Opinions on Best Graders

Our Rural Municipality is getting a new M series grader possibly next month. Do you think it's the right choice?
We've always had Cat and have 2002 and 2007 H series now.
Waiting for remarkes.
Thanks

CAT140H said:

Our Rural Municipality is getting a new M series grader possibly next month. Do you think it's the right choice? We've always had Cat and have 2002 and 2007 H series now.
Waiting for remarkes.
Thanks

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Yes!

There's a good discussion going on right now in the "Deere Graders" thread on this site. I would say go where you get support. If you are currently being supported well with CAT, stay with them. If you are asking which brand machine is best,,, hold on for a lengthy, heated discussion!!! :tong


I've ran DEERE machines since 1989 and I'm very happy with them. I'm governmental as well and we trade every four years so I can't speak to longevity. I like the operational friendliness of a DEERE machine. For snow pushing the productivity of our JD770D versus our neighboring township's 140M is not comparable. I finish my roads in half the time. Last year they resorted to a dozer to open some drifted areas. Those comments outta stir the pot a little!!!

Ouch!

Richard
I think they had more snow than you did Maybe the snow was wetter and heavier Sounded like a good excuse or excuses.... LOL
Regards, Randy

only thing I dislike about Deere is when I first jump on one, I kill it for the first 3 or 4 go's... do know why ...I guess they just don't have the same torque to start a cut as a Cat ,... Really don't have a preference as long as the inside is clean, and I don't have to throw a dozen smelly tree air fresheners out the door. GAWD those smell awful...

Randy Krieg said:

Richard
I think they had more snow than you did Maybe the snow was wetter and heavier Sounded like a good excuse or excuses.... LOL
Regards, Randy

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Yeah, that's probably it Randy!!!

You goin back out on the ice this Winter??? Look forward to your reports.

Our weather man is saying we'll have a lot less snow this winter, so I figure we'll get hammered!!! ointhead

heavylift said:

only thing I dislike about Deere is when I first jump on one, I kill it for the first 3 or 4 go's... do know why ...I guess they just don't have the same torque to start a cut as a Cat ,... Really don't have a preference as long as the inside is clean, and I don't have to throw a dozen smelly tree air fresheners out the door. GAWD those smell awful...

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I never noticed that problem until we got the G model. I've tripped the antistall a couple times. I attribute it to being so quiet and isolated I can't yet "feel" the engine.

I've only ran a 140M a few hours. I didn't think it had near the torque that our JD770D had. The 140M's operator complained about it being underpowered when he first got it, says he's used to it now. I live on a paved road with a slight hill going by my place. When he goes by in road gear he loses a lot of speed climbing that incline. Our Deere blows over it easily. I've not done any heavy work with one though so I can't say which has the most useable torque.

I sympathize with you guys that share a machine with other operators. I'd not do well in those situations. I'm very picky about the inside of the cab. Heck I live in there!!! I expect it to be clean and tidy. Our D model was four years old when we traded it and the cab still had that new machine smell. Tree air fresheners,,,,, NO WAY!!!

Richard
Yes; I will be headed back to the North Slope soon. We’re just waiting for some more snow to accumulate before we start pre-packing the route. Right now we have about 30 miles of iceroad to do for Savant Oil and they are bidding on some more work for two other oil companies. It should be a good/busy winter.

I agree with you on the weatherman; we just take it as it comes!
Regards, Randy

So far we have more snow than last year and temps are running lower.
Regards, Randy

Randy, I live vicariously thru you so post your adventures up there when ya can.

I've noticed when the Winter weather is bad in the Alaska area and/or the Northeast lower 48, we here in Northern Missouri have a good Winter. I hadn't checked Alaska yet, but the Northeast has had crappy weather for a couple months now. They are already getting heavy snow. So if that trend continues we should be okay here. Our weatherman is predicting 18-21" of snow for the entire Winter. Last year we were close to 50". Also predicting slightly warmer temps than normal. That part has a dark side, we will get more ice.

I've retired from my full time military career this month after 40 years. Now I can devote my time to running the grader at a much more leisurely pace. I'm blessed with a good machine so I'm looking forward to this Winter's work.

First off Richard, Thanks!!!! for your service to this country and to people like me!
Second off, we havent had enough snow yet to move. Highs the last few days are in the 40's and 50's so the inch we had last week is all gone. Weathermen........huuuumppppphhh. In Sept and Oct. they were saying that Nov was going to be bad for cold temps and snow, we showed them!!

:stirthepot ovrszd.....you need to try a real grader if you want to push snow......14h or 14m......:lmao

Alberta said:

:stirthepot ovrszd.....you need to try a real grader if you want to push snow......14h or 14m......:lmao

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I'll bet that's right!!! I've only saw a couple on construction sites as I'm driving by. Always think I'll get up close to one someday and get to really see their size. CAT makes so many sizes. They definitely fill niches that no one else does!!!

Our first DEERE was a 670B. Our current 770G outweighs the 670B by approximately 15K lbs and has 100 hp more plus running on 17.5 tires. When we bought the new 670B 22 years ago I thought it was the greatest thing since sliced bread. Things have sure changed a lot!!!

CAT140H said:

Our Rural Municipality is getting a new M series grader possibly next month. Do you think it's the right choice?
We've always had Cat and have 2002 and 2007 H series now.
Waiting for remarkes.
Thanks

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The South Dakota township here has been there and done that, 140G, 140H, 140M, 140M AWD. Some extra learning going from H to M, but around here everyone passed the class and I do not hear requests to "go back". The M graders do a few things differently, such as the throttle. Cab is nicer in my opinion. Our CAT dealer is well committed to making the M's work, our machines have been kept running when we need them to run, several service calls for update/safety issues that are done when the machine is not in use. I would venture to predict you will be a happy customer.

The deal is signed and we are getting a 160M for spring delivery. Also a Capital I one way plow. Very little snow here to try it on but maybe the snow will come later.
Merry Christmas to everyone. Have a great 2012 also.

Well we made our Cat salesman happy this week....We're flipping our 6 graders for another 6 new ones (third 14M series batch for us now)...we usually trade them in before we get to 4000 hrs. I was guaranteed that I won't have any of the previous issues. Time will tell....

Hello everyone,

I'm new to the forum but it is fun to look at all the pics and stories from everyone. I am an older grader operater myself but have been operating a D-8T in the last four year. Kind of a nice break for me but I am missing a grader a lot now days. Only a few years left till retirement. The first Grader I ran was an Austin Western Super 300. Don't know if a lot of you know what that is for sure. It was old hahaha.. I ran lots of those ole Cat 99E's and thought I was in heaven when I got to run a 12F. I ran a John Deere 772 for about 3 years. It was a pretty good machine too. 120G. That was when the G series first came out. I thought that was great till I ran a big grader. Went from that 120 to a 14G. Gosh what a difference. I think to this day that was still the best grader I was ever on. The grader that I run and have run for the last 10 years is a 160H. It is a pretty good grader but getting way too old and wore out. If there is any finish blade men out there you know what a pain in the rear it is to blue top with a loose machine. I can say that I operated a 140M but not for long. I was blue topping at the time and it was too fast for me and it was eating my lunch. I didn't have too much trouble with the controls except the steering. What I didn't know how well would work is blue topping beside curb and gutter. I could see me tearing up a lot of it. I asked the Cat Tech why you couldn't turn the Hydraulics down on it as you can set the Hydraulics to three different setting on the D8T and several other Bulldozers. The Cat M has an excellent view from inside the cab. I would like to run one some more on good open ground. I think they would be great for most other applications. Well it's time for this old windbag to shut up for awhile. It's great reading the stories. Maybe I can did up some of my pictures and send them your was as well.

Welcome Radrock. Another Missourian!!!

cool another AW300 operator. Ran mine today plowing snow. Our city has a new 14M and most like it. The Airport runs Volvo's and don't like the way the blade drops when running off blacktop onto the dirt.

I would like to add a comment as what is the best Grader. But I can't as I have never used a Grader in Snow. ( thank you my lord ) AHMEN lol Ask me about heat dust and Rough. As in Aussie Outback and such The H series is a killer well made tractor. The M's um not yet.