Motor Graders
A motor grader (also known as a road grader) is a large vehicle that uses a blade to grade a flat surface. Motor graders can also be used on construction sites to smooth foundations where buildings have been razed, and can also lay down various mixes and fillers. In some cases, a motor grader can also operate as a snow plough.
Motor Grader Blades
The blade (known as a moldboard) is made of steel and is located beneath the centre of the vehicle. The driver of the road grader is able to control the height and angle of the blade from within the cabin, and can do this while the vehicle is moving. As the grader is most often used for grading road surfaces, the most recent road graders are fitted with GPS systems which allow the driver to precisely determine which areas of road to grade and which to leave alone by raising and lowering the blade as applicable. The machine works by lowering the blade to the height desired, scraping and pushing away any tarmac that is higher than the level set. Any excess tarmac or dirt is thus either smoothed down into the surface of the road or pushed off to the side where it can be later removed. Several passes are usually required to smooth a road surface completely.
Motor Graders For Sale
When purchasing a motor grader, either used or new, the buyer is presented with several choices in terms of features available. Motor graders have two types of frames: articulated and rigid. The articulated frames are the more common and popular of the two designs, as they allow for much greater control over turning and manoeuvring. Motor grader blades come in a variety of sizes, from anything between 10 and 24 feet in width. The size of the blade used will depend entirely on the type of grading to be carried out.
A further decision to be made when purchasing new or used motor graders is, in the case of articulated graders, whether to have the joint of articulation situated at the front or the back of the cab. Joints in the front afford the driver a better view of the motor grader's position, whereas joints in the back allow a better view of the blade.
Horsepower, as with other earth moving machinery, is a further consideration in choosing a motor grader. Less horsepower tends to equal greater manoeuvrability, but for heavier grade applications a more powerful machine may be necessary.
Most of the choices the buyer will make when looking at motor graders for sale will be dependent on the task they will be used for, but it is worth considering that many companies sell their old vehicles for discounted prices when they upgrade to newer models, so compromises can easily be made in terms of price and features. Manufactures such as Komatsu, CAT, Terex, John Deere and all the other known brands design and make a wide range of motor graders, so the buyer is not lacking for choice.