The benefits of Stick Steer and its supporting functionalities

STICK STEER MODE OPTIONS PROVIDE GREATER EFFICIENCY

Stick steer is a new feature of the Cat Next Generation Mini Excavators and its additional mode options will have you operating with greater efficiency and achieving more with your time.

Stick steer mode is available on all Cat Next Generation Mini Excavators.

While it is still possible to use the machine in the traditional way with travel pedals and levers, stick steer and associated functions can help you make even better use of your time.

Check out our TeamYellow tips video on operating in stick steer below, or keep scrolling to read more:

HOW TO OPERATE STICK STEER

Climb into the machine using your three points of contact and when ready, start it up. Regardless of which mode your machine was in when it was last turned off, each time you commence operating, you’ll be required to use the foot pedals and travel levers. 

To switch to stick steer: 

1. Press the yellow button on the left-hand joystick. 
2. When asked to confirm if you want to enable joystick travel - say yes.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU’RE IN STICK STEER?

• Once you enable Stick Steer, you will notice a green icon light up in the centre of the monitor, letting you know that you are now ready to go. 
• Use the left-hand joystick to move the machine forward or backward and steer left or right.
• If you want to swing the cab to look and see where the blade is and what you're grading, you just use the roller on the left-hand side.
• Your right-hand joystick is still live for boom down, boom up, while moving side to side controls your bucket. If you hit the trigger on the bottom side, you can then use the roller to operate the stick.

So even though you're in stick steer, you still have full linkage movement in the right-hand joystick

USING THE RIGHT JOYSTICK FOR SWITCHING MODES AND CONTROLLING THE BLADE 

Switching between Turtle and Rabbit mode on your joystick is simple:  

• To initiate turtle or rabbit mode, you have the option of using switch above the blade lever or your right-hand joystick.
• To change functionality and operate turtle and rabbit on your joystick, go into the menu screen, confirm OK to machine settings, OK to control mode and then scroll down to joystick steering mapping and OK to that too.

While you are on this screen you can be in excavator mode, which is what we've been in with the right-hand controlling the linkage, or we could go down and select blade: 

• Hit the home button and now even though we're operating in stick steer, the right-hand is controlling the blade.

ACTIVATING BLADE FLOAT

• Activating blade float is simple – if you’ve completed the steps above, you just need to push the right joystick forward and hit the trigger underneath.
• To switch in and out of stick steer, just hit the yellow button. 
• Alternating between the two modes will allow you to go from normal to operational mode for trenching or digging. It will make for a more efficient and comfortable experience. 

ACTIVATING AND OPERATING CRUISE CONTROL

Cruise control can assist in making travelling long distances across site easier and more efficient for the operator.

• To activate cruise control, you first need to be in stick steer mode
• Push the travel joystick forward, hit the trigger, let go, and voila! You will continue to travel in cruise control mode.
• Whilst in cruise control, you can steer the machine either direction and as soon as you want to stop, just move the joystick in any direction or push the travel levers forward.
• You can also reverse with the cruise control function

The beauty of the Cat Next Gen Mini Excavator is that they allow you to operate in traditional mode and easily switch to Stick Steer functionality. It’s all designed to help you become more time-efficient so you can get more out of your day.