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Common Mistakes Made by Beginner Excavator Operators—Have You Fallen Into Any of Them?
Updated at:
2026-03-12 09:40
Every excavator novice is prone to making mistakes. Many beginners, driven by a cautious approach to maintenance, end up overdoing it—increasing the frequency and intensity of upkeep—but lacking experience often leads them down the wrong path, ultimately causing more damage to the machine. Today, we’ve compiled a few common errors that new operators tend to make. Take a look: have you fallen into any of these pitfalls?
1. The screw is tightened too much.
Screws are small but critical components on excavators that must not be overlooked. To prevent parts from coming loose, operators need to regularly inspect and tighten or replace any loose screws. However, some novice operators tend to err on the side of overcaution, believing that the tighter the screws are tightened, the better. In reality, blindly increasing the torque can place excessive stress on the screw threads, leading to deformation, as well as overloading the screw shank and causing thread stripping or even breakage. Therefore, when tightening screws, beginners must pay close attention to applying just the right amount of force.
2. Overinflated tires
Many operators discover during operation that their tires have lost air, a problem often caused by prolonged underinflation. When tire pressure is too low, the tire’s shape deforms more significantly, accelerating rubber aging and cord fatigue and increasing wear on the tire’s outer tread. Moreover, because the tire becomes softer and makes greater contact with the road surface, rolling resistance rises and wear intensifies. However, if the tire pressure is too high during inflation, the tire’s surface experiences excessive tensile stress, reducing its ability to absorb impacts upon contact with the road and making it more prone to damage. At the same time, overinflated tires have reduced contact with the road, which can lead to slippage.
3. Direct use of a new battery
Many excavator operators, after purchasing a new machine, tend to start operating it right away because new equipment typically experiences fewer breakdowns. However, beginners often overlook the importance of the excavator’s battery; the initial charging of a new excavator has a significant impact on the battery’s service life. Failing to charge the battery before first use can result in insufficient capacity and a shortened lifespan. Therefore, after properly topping up the electrolyte according to specifications, the battery should be charged at a low current for about one hour.
4. The cooling fan belt is too tight.
With the arrival of summer and rising temperatures, some novice excavator operators, seeking to stay cool, tend to over-tension the cooling fan belt. However, this practice not only fails to improve engine cooling but can also cause damage. An overly tight belt will stretch over time and may eventually snap, significantly reducing its service life. Even more seriously, excessive belt tension places undue load on the alternator and water pump bearings, accelerating wear and tear and increasing engine noise. Therefore, when adjusting the cooling fan belt, beginners should follow the manufacturer’s specifications to ensure proper tensioning.
5. Incomplete hydraulic oil replacement
The components of an excavator place extremely high demands on hydraulic oil, and hydraulic oil must be changed frequently during operation. When the hydraulic oil degrades due to prolonged use and needs to be replaced, many beginners mistakenly believe that simply draining all the old oil and then filling the system with fresh hydraulic oil is sufficient. However, at this point, significant amounts of old hydraulic oil still remain in the hydraulic lines and control valves; if new and old oil are mixed during equipment operation, the rate of degradation of the new oil will accelerate.
Experience is built up step by step. Many beginners, either out of ignorance or an overzealous desire to correct perceived mistakes, easily fall into common pitfalls when it comes to excavator maintenance. Have you ever made any of the mistakes illustrated in this article?
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