Movement: ................................. 4
Digging: .................................... 4
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SAFETY IS A COMBINATION OF OPERATOR COMMON SENSE AND ALERTNESS AT ALL TIMES WHEN THE UNIT IS BEING USED.
Warning!
For your own safety read this instruction manual before operating CanDig. Failure to follow the safety rules listed below and other basic safety precautions may result in serious personal injury or death.
1. Keep children away. All visitors should be kept a safe distance from work area.
2. CanDig should be re-configured only on level surfaces. It has no brakes and can easily roll away out of control. It is best to re-configure CanDig while it is attached to the 2 inch trailer hitch of your vehicle.
3. Check with the local city authorities to determine if there are buried natural gas lines or electrical cables buried where you intend to dig.
4. Do not operate CanDig on a slope of more than 15% grade.
1. Wear proper apparel. No loose clothing, gloves, neckties, rings, bracelets, or other jewelry to get caught in moving parts. Be especially careful around the pump/motor area where moving parts can cause a hazard. Nonslip footwear is recommended.
2. Don't overreact. Keep proper footing and balance at all times.
3. Never stand while operating CanDig.
4. Check for and repair damaged parts before further use of the unit.
5. Don't operate CanDig when you feel tired.
*Although foot guards have been welded to the slip resistant checker plate, on the left side, the operator needs to use caution not to get his foot caught between the guard and the boom pivot cylinder. Under no circumstances should an operator allow a child to sit on CanDig while operating. Children's feet are smaller and can get pinched in this area.
*Drop the boom slowly to prevent being jolted forward. For your safety, we have included a restrictor valve on the boom cylinder to so that the operator can adjust the speed at which the boom is lowered.
*Use extreme caution when working in confined areas so that you do not damage surrounding structures while swinging the boom to one side.
1. Don't force CanDig. When you encounter a difficult object, work it slowly by placing the bucket teeth in front, then rocking it until it breaks loose. Alternatively, try digging around the object first to try and loosen it more.
2. Never leave the unit running while unattended.
3. Don't use in a dangerous environment.
4. While CanDig is in the "trailer/travel" mode, it is especially important to ensure that it can not roll away while unattended. Remember that the unit is especially vulnerable to this problem while it is in the "trailer/travel" mode since it is not equipped with brakes.
5. Do not operate in a confined area. Remember that the unit runs on gasoline and that the fumes given off can cause sickness and death.
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1. Maintain your Honda motor as specified in the dealer's manual provided.
2. Keep hydraulic fluid clean. "Bleed" the line if you ever need to replace a cylinder or broken line. This can be done by re-connecting the line to the new cylinder loosely, then operating the control lever to that cylinder until fluid flows from the loose connection. Then, tighten the connection.
3. Do not alter or misuse the unit. CanDig is built to precision and any alteration or modification not specified is misuse and may result in dangerous conditions.
4. Do not increase the system pressure. It is pre-set at 1500 psi for safety. Under no circumstances should the pressure exceed 2000 psi.
5. There are six grease nipples to be greased periodically. They are located as follows; two located on the side of the boom pivot; one on each end of the boom; and two on the end of the boom extension (for the bucket).
Your CanDig Mini Excavator comes complete, either assembled or in a crate. If some assembly is required, follow the following procedures:
1. Remove top and sides of crate.
2. Mount the tires to the wheels. Be sure to securely snug the lug nuts in place so that they do not come loose during transporting on the highway.
3. Lift the main frame assembly, propping it up so that the wheel axles can be mounted. Next, mount the wheels at the digging end of the excavator. Use ½ inch pins to secure them in place. Again, snug the lug nuts tight.
4. Insert the front wheel through the tongue end of the excavator, and secure in place with a ½ inch pin.
5. Install the fenders by inserting the ¼ inch pins.
6. Insert the tongue into the "towing end" of the excavator and use two ½ inch bolts/lock washers to secure it into place.
7. The stabilizer legs come in two parts; the "shoulders" and "legs". Assemble each using ½ inch pins, then insert them in their holding brackets facing upwards so that they are ready for highway travel.
8. Attach the boom to the frame using the 1" pin and small anchor bolt. (It is recommended that you weld both ends of the boom pin so that it doesn't work itself loose.) Hydraulic hoses need to be attached to the corresponding ports of the cylinders for the boom, extension and bucket. Tighten snuggly, but do not over-tighten because that can damage the threads. Use zap straps to ensure hoses will not be pinched or rub on the frame. Remember that CanDig is not allowed to send dangerous materials, so it is up to the owner to supply and install standard hydraulic fluid (6 gallons for CD21; 3 gallons for CD11). Also, the Honda motor needs to have nearly one liter of 30 weight oil installed. Remember that it runs on regular unmixed gasoline. It is recommended that you use premium gasoline so that the unit gives you better performance under all conditions.
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1. Be sure that CanDig is on level ground before detaching it from the vehicle. When it is in the travel mode, the stabilizer legs are upright, therefore cannot hold the unit in place. It can simply roll away if it is not on level ground.
2. Lower the retractable trailer wheel so that you can detach the unit and have it comfortably resting on a third wheel. (In this way, CanDig becomes much like a large tricycle). It is important that the wheel is down like this so that the following procedures can be performed properly.
3. On level ground, detach CanDig from the 2 inch trailer hitch. Move your vehicle away from CanDig so that you have room to perform the following procedures.
4. Start the Honda motor then raise the boom slightly so that the 1 inch safety travel pin can be removed from below the boom. Remove the safety pin and place it where it will not be forgotten. Do not store the safety pin in the ports intended to re-position the end of the boom cylinder for digging to a depth of 6 feet.
5. Sitting on the seat of the excavator, move the boom around to one side, then extend the boom all the way out, adjust the bucket teeth so they are facing backward toward you. Next, place the bucket down on the ground and raise that side of the excavator so that the wheel is clear off the ground.
6. Remove both stabilizer legs and place them on the ground on opposite end and side of the excavator so they can later be placed in the downward position on the digging end.
7. Remove the 15 inch wheel and pin it on the other end. Pin that stabilizer leg on so that is in the downward (or digging) position. Allow the boom to raise so that the weight comes down on the 15 inch wheel.
8. Sitting on the seat of the excavator, swing the boom around to the other side and repeat the steps for number 7 above on that side. Finally, raise the retractable wheel up out of the way. CanDig is now ready to work independently. (Reverse these procedures when getting CanDig ready for highway travel.)
Note:
When not in use, do not store 1 inch safety pin where the optional 6 foot
digging depth cylinder end is intended to be pinned. This will prevent damage to
the boom cylinder.
Page 4
Operate CanDig at about ¾ throttle. Once the throttle has been set, it is usually good for the rest of the day. You can increase the speed/power somewhat by increasing the throttle, but this is generally not required.
Movement:
1. To move forward, reach out with the boom, place the bucket on the ground and lift the stabilizer legs off the ground. Use the boom extension control to move the excavator forward, then gently allow the boom to be lowered. Repeat this process over and over until you have moved forward to where you need to be.
2. Reverse the process for number 1 above to move backward.
3. To move to the side, reach to one side of the excavator with the boom, place the bucket on the ground and lift the stabilizer leg off the ground on that side. Use the boom pivot control to swing you around to the side you wish.
Digging:
1. Reach out with the boom, and with the bucket teeth facing towards you, lower the boom and pull the bucket back towards you with the boom extension. Be sure and carve off only a few inches at a time, with the teeth facing at the right angle so that CanDig will dig well for you. If you have too big of a bite into the earth, allow the boom to come up slightly or angle the teeth back more so that they are cutting into the earth better. (Practice with this will improve your skills and you will be delighted with the digging performance of CanDig.)
2. With the bucket full, curl the bucket back so the earth can be lifted upwards and away from the hole by swinging the boom in the direction you need. Note that CanDig will lift a heavier load as the boom extension is moved in closer to the operator (rather than attempting to lift while the boom is fully extended).
3. Backfilling can be accomplished best by moving the bucket to one side of the earth, placing the teeth so they are facing backwards, then sweep the earth back into the hole. To tamp the earth, force the bucket firmly onto the earth by lowering the boom and lifting the excavator off the ground for a moment.
4. Note that CanDig can work slightly closer to a building by unpinning, sliding the stabilizer in more, then re-pinning it.
5. Also note that CanDig can be re-configured to work on uneven surfaces by re-pinning how the stabilizer leg meets the stabilizer shoulder.
CanDig mini excavators are powerful pieces of equipment. They need to be treated with extreme caution at all times and only qualified equipment operators should attempt to use CanDig. Operators of this equipment must accept all liability responsibility including safety and compliance with provisions of any laws or acts. In no event shall CanDig Mini Excavators Inc be liable and any legal actions brought against CanDig Mini Excavators shall be tried at Kamloops in the province of British Columbia, Canada. We shall in no event be liable for death, injuries to persons or property or incidental, contingent, special or consequential damages arising from the use of our products.