Why is the excavator having such a hard time scooping dirt?

[happyskunky]

80 % of my time spent with the excavator is getting it to close it's freaking claw.... I get dirt but have to force it to close by jerking the scoop up and half the dirt falls out. These things are so powerful that closing the scoop should be no problem.

[PQNY]

I don't know how much practice you've had with the excavator, but I was excavating last night after the patch with no problem.

I was awful with the excavator when I first started using it, similar to what you said. Now I can do it in my sleep, carving out perfectly square holes.

[superbaz]

The excavator physics is pretty rough. It's best to dig from the top instead of the bottom. Make sure to keep the bucket level or completely closed. It does tend to get stuck often when digging from below cliff face. Raise it up a little and curl both the bucket and retract bucket arm. (Key combo to use...
Left/up arrows and W.)

My biggest complaint with the game (other than getting stuck and then see the whole excavator FLYING) is the lack of arm power. A real excavator can pick itself up with the arm.
It's difficult to get out of situations if you can't drive it properly!
(Shifting between digging and driving mode and the above mentioned power issue is a HUGE problem.)
Even RC excavators can help themselves up a hill with the arm!

Come on guys. If you're going to put someone in an excavator for most of the game, I suggest you get to work on this situation.

[happyskunky]

Originally posted by superbaz:

The excavator physics is pretty rough. It's best to dig from the top instead of the bottom. Make sure to keep the bucket level or completely closed. It does tend to get stuck often when digging from below cliff face. Raise it up a little and curl both the bucket and retract bucket arm. (Key combo to use...
Left/up arrows and W.)

My biggest complaint with the game (other than getting stuck and then see the whole excavator FLYING) is the lack of arm power. A real excavator can pick itself up with the arm.
It's difficult to get out of situations if you can't drive it properly!
(Shifting between digging and driving mode and the above mentioned power issue is a HUGE problem.)
Even RC excavators can help themselves up a hill with the arm!

Come on guys. If you're going to put someone in an excavator for most of the game, I suggest you get to work on this situation.

AMEN! bravo!