Excavators are controlled primarily by two joysticks and a set of travel pedals or levers at your feet. The left joystick handles the swing and either the boom or the arm, depending on which control pattern the machine uses. The right joystick controls the bucket and whichever function the left stick doesn’t. Once you understand the two standard patterns and the travel controls, the rest is practice and coordination.
The Two Standard Control Patterns
Nearly every modern excavator uses one of two joystick layouts: ISO (also called “excavator pattern”) and SAE (sometimes called “backhoe pattern” or “John Deere pattern”). Both patterns use the same two joysticks, but they swap which stick controls the boom and which controls the arm (also called the dipper or stick). The swing and bucket functions stay the same across both patterns.
ISO is the more common pattern worldwide and is the default on most machines built today. SAE is more familiar to operators who learned on backhoe loaders. Many excavators let you switch between patterns through a toggle or menu setting, so it’s worth knowing both.
ISO Controls: Left and Right Joystick
In the ISO pattern, the left joystick controls the swing and the arm. Pushing it left swings the cab and upper structure (called the turret) to the left. Pushing it right swings the turret right. Pushing the left joystick forward extends the arm away from the machine. Pulling it back brings the arm toward you.
The right joystick controls the boom and the bucket. Pushing it forward lowers the boom. Pulling it back raises the boom. Pushing the right joystick left curls the bucket closed (scooping inward). Pushing it right opens the bucket to dump its contents.
A simple way to remember the ISO layout: the left stick moves things side to side (swing) and in/out (arm), while the right stick moves things up and down (boom) and open/closed (bucket).
SAE Controls: What Changes
The SAE pattern swaps the boom and arm between the two joysticks. The left joystick still handles swing (left and right are the same), but the forward and back motion now raises and lowers the boom instead of moving the arm. Pushing the left stick forward lowers the boom; pulling it back raises the boom.
On the right joystick, left and right still open and close the bucket, just like ISO. But forward and back now control the arm. Pushing the right stick forward extends the arm away from you; pulling it back retracts the arm toward the machine.
The key difference is simple: ISO puts the boom on the right stick, SAE puts it on the left. If you’re renting an excavator, check which pattern it’s set to before you start working. Operating on the wrong pattern when your muscle memory expects the other one can be disorienting and dangerous.
Travel Controls
At your feet, you’ll find two pedals or levers that drive the tracks. The right pedal drives the right track, and the left pedal drives the left track. Pushing both forward moves the machine forward. Pulling both back reverses it. The harder you push, the faster the tracks move.
Turning works by moving only one pedal. If you push the left pedal forward while keeping the right one neutral, the machine pivots around the stationary right track and turns to the right. Push both pedals in opposite directions for a tighter spin turn.
One common mistake: make sure you know which direction the undercarriage is facing before you touch the travel controls. If the cab is rotated 180 degrees from the travel direction, your left and right controls will feel reversed. Many operators position the cab so the drive motors are at the rear (behind them) before traveling, which keeps the controls intuitive.
Most operators prefer to make fine travel adjustments with the hand levers rather than the foot pedals, since your feet offer less precision. Use the pedals for longer travel distances and the levers for positioning.
Starting the Machine
Before turning the key, do a quick walkaround. Check the tracks, undercarriage, and fluid levels. Look at the gauges, confirm the seat belt works, and note the hour meter reading.
Inside the cab, you’ll find a safety lock lever, usually a red bar on the left side of the seat. This lever controls whether hydraulic pressure reaches the joysticks and pedals. To start the engine, the safety lever needs to be in the raised (locked) position. This prevents the boom, arm, or bucket from moving accidentally during startup. Turn the ignition key, which is typically on the right side of the seat near the seatbelt latch.
Once the engine is running, lower the safety lock lever to engage the hydraulics. Now your joysticks and travel controls are live. Let the engine warm up briefly before putting the machine under heavy load, especially in cold weather.
The Safety Lock Lever
The safety lock lever is the single most important control to understand. When raised, it disables all hydraulic controls, making the joysticks and pedals inert. When lowered, the machine is fully operational.
Always raise the safety lever before leaving the seat for any reason. Before doing so, lower all attachments and the dozer blade (if equipped) flat to the ground. This prevents the machine from rolling or the boom from dropping while unattended. This sequence, lower everything to the ground, raise the safety lever, then exit, should become automatic.
The Dozer Blade
Mini and compact excavators often have a dozer blade (also called a backfill blade) at the rear of the machine. It’s controlled by a separate lever, usually located near the travel controls. The blade serves two purposes: leveling and backfilling loose material, and stabilizing the machine during digging by pressing it firmly into the ground. When you’re digging a trench, lowering the blade adds stability and keeps the machine from rocking.
Coordinating Multiple Controls
Real excavator work rarely involves moving one function at a time. Digging a smooth trench, loading a truck, or grading a slope all require blending two or more joystick movements simultaneously. For example, a basic digging motion combines curling the bucket closed while pulling the arm back toward you, then raising the boom to lift the loaded bucket out of the ground. This takes both hands working together in a fluid motion.
Start by practicing each function individually. Move the boom up and down. Swing left and right. Open and close the bucket. Once each movement feels natural, begin combining two at a time: swing while raising the boom, or curl the bucket while retracting the arm. Speed and smoothness come with hours of seat time, not from reading about it.
A useful beginner exercise is to dig a square hole with clean, straight walls. This forces you to coordinate all four main functions (boom, arm, bucket, swing) and teaches you to control depth and reach at the same time.
Understanding Lift Capacity
Every excavator has a load chart that tells you how much weight you can safely lift at different distances from the machine. Lifting capacity depends on how far the load is from the center of the machine (the radius) and how high the bucket is off the ground. The farther out you reach, the less you can safely lift.
The tipping point is the moment when the weight in the bucket causes the rear rollers to lift off the tracks. The machine’s rated lift capacity is set well below this threshold, typically at 75% of the tipping load. Never try to “muscle” a load that feels too heavy by extending the arm further. If the rear of the machine starts to rise, you’re over capacity. Set the load down, reposition closer, or use a larger machine.
Common Beginner Mistakes
- Jerky movements: New operators tend to push the joysticks too far, too fast. Excavator hydraulics are responsive. Start with small, gentle inputs and increase gradually.
- Forgetting which pattern you’re on: If the boom moves when you expected the arm, stop and check whether the machine is set to ISO or SAE before continuing.
- Swinging with a full bucket too fast: A loaded bucket creates momentum. Swinging quickly and stopping abruptly can rock the machine or spill material. Slow, controlled swings are more efficient.
- Ignoring the tracks: Your tracks are your foundation. On soft or sloped ground, reposition the machine rather than overreaching with the boom and arm. Working at full extension reduces your digging force and your stability at the same time.