CAT vs John Deere Controls: Which Way Is the Most Convenient?

In the world of special equipment, there are two basic types of controls that have existed for ages and are going to exist for ages more. Although newer equipment allows you to switch between different styles and patterns of control, there are still CAT controls (SAE or backhoe) and Deere controls (ISO or excavator controls).

Today, we are going to tell you about the difference, pros and cons, and also other features of CAT vs Deere controls. We'll also outline important considerations. This is exactly the thing that doesn't allow CAT operators easily jump into John Deere's cabin and do the job. However, it's not that hard to master the controls just by letting yourself get used to it.

Here's what we are going to talk about:

• SAE controls that are used in CAT machines and their features.
• ISO controls that are used in John Deere excavators and their features.
• Can you switch between different types of controls in CAT or John Deere equipment?
• What's the best type of controls to learn and master for an operator?

Let's get started!

What kind of controls is used in CAT machines?

First of all, you should know that not all CAT machines will come standard with SAE controls. We should say that the ISO type appears to be more popular among professional operators. Also, the newer machines are neutral and allow the operator to switch easily.

But anyway, most CAT machines still come with SAE controls that implies these simple patterns:

• Left Joystick: Swing left and right, Boom up and down.
• Right Joystick: Bucket curl and dump, Dipper in and out.

This is as simple as that. Many operators learn this kind of control pattern and then struggle to make the ISO machine do what their brain is about. But overall, getting used to another pattern is not that hard or long.

If you have a CAT machine, most likely, you will have to operate the swing with your left joystick and the boom with your right joystick. This is the difference. Just take some time to get used to what your hands should do and get to work! Or read further to see what you can do to change that.

John Deere control patterns

Most John Deere excavators use ISO controls. But please note that we say "most", not "all". Since 2011, some new models of excavators come standard with SAE controls and you can easily switch to another pattern if you want. Nearly all modern machines are flexible in terms of controls.

ISO is the most popular type of control, so many excavator operators only know this and use it in their daily work. It doesn't mean they just can't operate CAT machines that offer SAE controls, they just need some time to get used to the new functions of those joysticks.

Well, here's how ISO controls is different:

• Left joystick: Dipper in and out, Swing left and right.
• Right Joystick: Boom up and down, Bucket curl and dump.

This pattern is mostly used in modern equipment. Also, if a certain company buys a lot of heavy equipment, they always want to have the same type of controls for all their new excavators of any size and brand, so sometimes these controls may be changed during manufacturing to suit the needs of a certain company.

Of course, ISO controls are still not really convenient for someone. But if you want to be a really demanded worker, you should be familiar with both controls and easily switch between them if needed. Otherwise, companies will prefer other guys who can do that.

Can you easily switch between different controls?

It depends on what kind of equipment we are talking about. Some types, especially budget-friendly and compact equipment still come with a certain type of controls programmed in them. It may be ISO or SAE depending on the brand and the type of the machine in question.

But most modern machines offer an easy switch between ISO and SAE control patterns. It means you may just use a button or another type of switch to readjust control patterns and use the most convenient one for you.

Again, in different brands and types of equipment, these control switching modules are placed in various places and are sometimes really hard to find. It's made to avoid accidental switching. Sometimes, you will need the ignition key of the key fob to do this.

Also, you should look in the manufacturer's manual to find the switch that will allow you to choose between ISO and SAE controls. Finding this switch without the official manual is like finding a needle that was lost in a pile of hay.

Do all CAT have SAE and all John Deere models have ISO controls?

No, this is a very old myth that is not really true now. Before the 1980s it was like this, but after that companies started cooperating with different partners all around the globe and finding new markets. In one country businesses wanted SAE controls, in others - they only bought excavators with ISO controls, so companies started adjusting what they manufactured to what they could easily sell.

Also, after 2010, many companies started making universal controls that could easily be switched between SAE and ISO.

Also, there are quite a lot of used excavators and other equipment on the market and they offer different types of controls. First of all, they could come from different countries and different companies. Secondly, they could be modified to meet the needs of a certain operator. Some older excavators could be reprogrammed.

So, no, not all Deeres will have ISO controls and not all CATs will have SAE controls. This may change according to the type of equipment, year of production, history of this equipment, and other factors.

Do you need to master CAT or Deere type of controls to be demanded?

A lot of beginner operators ask us what kind of controls they need to master to be demanded workers in the sphere. The answer is simple: to be a competitive worker for businesses, you need to be able to operate a small Bobcat, a middle CAT, or a bigger John Deere, as well as the toy excavator or one of the giant unique heavy machines made for special purposes.

So, the answer is you need to master both SAE and ISO controls and be able to switch between them easily in a couple of seconds. Otherwise, you are just not going to get the job because this skill is basic for all heavy equipment operators.

But you should start with ISO because this one is the most common nowadays and most likely, you will be operating one of the excavators with exactly ISO controls on it.

Is there any significant difference between John Deere and CAT controls?

Basically, the only difference is that the left and right joysticks have almost mirrored functions. It means you will do in a CAT excavator with your left hand the things that you did with your right hand in a John Deere excavator.

No other important differences should be considered. The size of the model of excavators or other equipment doesn't matter much and will not change the type of controls. This is made for a practical point of view - any excavator operator can quickly jump into another piece of equipment and start working without retraining for a couple of months.

This is not only true for CAT and John Deere. This is also true for pretty much all manufacturers of heavy equipment, namely excavators. If you are a professional in a small Bobcat, you are likely to easily master a huge John Deere. But you still have to have a certain qualification for this. So training is very important.

How can I understand quickly what type of controls I'm dealing with?

Also, some operators just don't know whether they deal with an SAE or ISO excavator when they first time get into its cabin. You should learn this before you start working, so just get the documents and read about this.

If you don't have access to the documents, try the following steps:

• take the full name of the model of your excavator and google it;
• try to find online which type of controls is standard for this model;
• also, learn how you can quickly switch between SAE and ISO controls and if it's actually possible;
• if no information is presented, get into the excavator, turn it on and try moving joysticks to see which controls you are about to deal with.

It's not going to be really hard to identify which type of controls you are dealing with in your CAT or John Deere excavator. After you know this, you can easily get used to or even change the type of controls for your convenience.