Wheel loader, front end loader, bucket loader – different names, same type of awesome machinery. In this episode of Inside the Sandbox from Hastings Minnesota, we show you how to operate a Komatsu WA270 wheel loader. This important piece of construction equipment is used to move and load heavy material from job sites all over the world.
This training is only part of what you'll do to become certified in driving a loader with the company. You'll get hands-on training as well.
In this video Randy Stenger of Extreme Sandbox explains the operation of a Wheel Loader. This particular Komatsu WA270 has an operating weight of 28,164 to 29,299 lobs, a horsepower of 149@2000 RPM, and a bucket capacity of 2.5 to 3.5 square yards.
You'll make sure that you have three points of contact when you get into the loader. Be sure to lock the door all the way open. While you can leave the door open, it's recommended that you close it. Next you’ll put on your seatbelt. Start the equipment and make sure there are no warning symbols. They controls are similar with different brands of wheeled loaders. Adjust the seat so that you are comfortable.
This particular loader has a steering wheel (which is typical) that you will manage with your left hand, and with your right hand you will be operating the joystick tool-control, for your boom and bucket control. Larger wheel loaders may have a second joystick and the left hand instead of the steering wheel.
There are two ways to shift the Komatsu wheeled loader. To the far right is the controls to adjust which configuration of shifter you’ll use, the left or right shifting options. For the right configuration there’s a button on the joystick that sets to forward, neutral or reverse. There’s also a shifter on the left side of the steering column; pushing it away from you is “forward,” and away if “reverse.” Typically Randy teaches new operators to shift with the left hand option, so that the right hand can be dedicated to tool control. But a more advanced operator might do everything with the right thumb.
Also on the right by the shifter configuration are the traction controls. Randy has this set to automatic, a good configuration that will prevent your wheels from spinning. You'll be able to tell on the display what your traction is set to. “Max” would put a lot of traction on your wheels and could mean spinning will occur.
The red switch is a lockout lever, which will configure the joystick to where it no longer works. On the Komatsu loader there’s a back-up camera. The right blue buttons are climate control, and buttons below on this keypad allow access to a menu. On the left there's an auto ride control that allows the boom to ride less stiff. There are also light switches on the left.
Also on the left, there is a switch to allow you to operated the the bucket quick-connect so you can switch out different attachments and accessories.
Do you operate steering wheel you can grab a hold of the knob on it. The steering wheel doesn't turn wheels, the entire machine pivotes. The cap pivots to the left with a clock-wise turn, and to the right with a counter-clock-wise turn. Even with the parking break out, the steering column is live.
There are speed settings — 1, 2, 3, and 4 — on the left shifter, and you’ll usually start out at two. On the right side of the steering wheel there are wipers and lights.
The red switch on the dash is the parking brake, after you turn it on, the red P on your dash will light up. If you try to put the machine in forward, it will not go anywhere, but will rather beep if the parking brake is on. Keep the parking break on until you’re ready to drive.
On the floor are the gas petal to the right and there are two break petals, a right and a left one. Randy generally teaches new operators to use their left foot because that’s what’s typical in a car.
An advanced user could use both because there are different techniques … one can apply some power going in and then also apply some break.
When you pull back on the joystick the boom with start to raise. Most wheeled loaders have a auto leveler that curls the bucket away and this way material doesn’t fall out the back. If I move the joystick to the right, it will dump the bucket. And moving the joystick to the left will “close” or curl the bucket back, stopping a dumping action, and right hand forward brings the bucket back down.
Driving
When you’re driving you need to be sure the boom and bucket are in the driving position, which is down below the dashboard a few feet off the ground. Of course any higher and you can't see over it. And too low will mean that you could drag it.
While you could have the bucket uncurled to make it ready to work, you could also risk unintentionally catching things as you drive, and so Randy recommends to have the bucket somewhat curled up.
Now you’re ready to turn the parking break off. Shift in forward.
If the loader is in auto traction control, and you take your foot off the gas, the machine will stop in its own.
When you stop, stop with your foot, and shift it into neutral, and then put it back in forward.
Scooping
Before you scoop, you want to be lined up to drive in straight and level and horizontal with your bucket. As a new operator, you’ll notice that you really can’t see your bucket, and so how do you know whether you have it set correctly? It’s really judging by looking at the lines at the top of the wheeled loader, you’ll see a straight line on the bucket that will give you an indication of what the blade angle is.
If you’re too open you’ll dig a trench in front of yourself, and of course, too curled up, you can’t get at the product correctly. When you uncurl the bucket you can lower it all the way to the ground, and then pick it up to around 6 inches above.
To actually fill the bucket, you need to drive into the material and then at the point your budget is full, you’ll add a little bit of curl at the same time. Wait before you back up, you don’t want to raise your bucket any higher because you could be top-heavy. You want to be “low and tight.” If you have the bucket up, you could tip. You’ll start to back, and bring your bucket down and curled up into the driving position, generally right below the dash. Drive to where you want to dump it.
Be sure upon dumping that you’re lined up straight again because this is a lot more stable. You can start to raise up your load slowly as you approach. You’ll need enough room to clear your dump. Your bucket will come down about 3 or 4 feet as it tips forward. If you’re dumping onto a mound of dirt or decorative rock, you’ll be sure not to drive up onto the mound. After dumping, curl back or “close” the bucket.
On this particular wheeled loader, when you move your joystick all the way to the left, you can set the curl-back to a particular angle, so that when you’re doing multiple loads, you can have it preconfigured to return to a “dig” setting (level bucket). Then, as you back away you’ll bring the bucket down.
If you’re too uncurled or low when you’re carrying product, you can lose your load.
Smoothing Ground
To smooth ground, you work with the weight of the bucket. You’ll disengage the hydraulics to the boom by pushing the joystick forward. This is also referred to as “putting the bucket into float.” You can still curl and uncurl the bucket, but the boom is disengaged in this setting. Your first option is to set the bucket down flat. You don’t want to smooth moving forward, only back.
To smooth rougher ground, you’ll have the bucket curled forward. In any case, you’ll want to be sure you’re not picking up the machine with the boom, but only setting the bucket gently on the ground, but in a more open position. Here the smoothing process is almost like a dozer blade.
And when you’re ready to stop, you won’t simply engage and raise the boom. You’ll engage it and keep backing because there’s likely dirt or product behind the bucket that you’ll want to slowly smooth out to give an even finish.
Parking
Rest your bucket flat. Disengage the joystick controlling the bucket with the lockout button. Put your parking break on. Verify you see the red P on the dash. Take off your seatbelt and slide your seat back. Turn your machine off. If you have a door, be sure it’s locket in the open position. Use three (3)-point contact when exiting.
To see all of the loaders we have in American Stone and Star Stone, within Odoo, in the upper black, "primary" menu, select "Fleet," and then in the secondary menu "Vehicles." In the search bar, type "loader."
