Mini Excavators and What's Included When You Hire One:
Mini excavators are one of your best mates when it comes to Construction and DIY home projects such as landscaping, retaining walls, driveways, digging for pool, and lots more.
Our mini excavators usually come with a 900mm Mud Bucket, 300mm and 450mm Digging Bucket and Single Ripper that you can interchange while using the machine. In this post, we’ll be sharing 5 basic how-to steps in removing and changing mini excavator buckets on your own.
STEP 1: Remove The Safety Pin
The first step is to lift the bucket up off the ground so it has no pressure on it to jam pins. Secondly, remove the safety pin by pulling up the ring and sliding the safety pin out.
STEP 2: Detach The Bucket
You will now need to curl the mini excavator bucket in or out to the right position, so the bucket won’t load too much weight on the pin. If there is too much weight on the pin, you won’t be able remove it easily.
The correct position is having the bucket open towards the machine with the top edge of the bucket facing down to around the 5 o’clock angle. You should now be able to remove the bucket pin easily. The other option is to use your body weight to push the bucket back and forth a little from behind for the pin to come loose. If you watch the pin as you are doing this, you will be able to find the right spot for it to slide out without any pressure on it.
STEP 3: Remove The Bucket
Once the bucket pin is removed, you can curl the hitch out all the way till the bucket drops out onto the ground.
STEP 4: Preparing To Pick Up The Bucket
In preparation to pick up the next bucket, make sure that it’s sitting in the correct position with the hitch on the far side and square to the mini excavator so that you can easily pick it up. Then reduce the throttle speed to its slowest position, this will help the boom to have smaller and smoother movements. With the mini excavator hitch curled open, bring it around the back of the bucket and in between the bucket ears to pick up the bucket.
STEP 5: Pick Up The Bucket And Replace The Safety Pin
Now curl the bucket closed to allow the bucket pin to slide back into the excavator hitch and lift up the bucket. The bucket pin should now slide down into its correct position and you can then curl the bucket out to line up the bucket pin holes ready for the pin to go back through. Finally replace the bucket pin by pushing it all the way through to secure the bucket, refit the safety pin and you all set to start work.
ADDITIONAL TIPS
- Low speed is the key to picking up the bucket smoothly.
- If you have trouble removing the pin, use your body weight against the bucket to rock it back and forth to allow the pin to come loose or a hammer and bar can assist.
- Have a mate help you.
Need more help to get your project underway or free advice?
As usual we have short and long term hire options available, give us a call today to discuss this one further and always remember to www.1100.com.au before you dig!