SEAT TIME!! You never stop learning on a motor grader Danial. It takes dedicated practice, thousands of hours. I put a lot of effort into understanding the geometrical dynamics of the machine itself. For instance, if I'm on grade and I articulate, lean wheels, steer, turn the circle, etc...then certain compensations must be made. Every function of the grader requires understanding. Then theres the operation. Timing is very important for basic blading. Reactions and corrections for changes that can be felt by the front and rear tires. Then there are many, many different approaches for any one given situation. Many people have different ways of doing the same thing. Some know what they're doing, some don't. Just remember its the ultimate machine to master and it won't happen overnight. Some people just cannot ever get it and some will
For me, the worst thing I can do is get pissed off about whats going on with my operating. Usually the anger comes from personal insecurity about my own abilities. Now after years of practice, my confidence is where it should be and I have few bad days. When I was first learning, I used to be very preoccupied with what people watching were saying, thinking, etc. Especially during finish work at a time when the 30 man paving crew is there ready to run up your ass. I learned to have "tunnel vision" I totally block other people out of my mind other than where they are for safety. Otherwise I'm super-focused on what I'm doing, what I just did, and what I will do next. Exceptional motor grader work requires superior concentration. But you must be careful not to over-think certain things. Thats hard to explain though. Stick with it, practice every chance you get. I used to stay late and work for free just so I could have more seat time. Eventually, after ehh, around 1800 hrs, I had my ass in a 2006 140H full-time and finishing base at age 21. I used to get so nervous, all the rest of the guys had been out there many years, and were twice my age. However my boss told me several things I'll never forget.
1. Don't ever let 'em see you sweat.
2. Don't ever lose your grade
3. Make every lick count
4. Keep your material contained.
5. "Boy, you run that grader in a straight line"
6. "It ain't no miracle to run a motor grader, it just depends on how bad you want to do it."
Later I realized how these applied to sooo many parts of heavy equipment work. I can't remember the rest right now.
Best of luck!
