Cat^® Backhoe Loader Extendable Stick Maintenance

Your backhoe loader may have another time- and cost-saving feature: the extendable stick or E-stick. This optional feature increases backhoe reach and digging depth by around four feet, enabling crews to reach deeper into ditches and more easily and safely load materials into dump trucks.

The increased digging depth allows operators to dig further without repositioning the machine, saving time and effort. Also, the curved design of the boom—plus the extendable stick—allows for additional clearance while digging over obstacles, reaching across trenches and loading trucks. All of this combines for faster project completion time and lower costs.

Of course, the Cat backhoe loader’s extendable stick requires additional maintenance to ensure optimal productivity. We’ve made that possible to do in under 30 minutes with only a few basic tools. Keep reading for further insight into the operation and maintenance of your new Cat backhoe loader.

Your backhoe loader’s extendable stick is comprised of two parts: the stationary, inner structure and the hydraulically actuated, outer sliding structure. To maintain proper fitment between the two sections, the outer sliding structure incorporates a system of eight non-metallic, lubricant-permeated, adjustable wear pads. These pads allow the outer structure to slide easily while minimizing vertical and side-to-side stick movement. As the pads wear from normal use, this movement can start to affect operator precision. At this point, it’s important to adjust the wear pads using the E-stick shims.

You also may have noticed the two rows of serrated gripping teeth on the bottom surface of the E-stick’s sliding section. These allow you to clamp material securely between the bucket and stick without damaging the stick.

Your backhoe loader’s extendable stick isn’t just useful for digging and loading. The stick also comes equipped with auxiliary hydraulic couplers for specialized attachments like hammers, hydraulic thumbs and augers. Less repositioning is required while using attachments because of the extra reach afforded by the stick.

Before you start adjusting your wear pads, let’s identify where all eight are located. The most obvious wear pads are located on the sides of the stick and are used to control side-to-side movement. There are four total with two on each side. Each pad is held in place by a metal cover plate and four locking bolts. You don’t need to fully remove all four locking bolts. Simply removing the top two and loosening the bottom two will provide enough access to adjust the wear pads.

Beneath each plate, you have multiple shims of varying thickness. Adding or removing shims allows you to adjust how much pressure the wear pad exerts on the interior structure, which changes the side-to-side movement of the stick. Add shims to increase side-to-side movement, and remove shims to decrease side-to-side movement.

There are another four adjustable wear pads that control vertical movement of the stick. These pads are found on the top and bottom of the exterior structure at both ends. To adjust these wedges, loosen the two locking bolts, and turn the Allen screw to tighten or loosen the E-stick. Loosening the wedges increases movement, while tightening decreases movement.

To ensure proper functioning, consult your backhoe loader’s Operation and Maintenance Manual (OMM) for the tolerances necessary for optimal operation.

While following your OMM’s recommendations on wear pad adjustment is important for operational efficiency and the life of your backhoe loader’s extendable stick, making maintenance part of your daily routine is absolutely necessary.

Along with adjusting wear pads, checking for signs of visual wear and tear on your machine’s linkages, hydraulic hoses, cylinder rods and tires can help you avoid costly issues and injury. Be sure to check fluid levels and clear debris from filters and radiator fan grills. Also, depending on your jobsite’s substrate, you may need to clean your machine’s undercarriage once a day, as well as your work tools.

While it may be difficult to stay on top of proper preventative maintenance, it’s the best investment you can make after purchasing a Cat backhoe loader. Many issues can be avoided, keeping your machine performing like new while reducing costs.

All the necessary maintenance steps for your backhoe loader model are in your Operation and Maintenance Manual. For any further questions, reach out to your local Cat dealer.