The operation of a Case backhoe is similar to other backhoes. The Case backhoe is used for a variety of excavation purposes such as digging holes, ditches, trenches and removing debris. The front of the backhoe has a blade that moves and levels dirt. The rear of the backhoe has a hydraulic boom and bucket designed for digging and removing debris.
Read the Case backhoe operator's manual.
Inspect the backhoe to ensure it appears to be in working order. Move to the driver's seat and fasten the seat belt.
Familiarize yourself with all of the front- and rear-operation levers and foot pedals. Each lever and each foot pedal has a required function. Almost all Case backhoes have a diagram beside each operation lever that explains its function.
Engage the parking brake and make sure the gearshift is in the neutral position. Turn on the ignition. Wait a few minutes for the engine to warm up. This will enable the hydraulic fluid to flow more easily.
Check the blade by locating the lever on the right side of the console. Push the lever down to move the blade downward. Pull the lever up to raise the blade.
Swivel the seat around until you are facing the rear boom and bucket. The seat has a release lever on the bottom that allows it to pivot from the front to the rear.
Lower the hydraulic stabilizer legs on each side of the backhoe by pressing downward on the corresponding levers on each side of the console. The stabilizer legs are used to level the backhoe. Check the level gauge on the rear console to ensure that the backhoe is level. Swivel the seat around and lower the front blade completely to the ground for support.
Swivel the seat back to face the rear of the backhoe. Push inward on the lower boom handle to extend the lower section of the boom. Push inward on the upper boom handle to extend the upper section of the boom until it is in line with the lower boom.
Pull the bucket lever until the bucket is straight with both booms. Raise the lower boom by pulling the lower boom handle. Once the lower boom has raised the upper boom and the bucket, push inward on the upper boom lever until the upper boom and the bucket are at a 45-degree angle.
Adjust the bucket by pulling inward on the bucket handle until the teeth of the bucket are pointing toward the ground. Lower the upper boom until the teeth of the bucket are several inches inside of the ground.
Lower the upper boom at the same time you are pulling inward on the bucket lever. This process will press the bucket into the ground to scoop up the dirt. Once the bucket is completely closed, raise the upper boom so that the bucket is at least 3 to 4 feet off of the ground.
Swivel the boom to one side or the other by using the pedals in the floorboard. Use the right pedal to move the boom to the right and the left pedal to move the boom to the left. Once the boom has been moved to the desired area, open the bucket to dump the dirt. Repeat this process until you are familiar with all of the operation levers.
