Backhoe VS Excavator Control Patterns

[@Zach_Miller]

The backhoe pattern just makes more sense to me, not because it's what I learned on, but I like the "big" controls like the boom and the swing to be one the same joystick. Then the two motions I need more fine control over are both on my dominant hand. Plus all excavators from our local rental house come delivered with SAE selected so I don't have to worry with changing it

[@jakethesnake4971]

Man I ran a cat mini today for the first time and I wanted to trash it because I'm used to the "backhoe" controls. It just makes no sense and it's seems very unnatural with CAT controls. It was way more challenging than I thought

[@DanMurphy-w3m]

By contrast I spent years operating front loaders on farm tractors before I ever sat on a track machine. I was used to the right hand lift _and tilt_ functions so a couple of hours got me into the left hand stick_ and_ slew functions and I was away !

[@melvinstein7739]

Very smooth operator on the excavator and no slouch on the backhoe! Thanks for the show!

[@neb4x4]

Personal preference. I cut my teeth on backhoe controls. I prefer them on everything. I can run CAT controls but look like a asshat doing so... I still think backhoe makes more sense. The stick is attached to bucket. One control for that. The main boom is attached to cab... one control for that. Bata-bing! 😁

[@scottsibbick566]

They definitely make more sense! Other than "My Daddy taught me " on Cat controls......I get the muscle memory aspect as to why they think it's better......but if you really think about the controls themselves, Deere controls (backhoe) are the most efficient !

[@daddio7249]

I was looking to see if anyone would say this. I have dug thousands of stumps with a JD 510 backhoe. Most of them were lighter stumps in my Florida potato fields. I would pull the right lever in on a diagonal curl the bucket and pull in on the stick while at the same time pulling up on the boom and swinging it back and forth with the other hand to wiggle them out. I got on an excavator to do that and as soon as I pulled the "stick" the bucket jumped out of the ground. Using both hands to curl and pull the bucket was just wrong. Plus with the long boom the machine wanted to tilt. With the backhoe if the stump didn't move everything just stopped. I could just dig some more and try again.

[@martinupper926]

Bucket and stick in the same hand make so much more sense to me. Feels more natural and I tried both patterns at the start.

[@gumballer133]

Worst part is if you work out of the Hall or just work for other Contractors in general, i bet 80%+ have Cat controls on their Hoes.

[@jmdarling76]

Agree 100% Use backhoe setup on both of my machines (both Cat). But have had a hard time running a wobble stick machine with same pattern. I believe it is all muscle memory even though I cut teeth on a 4stick Case as a teenager.

[@toddreynolds8875]

Lmao. That long dipper pond excavator you rented before was deere pattern. I remember that

[@turdferguson7813]

Backhoe not deere

[@hawas3220]

Todd Reynolds qwe

[@hawas3220]

fake

[@JayJay-de8vq]

You are still above average on that pattern you dont prefer! And you are by far the best opperator I have ever seen on the pattern you do prefer! Super great opperator!! Great video!! Thanks!

[@captnkirk6180]

Thank you for doing this! Recently purchased my first backhoe and this vid gave me an idea of what a good operator looks like and what Im capable of!

[@eliteearthworksllc]

Nothing wrong with backhoe controls 😉🤣 it’s definitely all about what you are use too. I’m that way on something all depends what machine you are on

[@Digginok]

Use what works best!

[@azwrenchmaster5334]

@@Digginok I thought about you when I watched a video on mrzygy3 today.. they had an S90. Let's just say, they don't take care of it like you do yours!! Lol (I think it's Philippines)

[@ut000bs]

@@azwrenchmaster5334 Indonesia. One thing I noticed in the Philippines and Indonesia is I never saw women working on any sort of construction. Not once in any capacity. Now I'm going to have to look through his channel and others and see if I see any.

[@mrandrewdennis1]

I have always been able to go from excavators to backhoe and then back. I hate operating a excavator in backhoe controls. But strangely I can operate a backhoe in either one.

[@azwrenchmaster5334]

@@ut000bs I've never seen any either, and I've watched a ton of their vids. Even with their worn out equipment, those boys sure know how to move dirt tho.....and smoke cigarettes!

[@rodconner9079]

What I've been able to determine, is the location of the hands.......... joysticks are out and to the side where you sit comfortable in the seat (relaxed state). Wobble sticks are out in front with hands closer together.... typically in a more upright position. Those are the differences where the mind/position tells you subconsciously what to do with your hands.......... still with scratcher (backhoe) controls, periodically, I can still find myself goofing up.

[@edwardnelson9807]

I'm 100% with you man. When you can turn 360 degrees. From 180. It just changes everything.

[@BillW-NJ]

I’ve been paying really close attention to your recent (2024) videos to see if I could figure out the pattern. But one of your commenters put a link to this video which demonstrates it all! Thanks!

[@jt1317]

Should've thrown the classic 3 stick case in for haha's.

[@TF856]

The piano players. 😀 I hate case!

[@jarekpioch]

Never operated in my life, but for my taste SAE is just more "intuitive" Left control handles the first two movements of the arm Right control handles the last two movements BTW: Never thougth I'd ever say that US>ISO... - normally metric systems wins for being more intuitive.

[@Blitzomenz]

I learned two things from this video. One is that a backhoe can have a extendable stick. Which is cool by the way. The second is that everybody needs a pile of dirt to take apart and put back together for practice and fun. lol

[@davidmorse8432]

One of the things that puzzle me is why no one makes an extendable dipper stick for an excavator. It sure would be handy for a mini ex. especially when truck loading.

[@shawngrimley7162]

@@davidmorse8432 they have them here, extendahoe i've seen it called

[@larryboynton3853]

Thank for that great video. I worked for city of Kalamazoo in Mi. for 30 years,26 yrs on backhoe Started with Ford 4 stick. Then to JD310. On Ford 555 a little. Had JCB and Case, but liked Deere best Smooth controls. Good stability. Keep up the great vids. Thanks again!

[@Digginok]

Another four stick man! Deere control are the best!

[@rjvalentini]

As an operator myself, and a musician, I always compare it to switching from iso to sae is like playing guitar left handed on a right hand guitar then given a left hand guitar to play. Your brain has a harder time unlearning something than it does learning.

[@richardvernick4280]

Chris. Thank You very much for showing everyone the different machians with their different control stick patterns. Thank You for the ride along video's. Take Care and be safe.

[@MrLargePig]

My hat's off to you, sir. I recently had a job where I had two pieces of equipment, a skidsteer and a mini excavator- just switching between the machines was a problem. Had to sit there for a second and remember what I was sitting in, and what the hell I had to do. Pretty close up to a house, too, lucky I didn't knock a wall in...

[@gmshep717sdad]

Just for fun make a video of you running either machine with your left hand on the right joystick and your right hand on the left joystick! Seriously though- It's pretty cool that you can run both patterns.

[@arkansas1336]

Congratulations on knowing how and operating different patterns. Operators can train themselves on various machines with efficiency....that is one of the designations of a great operator! I, like you and others, have owned and operated different patterns, "just some time in the seat"! For a fun time on an excavator with a 5 y.o. grandson, I set him on the seat in front of me and had him place each of his hands on top of mine. After a few repeat movements (20-30 minutes) I noticed that he was trying to help...lol.

[@brandonhill7672]

arkansas13, Congratulations for having the most retarded comment under this video!

[@super6954]

I grew up on Backhoe pattern with JCB being on an X instead of +. I hadn't run any construction equipment for 17 years then a guy asked me to diagnose a Hitachi UH07 excavator. I fired it up ran it for 2 minutes then the backhoe pattern came into my head of 2 functions swapped and I was done. it completely threw me out of whack I never thought that would happen after all those years. My Latest JCB has a pattern box on it so it's converted from X to + like the Deere. I don't have a problem with that as the levers still do the same thing, and I like it better than the X I drove for years. On the construction forums you can tell the operators that have never driven JCB on X pattern, They say the blocks messed up they get 2 functions working together all the time when they pull the levers. That is what happens when they try driving the X pattern as the + they are used to. It's nice to know even a professional can get screwed up between the 2 patterns sometimes. Thanks for the video.

[@rp1645]

Thank you so much for talking about the way control patterns are set up. I will talk about the way the Factory set up my Dynahoe-190. The standard 4 control was basically set up like ( Case 580 series) except on Dynahoe the stabilizers control were in the middle instead of on Sides. The swing was so far Right controls. If my Dynahoe-190 came from the factory with what they called (Twin-A- Trol) basically two joy sticks. It was Factory (JD) my TWO Levers Dynahoe is set up with the ( CAT) control. Boom on the Right lever. A back story I got Laid off a job because I had already run (Case) control. I did a terrible job at Digging with Joy sticks being used to Case control. If you look back at the 1970s the (S.A.E. Standard J-983) the swing was on the left side and the Boom on the Right side. Looking back at the Hydraulic Excavator coming on the market for the time. The Swing was forward and back on the left Joy stick, the boom was on the Right joy stick. You look back a Koehring and BUCYRUS-ERIE even though they had Joy sticks they keep the swing forward and back on Left and boom on Right. Different manufacturing made Foot control for Dipper and Tool. That's what they called the (Bucket) Case & Drott were the only ones to make a true Joy stick. Whether you wanted boom or Dipper on Left or Right control. They also made 4 foot pedals for Dipper or bucket. You just need a Factor guy to "CHANGE" the pattern you wanted. Many early Hydraulic Excavators were set up basically like the cable machine, guess back then it was only for guys that could be a good operator with that pattern of control. Anyway Thank you so much for doing the demonstration. My personal beliefs are the way the boom is set up. Is it an excavator boom or backhoe type boom, the arch might be a "BIG" factor in how controls are set up.CATS first Excavator the (225) and the massive ( 245) had the Boom on Right control. Maybe that's where the term ( Cat or S.A.E.) started from. Those were the FIST excavator (CAT)brought to the market. Personally I have a lot of operators manuals from the 1970s and they show the control set ups from Factory. This is something that has always been very interesting to me on CONTROL set up be it a backhoe or excavator. Don't let me get started on (FORD & M.F.) or International for that matter. International had the Levers on each side of the seat. Two on each side.

[@danielbell9990]

Same as you .can’t get the whole boom crowd thing going with backhoe controls on our excavators but on our Deere 410g backhoe no problem with backhoe controls. From my experience is most plumbers,electricians and some concrete company operators use backhoe pattern. Site guys typically run excavator pattern. Nothing worse than someone using your machine and when you return the pattern is swapped.

[@joshedwards2535]

I've trained myself to run both. Here in the north it seems everyone runs either. Instead of digging for valves or crying for the lines to be switched I just dealt with it. After growing up running a gradall with 4 straight sticks foot swing with no brake and a screaming detroit sitting on a wooden crate.. I'm just happy to have arm rest controls.. like the videos big guy.

[@pirox2720]

Thanks for taking the time to explain the controls on the 2 different machines

[@Graveltrucking]

Its what ever you are used to, backhoe control pattern is usually used by old guys its what they are used too as backhoes were a lot more common back in the 70s-80s. A friend of mine he is in his mid 30s he learned on a gray market excavators which were backhoe controls he can't operate "Cat" controls.

[@angrytrucker3628]

Good operators can run both on anything 😏 so I was told anyway. I still prefer cat though. I actually think most newer machines have a little valve you can turn to change between them depending on your preference.

[@jamescoli3209]

That's not true most people can only run whatever they learned on I consider myself a good operator I've been running machines for almost 30 years and I can only run on cats style most new machines like newer than early 2000s do have a valve and it's very easy to switch to either pattern

[@jamescoli3209]

I don't think I've ever met anyone who can easily switch back and forth to either pattern it is very hard to run a machine that is opposite the pattern you used to trust me I've tried it many times

[@angrytrucker3628]

@@jamescoli3209 yeah I've tried it too its difficult. But I haven't been in a piece of equipment for a while so maybe if I started on deere controls if i get back to it I'd be ok. Skid steers too something he didnt mention here I drove a JD one once and you could toggle the joysticks. That was hard to try and run usually I have one stick for machine movement and one for boom/bucket but you could change it to where both sticks did movement and one side did boom other side bucket. Crazy all computerized stuff too. I'm not a big fan of electric over hydraulic either not as responsive if you're trying to shake stuff out

[@jamescoli3209]

@@angrytrucker3628 yeah everything's electric over hydraulic now most Bobcats you run the bucket with your feet and you drive with your hands that's all I'm used to running a bobcat but I have ran a bobcat the other way too where you use your hands to drive and for the bucket I don't have much experience in a Bobcat with I don't own one I mostly run excavators bulldozers and front end loaders but the first machine I learned on was a Case 580 backhoe loader with the five sticks in the back to run the backhoe I was driving one of those when I was 5 years old my dad owns equipment

[@keithraines298]

@@jamescoli3209 I run JD controls on my excavator and my backhoe. I get fatigued fast trying to operating cat controls with any accuracy and efficiency.

[@c2admw1]

Thanks for explaining the difference sir. Never ran either but always wondered how it's done. Excellent video.

[@cameronturner7475]

I learned to run backhoe on an international harvester with 4 sticks so going to a Ford 4 valve is no problem and going to a case 3 lever with foot swings is also no problem. They all put the boom control in the right hand and stick in the left. So when I get on a two stick, the iso controls work best. On almost any other type of machine you get on the boom control will be in the right hand.

[@danielkiefer8134]

I’m glad they are switchable, I run everything on backhoe pattern, the other day for fun I switched to cat controls and tried loading trucks with the 320 and it was hilarious, kinda scary too!

[@mannyanaya4189]

Did this today. I’ve e never felt so inept. My spotter got ton the two-way and was like: “you ok, dude? Do you need a break?” 😂😂😂

[@rharris5811]

We have a John deere 250 excavator that is setup like his mini. We also have 2 gradalls that are set up similar to a backhoe. It's a hell of a learning curve when you start to go from one machine to the other.

[@johnm.evangelis693]

You are an honest man Chris, you are noticeably a bit off on the second part!!!

[@salishakhan5487]

3s

[@harryhogan-shaw5472]

When your worst operating is still better than mine 😂

[@davidmorse8432]

It is an amazing thing to me how the brain can be programmed to do things. My first exposure to this phenomenon was when I learned touch typing. The more i practiced the better i got. Eventually the brain to body function becomes automatic. What does become difficult is reprogramming. I started out operating SAE control pattern and did that for many years. Then was assigned to operate machines with ISO patterns that could not be changed. I decided to reprogram myself to all ISO. It was very difficult but I am glad I did it. I changed all of my personal machines to ISO and use that pattern exclusively. Now SAE is foreign to me. I have found that most of the machines that are on jobsites today are using the ISO pattern so I am glad I switched.

[@mischef18]

Yep did enjoy bro. I guess it is like going to a country that is right hand drive it would take a bit of getting used too.

[@makingithappen5178]

Even with the unfamiliar pattern, you are 100 times better than me. I may have run diggers, but it was in the 70's and it had wires.

[@donbraden8533]

Yep can definitely tell when you changed in the yanmar you did alright but it was funny as hell it does look confusing when you have 2 different control patterns 🤔

[@naturecatyesronaldthepurpl6462]

The Backhoe The One That Dug Up The Furlings With Its Back Bucket While They’re Trying To Run Away From It

[@rodneygreen2705]

16 years and I hate changing patterns 😁. Excavator or ISO pattern I can get things done in less than half the time using the backhoe pattern. I would rather run joystick than a wobble stick any day. Wobble stick I have to think about every move and the joystick is just an extension of my hands with out even thinking about it. Digging up high pressure gas lines is better done with the equipment you are more comfortable operating.

[@juanwaller1942]

Definitely different Chris plus you make it look so easy 👍🏻

[@marksullivan2333]

It is pretty clear. Thanks for taking the time.

[@psidvicious]

Wow, that’s pretty good that you can run either, so you could handle any situation. I learned on a backhoe, SAE controls, so that’s how I run both types of machines. But I’m not a proffesional so I guess that’s not really that surprising.

[@Lstaley]

What about a newer backhoe with joy sticks can you run it “backwards”? We have a new Deere that we can switch back and forth. The controls that really screw with me are the skid loaders when one stick is both wheels and the other is boom and bucket, first time I got in a bobcat set up that way I almost took out a new pickup next to it!

[@111jkjk]

Hahaha

[@TF856]

I hate bobcat foot controls. just like I hated case foot controls on their backhoes for the swing. I love joysticks, all controls in the hands. I can run backhoes that have the excavator controls with the excavator pattern. But I still don't like backhoes. The dozers that I like are the John Deere dozers with the joystick controls, same as a skid steers.

[@63256325N]

Just like anything in life, practice makes perfect or at least damn close to perfect. Thanks for the video.

[@neilgelinas9926]

I used to work with both cat and deere excavators had to learn both patterns. Never associated patterns with machine. Just get in and realize what pattern it is then run with it. Got pretty used to both patterns.

[@63256325N]

@@neilgelinas9926 That's the way to do it.

[@Excavating320]

Just gotta use what your use to and they make it easy to switch it for different operators!! Thanks for sharing!!

[@waltertadla7193]

You should try the old Case 4 stick TLB, Thats what I learned on Then moved on to a Cat 235 excavator and I thought I was in heaven. That was back in the 70`s. I`m retired now but you bring back a lot of memories Thanks. I worked mostly on sewers and water mains building subdivisions in Ontario Canada. Again thanks for the memories.

[@jimlong527]

All about time in the seat..nice demonstration.

[@erikcourtney1834]

Should do another fun video like this. It’s funny watching skilled people struggle sometimes. I hate iso. I carried wobble stick controls with me to the excavators. Just feels more natural. But the struggle is real between the too.

[@joezitzler151]

I used to be able to run backhoe controls on a wobble stick and excavator controls in a excavator. My old boss would always say “your going to end up killing someone someday, just run backhoe all the time!” (Cause that’s what he ran). Haven’t ran backhoe controls since I left that company and if I had to do it today it would be an awful mess lol

[@williammattison9025]

I'm use to backhoe control in excavator I've tryed excavator patron I just get it confused.

[@queenofspadz]

I learned ISO/cat once when I had to operate a 325 that had fixed plumbing. First few stump pulls were ugly, after an hour or so I got the hang of it. By end of first day I was pretty fluid, but not as comfortable as SAE/deere pattern.

[@gumballer133]

I grew up operating backhoe as a kid when my Dad had his company and I was taught on Deere. Now I'm older and love Cat controls, but I can still operate Deere controls, just not my preference. Something about using my left hand to Swing and my right hand to Boom up seems to make hogging dirt faster for me.

[@Digginok]

I started on four stick Ford, then backhoe wobble sticks. I prefer the Deere pattern for excavator and backhoe. I suck at the excavator pattern, can be frustrating.

[@clydeacor1911]

I'm the same way. Started out on old Case multi stick and can't run a excavator control to save my life but am very good at backhoe controls on an excavator.

[@BrysonSmith82]

You should do a video with both patterns.

[@Digginok]

@@BrysonSmith82 you think I was drunk!

[@Digginok]

@@clydeacor1911 That's why they got a switch!!!

[@clydeacor1911]

@@Digginok exactly. Although it was kinda rough before they started putting switches in them.

[@moavbilly7993]

Chris....what I'd like to see is a side by side of what the excavator is doing and how you manipulate the controls to get it to do it. Your ability on using the controls to get dirt moved is impressive. I've recently got a small "Orange" KX040 excavator and it drives me crazy trying to figure out how to bring the bucket back level using the dipper and boom controls.

[@matttom94]

@letsdig18 I know a few men like yourself they run backhoe as a backhoe and excavator as excavator. However when they purchase a new backhoe with excavator style joystick (mounted to the seat) they then run the backhoe as an excavator

[@bigbird9794]

I'm the same way. For me, the difference is the position of my wrists. Backhoe pattern, my wrists are turned as the back of my hands face the ceiling. Excavator pattern, my wrists are twisted 90⁰ so the back of hands are facing outward. This is just how my brain differentiates between the two. Weird right.

[@alabama7636]

Only machine I’ve logged many hours on was an old International backhoe from the mid 60s it has 6 levers 3 on each side of the seat. Right side of the seat stabilizer swing and bucket Left side of the seat stabilizer stick and boom. Thank you for the great video Chris bet you could dig blindfolded.

[@alexaltrichter1597]

Why don't manufacturers just make them all the same? It seems like a safety issue to me. If some are already putting switches in to change patterns it doesn't sound like a money issue.

[@brucet8033]

I have watched most of your videos and enjoy all of them. Thank you !! These take me back to a time when I started operating with a 580 Case with 3 sticks for boom and bucket, 2 sticks for stabilizers and swing peddles. First learning experience on a backhoe. Young people asking how to get into this line of work? This is how I did it. Working for small or large construction companies yielded many opportunities to learn a variety of equipment and truck operation. Talk with other operators you would be working with about techniques and show a desired interest to apply this new knowledge. I started on a paving roller and educated myself through this process to end up operating some very large equipment throughout the years. Be Safe and Always Be Aware of your surroundings. Interesting work and mostly fun times, I miss it.

[@jplunkett3647]

LIKE the Fun Facts ... nice to hear it from Owner / Operator viewpoint

[@4thgradedropout980]

I like the four stick setup myself. Not sure if that's a Case exclusive thing or not. John deere makes a great backhoe, though. I'd sooner run an excavator before a backhoe either way. Cheers.

[@James-dtexTexas]

It’s actually a really simple fix. Switch the hoses at the spool block assembly. My Case Backhoe is the same as an excavator.

[@martys59]

i always wondered what the difference was between the two. Thanks!

[@golfernky1687]

I learned in a four stick foot swing.. Then got a new backhoe with two sticks.. It has the option two change it from sae to iso.. I run it in iso

[@clone1landman]

That what i learned with eons ago... The new stuff drives me nuts... Lol.

[@Graveltrucking]

Guys that used to operate the backhoes with foot swing pedals usually had the crotch ripped out of their jeans lol.

[@dmsdmullins]

I gotta switch everything to ISO, it's just what I learned on and what muscle memory is tunned to. I get shit about it at work because all our equip. is Cat but not enough for them to watch me try to learn Cat controls. If I move or load a machine in Cat I always warn people to stay clear because crazy will commence for a couple minutes!

[@johnobiro5202]

Lever patterns should be standardised to Backhoe patterns. 360 degree excavators are just backhoes. I have drove numerous machines and found it annoying why the manufacturers had their own version. Hitachi were good but JCB were better for ease of operating. Then there was Hymac, a different beast. All in all, I still think they should be standard. I think there would be better competitiveness when selling them to fleet controllers.

[@douglasconradmusic17]

I’m used to backhoe controls but i can run excavator controls once I warm up to it. If I’m on working on steep ground I prefer backhoe controls because it’s completely instinctive to me. That way if something wanky happens, I don’t have to think about it. I just naturally react.

[@martymartin2894]

Ive never operated either machine but from seeing this the backhoe looks easier to me. Like the big moves are on the same lever less confusing to me.

[@Cam_M87]

Really good vid... will help new operators a lot. I started with backhoe controls and even up to 800T machines this was the pattern to use because having slew and boom together made it possibe to use the radio with a free hand. It wasn't until I had to use a machine with excavator pattern that I couldn't change which forced me to learn the excavator pattern but glad I did. Still takes half hour to switch comfortably though.

[@clone1landman]

Awseome video Chiss. Love the information and watching your vids... Not boring at all. Great to learn this way. Thanks!

[@KirtH27]

Growing up my old man had 2 bit construction company. He would borrow or his brother would leave is Dyna Hoe 19 at our hobby farm which was the construction lot. I use to spend hours and days in the peat bog digging duck ponds. That old Dyna Hoe had 4 controls, one thing nice it would do 2 functions at one time, then he demoed a Case 480 I think it was the same as the old Dyna Hoe. I love the Dyna Hoe, I think it had a Detroit Diesel in it and the exhaust and sound where different and I loved them both. Then he found an old junk Massey Ferguson Back that he cobbled together, it had the 4 sticks but could not do 2 functions bring the stick in and bring the boom up or curl the bucket. Hated that thing.

[@lesr5737]

I am 67 years old and retired I've ran John Deere rubber tire backhoes since 1972. And in my era when Cat came out with the two stick control it was backwards from John . Deere had the original two stick control and cat just had a fuck everything up and decide to change it. Most excavators before that time were more like the case backhoes of that time and then had either a foot swing in three levers or four levers to run an excavator that was the common. John Deere came out with a 2 lever control before anybody else came out with it.cat had to turn it around which to this day I still can't run a goddamn cat trackhoe or for that matter a cat backhoe well for that matter a case backhoe. When you start to run one thing it becomes that you only look at the teeth of the bucket and your arms your hands automatically do what your eyes are seeing or what your eyes are telling them to do. I admire somebody that can run several type of controls but anyway is my day cat was backwards when they came out with the two stick controls John Deere was the common two sticks that's when they started making backhoes they continued on keeping their pattern and everybody else follows caterpillar after caterpillar changed it around so that's how everything got all screwed up in that direction. If you ask me the John Deere's makes more sense common the left hand runs the boom up and down and to each side makes you turn right or left so that's all connected together you go over to your right hand your stick goes out we push it out and it comes in when you pull it in you don't you go to the push it to the right and to the left you curl the bucket now you can combine those all together and make it nice smooth pattern the caterpillar screwed it up far as I'm concerned they put the boom and what the bucket on the left side and a swing in the Dipper it just doesn't make sense it doesn't go follow the dots you're separating the sequence of how the thing is put together swing boom Dipper and bucket one man's opinion that doesn't count anymore because he doesn't work anymore LOL

[@justj2728]

Thanks for documenting this definitely helped me to understand the difference in controls my dad has a little CAT excavator I haven't run yet but I have run backhoes which is what he had before he got the CAT

[@cobhc1986]

Its the same with me, I can run a backhoe with backhoe controls and an excavator with ISO controls, but can't do excavator with backhoe controls lol. I think it has something to do with the shape of the boom. Excavator booms are more curved than a backhoe and that makes it behave differently.

[@carlwilliams8354]

I agree with you about not being able to run SAE on excavators. I have run 4 lever Fords,3 lever Case with foot swing and they all seem normal. Get in an excavator I can’t get use to it. It has to be ISO pattern. When I ran a trailer mounted knuckleboom everyday jumping on an excavator was tough for a while. Stick on a loader is pull to you stick goes away lever away stick goes in.

[@SYCKNTWISTED]

I was taught to think about hand placement. Pilot controls are always ISO to me, and wobble sticks are SAE.

[@jordanb3461]

From my personal experience I prefer SAE. I can Run ISO but I have to warm up to it every time. In my opinion on why you run SAE in an Ex the way you do is because Ex's are faster. If you ran your backhoe at the same pace you did your Ex it would be one hell of a jerky machine. I even run into that problem because I run the same controls in both. If I rip and go like I do in an Ex on a Backhoe I get sloppy even on solid base with rigs down. I think because of the stationary boom pivot versus the central pivot of the entire Excavator

[@toddreynolds8875]

I use to be same. Cat on excavator. Deere on wobble backhoe. But then bought two cat backhoes with joystick. On year were were building a 300 sight campground. On a hundred acres. And one my guys love john deere controls. So my 330 was deere. He left we never changed it. So i got pretty use to running both excavators in same day one cat one deere. But it was a brain storm. But got use to it. But i prefer cat style

[@73DiamondReo]

im the opposite. run deere controls in an excavator and backhoe. prefer 4 stick foot swing in the backhoe. last 3 days i had to run cat controls in an excavator with no pattern changer and after a couple hours i was ok. now ill be all messed up when i switch back

[@General_Confusion]

But did you run over your camera case you left on the track Chris?

[@kena658]

I've operated excavators that much that I can see theres such wonderfully smooth hydraulics on that Yanmar💪💪

[@coltongarber8087]

Chris you're good operator no matter what.

[@ChristianNorling]

I drive an -18 Doosan Dx235 lcr-5 and tracking forward with the pedals on that one is with the drive motors in the back and idlers in front of you haha.

[@EOTG_AK]

Can you jump back and forth seamlessly now? I have 60 hours or so on an excavator and the controls are pretty natural at this point. I just tried a backhoe for the first time and it was a serious struggle!

[@stoneycarter5546]

Man you can really run that Excavator like a champ !!!

[@civilcitizen3586]

What was the objective? Was it to show how to mix a dirt pile? :) Turn the backhoe around, pile it all back up and start all over again. This time move the whole pile from one place to another.... Oh, don't forget to have fun!

[@randymaylowski2485]

Thanks for sharing @letsdig18 I didn't know that, which if I do remember right I think someone told me once but am not quite to sure though, cuz I thought before backhoes and excervters controls operates the same way, so I'll bet it does get confusing...lol but inerways again thanks for sharing. But good work.

[@janvandenbos7085]

Nice to see the difference Chris.....

[@demandred1957]

Honestly a hardcore video gamer wouldn't have any problems with either pattern. It only takes me a very short time to figure out left right up and down in whatever game I'm in

[@DanMurphy-w3m]

Go to a building site and announce this. Guys will come running to watch the newbie making a tit of himself 😂

[@demandred1957]

@@DanMurphy-w3m actually, since i said that, I bought myself a nice 3 point hitch backhoe, and within 15 minutes I was digging along as fast as the arm would swing. So yeah, no change of opinion.

[@joegamba4635]

Thanks, Chris....It's as clear as the mud at the bottom of the big pond you just finished with. Fortunately, whereas you are an artist with the machines. I would be the first patient at the Massachusetts Institute for the mechanically Inept/Stupid. Thank God I never had to earn a living working with machines. I can praise you and Timmy, and mean every word of it; and also enjoy watching your videos, which I most certainly do, every day. Thank you.

[@Fellgla]

Still wasn't bad, better than an amateur. With just a little practice you'd as smooth as iso. I have learned a lot just your videos.

[@kobelcofan]

Excavators seem simpler than backhoes. I've ran backhoes and they slide around and you always have to position them the right way. Mini excavators seem more intuitive to me. It could be just me.

[@dirtshower250]

I’m used to backhoe controls as soon as I step in something with iso I’m like alright where’s the switch at haha

[@TF856]

I'm the same way. I've heard a lot of people are that way. I have even heard that some people have to cross their arms when they run a backhoe. I grew up on my dad's John Deere backhoe and later changed jobs and had to learn to run excavators with cat control now I have to run each one its own way and I cannot switch over either.

[@djramm6810]

Hi Chris, its all to do with muscle memory that's all. On the backhoe your arms are in front of you while in the excavator they are beside you simple really. Love you videos, find them to be relaxing for me. Kindest Regards from DJ. Tarneit Australia

[@AllstarVentures]

Ha ha! Chris on mini in backhoe pattern looks like me on my trackhoe (ISO) after running John Deere controls on my mini. John Deere( backhoe) controls just feel/fit better for me.

[@TimothyEBaldwin]

There is a big difference between "backhoe" controls on an excavator than on a backhoe, on an excavator moving the left joystick left or right rotates the operator, whereas on a backhoe it does not rotate the operator.

[@jonnicholas8028]

When you set a backhoe up to dig do you set your stabilizers then drop the front bucket or drop the front bucket then set stabilizers. I heard that doing it the second way is hard on front bucket pins and bushings due to torque placed by not leveling back first.

[@flash1259]

I always set my stabilizers first then my bucket. I've never thought much about why. For me it just seems like the best way to do it.

[@rickpyles414]

Great learning video. Thanks for the show.

[@queenofspadz]

SAE all the way here, backhoe and excavators. I know how to run ISO/Cat but I'm not as proficient or SAFE lol.

[@HankinsExcavating]

You are not the only one. I get all messed up, hurts to just watch.

[@canvids1]

Hi Chris I am a long time follower of your posts. I worked the last ten years of operating machines on overseas containers at the CNR railway inland port. We at that time had at times 14 or so different machines and got less different ones as everything progressed. But I could operate everyone of them and it was important because when one would break down you had to get in a different machine and carry on. So I know what you are showing that some systems where and are better than others . Thanks for your video.