This article initially appeared in PS 757 (Dec 15), p. 12.
Operators,
Move the backhoe on your high-mobility engineer excavator (HMEE-1) all you want during operation. But it needs to be still as a statue when HMEE-1 goes into travel mode.
To do that, make sure the swing lock pin is installed in the backhoe frame’s aligned holes. The WARNING shown on Page 0004-79 of TM 5-2420-232-10 (Mar 09, w/Ch 1, Sep 12) should serve as a reminder.
The swing lock pin keeps the backhoe from swinging sideways during travel, which can injure personnel or damage equipment.
Make sure swing lock pin is installed before travel
You should also keep the pin firmly in place when the excavator is parked with the backhoe in the stowed position. With the pin in place, there’s less wear-and-tear on the hydraulics.