Learning how to use a mini excavator takes an afternoon of practice once you understand the controls, the walkaround check and a few digging habits. This guide explains how to use a mini excavator step by step, from the pre-start check to trenching and loading it on a trailer, with examples from the LICH 1.5–3 t mini excavator range. Always read the operator manual of your own machine first, and follow local training rules. LICH also builds the road roller used to compact trenches and driveways after the digging is done.
Before you start: check the site and the machine
- Locate buried services. Mark water, gas, power and telecom lines before any digging.
- Walk around the machine. Look for oil leaks, damaged hoses, loose track tension and worn bucket teeth. Check engine oil, coolant, hydraulic oil and fuel.
- Grease the pins on the boom, arm and bucket.
- Clear the swing area. Keep people outside the reach of the arm and the rear of the machine.
The controls
Most mini excavators use two joysticks, two travel levers and a blade lever. The common ISO pattern works like this:
- Left joystick: forward and back moves the arm (stick) out and in; left and right swings the upper body.
- Right joystick: forward and back lowers and raises the boom; left and right curls and dumps the bucket.
- Travel levers or pedals: one for each track. Push both to go straight; push one to turn.
- Blade lever: raises and lowers the front dozer blade.
- Boom swing pedal (where fitted): moves the boom left or right for digging next to walls.
Some machines use the SAE pattern, which swaps the boom and arm functions. Check the pattern label in the cab before you start. On the LICH LC-E15 and LC-E17, pilot controls and boom swing are available options.
How to use a mini excavator: digging step by step
- Start and warm up. Sit down, fasten the seat belt, lower the safety lever and let the engine and hydraulic oil warm up for a few minutes.
- Position the machine. Line the tracks up with the trench, with the blade facing the dig.
- Lower the blade. A blade on the ground steadies the machine while you dig.
- Dig in smooth passes. Lower the boom, push the arm out, curl the bucket in as you pull the arm back, then lift. Take shallow bites; a full, level bucket is faster than one deep pass.
- Swing and dump. Swing to the spoil pile, dump, and swing back. Keep the pile at least a bucket width back from the trench edge.
- Move back as you go. Travel back along the trench line every few passes.
Know the machine you are on
| LC-E20 | LC-E30 | LC8035 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operating weight | 2,000 kg | 2,800 kg | On request |
| Maximum digging depth | 2,060 mm | 2,450 mm | 3,208 mm |
| Maximum digging radius | 3,130 mm | 4,520 mm | 5,480 mm |
| Tail swing radius | 1,013 mm | 700 mm (zero-tail) | 870 mm |
| Width | 1,100 mm | 1,360 / 1,560 mm (tracks in / out) | 1,755 mm |
| Gradeability | 30° | On request | 30° |
Figures from the LICH product catalogue, read on 22 October 2026.
Two numbers matter most while you work. The tail swing radius tells you how far the rear swings out: the zero-tail LC-E30 swings within its tracks, so it suits work beside walls and fences. The digging depth tells you how deep one setup reaches before you need to step down. Gradeability is a travel limit, not a working angle: dig on level ground wherever you can.
Working on slopes and soft ground
- Travel straight up and down a slope, never across it.
- Keep the bucket low when travelling.
- Avoid swinging a full bucket downhill.
- Stay back from trench edges; soft walls can give way under the tracks.
Loading onto a trailer
Mini excavators move on small trailers. The LC-E15 ships at 1,200 kg gross and the LC-E17 at 1,420 kg, and the LC-E20 is 2,597 mm long in transport. Line up straight with the ramps, drive up slowly with the blade and bucket low, then lower the bucket and blade onto the deck and tie down at the marked points.
Questions buyers ask
How long does it take to learn how to use a mini excavator?
Most people handle the basic controls in a day. Smooth, accurate digging takes a few weeks of regular use.
Do I need a licence?
It depends on your country and site. Many sites ask for operator training or a certificate even for small machines.
What size mini excavator should I start on?
A 1.5–2 t machine is easy to move and forgiving for a beginner. See our mini excavator size chart and what is a mini excavator.
Once you know how to use a mini excavator, the attachment does the rest: see our mini excavator attachments guide and bucket guide. Tell us your jobs and transport limits, and we will recommend a LICH mini excavator.