Mike: For a guy who usually prefaces all of his demonstrations by saying he is not a professional or an expert, I simply don't believe it anymore! You are phenomenally skilled in these areas. Your humility is admirable, but Mike, you are truly a great teacher and have had a wealth of experience. Now, when I say that I'm not an expert or a professional in an area, it is usually true! Lol! Thank you for sharing all of your years of knowledge and experience!👏👏👏
Thanks Mike! Speaking for guys like me who have never had a chance to run such a machine, that was just a ton of fun! Well done and very clear. I had a suspicion that you are a skilled operator because you are so smooth, but now I know you are a magician with those controls. Thank you!
Mike you are a great teacher, i have never ran or worked on an excavator, I do have a Case 780 backhoe and can work that just fine can dig 65 foot of Wyoming dirt in an hour and thats 10 foot deep, but what you do is fantastic, I myself is a Brick, block, and Stone mason, and heavy Carpenter, Ive built 86 log homes 12 stick homes and remodel 64 homes so far,
MIKE, appreciate the teach, watch n learn. You are right about preparing for many tasks when you rent an excavator to get the full use of the equipment for the time allowance.
Thanks for doing the How To video. I would say you are a pretty good teacher. Pretty slick! Still amazed at the the way the shale layers separate in slices almost.
Thanks Mike. Please mention the dangers of digging or lifting a heavy log over the side of the machine which can get an inexperienced renter into big trouble. Please also stress the need to wear the seat belt, especially for inexperienced users.
I couldn't agree more. I consider myself an "experienced" user with some machinery and I always use the seat belt. I've never seen an excavator flip, but I have seen some close calls. I have also seen what could happen if you roll a tractor over.
Good point about reduced lifting and digging capacity over the side. This is important to be aware of especially for mini's because they have such a small footprint. An operator can make a full capacity lift over the blade, swing over the side and the combination of gravity and centrifugal force can upset the machine and eject the operator if he is not wearing the seat belt.
Start motor, AC on max, turn on tunes, adjust seat. Wow, love your office. Many thanks for showing all of us the joysticks. The JD backhoe is looking kinda dated but it gets the job done.
GREAT video. My idea of an excavator is a shovel. I know nothing about heavy equipment and when I read the title for this video I thought I was going to be bored and it was going to be a complete waste that I would have to struggle through it. Boy was I wrong. It was super instructive, clear and understandable. Even for me and my shovel. Thank you.
I got the chance to run an excavator for the first time this summer. Struggled mightily the first day, and asked the owner if the machine had a "left handed" mode. He said no. I got more and more comfortable as time went on. Eventually got to the point where I could scrape a thin layer off the top of the ground. You sure made it look easy.
Yep, switch that back. Nothing like getting into a vehicle or machine and being lost on the controls. Thanks for the refresher, Mike. I haven’t had a chance over here to get into anything more exotic than a right-hand drive automobile. I miss moving dirt.
Good morning Mike. That was an excellent tutorial. Enjoyed every minute and learned a bunch of things. Thanks for taking the time to walk us through it. Cheers!
@ GP Outdoors. GP, Have to laugh a little, for you to be able to be proficient, is you would need a 'rock/jackhammer' on the business end of that excavator where yinz live! LOL And I agree, watching Mike makes it look easy.!
Good day from NW Ohio. That was a great video, Mike. After the basic instruction, when you put everything together, I was grinning like a Cheshire Cat. I’ll be watching this one over and over. Thanks a bunch.
I started operating a backhoe when I was 5 years old. My father had one so when I climbed into an excavator a few years later, it was easy for me to pick up operating it. I love them and if I had the need for one believe me I'd own one. Awesome video my friend.
Just rented a mini excavator for a week to dig up some rocks on my property. I’ve never used an excavator and since there’s nothing I can bang into I’m not too worried. I’ve been watching your videos since the beginning. Thanks for sharing your knowledge Mike.
I am sure a lot of People enjoy watching your Vlogs Mike. As you and Melissa take the time to explain what your doing each time. And it is Great to see how You Live in a Country, that is Similar to Australia in so Many ways.
Glad you mentioned the SAE/ISO lever. I learned on a tractor backhoe so I stayed with SAE when I transitioned to mini excavator. I tried flipping my switch a couple of times and felt like I was trying to play golf left-handed! 😁
thanks a lot for the teaching. its so simple to understand. i dont own or work in construction site but its great to learn how to operate such a great piece of equipment!
Great instructor, Makes ya won't to call and have one delivered. You certainly are a very skilled operator.. Thanks again for the video will come in handy for many people...
Very nice overview of this machine! It is a good one. I’ve used it to prep for retaining wall and footings, to move large boulders, and to move a lot of dirt with rock in it.
Mike, thanks for the great video. Really enjoyed watching it. You are a smooth operator of that machine. A person definitely has to be able to walk and chew gum at the same time to run one of those.
Good morning from MidMo! Fantastic video there, Mike. I had flashbacks to my dad explaining farm equipment. Of course, I was supposed to remember everything, but there was often too much to retain while he showed and explained. I’d get a round of the field as a passenger standing on the running board, watching and listening, then a round in the seat doing with him pointing out mistakes, then he’d get off and I was expected to have it right from then on. I’m really glad I never had to do one of these that way, because I’d have been in information overload for sure. You mentioned the other day that the coordinated movement to pull the bucket back keeping it level was an important skill to practice - I could see that would be worth it. Keeping the center of gravity inside the tracks (or tracks plus blade) would be pretty important too! I really enjoyed this video - your approach to explaining it was straightforward and conversational. That teaching method has always worked well for me to learn, probably because Dad used it on me. A lot! Thanks for a lot of smiles this morning.
very interesting! I rented a tractor with a backhoe to do a retaining wall. I rented it for the bucket, but then thought to dig a footing and was fun. Your backhoe would be a whole new experience.
Great info on the drive motors, if you're in real muddy property you want those drive motors in the rear for better traction and stability. It's real easy to get yourself in trouble by not having the blade in the proper position. Nothing will make your butt draw up real quick than having too heavy of a load and it starts pulling the machine over or swinging the load and it tips the machine. Good info Mike, I know it's hard to explain how the two joysticks will work in tandem together and they are almost an extension of your arm. I'm laid up with quadruple bypass right now, so from one Mike to another Mike, I enjoy seeing your work with the equipment. Can't wait for the day that I can get back on my equipment. Keep up the good work. Looks like you and Josh at Stoney Ridge are keeping the trachoes busy right now. Thanks for the videos for a guy who can't use equipment for a while but still loves to see it.
Hi Mike I had the opportunity to try out a small excavator for the first time. I had a 10 inch field tile that broke on me in my front yard. It went under the road and then into my front yard and went down to a 20 inch. I needed to fix about 12 feet and everyone that did that kind of work in my area was busy, so I rented a small excavator and was shown how to use it. By watching you I got the hang of it real fast. Boy was it fun. I wish I had more to do.
I like your videos you did not show the rocker switch on the left handle can you please show us that one you show the one on the right for the hydraulic thumb thank you
That machine is so smooth and quiet it almost sounds like It could be all electric. Don't hear a bit of that rattling diesel sound. You sure could get spoiled by having new equipment like that . Thanks for the tutorial Mike.
I really liked this video Mike. I've never seen how a machine like that works from the operators perspective. I can see that it's comfortable in there too. Thanks!
I found your excavator work interesting. I ran several from 1975 to 1985 including a Bantam C-451, John Deere 690B and a CAT 215 LC. I also helped dig out a pond that was full of silt from the Illinois farm fields. It amazes me how quiet todays excavators are.
Excellent orientation on the controls that split screen was great thanks for that came off farm and served in Navy for 22 years as ordnance tech and operated many machines !
Good morning from VA this video was awesome you are a very good operator and covered some real great points. I was an excavator operator for a long time I use to load open top trails with a grapple and had a magnet witch use to hang off the boom for structural steel. Keep up the good work your videos are informative and entertaining. Have a wonderful day my best to your family.
Mike, you make running that excavator look so easy! It's like an extension of yourself. I especially like it when you do the fast forward scenes. It's like that machine is alive! Thanks for all of the great information!
Thank you MIke, As some one who purchased 20 Acres in Northern Idaho. I know I will need to rent an excavator to clear some land to build our house this next year.
Am just happy that u took your time to demonstrate to people like me how a machine like this works especially its controls, u are a very good teacher, thank u Mike.
What U are Mike is a man with a whole lot of common sense! Your responsibility is to share and pass it on. We all know U share it and pretty sure U are passing it on! Good video on running excavator, bet we see it on the Kubota site(s). Take care, stay safe and take the time to enjoy the the family👍🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🗽🙏🏻
Mike thanks for finally showing me how the excavator works ,I am about to rent one and I've never used one. I have to dig up some of my front yard do to sewer problems I can no longer avoid its not a big dig but I am unable to hand dig it, I just can't handle it not a kid anymore thanks and stay safe and I hope you got a kick out of kuboto lego
This was perfect - exactly what I hoped for. I’ve watched lots of videos that show the joystick function and then just show out the window while working. Thanks for taking the time to film and edit the picture in picture. It really helped showing the compound movements with both joysticks. Perfect timing too. I have a mini reserved for the weekend after next to get some work done. Will be my first time running one. 🙂
Fascinating! When you start as a “newbie” you probably would have several hours on the machine before you could actually get some work done. That might be figured in on whether to rent the machine or hire out the job. Marcus from Chesapeake VA.
I may never have a chance to operate an excavator, but I found your video intetesting, highly entertaining and informative. I'd love to have the opportunity to use what I use to call a "steam" shovel. I'd dig me a big hole and push all the stuff that has been sitting in my garage for years into it .... cover it with dirt and... boom ... a project that has been on my to do list for years would be crossed off.
Thanks Mike, I have used different backhoes since the 80s. Always wondered about the bigger machines. That "ISO/SAE" switch is a new thing to me very cool Central California watching
Mike -
That was one great video...from narration to the camera work. Really nice job...thank you!
Thanks for showing the controls and offering some explanation of the basic functions.
Mike:
For a guy who usually prefaces all of his demonstrations by saying he is not a professional or an expert, I simply don't believe it anymore! You are phenomenally skilled in these areas. Your humility is admirable, but Mike, you are truly a great teacher and have had a wealth of experience. Now, when I say that I'm not an expert or a professional in an area, it is usually true! Lol! Thank you for sharing all of your years of knowledge and experience!👏👏👏
Good job indeed❤
You are so fortunate to be able to rent or own so much equipment!
Thanks Mike! Speaking for guys like me who have never had a chance to run such a machine, that was just a ton of fun! Well done and very clear. I had a suspicion that you are a skilled operator because you are so smooth, but now I know you are a magician with those controls. Thank you!
Great video,,,,, really enjoy your projects and your approach 😊
Thank you 🙏 for sharing.
What a great teacher. Pat your head and scratch your stomach at the same time !
Good morning all from Gig Harbor :-)
Great vid! Just let us know if you need any help with other pieces of equipment.
by far the best digger intro/training video i have seen so far; thank you sir
This was a great answer to my request. Thank you!
I appreciate your time of instruction, showing and explaining how to operate this excavator. You and your family have a good Labor Day weekend.
Mike you are a great teacher, i have never ran or worked on an excavator, I do have a Case 780 backhoe and can work that just fine can dig 65 foot of Wyoming dirt in an hour and thats 10 foot deep, but what you do is fantastic, I myself is a Brick, block, and Stone mason, and heavy Carpenter, Ive built 86 log homes 12 stick homes and remodel 64 homes so far,
MIKE, appreciate the teach, watch n learn. You are right about preparing for many tasks when you rent an excavator to get the full use of the equipment for the time allowance.
Great job clear instruction, valuble info, you make a good teacher
Thank you !!! I need to rent a smaller unit , but now I have what I need to look at to do the job right !!! Big Hello to Hunter !!!
Thanks for the clear tutorial! Great intro for someone like me who has never used one.
You make it look easy with all of those motions of the controls. Very informative video. Thanks.
Thanks Mike you operate that machine like a professional.
Thanks for doing the How To video. I would say you are a pretty good teacher. Pretty slick! Still amazed at the the way the shale layers separate in slices almost.
Great job Mike, thanks for the refresher. Hey to the rest of the Morgan clan. Have a day!
Thank you Mike! Just what I needed. You and your family have a great rest of the week!
Thanks Mike. Please mention the dangers of digging or lifting a heavy log over the side of the machine which can get an inexperienced renter into big trouble. Please also stress the need to wear the seat belt, especially for inexperienced users.
I couldn't agree more. I consider myself an "experienced" user with some machinery and I always use the seat belt. I've never seen an excavator flip, but I have seen some close calls. I have also seen what could happen if you roll a tractor over.
Good point about reduced lifting and digging capacity over the side. This is important to be aware of especially for mini's because they have such a small footprint. An operator can make a full capacity lift over the blade, swing over the side and the combination of gravity and centrifugal force can upset the machine and eject the operator if he is not wearing the seat belt.
That was awesome, as someone who really wants an excavator, but has no hours on one yet!! Thx Mike!
Great Vid Mike. Thanks again for the work. Searching Amazon for Excavators. I can always ship it back when I'm done!
Start motor, AC on max, turn on tunes, adjust seat. Wow, love your office. Many thanks for showing all of us the joysticks. The JD backhoe is looking kinda dated but it gets the job done.
Excellent video Mike, Thank you!
GREAT video. My idea of an excavator is a shovel. I know nothing about heavy equipment and when I read the title for this video I thought I was going to be bored and it was going to be a complete waste that I would have to struggle through it. Boy was I wrong. It was super instructive, clear and understandable. Even for me and my shovel. Thank you.
You are a great teacher. Blessings from mid Michigan.
I got the chance to run an excavator for the first time this summer. Struggled mightily the first day, and asked the owner if the machine had a "left handed" mode. He said no. I got more and more comfortable as time went on. Eventually got to the point where I could scrape a thin layer off the top of the ground. You sure made it look easy.
Great video! Thanks for sharing your knowledge Mike.
Amazing you took your time to show us how to work the controls while renting. Time is money thanks for your sacrifice
Thanks for the video Mike. I’ve only worked a mini ex once and it was a long time ago.
Wooster , Ohio here . I have rented a couple of these & did ok with them . I used to run equipment . Yet I really appreciate this vidio . Thank You !
Yep, switch that back. Nothing like getting into a vehicle or machine and being lost on the controls. Thanks for the refresher, Mike. I haven’t had a chance over here to get into anything more exotic than a right-hand drive automobile. I miss moving dirt.
Good morning Mike. That was an excellent tutorial. Enjoyed every minute and learned a bunch of things. Thanks for taking the time to walk us through it. Cheers!
@ GP Outdoors. GP, Have to laugh a little, for you to be able to be proficient, is you would need a 'rock/jackhammer' on the business end of that excavator where yinz live! LOL
And I agree, watching Mike makes it look easy.!
Cool, I’ll be up tomorrow for the hands on part.
Thanks for the instructions. Never ran an excavator before but probably will some day.
Good day from NW Ohio. That was a great video, Mike. After the basic instruction, when you put everything together, I was grinning like a Cheshire Cat. I’ll be watching this one over and over. Thanks a bunch.
I started operating a backhoe when I was 5 years old. My father had one so when I climbed into an excavator a few years later, it was easy for me to pick up operating it. I love them and if I had the need for one believe me I'd own one. Awesome video my friend.
Just rented a mini excavator for a week to dig up some rocks on my property. I’ve never used an excavator and since there’s nothing I can bang into I’m not too worried. I’ve been watching your videos since the beginning. Thanks for sharing your knowledge Mike.
I am sure a lot of People enjoy watching your Vlogs Mike. As you and Melissa take the time to explain what your doing each time. And it is Great to see how You Live in a Country, that is Similar to Australia in so Many ways.
Thanks Mike you are clever teacher and excellent camera mane
Glad you mentioned the SAE/ISO lever. I learned on a tractor backhoe so I stayed with SAE when I transitioned to mini excavator. I tried flipping my switch a couple of times and felt like I was trying to play golf left-handed! 😁
One of the best tutorials on how to use excavators on the web. By the way, you are a very good teacher. Thank you Mike!
You did a great job as am educator Mike. with a little seat time I think even I could use this machine! Thanks for the video. Wayne from Wisconsin.
A fantastic video! Just the excavator I will be renting! Many thanks for taking the time to produce an amazing training video!
Impressive machine. All that power in your fingertips!
Strong work thank you for all you do and thank you for the time you spend on your videos
thanks a lot for the teaching. its so simple to understand. i dont own or work in construction site but its great to learn how to operate such a great piece of equipment!
Great instructor, Makes ya won't to call and have one delivered.
You certainly are a very skilled operator..
Thanks again for the video will come in handy for many people...
Very nice overview of this machine! It is a good one. I’ve used it to prep for retaining wall and footings, to move large boulders, and to move a lot of dirt with rock in it.
Thanks for the nice little lesson I plan to rent a smaller unit in the near future
Great job Mike. Great teacher
Mike, thanks for the great video. Really enjoyed watching it. You are a smooth operator of that machine. A person definitely has to be able to walk and chew gum at the same time to run one of those.
Mike, geez you make it look so easy!! Great tutorial for us!! Have a day!!
I always loved watching these excavators dig! Thanks Mike for showing us how to operate the controls. Very informative!
Great instruction. I always wondered what the controls did. You play the excavator like a Stradivarius.
Good morning from MidMo! Fantastic video there, Mike. I had flashbacks to my dad explaining farm equipment. Of course, I was supposed to remember everything, but there was often too much to retain while he showed and explained. I’d get a round of the field as a passenger standing on the running board, watching and listening, then a round in the seat doing with him pointing out mistakes, then he’d get off and I was expected to have it right from then on. I’m really glad I never had to do one of these that way, because I’d have been in information overload for sure. You mentioned the other day that the coordinated movement to pull the bucket back keeping it level was an important skill to practice - I could see that would be worth it. Keeping the center of gravity inside the tracks (or tracks plus blade) would be pretty important too! I really enjoyed this video - your approach to explaining it was straightforward and conversational. That teaching method has always worked well for me to learn, probably because Dad used it on me. A lot! Thanks for a lot of smiles this morning.
very interesting! I rented a tractor with a backhoe to do a retaining wall. I rented it for the bucket, but then thought to dig a footing and was fun. Your backhoe would be a whole new experience.
Thanks Mike! Good video, great explanation, very interesting!
Great info on the drive motors, if you're in real muddy property you want those drive motors in the rear for better traction and stability. It's real easy to get yourself in trouble by not having the blade in the proper position. Nothing will make your butt draw up real quick than having too heavy of a load and it starts pulling the machine over or swinging the load and it tips the machine. Good info Mike, I know it's hard to explain how the two joysticks will work in tandem together and they are almost an extension of your arm. I'm laid up with quadruple bypass right now, so from one Mike to another Mike, I enjoy seeing your work with the equipment. Can't wait for the day that I can get back on my equipment. Keep up the good work. Looks like you and Josh at Stoney Ridge are keeping the trachoes busy right now. Thanks for the videos for a guy who can't use equipment for a while but still loves to see it.
Mike you are good teacher , thx for the tour
Hi Mike
I had the opportunity to try out a small excavator for the first time. I had a 10 inch field tile that broke on me in my front yard.
It went under the road and then into my front yard and went down to a 20 inch. I needed to fix about 12 feet and everyone that did that kind of work in my area was busy, so I rented a small excavator and was shown how to use it. By watching you I got the hang of it real fast. Boy was it fun.
I wish I had more to do.
Very informative. Thank you.
I like your videos you did not show the rocker switch on the left handle can you please show us that one you show the one on the right for the hydraulic thumb thank you
Thanks Mike for the mini lesson. Have a nice day.
What a great machine! Kubota did a great job with layout/ergonomics on the cab. Betting it’s a pleasure to operate.
Thanks for the lesson Mike
That machine is so smooth and quiet it almost sounds like It could be all electric. Don't hear a bit of that rattling diesel sound. You sure could get spoiled by having new equipment like that . Thanks for the tutorial Mike.
I really liked this video Mike. I've never seen how a machine like that works from the operators perspective. I can see that it's comfortable in there too. Thanks!
I found your excavator work interesting. I ran several from 1975 to 1985 including a Bantam C-451, John Deere 690B and a CAT 215 LC. I also helped dig out a pond that was full of silt from the Illinois farm fields. It amazes me how quiet todays excavators are.
Excellent orientation on the controls that split screen was great thanks for that came off farm and served in Navy for 22 years as ordnance tech and operated many machines !
Awesome video Mike thanks, your a great instructor.
Good morning from VA this video was awesome you are a very good operator and covered some real great points. I was an excavator operator for a long time I use to load open top trails with a grapple and had a magnet witch use to hang off the boom for structural steel. Keep up the good work your videos are informative and entertaining.
Have a wonderful day my best to your family.
Mike, you make running that excavator look so easy! It's like an extension of yourself. I especially like it when you do the fast forward scenes. It's like that machine is alive! Thanks for all of the great information!
Great video Mike you explained everything very well. I’m sure a lot of people were curious.
Thank you MIke, As some one who purchased 20 Acres in Northern Idaho. I know I will need to rent an excavator to clear some land to build our house this next year.
I think u are a teacher. Very informative video mike thanks
Am just happy that u took your time to demonstrate to people like me how a machine like this works especially its controls, u are a very good teacher, thank u Mike.
Really like the instruction videos ....well done Mike....
Giving me the courage Mike to rent me an excavator. Enjoying the videos!
What U are Mike is a man with a whole lot of common sense! Your responsibility is to share and pass it on. We all know U share it and pretty sure U are passing it on! Good video on running excavator, bet we see it on the Kubota site(s). Take care, stay safe and take the time to enjoy the the family👍🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🗽🙏🏻
Mike thanks for finally showing me how the excavator works ,I am about to rent one and I've never used one. I have to dig up some of my front yard do to sewer problems I can no longer avoid its not a big dig but I am unable to hand dig it, I just can't handle it not a kid anymore thanks and stay safe and I hope you got a kick out of kuboto lego
Great informative tutorial. Thanks!
This was perfect - exactly what I hoped for. I’ve watched lots of videos that show the joystick function and then just show out the window while working. Thanks for taking the time to film and edit the picture in picture. It really helped showing the compound movements with both joysticks. Perfect timing too. I have a mini reserved for the weekend after next to get some work done. Will be my first time running one. 🙂
Great video as always. Thanks for sharing.
Fascinating! When you start as a “newbie” you probably would have several hours on the machine before you could actually get some work done. That might be figured in on whether to rent the machine or hire out the job. Marcus from Chesapeake VA.
I may never have a chance to operate an excavator, but I found your video intetesting, highly entertaining and informative.
I'd love to have the opportunity to use what I use to call a "steam" shovel.
I'd dig me a big hole and push all the stuff that has been sitting in my garage for years into it .... cover it with dirt and... boom ... a project that has been on my to do list for years would be crossed off.
Thank You Mike. Have a Day! God Bless You and the Family!👍❤️
Good Morning Morgans! Would love to give it a go sometime. Have a great day!
good video very good instructions have a great day
I would love if you could do the same type of video with the bx.
Excellent instructions, I plan on renting a smaller one in the very near future.
Thanks Mike, I have used different backhoes since the 80s. Always wondered about the bigger machines. That "ISO/SAE" switch is a new thing to me very cool
Central California watching
Great Instruction!!👍👊
Mike that was a good introduction course👍👍
Can’t tell you how much I appreciate this. Needed a refresher.
👏👏👏
Great video! Thank you Mike. Best wishes
Great job- great video for teaching.