How to operate the skid loader

A skid-steer loader is a flexible and efficient engineering machinery and equipment, widely used in construction, agriculture, municipal and other scenarios. Its operation methods need to be combined with the characteristics of the mechanical structure and operational requirements. The following is a detailed explanation from aspects such as pre-operation preparations, basic operations, special operation operations, and safety precautions:

I. Pre-operation Preparations

Equipment Inspection

• Appearance: Check the wear of tires / tracks, whether there is oil or water leakage on the vehicle body, and whether the connection of the bucket / attachments is firm.
• Fluids: Confirm the liquid level and quality of engine oil, hydraulic oil, coolant, and fuel.
• Control System: Test whether the joysticks, pedals, lights, horn, etc. are sensitive and normal, and whether there is any abnormal noise in the hydraulic system.
• Safety Devices: Check whether the seat belt, protective fence, reversing camera (if any) are in good condition, and ensure that the emergency shutdown switch can be used normally.

Site and Environment Confirmation

• Clear obstacles (such as stones, pipelines) in the operation area, confirm the load-bearing capacity of the ground, and avoid operating on soft ground or ground with excessive slope (usually not exceeding 10°).
• If operating in an enclosed space, attention should be paid to ventilation to prevent the accumulation of engine exhaust gas (especially for diesel models).

Personal Protection

• Operators need to wear safety helmets, non-slip work shoes, and protective gloves. Long hair should be tied up, and loose clothing is prohibited (to avoid being caught in mechanical parts).

II. Basic Operation Steps

1. Starting and Shutting Down

• Starting:
1. Insert the key, confirm that the joystick is in the neutral position, and pull up the handbrake.
2. Turn the key to the start position, and release it after the engine starts (the starting time should not exceed 5 seconds; if it fails to start, wait 10 seconds before trying again).
3. Let it idle for 3-5 minutes, observe the indicator lights on the instrument panel (no fault lights on), and check whether the hydraulic system pressure is normal.
• Shutting Down:
1. Park the equipment on a flat ground, lower the bucket / attachments to the ground, reset the joystick to the neutral position, and pull up the handbrake.
2. Let it idle for 1-2 minutes to reduce the engine temperature, then turn the key to the shutdown position and pull out the key.

2. Driving Operation

• Forward / Backward:
• Push both the left and right joysticks forward at the same time → the equipment moves forward;
• Pull both the left and right joysticks backward at the same time → the equipment moves backward;
• The greater the pushing / pulling amplitude of the joysticks, the faster the driving speed (adjust according to the site to avoid sudden acceleration).
• Steering:
• Turn left: Pull the left joystick backward and push the right joystick forward (or the amplitude of the left joystick is smaller than that of the right joystick);
• Turn right: Pull the right joystick backward and push the left joystick forward (or the amplitude of the right joystick is smaller than that of the left joystick);
• In-place steering ("spin"): Push / pull the left and right joysticks in opposite directions respectively (suitable for narrow spaces, but attention should be paid to ground friction to avoid slipping).

3. Attachment Operation (Taking Bucket as an Example)

• Lifting / Lowering: Controlled by the boom joystick (usually a separate joystick or integrated into the right main joystick):
• Pull upward → boom lifts (bucket rises);
• Push downward → boom lowers (bucket lands).
• Bucket Retraction / Unloading: Controlled by the bucket joystick:
• Pull backward → bucket retracts (for loading materials);
• Push forward → bucket unloads (coordinate with the boom height to avoid material spilling).
• Other attachments (such as breakers, forklifts, sweepers): Need to be switched through quick connectors, and the operation method should be adjusted according to the type of attachment (refer to the corresponding attachment manual).

III. Precautions for Special Operations

Loading Operation:

• When the bucket is inserted into the material, keep the boom slightly low to avoid the bottom of the bucket scraping the ground;
• After filling the material, first lift the boom to a suitable height (not exceeding the line of sight), then drive to the unloading point. It is forbidden to lift while driving.

Slope Operation:

• When driving up and down the slope, the bucket should face the top of the slope, and the center of gravity should be close to the upward slope direction;
• It is forbidden to drive horizontally on the slope (easy to roll over). Operation on slopes exceeding 15° requires caution.

Narrow Space Operation:

• When using the in-place steering function, ensure that there are no people or obstacles around, and operate slowly to avoid excessive inertia.

IV. Core Principles of Safe Operation

• Overloading is prohibited (refer to the rated load capacity of the equipment, and the bucket should not be overfilled with materials).
• Pay attention to observing the front and rearview mirrors when driving, and must confirm the safety of the rear when reversing (ask others to command if necessary).
• In case of faults (such as abnormal noise, oil leakage, or control failure), stop and shut down immediately, check and troubleshoot before continuing operation. It is forbidden to operate with faults.
• Operators must receive professional training, be familiar with the equipment performance before operating independently, and unauthorized operation or lending to others is prohibited.