Useful Techniques for an Experienced Motor Grader Operator

Given that motor graders are a very expensive equipment, it is imperative that they are used wisely by the operator every time to give the best result. In fact, motor grader operators need to always adopt best of the techniques to bring about an improvement in equipment’s performance that can positively impact the productivity at the jobsite.

We list here some of the techniques and tips that can be an eye opener for a novice but also definitely useful for an experienced motor grader operator. In fact, it is these techniques and tips that if practiced, can differentiate an experienced motor grader operator from a novice.

Top tips for the motor grader operators

In order to operate and maintain the motor grader effectively at all times, here are some useful tips and techniques for the motor grader operators...

1. Motor graders can face wear and tear due to harsh or rocky terrain. Thus, operators need to safely handle the equipment at any such site and prevent any unnecessary damage to the equipment. Only required amount of downward pressure should be applied by the operators as excessive pressure on hard and dry surface can cause rapid cutting-edge wear and will require more horsepower and fuel, thereby, reducing productivity.

2. Correct positioning of the moldboard is important. So, experienced operators need to always keep it straight up as rolling the grader blade forward makes the edge blunt.

3. In order to keep the motor grader blade sharp, experienced operators need to keep top of the blade just slightly forward of the cutting edge, so as to pitch the blade forward only when its necessary to make a cut.

4. Operators should 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.

5. For light and free-flowing material, moldboard angles of 10 to 30 degrees should be used and when processing of wet and sticky material, mixing large windrows and ditching is required, higher moldboard angles of 30 to 50 degrees should be used by operators.

6. While grading along gutters and curbs, operators need to pay extra attention to the task as any slight error can result in the machine running up against the curb and the edge being chipped as well as the moldboard being highly affected.

7. When sacrificing or ripping across a slope, operators need to keep the moldboard parallel with the front axle, centred to the frame and lowered close to the ground to provide protection against rolling over.

8. When using the ripper, operators need to lower the teeth into the ground with the grader in motion. If the rear wheels lose traction, operators need to raise the ripper until the wheels regain traction. For especially hard surfaces, operators should reduce the number of teeth. To break old pavement, teeth under the pavement should be lowered and the ripper should be raised. The ripper should not be used when turning. This reduces wear on the equipment.

9. Operating speed of the motor grader highly affects the quality of work. So, while ditching or blading, there should be no hurry. Higher speed can sometimes cause the motor grader to bounce and gauge the surface rather than smoothen it. Sometimes, in extreme cases, bouncing can cause the operator to lose control of the grader, producing a potential accident situation. So, operators should keep the machine travel speed low enough to prevent machine bounce (generally 3 to 5 mph).

In a nutshell

Above mentioned are some of the many useful techniques that can come handy even for the experienced motor graders. These techniques if followed by the motor grader operators can ensure that the equipment gives maximum productivity at the jobsite. Well, here it is to be noted that if you buy motor grader from Mahindra Construction equipment (MCE), then it can also help in training your motor grader operator. This is because as part of its post-sales services, MCE offers few days’ dedicated training for the operators, in which they are personally trained on various features of the machines by professional trainers. Thus, this can increase the skills of the operators and teach them the necessary techniques and methods which can make them an experienced motor grader operator in the longer run.