test drive

[plowking740]

I got to test drive an 14 M on monday. Wow. its an impressize machine. I know that a 14 is a large grader, but the M seems bigger than the g, and h

I only got to play for about an half an hour which is not long enough to really test the machine, but I m still impressed. The control layout is not all that hard to get on to. After 30 min I found that I knew where every thing was.

the view was excelent, no more blind spot behind the door piller, but it seemed that the Front of the maachine was a loooong way from me. the tiny little front window didnt help much.

[RentinEquip]

Great pictures. I'm really impressed with the new M series graders. I can't wait for the opportunity to operate one.

[Grader4me]

I got to test drive an 14 M on monday. Wow. its an impressize machine. I know that a 14 is a large grader, but the M seems bigger than the g, and h

I only got to play for about an half an hour which is not long enough to really test the machine, but I m still impressed. The control layout is not all that hard to get on to. After 30 min I found that I knew where every thing was.

the view was excelent, no more blind spot behind the door piller, but it seemed that the Front of the maachine was a loooong way from me. the tiny little front window didnt help much.


You lucky dog!

[BrianHay]

I got to try out one of Cats simulators at the construction show in Abotsford this spring. That was cool. They had a seat with real controls on it. Cant wait for an opportunity to try out the real thing.

[CM1995]

Awsome pics! It's really interesting to see when a manf. departs from the tried and true to make "advancements" in operating. I guess the jury is still out on the operations of this grader and how receptive the equipment community will be.

I got to sit in a cab mock-up of the M series in Peoria at the Cat headquaters a couple of months ago. Pretty interesting. I have never operated a traditional grader or this one, so I really have nothing to compare. Maybe one day......:D

[DR RPM]

Here's a 14M working down the road from me.

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q102/DRRPM/Equipment/Cat14M.jpg

[Prep]

A couple of questions for those of you that have been fortunate enough to get to run the new M series graders. Is the floor still the same lay out as the H and G series ? Is there a decelerator pedal by your heal?

[Cat140G]

Plowking, you have sparked my interest !!

[sdPete]

The 140 M I drove has the clutch / brake / throttle pedals, no decelerator. The decelerate is built into the throttle lock/resume switch on the RH stick, if I got the instructions right a tap on the switch reduces rpm by 100, 1 second click on the switch decelerates to idle, another 1 second click on the switch resumes the set engine rpm. RPM is set (when in motion) by holding the throttle pedal at desired rpm and clicking the switch, this function has to be enabled with a switch on the cab pillar. Another cab pillar switch increases rpm 100 at a click. Everything but the decelerate - resume worked OK for me, I must have messed up the sequence somehow. One quirk for me was running with the rpm set and stepping on the throttle for temporary rpm gain, the pedal produces no result until moved past the set point, there was no change in pedal pressure when the set point was "found". Guess I was used to the H where the pedal moved with the throttle lever.