Man attempts to stop excavator swinging uncontrollably - GIF

**Altair** · May 30, 2023, 08:27 PM

Man attempts to stop excavator swinging uncontrollably.

Previously:

Cat playing with a bird - GIF
Excavator puts on its own track - GIF
Excavator having seizure - GIF
Excavator travels downhill
excavator prepares and serves hot dog

**Karl_H** · May 31, 2023, 06:12 PM

I kept yelling at him to try the other tread!

**drivermark** · May 31, 2023, 06:55 PM

Mighta' worked better if it were spinning the other way.

**tooly** · May 31, 2023, 08:57 PM

Dont they have automatic stops if the driver is not sitting on the seat? How did he get off leaving it swinging?

**Frank S** · May 31, 2023, 09:37 PM

Did anyone notice this video has been flipped? the Name Kobelco is spelled backwards the operator cabin is on the wrong side

**NeiljohnUK** · Jun 1, 2023, 04:23 AM

Originally Posted by tooly

Dont they have automatic stops if the driver is not sitting on the seat? How did he get off leaving it swinging?

As with most safety interlocks that become 'inconvenient' it can be by-passed, or it's simply jammed and failed. Like firearms 'safeties' its best not to entirely trust them.

**hemmjo** · Jun 1, 2023, 04:36 AM

Originally Posted by tooly

Dont they have automatic stops if the driver is not sitting on the seat? How did he get off leaving it swinging?

The only three I have operated had a lever or the actual left side control arm that swung down to block the door or path to the seat. (right side in this video). You can not start the machine unless that lever or control is in the run position. I never tried to operate the controls when off the seat so I cannot say for sure if they are disabled when the safety device it raised. If you wanted to let the machine warm up at the start of a work day, you can get in, lower the device, start the machine, then lift the lever to get out. In addition, the controls "spring" back to neutral when you release the joysticks. BUT, the hydraulics on modern machines are controlled electronically so they offer very little resistance to being actuated. Either someone was playing a dangerous gag, or there was a malfunction in that system.

In either case it may take a long time for that machine to run out of fuel, maybe a couple of days if it is full. One can run all day on a full tank doing actual work. It will just be sipping fuel running like that with no real load.

I did think it looked odd, did not notice it was flipped until you mentioned it Frank.