Volvo G900 series

[farm_boy]

Has anyone had a chance to get some time on one of Volvo's new graders? I haven't and was wondering if they were any good. Is there are anything that you like/dislike about them?

Thanks!!

[Mass-X]

I spent about an hour in a G976 a couple months ago while it was being demo'd. I was grading roadbase in between the garages in a motor sports park. It seemed alot like a Komatsu blade to me. It sat high and had decent visibility. What I really liked was the amount of downward force the machine had. On some densely packed haul roads (631's and 637's running on them) the machine would cut right into them effortlessly. A 14G on site could barely touch those roads.

What I really didn't like was that it felt very sluggish in first gear, even in the creep mode. Even really laying on the throttle to keep my controls nimble, it still felt sluggish. While running it around on the haul roads in 2nd and 3rd gear it was alright. I flipped through the owners manual to see if I'd switched it into creep mode incorrectly, wrong mode, etc., but I'd done it correctly. The others two blade hands had similar complaints and it ended up being replaced with a CAT 140H.

[farm_boy]

Thanks Mass-X

I have a buddy that sells these and all I ever hear from him is how great they are. I have personally never set foot in one. Most of my grader stick time has been in a Deere 772D or 872D. I love these blades:thumbsup Great power, super quiet, great visibility and smooooooth tranny.

Just my opinion though.....:wink2

[Mass-X]

Volvo must be doing something right as I'm beginning to see more of their blades around.

I've yet to get any seat time in one of the new John Deere blades, but they're becoming more common around here. When a local contractor won the bid on over a thousand miles of Commuter Rail and Trax Rail lines, they bought 7 or 8 brand new John Deere blades. I got to talk to one of the company's grading superintendents and he had nothing but good things to say about the machines.

[CascadeScaper]

Quick question, are Champion and Volvo building the same machine? They look almost identical. I know very little about graders, except that the Cat M series is going to mop the floor with all of them pretty quick. :bouncegri

[Grader4me]

Quick question, are Champion and Volvo building the same machine? They look almost identical. I know very little about graders, except that the Cat M series is going to mop the floor with all of them pretty quick. :bouncegri


Volvo bought out Champion a few years back, but they are still using the Champion name. The graders are pretty much the same.
I agree with you on the Cat M series :wink2


What I really didn't like was that it felt very sluggish in first gear, even in the creep mode. Even really laying on the throttle to keep my controls nimble, it still felt sluggish. While running it around on the haul roads in 2nd and 3rd gear it was alright. I flipped through the owners manual to see if I'd switched it into creep mode incorrectly, wrong mode, etc., but I'd done it correctly. The others two blade hands had similar complaints and it ended up being replaced with a CAT 140H.

Is this grader set up with the VHP (variable horse power) ? On the Champion that I used to operate (1996) in first & second gear it was putting out around 170 HP and when you hit 3rd to 8th it put out 205 Hp.
So I am still in the dark ages...how does the creep mode work and what are the advantages? Kind of curious as to what the HP is set at while in creep mode. Maybe it is cut way back while in this mode and that might be the reason for it being sluggish?:beatsme

[Mass-X]

Cascade: "the Cat M series is going to mop the floor with all of them pretty quick."
From my perspective, I agree. I can't wait to get into an M.

I find it interesting that in talking to other blade hands, the older guys all act very skeptical about the M's, saying that CAT may have made a mistake by completely altering blade controls. While the newer generation such as myself all seem eager to get into one.

G4M: "Is this grader set up with the VHP (variable horse power)?"

I don't recall.

G4M: "how does the creep mode work and what are the advantages?"

From what I remember, it's front wheel drive and regulates the machine to very low speeds. I remember the manual saying the setting was best suited for fine tuning your grade. Since that's what I was doing, I switched the machine into the setting and still didn't like the way the machine handled. I had very little material on the blade as I was only placing it into low spots, and cutting out a little fat, but both in and out of creep mode, I didn't like the way it felt.

The machine was heavy and powerful which were both attributes I liked, but when I'm finishing, I'm mostly in first gear, and I wouldn't have wanted to spend very much time in first gear in that machine.

[Grader4me]

Good information...thanks. I have never operated a grader with "creep mode"

I find it interesting that in talking to other blade hands, the older guys all act very skeptical about the M's, saying that CAT may have made a mistake by completely altering blade controls. While the newer generation such as myself all seem eager to get into one.

You have to remember that us "older guy's" are set in our ways. I for one might be a tadd "skeptical" of my ability to making the adjustment toward a completely different control pattern, but never skeptical of Cat making this change.
I am sure as well that any of us older guy's would jump at the chance to try one of those puppies. :)

[Deas Plant]

Hi, MassX.
You deliver a Cat M series to my front door and leave the keys in it and see just long it doesn't take me to get my ample butt into that seat. And I've quite possibly got a few years on some of you young
'whippersnappers' who like to hang out here and kid you've been at it for a while.

Then again, you may have a few years on me? I've only been operating full time on or in one machine or another since February, 1960. With a few years before that on farm tractors and small dozers while I was still going to school.

Hmmmmmmm!!!!!!!! Think Ah'll jest have a 'carffee' an' lay down fer a while ter rest mah weary bones.

[Grader4me]

:bouncegri :bouncegri I hear ya Deas! I'm gittin tired just reading this. Might have to take a nap to :wink2

[proteksandblast]

i live about 20 min away from the Volvo plant here in Ontario, i have may friends that work there in the paint department, apparently these unit are different in many ways from the original champion grader, one thing i do know is the quality of paint now used " Sico Chem solid" is not near the quality it should be- but the union there was screaming for a material that had less VOC,s and easier to apply do to lack of experienced painters.Chemsolid is a vegetable based coating and lots of mills are required to meet industry standards. I myself am a firm believer of epoxy/poly-urethane for all heavy equipment, it requires less film build higher gloss and color retention and ultimately a far better system. As far as powertrain goes i believe it is a Volvo application.

[Steve Frazier]

I recently read an article in a trade magazine about Cat's research and development of the M series grader. In it they stated they took both experienced "old timers" and inexperienced new operators into training sessions with the new machines. They said that the seasoned operators became well acclimated after less than an hour in the new machines, while new operators trained much more quickly than in stick operated graders.

I've never been a grader operator, but I have to admit that I find the multi function pilot controls in backhoes, loaders and skid steers much easier to operate than their old multi stick counterparts. It takes a little getting used to like anything else that is new, but once you get the hang of it you wonder why it took so long for someone to have thought up the solutions, they seem to operate naturally.

[Deas Plant]

Hi, Steve.
I was visualising the finger lever steering that Cat's D10 and D11 'R' series machines now have around 25 years ago and thinking to myself how easy and simple it would be. I have to admit though that they bettered my thoughts with their trans control arrangement.

I learned to run excavators (See how lazy I am? 'Run' 'cos I'm 2 tired to type 'operate'.) on the old 'four-stick' (Ackshully 2 stick n 2 pedal.) Hitachis and Katos. Then I came across a JCB 6D and a Hymac 580C, both 'joystick' machines (of sorts) but with incredibly different layouts. The JCB was closer to what we know today but the DIPSTICK who designed it couldn't even get the single functions on each stick right. To use a single function on either lever, you had to move the stick diagonally, not sideways or up or down.

Now the Hymac 580c was a different beast altogether. The swing function was controlled by 2 pedals on the floor. They were on a rocker arrangement so that when one went down the other came up. Press the left one to slew left, press the right one to slew right. Great stuff. I had used almost that exact set-up in a Marion 191M diesel-electric face shovel around 10 years before.

Next, you had 2 great long joysticks coming up from the floor. Pull the right back or push it forward and the boom went up or down. Pull the left to you or push it away and the dipper went in or out. Great. Works just like you'd expect it to. So far, so good. Then if you pushed or pulled the right lever sideways, the bucket opened or closed. Again, about what you'd expect.

Then they had throw in this gem. Moving the LEFT lever sideways operated the second stage hoist function, raising or lowering the boom quicker. I always thought it would have made more sense to have first and second stage boom hoist on the SAME lever.

And both the JCB and the Hymac had one of the dumbest arrangements for travel controls that I have ever seen. The levers were down beside the seat and moved backwards and forwards. So far, so good. BUT, they clicked into position. Nice when you were walking from one spot to another but abominably STUPID when you wanted to do something fiddly, like load it onto a float. More often than not, when trying for neutral, you pulled them straight through into the other direction. And they were almost impossible to 'feather' as you need to be able to do when performing fiddly operations.

Then there was the International 3980 by Yumbo of France. It had an 'almost joystick' set-up. Hoist fore and aft on the right stick, dipper fore and aft on the left stick. Pretty normal so far. BUT, to slew right, you pulled the LEFT stick toward you and to slew left, you pulled the RIGHT stick toward you. And what of opening and closing the bucket, you ask? Well, that was two pedals on the floor under your right foot - and you had to change pedals to change from opening to closing or vice versa.

Let's leave Stupidity Corner there. I'm too tired to type any more. LOL.

[EquipmentEditor]

We visited the Goderich plant for the Volvo rollout. They say they took the best of Champion and made the new graders "Volvos."


Here's the original report:
http://www.constructionequipment.com/article/CA6329613.html?taxid=7858

Here, we have a Field Report: http://www.constructionequipment.com/article/CA6377218.html?taxid=7858

And here, in fairness, is Cat's M Series:
http://www.constructionequipment.com/article/CA6338811.html?taxid=7858

[farm_boy]

Hey EquipmentEd....when are we going to see articles like this in the trade publications?:naughty

http://www.caranddriver.com/comparisons/7692/comparison-test-review-2004-chevrolet-silverado-1500-crew-cab-fleetside-shortbox-vs-2004-dodge-ram-1500-quad-cab-4x4-slt-laramie-vs-2004-ford-f-150-supercrew-4x4-lariat-vs-2004-nissan-titan-se-crew-cab-4x4.html

I know there are lots of people (many of which are on this forum) that would love to see indepedent and objective view of the equipment we all make our living from. There will always be the Ford vs Chevy, BMW vs Mercedes and more relavent to this forum the Cat vs XYZ brand.

I am an avid reader of Car and Driver and really like the comparison features they print. I have actually used these to make purchasing decisions on some of my vehicles. I would think that there would be a great demand for this type of feature story.

What does everyone else think about this??

[Countryboy]

I would definately like to see something like that. There must be a reason why it doesn't happen more often though. :beatsme

[EquipmentEditor]

farm_boy--
The short, ironic and sheepish answer is: When we can sell subscriptions like Car&Driver does.

[farm_boy]

Fair enough.....thanks for being honest! I'm sure I am not the first one to mention this and probably won't be the last!!

[farm_boy]

BTW Equipment Ed.....thanks for the props to the forum in the latest edition. I just saw it last night. Is that something that is planned to run every month or was it a one time shot?

For those of you that don't know what I am talking about, check out page 22 of the Feb 07 issue of Construction Equipment magazine.

Here's to you E.E. Salute! :drinkup

[MKTEF]

Hi guy's

This is my first posting and a smal test...
I se there is som discusion round the new Volvo's.
Here is some pictures of our new Volvo graders. This is the first one, we are awaiting 5 more... (4 in military green)
All will be delivered with complete servocontrols.
More info on the servo's is comming.

[PSDF350]

Welcome aboard MKTEF:drinkup

[MKTEF]

Thanks :drinkup

Here is some more info on the servo system.
System is delivered by Volvo in Norway. Producer is svab in Sweden.
It is the same steering system as volvo delivers for excavators; controlling angle, rotating and clamp systems.(between the quickcoupler and the bucket)

This grader system uses an extended system with more functions.
On our graders we have everything on the two controls:
Left:The movement of the grader and left main sylinder+board turning.
Right: All the rest of the equipment.
You combine a button and the stick to get more functions.(proportionaly of course)

Servo controll of the driving systems function only up to 30km/h.(gear, direction and stearing)
If you want to go faster you have to use the wheel and original gear shifter.

Regarding the discussion on long learning time, it took me 15 minutes to remember where the controls was. It is very logical if you have spent some time in a excavator.
My biggest problem was the stearing, that is in the left thumb roler, not on the main stick....
I have spent around 20 hours in it so far and is realy suprised over the improvements. (we exchange Champion 726 serie IV graders...)

The pictures show the controls from the front and the back.
The other picture is from a 946 and show the view when you remove the old levers...

[Grader4me]

Welcolme to the forum :drinkup Love the front blade! Quick attach? looks like power angle as well? How wide is the front blade? I will probably drive you nuts with the questions....Any more pictures?

[MKTEF]

Yeaah:D

But thats no problem. I love construction equipment and has the best job in the world.:)
Test and try everything, write demands and then get it bought by the logistic departement. And when the paperwork gets to much, i go out driving for a day or two.

It is a snow blade, all graders in Scandinavia got one. Lift, tilt forward, sving and tilt sideways. This one is 10" wide. Quick attach with standard Volvo coupler, hydraulic of course on this one.
The blade is also so solid that we use it for all type of material as long as it is not compacted or solid rock.:Banghead
Level out the piles before you hit them with the main blade.
And everytin is controlled with one button and the right stick.

[MKTEF]

The kids needed som evening food, so now i am back.

Here are som pictures for you, Grader4me.

One of the frontblade and another of the complete unit.
Weight as shown is now ap 48 000 Lbs (24 350Kg)
13" main blade, 11-6 transmision.
And of course all extras that can be usefull for us.
I dont have so many more pictures right now, but will take more on tuesday.
(Weather wasnt good for shooting, and i wanted to drive...)

We got mechanics course on we-fri this comming week so i will take some more then.

[Grader4me]

Thanks, I will just go easy on ya for awhile...maybe a couple of questions a day or something like that:)

Okay, just curious...The most common lenghts of a moldboard is the 12 & 14 foot. Most are the 14 foot now. Is the 13 foot common in your area? I realize that some of the huge graders have longer moldboards, but I am talking most common. Easier to buy and stock either 6 foot or 7 foot blades rather than both sizes in order to fit the 13 footer.

What is that apparatus attached to the back of the Grader? I can't tell from the pictures. Okay, I will leave you alone....for now:)

[MKTEF]

:D

I knew you guy's would be curious about our addons.

The thing on the back is what we call a gravelpilespreader.:confused:
This attachment is used when u grade a gravelroad.
Normaly you grade the gravel from your right side and in to the middle. This leaves a pile of gravel on the side of your left wheels.
With this attachment you take in the pile and spread it back evenly over the road. It is adjustable in angle, widt and how thick you want to lay it out.
One pass and you are finished.:)

Here is a picture from behind.(before it got painted)
Two extensions, one to the left and one to the right.
The blade can be adjusted from 45 to 90 degrees on the travel direction.
With the wheels you adjust the thicknes of the gravel.
Nice equipment when you are grading many Km ofroad.:)

[MKTEF]

:D

Yes, the 13" is most common over here.
We use 2 4" and one 5" to get 13".
And then for the frontblade 2 5".
The gravelspreder is also 13".

Extensions is also in use when u need a longer board. I like them because u get a longer board and more reach outside your wheels on the right side.
We have 2" extensions for the right side.
But of course u have to use common sence when mounted.;)

Keep asking, it's the way learn new things.:drinkup

[Deas Plant]

Hi, MKTEF.
Welcome to the forums and thanks for the photos and the informaion about how it's done in your part of the world. Like Grader4me, I have a few questions but, me being a lazy type, I'll just sit back and let him do all the hard work of typing the questions and then I'll feed on the answers. If he doesn't/can't think to ask some questions then I may expend a little energy.

Thanks again.

[Grader4me]

Hi, MKTEF.
Welcome to the forums and thanks for the photos and the informaion about how it's done in your part of the world. Like Grader4me, I have a few questions but, me being a lazy type, I'll just sit back and let him do all the hard work of typing the questions and then I'll feed on the answers. If he doesn't/can't think to ask some questions then I may expend a little energy.

Thanks again.

Hi Deas, Listen..my two fingers are getting tired from typing sooo many questions. I will turn it over to you and I will feed on the answers...Fire away:) Don't be to long asking though...I might not be to long regaining my strength...

[Deas Plant]

Hi, Grader4me.
I only use 2 fingers too and 'sides, you've had more practice at posting than I have so you should be better at it, Sir.

Gittorfyera*s and get asking kwestyuns, please. We're all waiting for the answers.

[Grader4me]

Hi, Grader4me.
I only use 2 fingers too and 'sides, you've had more practice at posting than I have so you should be better at it, Sir.

Gittorfyerass and get asking kwestyuns, please.

Lol...never tried the sides. MKTEF, what size is the motor and how much HP does it have. Is it variable horse power, for example the lowest HP in the low gears and as you shift up the HP increases?

What else is avalable for attachments? The front blade is really impressive, can you lift the front end off the ground with the down pressure, and if so how high? Just trying to get an idea as to how strong the piston is. Does the front blade have a float? Probably does as you use it for plowing snow.


Would you mind taking some more pictures of the inside of the cab. Your pictures of the controls are good but I would like to see where they are at.

Could you as well take some more pictures of the gravel spreader in the back. Looks like it uses the serrated blades?

Sorry for so many questions but to me this is very interesting. Plus Deas is just to tired to type;)

[telescooper]

Just wondering, where is the scarifer? Nice fenders, I wish our Volvo had them.

[Countryboy]

Hi guy's

This is my first posting and a smal test...
I see there is some discusion round the new Volvo's.
Here is some pictures of our new Volvo graders. This is the first one, we are awaiting 5 more... (4 in military green)
All will be delivered with complete servocontrols.
More info on the servo's is comming.

First of, Welcome to HEF MKTEF! :drinkup

Now for the questions.......only 2 actually. :D

You said you are getting 4 more in OD green. Why is that one white and not green?

ALL graders here have Ag tires, no matter what the application. The tires on the grader appear to be less agressive that Ag tires like we have over here. Whats the reason for this?

Yall owe me Grader4me and Deas, thats 2 less questions ya have to ask.......:D

[Deas Plant]

Hi, Countryboy.
I'll hazard a couple of guesses at the answers to your questions - then you'll owe me.

One - the two white ones are for the Alpine division of their army - snow
camoflage. LOL.

Two - More aggressive treads dig holes quicker in soft going if you spin your
wheels - which good operators don't - so less aggressive treads
equate to smaller or less holes - and better flotation. LOL.

[Grader4me]

ALL graders here have Ag tires, no matter what the application. The tires on the grader appear to be less agressive that Ag tires like we have over here. Whats the reason for this?

I can add a bit to this. This type of tire is good for winter operations... plowing snow etc. It provides good traction, and if you have to put wheel chains on, the cross chains will ride on top of the tire instead of getting between the lugs.

I used to run that type in the winter then switch to the regular ones in the summer. Now it is the same type (as in the picture) all year around. The only difference that I could find was when working in muddy conditions they caked up. Countyboy, I'm really not sure how they would work in your environment.

Just wondering, where is the scarifer? Nice fenders, I wish our Volvo had them.

Yeah, I noticed there is no front scarifer, but it probably has a rear ripper attachment.
I agree, the fenders are getting nicer all the time. I also think that they are designed so that you can take them off in just a few minutes.

[Countryboy]

I can add a bit to this. This type of tire is good for winter operations... plowing snow etc. It provides good traction, and if you have to put wheel chains on, the cross chains will ride on top of the tire instead of getting between the lugs.

I used to run that type in the winter then switch to the Ag in the summer. Now it is the same type (as in the picture) all year around. The only difference that I could find was when working in muddy conditions they caked up. Countyboy, I'm really not sure how they would work in your environment.


I know around here I've never seen them so your probably right, the conditions here are better suited for Ag tires. You pretty much hit on what I was asking about the tires. I figured they were geared more towards snow and such but you brought up a good point about the chains riding on the treads instead of in them.

Out of curiosity, are the scarifers common. Around here you really don't see too many graders, actually very few, that have anything other than the standard moldboard. Actually, until I was looking for attachments in the other thread, I didn't realise there were so many attachments for a grader. :beatsme

[Grader4me]

Out of curiosity, are the scarifers common. Around here you really don't see too many graders, actually very few, that have anything other than the standard moldboard. Actually, until I was looking for attachments in the other thread, I didn't realise there were so many attachments for a grader. :beatsme


For our type of work (road maintenance) scarfiers are common. There are two types, the type that is mounted behind the front wheels and the type that mounts in front of the grader. The one behind the front wheels is the better of the two.

They are used for "light" ripping such as cutting out potholes on gravel roads, ice holes etc.

Graders that are used on construction usually have the rear rippers as there would be heavy ripping etc. Regular scarfiers wouldn't last long.

:eek: I didn't realize that there were so many attachments for a grader either. Actually some of what I am seeing is just blowing me away.

[MKTEF]

:bash I wrote an answer, and i crashed!

Short and quick.
2 is white because they may be sent to Africa.UN on the sides.

A Jerk has mounted winterblades on the spreader. It should be slick ones, that gives a fine result.

Tires is wintertires on this one. They will be mounted on one of the green ones later. And sent to nothern Norway. They say they have winter for 9 months of the year. The rest of the graders will have Bridgestone VKT tires. A more general construction tire.

We haven't bought ripper because the normal soil in Norway is stone and sand. Very little hard clay. For the rest of the world we bring with us the winterblades, they function good enough in hard clay.

The fenders is original Volvo. The back ones is made specialy for the scandinavian market because we want real solid ones. Takes an hour ap to demont them all. :)

[MKTEF]

This grader was in stock at Volvo Norway. We just bought it as is.
Of course they have spent a lot of time mounting all the rest, but tires was the standard that they deliver for Norway.
Norwegian users try to find tires that works over the whole year. And then use chains only for some weeks in the winter.

I will take som more pictures tomorrow when i am back at work.:)

[Grader4me]

:bash I wrote an answer, and i crashed!

The fenders is original Volvo. The back ones is made specialy for the scandinavian market because we want real solid ones. Takes an hour ap to demont them all. :)

The fenders that we have(Champion) can be taken off very quickly as they are light, and mounted so that you just have to pull a few wrist pins. For god's sake man...get that computer fixed so we..or...I can continue to drive you nuts.

Thanks for all the info..very much appreciated :)

[MKTEF]

Hey Grader4me

Just wait a little. I have thousands of pictures of No engineers working abroad with heavy stuff.
Well, we dont have the realy big machinery, but we do some amaysing things sometimes.(no 994, only L180e)

I will give you a hint: Take 1500 tonns of equip, fly it to Kabul, drive it to Mazar e Shariff(north afg) and build a complete camp for 500 persons in 5 months with 70 soldiers. The Salang pas is 3200 m high.
We are very familiar with the Antonov 124 aircraft that lifts ap 100tons...:)

[EquipmentEditor]

Here is some more info on the servo system.
System is delivered by Volvo in Norway. Producer is svab in Sweden.
It is the same steering system as volvo delivers for excavators; controlling angle, rotating and clamp systems.(between the quickcoupler and the bucket)

...

MKTEF--
Does Volvo install the servos at the OEM, or does your dealer do it? Is this common for your part of the world, that is, do you think Volvo is putting servos on its machines over there in preparation for a rollout in other places?
hey told me that they had the tech, just didn't feel the NorthAmerican demand was there.

[equipment fan]

Hey mktef:notworthy ,do you will post some pictures of the green color grader?

[MKTEF]

Hello:)

The Servo system is mounted at the producer svab.
Volvo Norway uses a Swedish dealer for the preparation of the graders before delivering and this dealer and svab "lives" next door in the same industrial area.
I am getting a additional Volvo user instruction on the system from Volvo Norway....:)

I did put preasure on the Canadian representative about this topic at Euromat last year.
He didn't want to admit anything else than, that "they had testet different systems in Canada".;)
It is a little bit complicated this system, because it is a elektro-Hydraulik-manual-hydraulik system. Meaning it is a hydraulik sylinder that moves the original Volvo hydraulics.

My opinion is that as soon as the market asks for this type of system, Volvo is ready to deliver.:D
For Scandinavia this is delivered as a original system. I dont think anybody here wants a grader without one.
Vamas has had these systems for years, do you want to be in the business so deliver servos!:o

Today my green graders is on the boat from Canada....:D

[MKTEF]

Grader4me wanted more pictures so i went a short trip up to work and took some.
I collected the paycheck at the same time.(excuse for my wife..:rolleyes: )
And it was a good check, 10K$ after tax.(spent 1 month on Winterexsercice for that)
And foks dont forget that everything is very expensive in Norway.

Anyway here is som more pictures of the gravelspreader.:)

[MKTEF]

Here is som more pictures of the servosystem:)
The last picture shows how much you can adjust on.
It is adjustable in all directions!:)
When i drive it i have my arms down on the armrest.
Everything is controlled by a box in the corner of the cabin.
And i can programme everything. Change directions, knobs, feeling on the sticks, reactiontime, speed. There is no limitations.:)

[MKTEF]

Here is some more pictures.
First the controllbox is in the right corner on the first pic.
The display tells you what your doing and the tre nobs is used for programming.
The last picture is of the frontblade. The acumulater is the shiny one top middle.
The frontblade misses lubesystem right now, but it will come.

Enjoy it!:D

[Grader4me]

Thanks for the pictures MKTEF. I don't think that you will get thrown out as we all enjoy pictures of equipment old and new. Keep em coming :)

[MKTEF]

Here is a picture of our old 140G.:usa
This one was bought in 1991, and was one of the first with AWD in Norway.
Electrical problems from -91 untill today. Leaks oil often. Typhical first model problems. Aded AC on the roof, hyd driven.:(
Replaced by Champions in 1996. Volvo in 2007..:)
These will be sold on auction this year.(we have 3)
Picture is from Iraq in 2004.

[equipment fan]

i think you very like your new volvo than the old 140g!I :notworthy your volvo grader in white.

[Countryboy]

Thanks for the pictures MKTEF. I don't think that you will get thrown out as we all enjoy pictures of equipment old and new. Keep em coming :)

Yeah, your well below Grader4me on the "throwing out" list. :cool2

With the servo controls, one would think there would be more things to malfuntion. Do you have any comparisions on the reliability of the servo compared to the standard controls? Great pics buy the way.

[Grader4me]

In your picture of the inside of the cab looking out (lower right window) what is that glass container? Is it some kind of filter or just a place for your chocolate milkshake. :)

Yeah, your well below Grader4me on the "throwing out" list

Yup, I'm just holding my breath waiting for the axe to fall :ban

[MKTEF]

Hey guys!

First Grader4me, that thing is our Lincoln lubrication system.
Fill it up and it grease all conected points as you drive the machine.
With correct amount for each point.:)
We have demanded autolub on all our new machinery. Then there is no discusion on if you have done your greasing ore not.
Our Moxy ADT has a connection between the greasesystem and the gearbox; It dosen't give more than second gear if its empty for grease...It is 6 gears on those...:rolleyes:

Regarding the malfunction, this system has been tested for many years in Scandinavia.
If i am not wrong, the system started around 1990 with the Volvo 6300 machine. A 4300 with a excavator, "digloader" we call it. Backhoes is built on/like tractors, this one is built on a wheelloader.
I can tell you that that 17 year old machine lacks competion today.
Elektrohydraulics with multiple functions in the same 2 controls.
It has the same ore more functions than on my grader.

With all that experience i am sure it will function for decades. Of course you ad more tecnology and with that a increased posibility for foults.
Manual levers is rock solid, so the posibility for foults on the servo is there.
But i am not afraid with that amount of experience, and not only with Volvo.
Vammas, a Finnish grader produser has used this system in their graders for many years. And with thousands of excavator users in scandinavia i am sure it will last without problems.

[MooseMan]

Has anyone had a chance to get some time on one of Volvo's new graders? I haven't and was wondering if they were any good. Is there are anything that you like/dislike about them?

Thanks!!

Had a demo a few weeks back on the new Volvo Grader. Nothing similiar to the old Champion predecessor. Volvo took over Champion 10 years ago I think. No similarities now. Really liked the 11 speed for bull low speeds on fine grading and fast hi gear to get back to the shop. Reversing fan a plus keeping the cooler systems clean. real time saver. Almost too much power in every gear. had to keep it dialed back to 1600 to 1800 rpms. Great torque. Saved fuel big time as well. Good first impression.

[Grader4me]

Had a demo a few weeks back on the new Volvo Grader. Nothing similiar to the old Champion predecessor. Volvo took over Champion 10 years ago I think. No similarities now. Really liked the 11 speed for bull low speeds on fine grading and fast hi gear to get back to the shop. Reversing fan a plus keeping the cooler systems clean. real time saver. Almost too much power in every gear. had to keep it dialed back to 1600 to 1800 rpms. Great torque. Saved fuel big time as well. Good first impression.

Welcome to the forum MooseMan:drinkup You'll have a ball here! So there is no similarities to the Champion? I'm a little surprised at that. I'm not sure of the exact year that Volvo took over but we have a couple of 1999 Champions.

[Countryboy]

Welcome to HEF MooseMan! :drinkup

[Motor Grader]

Quick question, are Champion and Volvo building the same machine? They look almost identical. I know very little about graders, except that the Cat M series is going to mop the floor with all of them pretty quick. :bouncegri

You are correct that Volvo bought out Champion. This was in 1997. Volvo continued to use the Champion name until 2000. What you may not know is that Champion also had a factory in Charlotte, NC where the Compact Graders or C-Series were built. (Where these graders evolved from is a whole other story) In July 2004 Volvo decided to get out of the compact grader business and it was purchased by Gary Abernathy which happens to be one of the founders of this particular line of graders. In the purchase we acquired the Champion trademark and build graders under this name today.

Bryan Abernathy
VP Sales & Marketing
Champion Motor Graders
www.championmotorgraders.us

[digger242j]

Well, Bryan, if nobody else has bothered to say so yet, welcome to the forums! I wish you the best of luck in carrying on the Champion name.

I see you've posted some really interesting stuff already. We'll look forward to more... :)

[MKTEF]

Well, first of all welcome to Bryan and Mooseman.

Hope you enjoy the forums and help us to evolve the forum to even higher standards:)

I have taken some pictures of a deleavered new gravelspreader on a Volvo 946. This particular spreader is made by a firm caled mahlers in sweden.
Their site is here:
http://www.mahlers.se/
:)

[MKTEF]

These two are from their website:)

[equipment fan]

thanks mktef for the link and the pictures.

[Grader4me]

Yes, thanks for posting the pictures MKTEF. So in your part of the world are these gravel spreader attachments used a lot? They don't appear to be overly rugged. Sure would like to see one in action...Got a video camera?:D

[Countryboy]

Welcome to HEF Motor Grader! :drinkup

[Deas Plant]

Hi, MKTF.
Thanks for those photos of the gravel spreaders, As Grader4me commented, they don't look overly 'robust'. Would I be right in guessing that they are only intended for re-distributing loose gravel from already worked windrows?

They actually remind me of the 3 point linkage grader blades that you see on farm tractors for 'fooling' about with a bit of loose soil.

Thanks again.

[MKTEF]

Hey folks:)

Both of you are right, they are not realy solid. The old one on the 976 has a hydraulic function where it svings if it hits something "hard".
Deas is completely right, they only spread what yoy have already worked in the windrow. And they are pretty alike the ones for a tractor.
But it saves you for an extra pass with the grader.

And to the other qustion.
If a grader is used on gravel roads, they always have a spreader her in scandinavia. So the only ones without a spreader is the big ones in mines and a few that only grades asphalt roads.(winter maintenance)

These days we are in the change of conditions here in Norway. The winter is going away and the summer is comming. Two weeks ago i still had some few places to use the winterblades, but today i have to changes blades.
I belewe it is still frost in the ground ,so gravel roads is now soaking wet and grading have to wait at least a week.:o
But i'll adjust it and make a video of the use of it. As a minimum som pictures.:)

[Deas Plant]

Hi, MKTF.
Thank you. That would be much appreciated. Already you have given us some interesting insights into how things are done in your part of the world.

If you have any questions about conditions or work methods in our parts of the world just post them and I suspect you'll get answers coming at you from all sorts of places and people.

[Grader4me]

Hi, MKTF.
Thank you. That would be much appreciated. Already you have given us some interesting insights into how things are done in your part of the world.

If you have any questions about conditions or work methods in our parts of the world just post them and I suspect you'll get answers coming at you from all sorts of places and people.

I agree with Deas about the interesting insights that you have been providing for us. You seem to be bending over backwards to supply our endless desire for more knowledge;) Thank you MKTEF:)

[RonG]

You are correct that Volvo bought out Champion. This was in 1997. Volvo continued to use the Champion name until 2000. What you may not know is that Champion also had a factory in Charlotte, NC where the Compact Graders or C-Series were built. (Where these graders evolved from is a whole other story) In July 2004 Volvo decided to get out of the compact grader business and it was purchased by Gary Abernathy which happens to be one of the founders of this particular line of graders. In the purchase we acquired the Champion trademark and build graders under this name today.

Bryan Abernathy
VP Sales & Marketing
Champion Motor Graders
www.championmotorgraders.us

Would that be the "Athey" grader line that they evolved from?
They are a nice line of graders.Ron G

[Motor Grader]

Would that be the "Athey" grader line that they evolved from?
They are a nice line of graders.Ron G

We were originally the Lee Motor Grader founded by Bud Lee and Gary Abernathy. No, this is not the same as LeeBoy which was founded by BR Lee. BR and Bud were brothers. Just a little brotherly competition to build equipment.

Bryan Abernathy
Vp Sales & Marketing
Champion Motor Graders
www.championmotorgraders.us

[Motor Grader]

Yes, thanks for posting the pictures MKTEF. So in your part of the world are these gravel spreader attachments used a lot? They don't appear to be overly rugged. Sure would like to see one in action...Got a video camera?:D

We build our own version of this attachment. We call it the Windrow Eliminator. Its basically for shoulder maintenence and turns a 2 pass job into 1 pass.

[Motor Grader]

Well, Bryan, if nobody else has bothered to say so yet, welcome to the forums! I wish you the best of luck in carrying on the Champion name.

I see you've posted some really interesting stuff already. We'll look forward to more... :)

Thanks! I love talking motor grader. We started building graders in 1980 under the "Lee" trademark. I was about 8 years old then. Guess you could say that I have been around and building graders my whole life. We sold our family owned/operated business to Champion in 1993. It was a great ride with them and their knowledge and resources really helped our product evolve into the best product on the market today. Volvo bought Champion and that may have not been the best thing for our product line. They are just too big for a small volume product. We made great friends up in the Goderich, Ontario motor grader factory which by the way is still where the Volvo 900 Series graders are being built. All of the readers on this site should be aware that your comments about the 900 Series Volvo doesn’t fall on deaf ears. Some pretty influential people at Volvo monitor this site now. Wouldn't be surprised if CAT does the same. Anyway, look forward to posting more cool motor grader stuff.

Bryan Abernathy

[Motor Grader]

Volvo bought out Champion a few years back, but they are still using the Champion name. The graders are pretty much the same.
I agree with you on the Cat M series :wink2



Is this grader set up with the VHP (variable horse power) ? On the Champion that I used to operate (1996) in first & second gear it was putting out around 170 HP and when you hit 3rd to 8th it put out 205 Hp.
So I am still in the dark ages...how does the creep mode work and what are the advantages? Kind of curious as to what the HP is set at while in creep mode. Maybe it is cut way back while in this mode and that might be the reason for it being sluggish?:beatsme

Volvo hasn't used the Champion name since 2000. In 2004 the Volvo compact motor grader line and the Champion name were sold. Get the full story at www.championmotorgraders.us

[Grader4me]

Volvo hasn't used the Champion name since 2000. In 2004 the Volvo compact motor grader line and the Champion name were sold. Get the full story at www.championmotorgraders.us

Originally Posted by Grader4me
Volvo bought out Champion a few years back, but they are still using the Champion name.
I mean't that "they still used the Champion name"

I realize that Volvo never kept the Champion name...sorry for the previous wording. Volvo bought Champion around 1997/98 and kept the Champion name till 2000, then changed it to Volvo, correct?

[MKTEF]

Grader4me i have made a video of the windrowspreader.:)

Not a good one though, because i didn't have a high stand for the camera.:(
I made a video from driving it with the spreader also.

Here it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXbiSv6INMw
And for the grading: Will ad it tomorrow youtube is slow..:(

The last one also shows the operation of the left joystick.
Stearing and upshift.

I'll be back later with more.:cool:

[Grader4me]

Wow! Thanks! I will look forward to the rest of it :)

[MKTEF]

Here is th link to the other movie:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvlMxJ5MR5A

Shows some grading along a gravel road, and the use of the left joystick.:)

[Grader4me]

Great stuff! I noticed in the first video, your windrow was quite small and also that you had to place it just outside the tires in order for the spreader to catch it.

Can the spreader handle more material than what you was feeding it? I suppose with a heavier windrow it would go beyond the reach of the spreader.

So you have the spreader set up/adjusted so that it spreads a small windrow of gravel evenly. If you increase your cut and provided that it could catch it, what effect would that have on the spreading? Would it leave a windrow on the heel side? Would you have to readjust it?

Second video of grading a road was excellent! The joy sticks look like they would be a blast to run! Thanks again for sharing :notworthy

[MKTEF]

Yeah it will handle a much bigger row.
And i found out a bit up the road. :(
I drive with a automatic pressure system on the blade, and when i hit a loose thick layer of gravel; it will be moved.....

The attachment is not perfectly matched to the Volvo, yet, on the Champion it extended more outside the wheels....(its a bigger/wider grader)
My salesmann insisted on having the quickcoupler in the middle of the grader, on the Champion it was a bit to the left.:o
I will have to rework the spreader so it reaches more outside the wheels.
Now i change the angle a bit and it reaches more to the left side.

This isn't a big problem cause i have the constant system on the blade, maintains constant pressure even if i drive on the windrow with the wheels.

Problem is because it got normal wheels you got to adjust it if you increase the windrow to much. So it doesnt only move the row to the outside of the road.
It can be fed with a windrow with equal area to the open area under the spreader. If you understand....
Bigger than that means you got to adjust the wheels;height(area) under the blades.
The windrow on the movie is to small for my adjustment, it didnt spread it out more than 2-4 feet on the left of the cut.
Optimal is a spread from the left to half/3/4 of the cut. You want to grade from the shoulder and make the curbe on the road when you are finished.

And the joysticks is superb, but i will say that the constant-pressuresystem is a superb tool for a grader.
Ill post a thread with pictures and explain how it works later.

[Blademan]

Hello All ,

just thought I'd throw in my 3 cents as I just had the good fortune to spend a few days on a new Volvo demo unit ( I think it was a G940 or 970 ? ) . Apparantly , the mother ship bought a few for their eastern operations and was wondering why those of us out west seemed so reluctant to use them . I'll get back to this soon .

First off , I'm currently working doing new subdivision work and this includes doing lanes ( or back alleys or whatever you call them in your local ) , coring for a new roadway ( 11,000 +- sq. meters ) and gravelling said road with both bank pitrun and crush gravel ( 20mm ) . Due to various reasons which would take way too long to get into so far on this job I've run a 140G , 140H , and my usual ride a 14H .

First impressions :

machine arrived with 14 hours on meter . The seat has multiple controls to adjust it just for you , and I found this very nice , being somewhat on the verticlly challanged side of things . I especially liked the ride height control on the armrest . Pedals were good , and levers seemed to have been perfectly copied from Cat . The shifter/transmission took a little to get used to and seemed to have a few quirks/gremlins , but with a little more practice I'd be happy with it . The air conditioner worked very good ,and I appreciated the outside temperature display on the dash ( it reached 30 degrees celcius one day and I could see the crew starting to wilt by midday , but the cab was very nice and comfortable :notworthy ) . It was very quiet , and apparantly it got great reviews from the ground crew for being a lot less noisy then my Cats . It has lots of mirrors , and overall the view was very good , although I wasn't to keen when backing up , the rear engine ' hump ' sits a lot higher the the H's and has a somewhat larger blindspot . Visibility overall very good . Stereo also got a passing grade . My only peeve was the diff lock switch . In my current application I use it lots , and found it both backward ( compared to Cats ) and just not as good of a switch as it needs to be .

Working the machine :

the engine and pumps are very good . The speed of the hydraulics was awesome , especially the circle turing speed . The engine was both very smooth and responsive . Made the machine very fast and enjoyable to run .
The trans though , takes some getting used to . When shifting from reverse to forward you need to get in the habit of checking what gear it selects for you and if you don't check the display you find yourself stalling out . Sometimes it selects 1st or 2nd gear , sometimes fifth ! Again , in time , these little annoying things usually work themselves out .
Oh , one really annoying thing that I found was it had a control tower creep . Every 15-20 minutes I had to pull back the controls/steering wheel as they slowly seemed to creep further away from me . :Banghead :Banghead :Banghead . I couldn't believe how bothersome this became .

My first job with it was laying out bank pitrun in a deep based corner in a lane . Really bony material and apparantly one rock found it's way over the moldboard and rested on the blade side shift cylinder .
I then was using the machine to ' cut down the lane ends ' , meaning where the back lane dirt meets the concrete sidwalk/driveway apron I cut this down 3 inches for gravel . this usually involves tilting the blade fully forward and scraping along the concrete to make a nice clean edge . This worked well until I tilted back the blade and that said rock that had somehow lodged onto that sideshift cylinder got caught under the blade tilt cylinder ( whew ... are ya still with me ? Lol ) and it snapped the ram !!!! YIKES:eek:
Only three hours into working it and it was down for the count . It was so unbelievable to see such a brand new machine ( at this point 17 hours ) hurt so bad with a busted ram . Oh well , the engineers and designers have more stuff still to work on .
Anyway , the machine was down for almost two days as they flew in a new cylinder and did the repairs .

By this time I'd was just finishing coring up the new road base , and found the Volvo to be both nimble and efficent for cleaning up around the manholes/water valves etc . again , the speed and power on the machine showed well here .
Day three found me starting to lay in material ( bank pitrun ) , and after the little ram busting episode i was a little apprehensive , but it turned out fine . Well , except for the fact that we had two more break downs with , lets see , one a hose came off the wheel tilt cylinder and the other was also a hose loosening up and coming apart up front somewhere ( I had a worker carry a wrench in his pocket and he quickly tightened it up without me ever leaving the cab :D ) .

So , over all , three days and 12 hours of running with one cylinder replaced and two hoses/couplings need to be tightened .
Comfort wise , I'd give it a 4 out of 5 .
Power and speed , also 4/5 .
Reliability , thats a tough one . although i really like this machine ,i just don't get the feeling that it will last beyond a couple of years doing this type of work . Maybe for maintaining existing roads or snow removal it may be ok , but for the heavier duty applications I really don't have a good feeling for it . This brings me back to those bean counters who want to know why we in the west aren't jumping at the chance to get these newer cheaper graders and saving some dough for our poor shareholders :rolleyes: . I'm guessing out east they don't seem to be working the machines too hard . Slackers ...... :cool2 :notworthy :D

Well , if you got thru the ramblings , thanks , and a big thanks to the local dealer , Strongco , for allowing this demo to happen and for their quick repairs .

[Grader4me]

My only peeve was the diff lock switch . In my current application I use it lots , and found it both backward ( compared to Cats ) and just not as good of a switch as it needs to be .

I know with the diff lock switch that was on the Champion that I run, after you hit the switch, you had sometimes wiggle the ass end a bit for it to engage.


When shifting from reverse to forward you need to get in the habit of checking what gear it selects for you and if you don't check the display you find yourself stalling out . Sometimes it selects 1st or 2nd gear , sometimes fifth ! Again , in time , these little annoying things usually work themselves out .

I think that if you are in lets say 4th gear when you stop, shift to reverse then when you shift to forward again it will start out in 4th gear. Same as reverse. It's puts you back into the same gear you used last. If it is set up the same way as the Champions.


Oh , one really annoying thing that I found was it had a control tower creep . Every 15-20 minutes I had to pull back the controls/steering wheel as they slowly seemed to creep further away from me . . I couldn't believe how bothersome this became

Now that is bothersome!

This worked well until I tilted back the blade and that said rock that had somehow lodged onto that sideshift cylinder got caught under the blade tilt cylinder ( whew ... are ya still with me ? Lol ) and it snapped the ram !!!! YIKES


Been there done that! Luckly never snapped the ram though. Glad you enjoyed your experience ,and thanks for sharing!

[MKTEF]

Quote:
My only peeve was the diff lock switch . In my current application I use it lots , and found it both backward ( compared to Cats ) and just not as good of a switch as it needs to be .

I know with the diff lock switch that was on the Champion that I run, after you hit the switch, you had sometimes wiggle the ass end a bit for it to engage.
The difflock on the new Volvo is hydraulic, when you engage the switch the hydraulics put pressure in the difflocksystem.
The lock itself consists of multiple wet discs that is pressed together when activated. So you dont need to do any of the old tricks, only important to be aware of the fact that the engagement/disengagement in "bad" areas will wear out the lock.(when turning/spinning etc)

Quote:
When shifting from reverse to forward you need to get in the habit of checking what gear it selects for you and if you don't check the display you find yourself stalling out . Sometimes it selects 1st or 2nd gear , sometimes fifth ! Again , in time , these little annoying things usually work themselves out .

I think that if you are in lets say 4th gear when you stop, shift to reverse then when you shift to forward again it will start out in 4th gear. Same as reverse. It's puts you back into the same gear you used last. If it is set up the same way as the Champions.

This depens on what type of gearbox you got;11-6 or 8-4. We found the 11-6 better on shifting than the 8-4.(and if you got auto shift on the 8-4)
But you need to choose the right gearshift mode with the switch.
And i am asking how did you change direction in practice?

You should use the grader fully and just change direction directly without stopping.(flip the stick to the other direction) Without stopping or using the inching pedal. Let the system do the job.(and forget about throttle, the system controlls that)
You will never stall out using it that way.
If you grade in automatic mode(A) and stop, it will go for a high gear when you change from R to F.(4 or 6)
If you do the same procedure with a direct change you'll notice that it choose a lower gear.(3 or 5)
For reverse it choose 2. gear to start with, if you used 4. gear last time, it will go up to 4. Its throttle depending.(A mode)

It should also be noted that there is a update program on all gearboxes to improve the shifting further. I have heard that there will be a lower gear to start with. 3 or 5 instead of 4 or 6.
I don't know if this update was done to the one you were testing.

It's sad to hear that Strongco didn't inform bether on the diff lock, cause its a bulletproof system that will work anytime with normal use.
And i hope the grader had the updated gearbox, cause the comments you posted here, i mean is taken care of in that upgrade. (I am waiting for the upgrade on our graders..:mad: )

[Grader4me]

The difflock on the new Volvo is hydraulic, when you engage the switch the hydraulics put pressure in the difflocksystem.
The lock itself consists of multiple wet discs that is pressed together when activated. So you dont need to do any of the old tricks, only important to be aware of the fact that the engagement/disengagement in "bad" areas will wear out the lock.(when turning/spinning etc)


This is good that the old tricks are out the window:) New system or old I would think that an operator would know not to engage or disengage the diff while spinning etc. :eek:

You should use the grader fully and just change direction directly without stopping.(flip the stick to the other direction) Without stopping or using the inching pedal. Let the system do the job.(and forget about throttle, the system controlls that)
You will never stall out using it that way.

:eek: I'm wayyyy behind the times. Wow!!

[MKTEF]

Well, world is turning every day you know.

I didn't belewe it when i was told. But tested both a 940, 946 and the 976 before we desided on modell and gearbox. Also tested the 8-4 and the 11-6 gearbox.:)

You can drive along at high speed, make it in reverse, and the computers give throttle, gears down, brakes with the engine and goes down to 6th gear, then connects the 2R and the inching is smouthly connected and you'r going backwards.
I had to try it many times, and hasn't stalled it yet that way.
And i love this function, you get enough time to lift your blade after changing the direction.
With some practise you now exactly where to change with the lever, and ends up doing 2R at right spot on.
Of course i have stalled it some times, in transport mode and 6F taking loose with to little power. You get used to working with nearly no throttle, so when heading home in T-6F its quick to stall it.
T-Transport mode is a program made to get you up in max speed quick, starts high, and shifts up at low rpm's to use the max torque in the engine.
This problem is taken care of with the upgrade of the gearbox. (Jarle; get your finger out!)

And the 9l in the 970/976/990 is a racer, it speeds up like no other grader i have tested.

[Grader4me]

Thanks for all the good information MKTEF. Really amazing how far technology has come. Thanks for your patience in explaining to this old fossil all this new stuff.
Yes, the world is turning every day, but sometimes it's turning so fast it's hard to keep up:)

[Deas Plant]

Hi, MKTEF.
Yes, the world does keep on turning and we're not all that much different from mice on a treadmill. Thanks for that information. It seems that you are quite favourably impressed with the Volvo graders and that you get to try them in some widely differing conditions and with different attachments. You might want to approach Volvo about some remuneration from their advertising department for the 'word-of-mouth advertising' that you're currently doing for free here in this forum. LOL.

Grader4me: You might hafta git outa yer wheelchair ter keep up, Mate. Me, I wuz thinkin' uv buying wun but I guess I might hafta put it on hold fer a while.
I have applied for a job with a coal mine that is doing some fairly serious upgrading about 100 miles from here. I don't KNOW what the rates of pay are yet but it they pay like most other coal mines, it'll be up in the $75K to $120K bracket, depending on what a body is operating and whether they are on coal or overburden. Strangely, overburden seems to pay more in most mines.

[Grader4me]

Hi Deas, my god man, don't stay in one place very long do ya? Maybe you've got the right plan...keep movin to where the money and work is. You seem to be enjoying it fully though! Man of your experience and expertise can name your price, and you would be a definate asset to any company. I have been at the same place for 34 years...just hav'nt got the guts to move on I guess.

[Deas Plant]

Hi, Grader4me.
There's no point in staying where the money isn't too flash or job conditions are not great and, equally, there's no point in moving on if you're happy where you are with what you're getting.

I was stood down on the current site last Tuesday midday 'cos the idiot truck drivers bringing the fill in would persist in coming in the wrong gate. They upset the locals who complained to the project managers who shut the job down for 1/2 a day while the issue was sorted out. Net result - the truck drivers cost themselves - - - and everybody else - - - a 1/2 days pay - 'cos they wanted to be a bunch of smart-a***s. Then it rained overnight and the job hasn't worked since and, due to public holidays and rostered days off, it won't work again until next Wednesday.

In the meantime, the company for whom I'm supposed to be working still has me on casual hire instead of the permanent that they told me would apply after I had been there a month (now 6 weeks) and I'll have had no income for over a week by the time we start again next Wednesday - - - and more rain is forecast for next Thursday and Friday. You see where I'm coming from now?

I'm using the buckshot principle a bit here too. I'm applying for number of positions and we'll see what looks best when I get all the details in.

Just as a footnote to those truck drivers coming in the wrong gate - there is $1.8 billion involved in this project over the next 2 years. These drivers have blotted their copy book once now. They'll get one more chance and, if they blow that, they'll be barred for the rest of the project. Somebody care to tell me again how much brainpower it takes to be a truckie?
:Banghead :Pointhead :ban :beatsme

[Grader4me]

I think that this is the first time that I have seen you use the smilies! You must be wound up a bit! :eek: :) Lol

[Deas Plant]

Naw. They just seemed apropriate at the time.

[MKTEF]

Hey Deas, sorry to hear about those not so smart truckies.
Always some "smart" guy who makes problems for all the rest.:Banghead

Regarding payment, yeah they aught to bring more than keyrings and caps.;)
But seriously; as a public employee i am not alowed to take it.:)
I don't want to tell you about all stories and problems around things like that, but we are very strict to all salesmenn/producers: Nothing accepted here.:cool: (yeah maybee a caps, but they are all parked in my office)

I am involving a bit here because i have read and seen all the free advertising for Cat M-series.(on multiple threads here)
I don't think its fair to Volvo(or the other producers) that nobody tells you about their products.
And i am more happy with the Volvo/Champion than with the Cat's we got.

And i have a legal, good working, serial production grader legaly modified with joysticks. The Norwegian Cat customers is till waiting for theirs....

Right now there is nothing heard from Cat, other than "We are sorry, it is delayed".
I mean, it was not a smart trick to make so high exceptaitions when they don't got it 100% ready for all the markets.

And keep up asking i'll answer, as long it dosen't make me do extra time/work other as a hobby for me.:D

[Squizzy246B]

I am involving a bit here because i have read and seen all the free advertising for Cat M-series.(on multiple threads here)
I don't think its fair to Volvo(or the other producers) that nobody tells you about their products.
And i am more happy with the Volvo/Champion than with the Cat's we got.

And i have a legal, good working, serial production grader legaly modified with joysticks. The Norwegian Cat customers is till waiting for theirs....

Right now there is nothing heard from Cat, other than "We are sorry, it is delayed".
I mean, it was not a smart trick to make so high exceptaitions when they don't got it 100% ready for all the markets.



MKTEF: I for one really appreciate your perspective, experience and fairly obvious extensive knowledge of the machinery you operate. I think you make an excellent contribution to this forum.

However, I wouldn't like to think that posts made here by the members are for the purpose of advertising...whilst it may appear as free advertising thats very much the nature of the internet forum...I'm pretty sure thats not the way "Most" of the members intend it. I'm not naive to the fact that many people try and advertise through forums....they are welcome...they can become a sponsor....However, I for one believe what you see here are internet discussions between people with a common interest...not unlike the discussion that might be had if we were face to face over a nice beer.

People are; by their very nature, often biased....but representing their thoughts and experiences through discussion shouldn't be fact for considering a forum as biased...just that its a reflection of the members.

Your contributions here make for very good balance for the reader.:thumbsup

[Deas Plant]

Hi, MKTEF.
I'm with Squizzy here. I don't think very many people here, if any, actually set out to advertise for any company, Cat or otherwise. I personally make my comments on the basis of machine performance and handling, service life and serviceabilty, control layout and operator comfort, not on who manufactured them. I admit to some bias toward Cat equipment but I do try not to let it stop me from being objective about other makes.

There is an old, old saying that the best form of advertising is word of mouth from satisfied users. Is it Cat's 'fault' if there are more satisfied users of Cat equipment than other makes? O.K., so there are more Cat machines out there than most other makes, especially in the heavy end of the market. Might that also be a reflection of the number of satisfied users?

Having said that, I would also applaud the contribution that you have made to this forum to date, both for your information about conditions and how things are done in your part of the world and about types, makes and models of machines that many of us have not yet and may never get to see or operate. As I have mentioned in an earlier post, I have not yet operated any Volvo graders so I have no knowledge of them. Your posts here have gone a fair way toward filling those gaps. Thank you.

[MKTEF]

Squissy i belewe its a reason to your "super" moderator title.:D

And we both agree to the "advertising", i don't either think this forum should be a place to advertise for products.(other than in clear ads)
And i, both as a private person and employee in the NO army, don't want to be seen on as a advertisor for somebody.
I put my personal experience and knowlege on press her, so that others can read, understand and learn from it.
And i seriously mean that this should be the motivation for all of us here on the forum.;)

But in todays world of business, i sometimes ask myself if all the information found around is left there on purpose or not...

In the Army we call it PSYOPS, Psychological operations, when you leave information in public, internet for instance, to create a felling amongst people that they don't realise is created by yourself.

And thats why i used the term "free advertising", cause i've seen info here regarding products that's not found other places on the net.:cool:
Maybe i am wrong, but thats how i see it.

[Squizzy246B]

Squissy i belewe its a reason to your "super" moderator title.:D

But in todays world of business, i sometimes ask myself if all the information found around is left there on purpose or not...

In the Army we call it PSYOPS, Psychological operations, when you leave information in public, internet for instance, to create a felling amongst people that they don't realise is created by yourself.

And thats why i used the term "free advertising", cause i've seen info here regarding products that's not found other places on the net.:cool:
Maybe i am wrong, but thats how i see it.

I have some other titles:rolleyes: ... some of them end with .....artist:D

When I was in the Navy it was much more direct and less subtle ....bit more like "When I want YOUR Opinion I will give it to You sonny

Word of mouth is often described as the best form of advertising.

[roadrunner]

Here is som more pictures of the servosystem:)
The last picture shows how much you can adjust on.
It is adjustable in all directions!:)
When i drive it i have my arms down on the armrest.
Everything is controlled by a box in the corner of the cabin.
And i can programme everything. Change directions, knobs, feeling on the sticks, reactiontime, speed. There is no limitations.:)

Thanks for all the great pics MKTEF. When you are done with the G976, just stuff it into a container and ship C.O.D. to Canada. Keep on developing all the new gadgets and attachments for your machines over there in Europe as we don't get your technology till several years later here in North America!
Keep on with the great posts!!:drinkup

[MKTEF]

Thanks Roadrunner:D

Case is, one of the graders i got was for your market. A demo machine for Canada, taken from the fabric to us.;)
Volvo changed the cabin so it got equal to the others we ordered.

I think u will get some of the gadgets from us soon.:)

And i can realy say that the M series is a result of scandinavian operators demanding joysticks!
Operators from scandinavia has been over and told Cat how it should bee.:usa

And with high wages and so few good operators, most get exactly what they want when they tell their boss.
And thats not a joke! :eek:

Cellphone, new car and a new grader.
Just look at the 140M i've pictured. Front blade, vhp, gravel spreader and snow stopper.:D

[Grader4me]

And with high wages and so few good operators, most get exactly what they want when they tell their boss.
And thats not a joke!

Cellphone, new car and a new grader.
Just look at the 140M i've pictured. Front blade, vhp, gravel spreader and snow stopper.


Okay...I'm coming over...have that stuff waiting for me :D Oh wait..they're looking for good operators...darn...:Banghead