for scooping up, or extend away from the dipper-stick for emptying.
So, we have the boom which raises and lowers and swings left and right. Then the dipper-stick which raises and lowers, and then the bucket which curls and extends. We're doing good.
Ok, back to the cab and the drivers seat. In the cab you'll normally have two controls, a left hand and a right hand one. You might also find two smaller ones that control the stabilizers but we can ignore those for now.
The left hand control (lever or joystick) operates the boom, and the right hand control operates the dipper-stick and bucket.
Both of the controls can move in four directions. Forwards and backwards and side to side.
Moving the left-hand control towards and away from you moves the boom up and down.
- Move the left hand lever towards you and the boom comes up (towards you).
- Move it away from you and the boom goes down (away from you).
Moving the left-hand control left and right moves the boom left and right.
- Move it to the left and the boom swings round to the left.
- Move it to the right and the boom swings round to the right.
Moving the right-hand control towards and away from you moves the dipper-stick towards you and away from you.
- Move the right hand lever towards you and the dipper-stick comes towards you (down).
- Move it away from you and the dipper-stick goes away (up).
Moving the right-hand control left and right curls the bucket in and out, i.e. scooping up and emptying.
- Move it to the left and the bucket curls, i.e. for scooping up.
- Move it to the right and the bucket extends out, i.e. for emptying.
Ok, so that gives you an idea of the basics. At least you'll know what to expect when you start moving levers and controls!
Hi there. My name is Buddy and I built this site so I can share some of my experiences and talk about backhoes with like minded people. Please leave a comment if you get a chance.
1 Response so far ↓
Oct 15, 2008 at 1:42 am
Thanks for the tips! I was having trouble figuring out how to work my late husbands backhoe – you got me up and running! God bless you!
Thanks,
Bernice.
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