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My first Grader

"acidoil"

Active Member
Joined
Feb 26, 2014
Messages
31
Location
Louisiana
I Just got done unloading a Grader I just bought. I was ex gov machine. 1989 770B with just 1058 hours and 2930 miles. I haven't had time to check it out much. So far the main problem is no AC. The rear ripper is inop. I am betting its an electric issue.

770b.jpg

John
 

old-iron-habit

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 22, 2012
Messages
4,233
Location
Moose Lake, MN
Occupation
Retired Cons't. Supt./Hospitals
Nice looking machine. Looks new. Good for you to get a return on your tax dollars. Where was it "not" used at? Looks nice. AC not working! No wonder it never got used. Wonder what it cost the taxpayers for it to set around unused. I hope you get lots of use out of it.
 

"acidoil"

Active Member
Joined
Feb 26, 2014
Messages
31
Location
Louisiana
It was in Newton,OH at a old Ammo plant that was closed down. There is no AC it was not installed from the factory. I will need to install an aftermarket unit.
John
 

"acidoil"

Active Member
Joined
Feb 26, 2014
Messages
31
Location
Louisiana
Just left the Deere house $1000. poorer. Looks like the last service was 07 I found the dates on the old filters. I was told it had been sitting a while. I see a few leaks, one of the lift cylinders and the seal below the parking brake disk. I am sure there are more to come. Going to change all the fluids and flush the radiator. grader 1.jpg
 

Radrock

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 27, 2011
Messages
216
Location
Joplin, Missouri
Occupation
Heavy equipment operator
aww,, Keep us posted.. How about a couple of picture of the inside and controls.. Curious if it is like the old JD I use to operate. Looks great, I hope those are the original hours and you got it at a great price. It should be a good machine for you.
 

"acidoil"

Active Member
Joined
Feb 26, 2014
Messages
31
Location
Louisiana
I finished up the service in time to run down my pit road a few times before the rain. Amazing how nice of job it did I never want to do a road again with a dozer. I will have a learning curve. This is my first time in a seat.
gr2.jpggra3.jpggr1.jpg
I thought the hoe had grease fittings. I found a wire off the rear ripper. That was a nice easy fix. the Rotary valve needs to be resealed. The seal around the parking break pinion going to the disk is leaking. parking break disk. Still need to repack a lift cylinder. Anyway after a good steam cleaning I still fell real good about my purchase. I am sure after next summer I will be looking to install Red Dot AC.

It may be older but with low hours everything is still real tight from the doors to the front end. With problems the newer class A trucks are having with the emission equipment. I Don't have a good feeling going forward with all the used tier 4 used stuff hitting the market.

gov liquidation and gov plant are both re-marketers of used Government property. I wanted a smaller one like a Deere 570 that I could haul on my Tag. I couldn't pass this up.
 

RonG

Charter Member
Joined
Dec 2, 2003
Messages
1,833
Location
Meriden ct
Occupation
heavy equipment operator
That is a 570 in my latest avatar pic.I was regrading the access roads in a big nursery.I was there about two weeks if memory serves.That is a good looking grader you have there.I enjoy running a grader because there is no doubt whether you know what you are doing by the finished product.Ron G
 

Radrock

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 27, 2011
Messages
216
Location
Joplin, Missouri
Occupation
Heavy equipment operator
I finished up the service in time to run down my pit road a few times before the rain. Amazing how nice of job it did I never want to do a road again with a dozer. I will have a learning curve. This is my first time in a seat.
I thought the hoe had grease fittings. I found a wire off the rear ripper. That was a nice easy fix. the Rotary valve needs to be resealed. The seal around the parking break pinion going to the disk is leaking. parking break disk. Still need to repack a lift cylinder. Anyway after a good steam cleaning I still fell real good about my purchase. I am sure after next summer I will be looking to install Red Dot AC.

It may be older but with low hours everything is still real tight from the doors to the front end. With problems the newer class A trucks are having with the emission equipment. I Don't have a good feeling going forward with all the used tier 4 used stuff hitting the market.

gov liquidation and gov plant are both re-marketers of used Government property. I wanted a smaller one like a Deere 570 that I could haul on my Tag. I couldn't pass this up.

Well being low hours and tight is worth a lot if you are doing finish work. The picture of the inside isn't enough to tell the difference of the 772 I operated several years ago. The blade controls were on the right side but I am guessing that has a cat style rack. I think it was a 772A that I operated. It was a horse. You can get a front dozer that will slip right on the scarifier on the front. You have to remove the teeth but they sure are handy if you have a need for it. Being from down south I don't think you will need a snow plow. Keep us posted how well it is doing. I don't guess you will share the price tag out of curiosity? You will enjoy operating it and will learn. It just takes time.
 

blademan150

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 16, 2011
Messages
81
Location
No. Il
Occupation
Retired Local 150 Operating Engineer
I wondered if it had the 2 righthand blade control levers and the rocker switches to the left of the seat. If it does, spray contact cleaner, di-electric grease and a soldering gun will be your friends.
 

"acidoil"

Active Member
Joined
Feb 26, 2014
Messages
31
Location
Louisiana
Heregrader controls.jpg are a few more photos.
Here is one of the engine. the next one is a photo of the TIER 4 engine in a new 670. I took the photo when picking up a few parts.
grader engine.jpgtier4.jpg
 

Graderfan1981

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 16, 2014
Messages
535
Location
Germany
I finished up the service in time to run down my pit road a few times before the rain. Amazing how nice of job it did I never want to do a road again with a dozer.

Thanks for the pics, looks good what you made there. Yes, grading those roads a grader is better and faster than a dozer.
 

Radrock

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 27, 2011
Messages
216
Location
Joplin, Missouri
Occupation
Heavy equipment operator
The paint looks real good in the engine compartment.

blademan150... That is what I was wondering. The 770 I operated was like that. Very different from the conventional stuff. It worked good and I never had any problems with it but there was a learning curve there.

I personally like John Deere equipment. I have ran both Cat and John Deere over the last 40 years. It use to be that John Deere was a little cheaper to purchase but I wouldn't say that is still the case. I could be wrong.
 

cuttin edge

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2014
Messages
2,742
Location
NB Canada
Occupation
Finish grader operator
I wondered if it had the 2 righthand blade control levers and the rocker switches to the left of the seat. If it does, spray contact cleaner, di-electric grease and a soldering gun will be your friends.
The Mauldin grader we have, has the John Deere pattern. I had never seen, or ran anything like it, then someone showed it to me in John Deere operator's manual. First time I ran it, we were doing parking stalls at a Winners store. I was complaining about the different controls, and the roller man said " I bet your ripper control is in the wrong place, cause it keeps going up and down while you are grading".
 

Radrock

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 27, 2011
Messages
216
Location
Joplin, Missouri
Occupation
Heavy equipment operator
John Deere 772A (1).jpg

Here is a picture of those control on the JD 770A. This wasn't mine but just like it. This is an old picture I found. Cuttin edge was talking about the rippers going up and down haha. Well if you look to the left of the steering wheel there is a handle that is Red. Mine wasn't red but anyway that is the forward and reverse shuttle gear. I had just came off of a Cat grader. The first thing I did while grading was forgot that those two handles on the right were for the blade control I grabbed that red lever without even looking to raise the blade. Well we just had a very quick change in directions instead. I about broke my nose coming out of the seat of that darn thing. This picture does not show the blade lift which is just two handles by them self on the right side of the steering wheel.
 
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