Tips for Keeping the Motor Grader Blade Sharp
This is a known fact that the motor grader works well and efficiently when its blade is in a good shape. To put it in simple terms, efficient working of the motor grader depends on its blade, its condition and position. If the blade is worn out, then it can cause major problems in the future. For example, if you want to penetrate and cut material but your blade is dull or badly worn out, then it can give an excessive shock. Also, it can put pressure on the rest of the motor grader including the frame and drivetrain. This can further damage or significantly shorten the life of components that may be very expensive and difficult to replace.
Worn out blade can also make the motor grader less efficient and impact the overall productivity. This is because the motor grader would require more horsepower to force the blade through each cut which can lead to higher fuel costs and more wear and tear on tyres. Looking at the above scenarios, it goes without saying that keeping the motor grader blade sharp at all times is of utmost importance and the responsibility of doing so is on the shoulders of the motor grader operator. An efficient motor grader operator should have knowledge about how to protect the blade when needed to keep its edges sharp.
Here is a close look at the tips shared by various industry experts on keeping the motor grader blade sharp...
1. The role of motor grader operator in keeping the blade sharp:
Everything boils down to the fact that it is the motor grader operator who through his skills, experience and know-how can make the proper use of the blade. An expert operator is expected to keep the blade sharp and even by significantly reducing wear and tear on the graders cutting edge. For that, it is extremely important for the operator to position the moldboard correctly and use appropriate speed, thereby, avoiding jerky movements.
2. The importance of positioning the blade right:
Sometimes, in an attempt to see the cutting edge, operators might keep the moldboard pitched forward. However, this can prove disastrous as this can prematurely blunt the edge, thereby, making the task of cutting and trimming much more difficult. So, it is best to avoid such a positioning of the blade. As a matter of fact, the top of the blade should be just moved slightly forward of the cutting edge, so as to pitch the blade forward only when it is necessary to make a cut.
Apart from this, it is equally important for the motor grader operators to change the blade angle periodically. If the moldboard is kept forward, it might result in wear just along the front of the cutting edge. Hence, periodically tilting it back like in case of carrying, mixing, spreading or combing material can even out the wear across the edge, thus, keeping the blade even and sharp.
In order to prevent the cutting edge from becoming rounded along just one side, the motor grader should be used to scarify or rip a surface. This can also help in keeping the blade sharp.
At the time of grading curbs, it is very important to switch between leading with the left and right side of the blade. In fact, the entire length of the moldboard should be used, preventing uneven wear only to the outer sides of the leading edge.
3. The importance of speed:
Typically, in the grading processes, the motor graders should be operated slowly and smoothly, so as to avoid unnecessary wear and tear of the blade. In fact, it is best to keep the speed below 10 kilometres per hour and should never be exceeded above 16 kilometres per hour.
Apart from keeping the speed slow, avoidance of jerky motions can also help in minimising the stress on the blade. This can prevent shock loads that can damage other parts of the motor grader.
Replacing the blade when necessary
Given the above tips for keeping the motor grader blade sharp, it cannot be denied that the cutting edge will wear off in some time due to continuous usage and will have to be replaced eventually. This makes it important to inspect the blade regularly.
Generally, a motor grader gives optimal performance with about 3.5 centimetres of useable space exposed on the cutting edge. If this edge gets worn down further, the grader will not work efficiently.
As per the manufacturers, depending on the type of material that is being cut by the motor grader, it is recommended to visually inspect the cutting edge after every 25 to 50 hours.
To sum up, the blade of the motor grader is an important component and should be used and inspected wisely. Here, it is to be noted that if you opt for Mahindra RoadMaster G75 or G90, then you might not worry much about the cutting edge of the blade as it has lasting life of about 600 hrs on standard operation cycle.
A note on Mahindra RoadMaster G75’s and G90’s blade and its cutting edge
The 3000 mm moldboard of RoadMaster G75 and G90 come with an option of having its size reduced by 400 mm. Depending on the requirement, the blade size can be reduced by 200 mm on both sides. The cutting edge of the blade of the two equipment is in four separate pieces for ease of handling and replacement. It is convenient, affordable and any blade part can be easily replaced in case of damage. The two equipment also offer full blade visibility from operator station for superior grade finish.
In a nutshell
Since blade is the most expensive or time-consuming part to replace, it is better to keep the blade in good order and sharp so as to avoid many problems later on. Above mentioned are few tips that the motor grader operators can follow to achieve maximum efficiency and productivity with their motor graders at the jobsite. Further, it is better if the motor grader operators or contractors opt for an equipment whose blade’s cutting edge can last long. Here, RoadMaster G75 and G90 deserve a special mention. Isn’t it?
