EFFECT: earth-moving machines. SUBSTANCE: working body of a bucket wheel excavator includes a rotor with buckets hinged on the shell and having rollers for interacting with a feeler placed on the frame on the face side. The working body of a bucket wheel excavator is equipped with two drive sprockets with built-in electric motors, rigidly mounted on the frame, and one non-drive sprocket mounted on the frame with the possibility of radial movement. In this case, the feeler is made in the form of a bushing-roller chain interacting with sprockets. EFFECT: reduced energy intensity of operating the working body of an excavator when developing a variety of soils, in particular with varying degrees of stickiness, hardness, and congealment. 1 cl, 2 dwg.