Cat M Series Operators

Alberta · Nov 19, 2011

@ nige..
Ours went in for the frame upgrades (14M) and tandems this past spring/summer. They failed to do some of the other programs while they had the machines in their shop (manpower issues they say) and trying to get them to come and get caught up on just the software is a lost cause...... the valve settings on 2 of our graders (around 3500 hrs) still haven't been checked after over a year of me nagging them about it.

Nige · Nov 19, 2011

That is just plain unacceptable IMO .......... we're lucky we have a guy from the dealer on site and one of his responsibilities is to work with our Condition Montoring guys to keep all software updated on every ECM on every machine in our fleet, or at least be abreast of what we have in each machine and whether or not it's the latest. Then when a given machine comes to the shop for PM the software is updated at the same time we have ET hooked up to download the Logged Diagnostic Codes & do any necessary calibrations of electro-hydraulic controls.

Ross · Nov 20, 2011

Aye well .. Never changed a tranny on a 16M since May 2010. Theres loads of PIP / PSP for the M .. My Favourite is replace the whole dam front frame if required!

Nige · Nov 20, 2011

I saw that one too. I was kinda wishing we could get some cracks on a front frame and then just leave it and see how far it would go before the frame fell apart. No luck so far ..............

CAT140H · Nov 20, 2011

We are supposed to get a new M series Grader possibly next month and with all this that I'm reading it sounds kind of scary. I guess they all have there faults. I told the council that they should get in the spring so we have time in the summer to get used to the joy stick steering. It might be interesting try to plow snow from the begining. Just have to plow slower for awhile until we get used to it.
Even our 2007 140H has problems. It's coming back from the dealer tomorrow, after a oil sample it showed Antifreeze in the engine oil. It could've been serious but it only was the water pump.

littleroadgrade · Nov 20, 2011

first time out with it just drive around a while to get used to the joy stick steering, then read the manual again about the inching pedal, don't use it as a clutch, when shifting from forward to reverse do not touch the pedal just let up on the throttle and pull the trigger, when you get used to it you will like it

Nige · Nov 21, 2011

CAT140H said:
We are supposed to get a new M series Grader possibly next month and with all this that I'm reading it sounds kind of scary. I guess they all have there faults. I told the council that they should get in the spring so we have time in the summer to get used to the joy stick steering. It might be interesting try to plow snow from the begining. Just have to plow slower for awhile until we get used to it.
Even our 2007 140H has problems. It's coming back from the dealer tomorrow, after a oil sample it showed Antifreeze in the engine oil. It could've been serious but it only was the water pump.

Even if it was "only" a water pump it could still turn out to be serious if they haven't replaced all the crankshaft bearings ..... antifreeze loves the lead in those things.

Nige · Nov 21, 2011

littleroadgrade said:
first time out with it just drive around a while to get used to the joy stick steering, then read the manual again about the inching pedal, don't use it as a clutch, when shifting from forward to reverse do not touch the pedal just let up on the throttle and pull the trigger, when you get used to it you will like it

I'll second that. The inching pedal on an M gets used in a totally different way to the inching pedal on previous models. I didn't find out until we had a load of transmission failures and I started to read about the inching pedal in the Operation Manual.

Ross · Nov 21, 2011

Piece of cake to operate them M graders .. We put a 24M together a few year back and I had to drive the machine to another operation to pick the blade up (Gong show) Only around 7 - 10kms and I had the operation of the machine pinned.

Anyhow, I use to ignore bad engine oil samples . The C13 is prone to high copper .. Had a few putting bad samples for ages .. Just the way they are. Theres a few ways Coolant can get into engine oil. Through the fuel charging pump is a good one. I dont know how coolant could get in through the water pump as its lower pressure.

Also I would only do one Valve & Injector set on the C13 .. Its Constant RPM variable load applications that need sets every 2000 hrs or they start snapping injector springs.

Grader4me · Nov 21, 2011

CAT140H said:
We are supposed to get a new M series Grader possibly next month and with all this that I'm reading it sounds kind of scary. I guess they all have there faults. I told the council that they should get in the spring so we have time in the summer to get used to the joy stick steering. It might be interesting try to plow snow from the begining. Just have to plow slower for awhile until we get used to it.
Even our 2007 140H has problems. It's coming back from the dealer tomorrow, after a oil sample it showed Antifreeze in the engine oil. It could've been serious but it only was the water pump.

Don't let them scare ya off...they are a piece of cake to operate. You will get used to the steering in no time..You will like the steering when having to turn in tight areas when plowing snow etc...no cranking on the steering wheel...

On edit...I worked one hard this summer...problem free..worked like a top...

CatGrader · Dec 22, 2011

"We are supposed to get a new M series Grader possibly next month and with all this that I'm reading it sounds kind of scary. I guess they all have there faults. I told the council that they should get in the spring so we have time in the summer to get used to the joy stick steering."

The Council ??? hahahaha Oh dear.
Nah don't worry you won't be doing much with it anyway on the council. All the hard job's they let out now day's ( to scared and to put it more to the point they just don't know what there doing anymore ( did they ever ? )) get on it have a play. then when you get good at it jump ship and come out here onto the big jobs with us big boys. :drinkup

CAT140H · Dec 22, 2011

Well we are getting a 160M but for spring delivery. Also getting a Capital I One Way Plow to be delivered in January. We still have very little snow so might not get a real chance to try the plow out.
Merry Christmas everyone

Queenslander · Dec 27, 2011

CatGrader said:
The Council ??? hahahaha Oh dear.
Nah don't worry you won't be doing much with it anyway on the council. All the hard job's they let out now day's ( to scared and to put it more to the point they just don't know what there doing anymore ( did they ever ? )) get on it have a play. then when you get good at it jump ship and come out here onto the big jobs with us big boys. :drinkup

Mate, I think you're being a little harsh there,the councils in Canada may not have been gutted, unlike those here in OZ, Qld. in particular.
I know of several councils that ran very efficient road crews prior to amalgamation.
They didn't sack anyone post amalgamation, they just made life so miserable that they packed up and left in disgust.
Not that Iam complaining,as a contractor, Iam getting plenty of work with them.
Cheers, Greg

CatGrader · Feb 5, 2012

Yeh no prob Greg I think you know were Im coming from. lol

Cat M Series Operators

Alberta

Well-Known Member

Nige

Senior Member

Ross

Senior Member

Nige

Senior Member

CAT140H

Well-Known Member

littleroadgrade

Active Member

Nige

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Nige

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Ross

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Grader4me

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CatGrader

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CAT140H

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Queenslander

Senior Member

CatGrader

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