May 2002
BID LIST
Grader Design Changes
 with the Times
by Kirk Landers, Editorial Director

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Manufacturers listed in this feature responded to a special mailing by Better Roads and do not necessarily represent the entire market for this product. 

Capability to multi-task is one key 

In the Eighties and Nineties, motor grader design shifted from the traditional rigid-frame format to articulated bodies which allowed the motor grader to perform a wider range of tasks well. Versatility was important because much of the work that had occupied motor graders in North America was disappearing with the completion of the large-scale new-highway construction projects, and the paving of country roads as suburbs and exurbs consumed large chunks of rural land.

Change is still forcing the evolution of motor graders today, mainly because rural roads — even those not consumed by sprawl — are rapidly being paved over and no longer need annual grading. As a result, many government agencies and some contractors are expected to reduce the number of motor graders in their fleets in the months and years to come. The machines most likely to succeed in this environment are those that can do the most things well, or those that perform pure grading functions most efficiently.

So it is that 2002 is the most eventful year in motor grader introductions in decades. Pushed to re-engineer anyway by the need to adopt diesel engines that meet Tier-2 emissions standards, industry leaders Caterpillar, Deere, and Komatsu have rolled out generation changes in their motor grader lines. In addition, LeeBoy has launched a unique all-wheel-drive version of its compact 685 model, and the innovative Maddock Industries has introduced a long-wheelbase tractor that looks a lot like a motor grader, can grade like a motor grader, but is designed to also wield a variety of attachments to perform anything from asphalt milling to trench cutting.

Here’s how the field stands today.

LeeBoy
All-wheel-drive compact

LeeBoy’s B-series 685 motor grader is now available with a six-wheel-drive option. The 110-horsepower machine features a hydrostatic drive system and an 18-degree articulated frame. Its 10-foot sliding moldboard has a total sideshift reach of 36 inches, allowing the operator to shift the blade in or out of hard to reach areas.

The 685B has an operating weight of 17,280 pounds and incorporates LeeBoy’s exclusive enclosed turntable design which is said to prevent wear from dirt and moisture. The machine also offers an optional climate-controlled cab for year-round users and those who demand optimum operator comfort.

LeeBoy also offers the 47-horsepower 625 motor grader which features an 8-foot moldboard.

Caterpillar
New generation of variable power machines

In incorporating engines with Tier-2 emissions technology, Caterpillar has taken the opportunity to re-engineer its motor grader line to improve performance, fuel efficiency, and ergonomics. The new 165-horsepower 140H, 180-horsepower 160H, and 220-horsepower 14H graders employ electronically controlled engines and are said to operate cleaner and quieter than previous models.

Cat’s VHP variable horsepower option is available on all three machines; it restricts power in the three lower gears when traction is limited, and increases power in the five higher gears when the machine demands more power. VHP Plus, available on the 140H and 160H, delivers an additional 20 horsepower in seventh and eighth gears.

When equipped with a sound suppression package, the new models generate exterior sound levels of less than 109 decibels; sound levels inside the cab are 75db for the 140H and 160H, and 80db for the 14H.

All three models use the 10.3-liter Cat 3176 engine which delivers 9% more torque and 5 to 10% better fuel efficiency than the previous models.

Ergonomic improvements include electronic throttle control which provides more precision in matching speed to conditions. A new contour suspension seat and improved sightlines have also been added.

Service and maintenance improvements include extended change intervals for fluids and a ground-level service center on the left side of the machine that provides centralized access to routine maintenance points such as fluid level gauges, fluid sampling ports, filters, and remote lubrication points.

Maddock Industries
Tool carrier meets motor grader

Maddock Industries has designed an entirely new approach to the motor grader for today’s municipal and government market and specialty contractor. The new Versa-Tool is a highly maneuverable, all-wheel-steer prime-mover which accepts multiple attachments to handle a variety of road and shoulder maintenance applications.

The base machine has a 16-foot, 8-inch wheelbase and is powered by an 8.1-liter, 325-horsepower John Deere diesel engine. It offers a six-speed powershift transmission, four-wheel steer, optional four-wheel drive, a pressurized cab with heater and air conditioning, air-ride seat, and excellent operator visibility. The long wheelbase provides a stable platform for fine grade control. It is capable of 0- to 2.2-mph speeds in creeper gear and transport speeds of up to 20 miles per hour.

Factory-supplied quick-mount attachments are available, including a grader blade, asphalt cold planer, road widener, berm cutter, edge-drain trench cutter, and broom. Attachments are actuated with a single-lever joystick. The Versa-Tool will also accept many skid-steer loader attachments.

Other features include a front-loading conveyor for loading excavated material; the conveyor conveniently stores in the frame when not in use.

Maddock Industries
Joystick control system for graders

Maddock Industries has announced the first joystick control to operate all normal motor grader functions.

The Grader Stick is a single-lever control system that operates all of the grader’s blade functions plus front-wheel tilt and can be added to most existing motor graders. It provides the operator with proportional fine control ability to the lift/lower and swing functions of the blade, and adds single-hand straight up and straight down blade control. The operator is also easily able to perform multiple blade movements simultaneously.

The Grader Stick can be moved between graders and leaves the original motor grader controls in place and fully functional. It is factory configured to accept laser/sonic slope control systems and Maddock claims it will substantially reduce the installation costs of these systems. The microprocessor electro-hydraulic control system is based on field-proven components already used in modern systems found in other types of construction equipment.

Komatsu
New series features dual-mode transmissions

Komatsu’s new Laterra line of motor graders consists of three models, the GD555A-3, the GD655A-3 and the GD675A-3. They range in operating weight from 30,525 to 34,390 pounds, and in power from 140 to 200 horsepower. Variable horsepower is available for all models.

A unique dual-mode transmission allows the operator to move from torque converter to direct drive by the flip of a switch. The direct drive mode delivers speed but can be used in conjunction with the inching pedal by operators who prefer direct drive at low speeds, too. The torque converter mode gives an operator excellent slow speed control and power without stalling under load. In the higher speed ranges the transmission automatically shifts between gears.

Laterra graders feature what Komatsu calls Circular Geometry for the blade mount. This geometry allows a true 90-degree bankslope position, which enhances blade maneuvering, according to the company. The design also situates two pinions on top of the saddle for ultimate support and features retractable indicators that provide a clear view of pin engagement.

New Holland
Rollaway moldboard saves power

New Holland says its RG series motor graders feature an exclusive rollaway moldboard which lowers the apex of the blade and keeps material from building up in front of the blade. The ultimate benefit is a substantial reduction in the amount of power and fuel needed to complete any job. The company claims weight distribution is enhanced by the use of heavy-duty box-section construction. The RG140, RG170, and RG200 range from 140 to 208 net horsepower and offer 12- or 14-foot blade widths.

John Deere
Next-generation all-wheel drive

John Deere rolled out its Series II all-wheel-drive motor graders earlier this year (see page 22, New Generations, March Better Roads) with re-tuned engines, more efficient hydraulic systems, and an advanced dual-path hydrostatic drive system for the front wheels.

The tweaked engines have the same specifications for horsepower and torque as the regular C-series graders, but the company says there is more horsepower throughout the torque curve now, which reduces or eliminates lugging after each shift.

Hydraulic system improvements reduced parasitic loads by better hydraulic-line routing, increasing line size, and reducing restrictions in valves.

But the breakthrough is the dual-path front-drive system, according to company sources. Unlike front-drive systems that use a single pump to power both wheels, the Deere system uses two pumps to create separate hydrostatic systems for each wheel. In the dual-path system, when one front wheel loses traction, it does not rob power from the other wheel and doesn’t require valve corrections. Electronic controls keep the front wheels in perfect synchronicity with the four rear wheels when the machine is in all-wheel drive, and lets the operator work the machine in inching mode with all drive wheels engaged.

Company operators say the net power and traction improvements mean the 205-horsepower 772CH-II can do ripping applications that used to require a 300-horsepower model.

Maddock Industries
Pulverizing and milling with a grader

Maddock Industries’ RotoGrader cutter drum (see New Generations, page 28, March Better Roads) attaches to the moldboard of a motor grader to pulverize gravel roads, cut and pulverize road shoulders, and perform light surface milling of asphalt pavement. The powerful rotary action of the cutter drum assures uniform penetration and excellent gradation of the surface material.

Most functions of the unit are controlled by the standard motor grader controls. The attachment consists of a 125-horsepower diesel power unit, hydraulic pump and motor, single-lever joystick control, and attachment brackets. The easy-on/easy-off unit has a 72-inch-wide, 18-inch-diameter cutter drum equipped with tungsten carbide bits. Optional cutter drum widths are available.

Volvo
12-model line up

Volvo fields a line of 12 distinct motor grader models, from the 85-horsepower, 12,800-pound G60 to the 210- to 235-variable-horsepower, 42,740-pound G780VHP.

Four compact models, including the G60, share a 20-foot, 10-inch body with a 15-foot, 4-inch wheelbase and a 10-foot standard blade. All four feature hydrostatic drive systems.

Eight full-size models start with the 140-horsepower G710 which is 27-feet, 9-inches long with a 20-foot wheelbase and an operating weight of 30,630 pounds. Each full size model is available with variable horsepower, and Volvo offers three models with six-wheel-drive. The all-wheel-drive models can be operated in front-drive creep mode for precise, low-speed grading.