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The versatility of compact excavators makes them a boon to many jobsites. With a quick switch between attachments, you can break concrete, load the demoed remains into a truck and grade the cleared site — all with the same machine.

"If a contractor determines he can do all these tasks with a single piece of equipment, that's pretty alluring," says Tom Connor, compact excavator product specialist at Bobcat. In that sense, these smaller machines are more adept at multi-tasking than their big brothers. "I just don't see the same attachment utilization on larger excavators. Many times with larger excavators, attachments are dedicated, and even hard-plumbed. They do only one task for a given job, season or even lifetime. But with the compact sizes, contractors push the limit on attachments because it pushes the utilization of the machine."

But pushing the limits can create situations where these smaller carriers are asked to do too much. While you will want to make the best use of available power, you need to do so within the confines of the machine's specifications to prevent overloading, which can cause overheating and excessive and premature wear, as well as compromise stability.

Determine lift capacity

Bill Gearhart, assistant marketing manager/product manager at Yanmar, suggests you start by determining just how much your machine can lift. Some manufacturers print lifting limits on decals affixed directly to the machine. You can also find them printed in most product literature and owners' manuals. As a last resort, a dealer representative can locate the information for you.

Keep in mind that lift capacity will decrease as the boom extends. "If you're operating close to the machine, lift capacity will be greater," Gearhart says. "But as you extend the arm out to the side and up, the ability of the load to tip the machine will be greater."