AEGQ0945 - 01 H-Series Application Guide
AEGQ0945 - 01 H-Series Application Guide
AEGQ0945 - 01 H-Series Application Guide
S E R I E S
S E R I E S
H-Series
Application Guide
The motor grader is one of the most versatile
earthmoving machines in use today. Its weight,
horsepower, wide range of attachments, and
maneuverability allow it to be used in many
applications previously considered as work for other
earthmoving machines. The number of uses to which
the motor grader can be put is usually limited only by
the operators skill and experience. Motor graders work
in a wide range of applications, from close tolerance
finish grading to building a road start-to-finish.
A high percentage of motor graders are used in road
maintenance, repair, rebuilding or snow removal work
on state, county, and township roads. The main
portion of this release is directed toward these
applications, but some contractor applications are also
covered. We will cover many applications and explain
a normally accepted way of accomplishing the tasks.
Varying conditions and soils may require modification
of the methods described.
Video illustrations of the techniques described in this
guide can be viewed on Caterpillar video tapes
TEVN3926Operator Techniques/Government
Applications, TEVN3927Operator Techniques/
Contractor Applications and TEVN3977Operator
Techniques/Snow Removal.
N O T E
Safety must always be your number one
concern. Before starting any work, make sure
you understand the job requirements, your
machine, and its limitations. Make sure the
machine, any attachments and cutting edges
have been properly maintained and the tires
are at proper air pressure.
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H - S E R I E S
M O T O R
G R A D E R S
A P P L I C A T I O N
G U I D E
S E R I E S
Explanation of
Motor Grader Terms
To understand motor grader applications we must first
understand common terms used to describe the
machine and its work area. Figure 1 & 2 shows
machine components, Figure 3 shows articulation
modes, Figure 4 shows Linkbar modes, and Figure 5
and Figure 6 show road cross sections.
3. Circle turn
4. Circle centershift/Drawbar sideshift
7. Moldboard tip
Figure 1.
1. Toe of moldboard
3. Circle turn
140H
7. Moldboard tip
6. Moldboard sideshift
2. Heel of moldboard
0
30
45
5. Moldboard cutting angles
Figure 2.
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H - S E R I E S
M O T O R
G R A D E R S
A P P L I C A T I O N
G U I D E
S E R I E S
N O T E
N O T E
Use caution when working with the moldboard
at full back tilt. Damage can occur to the
moldboard tip pivots, cutting edge attachment
bolts and support area for the cutting edge. This
may cause a reduction in cutting edge support.
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H - S E R I E S
M O T O R
G R A D E R S
A P P L I C A T I O N
G U I D E
S E R I E S
Frame Articulation
Modes of Operation
Straight Frame
Only front steering is used.
This configuration is used by most operators.
Front steer angle is 50 degrees left or right for
maximum productivity even when articulated
frame is not used.
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H - S E R I E S
M O T O R
G R A D E R S
A P P L I C A T I O N
G U I D E
Articulated Frame
Use front steering and frame
steering as required.
Center Hole
Crab Steer
Front wheels and rear frame travel in same
direction.
Increased side slope capability, allows off setting
tandems away from edge fill for safety or to
prevent road shoulder rutting.
Used to level truck dumped material without
running front of machine over pile.
Keeps the entire machine on a smooth surface
allowing faster finishing of the area.
Linkbar
The centershift linkbar is designed to increase
moldboard positioning and reach from the centerline
of the machine. Repositioning the linkbar will
increase the motor graders productivity when
ditching, backsloping and moving large windrows.
Cutting/cleaning ditches and backslopes when using
the linkbar gives the ability to keep the mainframe
running on a level surface at the top of the ditch or
base of the slope while the moldboard cuts a slope
beside the machine.
When moving large windrows with the linkbar
repositioned either side of center, it is possible to run
extremely steep moldboard angles and maintain
adequate clearance between the moldboard and front
tandem tires. This position also helps visibility to the toe
and heel when operating with steep moldboard angles.
Modes of Operation
All Modes
Center Hole
This position is used for long straight blading
passes, most finishing, and light to medium
windrows.
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M O T O R
G R A D E R S
A P P L I C A T I O N
G U I D E
S E R I E S
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H - S E R I E S
M O T O R
G R A D E R S
A P P L I C A T I O N
G U I D E
S E R I E S
Road Cross
Section Terms
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H - S E R I E S
M O T O R
G R A D E R S
A P P L I C A T I O N
G U I D E
S E R I E S
Road
Maintenance Tips
The wear surface of many county/township roads are
asphalt or other hard surfaces, but gravel, crushed
rock, sand or native soils is still prevalent in many
areas. Traffic forms ruts by displacing this material
onto the shoulder or ditch slope. A rippled surface
called washboarding forms at stop signs, hills, in
turns and in areas of acceleration or braking. Snow
plowing operations and weather also displace this
cover material.
For best results dress the road when moisture is
present: after a rain or after the road has been sprayed
by a water wagon.
Maintain straight cutting edges by trimming them
with a torch or, if wear is not severe, by dragging the
cutting edges on a smooth concrete surface. Replace
edges before wear occurs on the bottom of the
moldboard and reduces cutting edge support.
Shape the road crown and cut lightly in the spring or
when moisture is present. Drag the surface when
hard and dry, with the cutting edge near 90 degrees
to the surface.
Cut to the depth of major potholes. Dont fill these holes
with loose dry material, because traffic will quickly
displace the loose material and the holes will reform.
Maintenance work is normally done with the
centershift lock pin in the center position, and the
drawbar and circle centered under the mainframe.
For maximum machine stability, the mainframe
should be straight or articulated only slightly.
Articulating the rear frame toward the toe of the
moldboard approximately 2 to 5 degrees (1 to 1.5
times the width of the tire) will frequently help reduce
the machines tendency to bounce.
Start with the moldboard top 2 inches ahead of the
cutting edge. Then adjust to the material and conditions.
Use of full rear tip could cause material penetration
problems and damage the moldboard bottom or pivot
area, especially if the cutting edges are worn.
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H - S E R I E S
M O T O R
G R A D E R S
A P P L I C A T I O N
G U I D E
S E R I E S
M Section
Reinforcement
Slide Rails
Cutting Edge
Cutting Edge
Support Area
Correct
Position
Footprint
M O T O R
G R A D E R S
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A P P L I C A T I O N
G U I D E
S E R I E S
M O L D B O A R D
L E N G T H
Standard bits are used on larger units where
penetration is not a problem but the material
is abrasive.
A wide bit is used on each end of the standard
arrangement. Use of all wide bits supplies a
continuous edge. (Note wide bit in photo.)
Penetration bits are used on mid sized graders and
where penetration is a problem.
Sharp bits are used on smaller motor graders and
where penetration is a problem.
Bit types can be mixed to customize the edge to
material or conditions.
12 Foot
14 Foot
16 Foot
30 blade angle
10.3 ft
12.25 ft
13.7 ft
45 blade angle
8.5 ft
9.9 ft
11.3 ft
Four passes are normally required to maintain a 28foot wide road (24-foot wide traffic lanes with 2-foot
shoulders).
In this application, on wider roads, blade extensions
are frequently used on one or both ends of the
moldboard to increase pass width and reduce the
number of machine passes required. These extensions
are of lighter construction than the parent moldboard.
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H - S E R I E S
M O T O R
G R A D E R S
A P P L I C A T I O N
G U I D E
S E R I E S
Maintaining Road
and Existing Ditches
and Shoulders
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M O T O R
G R A D E R S
A P P L I C A T I O N
G U I D E
S E R I E S
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H - S E R I E S
M O T O R
G R A D E R S
A P P L I C A T I O N
G U I D E
S E R I E S
N O T E
The windrow of material should be processed
and spread across the road evenly with only the
oversize rocks or chunks of sod to kick over
the slope.
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H - S E R I E S
M O T O R
G R A D E R S
A P P L I C A T I O N
G U I D E
S E R I E S
Rebuilding/Reshaping
Roads and Shoulders
Before starting the actual earthmoving, determine what
method will be used to dispose of excess soil and sod.
In areas of heavy sod, mow the ditch area as short as
possible and dispose of excess grass to keep volume
to a minimum. Disc the sod to break it up and mix it
with soil. Then water and spread the mixture over the
road surface or transport it to a disposal site.
Corrugations are best removed by using a scarifier or
a serrated type cutting edge (see page 10 photo of
serrated edge).
Use these cutting edges to:
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H - S E R I E S
M O T O R
G R A D E R S
A P P L I C A T I O N
G U I D E
S E R I E S
C A U T I O N
N O T E
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H - S E R I E S
M O T O R
G R A D E R S
A P P L I C A T I O N
G U I D E
S E R I E S
Road Rebuilding
Moldboard Positions
Used in Vee Ditching
Tip the blade to place the top of the moldboard slightly
ahead of the cutting edge (approximately 2 inches).
From this position, tip the blade forward or back as
needed to meet the material requirement. This is the
normal tip position used unless specified otherwise.
On the marking pass have the blade at a steep angle to
the frame (near 45 degrees), with the toe of the
moldboard at the outside edge of the front tire. The
heel of moldboard should be raised nearly full height
to place material between the tandem tires. Adjust the
moldboard to cut a shallow marking pass.
Circle the moldboard to an extremely steep cutting angle.
Lean the top of the front wheels toward the heel of
the moldboard, using only enough lean to counter side
draft. Using excessive lean will cause the machine to
wander off course.
C A U T I O N
On straight sections of road use Straight Frame Mode
for deep ditch cutting passes to avoid possible:
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H - S E R I E S
M O T O R
G R A D E R S
A P P L I C A T I O N
G U I D E
S E R I E S
H - S E R I E S
M O T O R
G R A D E R S
A P P L I C A T I O N
G U I D E
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S E R I E S
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H - S E R I E S
M O T O R
G R A D E R S
A P P L I C A T I O N
G U I D E
S E R I E S
CAUTION
Tipping the moldboard to the rear may result in
rear blade support and blade beams contacting
the bank and preventing the cutting edges from
reaching the material.
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H - S E R I E S
M O T O R
G R A D E R S
A P P L I C A T I O N
G U I D E
S E R I E S
Bank Slopes:
Machine on the Slope
N O T E
The moldboard heel at the pavement edge.
When moving this windrow back onto the shoulder,
use a steep blade angle to prevent material from
running around the toe of the moldboard onto the
road travel surface.
If road edge markers are painted and clear of other
obstructions, the toe of the moldboard can be placed
in float position to match the pavement. The windrow
can be feathered off the moldboard heel to the desired
shoulder slope.
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H - S E R I E S
M O T O R
G R A D E R S
A P P L I C A T I O N
G U I D E
S E R I E S
Cutting a Narrow,
Flat Bottom Ditch
The flat bottom ditch is cut from a vee ditch. Cut a
vee ditch to the desired depth with a flatter than
normal road shoulder slope. Rough finish the ditch
and backslope.
,
,
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,,
,,
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,,,,,,,
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M O T O R
G R A D E R S
A P P L I C A T I O N
G U I D E
S E R I E S
Large Windrows,
Material Mixing
Frequently a motor grader is used to spread
windrowed material dumped by bottom dumps or to
mix material. Use crab mode for this application
(similar to THAT DESCRIBED ABOVE IN THE
SECTION ON WINDROWS & TRUCK DUMPED
MATERIAL).
Tip the top of the moldboard approximately 4 to 5
inches ahead of the cutting edge.
,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,
,
,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,
HEEL
18 TO 20
DEGREE
TOE
30 TO 45
DEGREE
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M O T O R
G R A D E R S
A P P L I C A T I O N
G U I D E
S E R I E S
Other uses of
Articulation in
Motor Grader Work
,,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,,
Articulate back frame towards the toe of the moldboard.
Machine Turnaround
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,,,,,,
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M O T O R
G R A D E R S
A P P L I C A T I O N
G U I D E
,,,,
,,,,
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S E R I E S
Cul-de-sac
To finish grade or clear a cul-de-sac is simple work
for the articulated motor grader. Use the motor grader
to finish near the curb line where rear wheels are kept
on a smooth surface, the moldboard near a 30 degree
angle, and the drawbar centered under the frame.
Extend the moldboard to near three-fourths of its
travel toward the heel end and lean the wheels near
the center of its travel.
Backfilling Curbs
in a Cul-de-sac
Backfilling cul-de-sac curbs with a straight frame
machine requires lots of hand work to complete
filling at the extreme corners. The articulated unit can
do this job easily, even in the throat area.
Backfill the corner in the normal manner using
articulation to fill most of the area.
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H - S E R I E S
M O T O R
G R A D E R S
A P P L I C A T I O N
G U I D E
S E R I E S
Ripper-Scarifier Types
Work-Alone Capability
This arrangement is normally used for light work. It
has some operational advantages and can double as a
front lift group for other attachments.
Its disadvantages include less control of direction and
cut depth when ripping, due to its location ahead of
the steering wheels. This location provides limited
visibility to the scarifier teeth and material fracture.
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H - S E R I E S
M O T O R
G R A D E R S
A P P L I C A T I O N
G U I D E
S E R I E S
Tips on Use
of Ripper-Scarifier
Use straight frame mode for maximum traction.
Use minimal articulation while ripping to avoid
side loading the ripper or shanks causing possible
failures. Raise the ripper or scarifier out of the
material before turning to prevent shank damage.
Raise the unit high enough to clear all objects.
To maximize production, rip as deep as possible
and to a uniform depth but avoid bulldozing with
the ripper bar.
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H - S E R I E S
M O T O R
G R A D E R S
A P P L I C A T I O N
G U I D E
S E R I E S
Automatic Mode
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H - S E R I E S
M O T O R
G R A D E R S
A P P L I C A T I O N
G U I D E
S E R I E S
Manual Mode
Operating Tips
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H - S E R I E S
M O T O R
G R A D E R S
A P P L I C A T I O N
G U I D E
S E R I E S
Snow Plowing
C A U T I O N
In snow plowing applications, machines are
frequently equipped with bulky attachments on
the front, side and rear. Blowing snow and other
conditions may cause restricted visibility.
Machines often work in areas with heavy
traffic, or the application may require frequent
changes of direction. Safety must be your
Number One objective.
M O T O R
G R A D E R S
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A P P L I C A T I O N
G U I D E
S E R I E S
Snow Wing
The snow wing is a common snowplowing tool. It is a
moldboard that normally mounts to the machines
right side. It can be used alone or in conjunction with
the motor grader moldboard to move snow off the
road or other surface and to provide a wider cleared
area per machine pass. The moldboard is frequently
used to cut the material and feed it onto the wing. The
wing curvature is designed to lift the material and
throw it off the plowed surface. The ground speed
needed to move snow off the roadway will vary with
snow type and many other factors, but generally
winging speeds fall in the 10 to 20 mph range.
When using the moldboard-wing combination, it is
desirable to have similar angles on both units for
good material flow. To accomplish this:
N O T E
Shifting the lock pin off center as shown here
will reduce blade lift height on the side opposite
from pin movement.
Use caution when using steep moldboard
angles. Contact between the moldboard
sideshift cylinder rod and wing mast and the
moldboard heel and leading end of the wing
can occur. Damage to these components can
result from this contact. Tipping the blade
forward approximately three-fourths of its
maximum travel helps reduce the problem.
Wing Controls
1. Shift the drawbar toward the wing as far as it will
go. Use articulation to place the front wheels
approximately 12 to 24 inches toward the wing.
Use crab mode.
This mode resists front end sliding, places the
wing and moldboard at near equal angles,
provides more moldboard heel-to-mast clearance,
and places the units power almost directly behind
the area of highest resistance (toe of moldboard).
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M O T O R
G R A D E R S
A P P L I C A T I O N
G U I D E
7
13
14
11
12
10
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H - S E R I E S
M O T O R
G R A D E R S
A P P L I C A T I O N
G U I D E
S E R I E S
Wing Applications
and Tips on Use
C A U T I O N
Lower the wing slightly from its travel position
before making a left turn using articulation.
Failure to do this may result in damage to the
wing lift system.
N O T E
Keep spare shear pins in the machine. Never
substitute a hardened bolt for the shear pin.
Personal injury or machine damage could result.
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H - S E R I E S
M O T O R
G R A D E R S
A P P L I C A T I O N
G U I D E
S E R I E S
Benching
Place the wing toe at ground level with the heel set to
discharge the snow uphill onto the bank top. This
operation may also require the optional rear support
group (4) to provide adequate support to the wing heel.
Tapered Bank
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H - S E R I E S
M O T O R
G R A D E R S
A P P L I C A T I O N
G U I D E
S E R I E S
AEM Supplied
Attachments
Other snow plowing attachments are usually mounted
on a quick attachment lift group such as the one
shown here.
C A U T I O N
Use the seat belt at all times, especially in high
speed operations such as snow plowing. A
circle slip clutch can also reduce the effect felt
by the operator and the machine when a hidden
object is hit at these higher speeds.
This allows the front attachment to be quickly mounted
or dismounted from the machine when desired.
V Plow
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H - S E R I E S
M O T O R
G R A D E R S
A P P L I C A T I O N
G U I D E
S E R I E S
Skid Shoe
After penetrating the drift as far as possible, use onehalf of the V plow to widen the path before
attempting further penetration. If this is not done,
snow sliding off the banks can trap the plow and front
wheels, causing problems when you attempt to
reverse. Normally in 3- to 4-foot drifts moving one
side is sufficient, but on deeper drifts use the V plow
to move back both sides of the cut before making the
next cutting pass.
When using one-half of the V plow, offset frame
articulation approximately 10 degrees to reduce front
end sliding and to keep the tandems on a previously
cleared path for maximum traction productivity.
On hard surface roads, set the plow skid shoe up so
its cutting edge is close to the pavement to remove as
much snow as possible.
On paved or frozen roads the plow control can be
placed in float and allowed to ride on the skids if
desired.
In other areas it is advisable to remove most of the
plows weight to reduce skid shoe resistance. This
will frequently allow the machine to keep moving in
traction-limited situations.
After the first pass through the drift, use one half of
the V plow as shown to move snow off the road
surface. Then use the motor graders moldboard and
wing to finish the clearing process.
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H - S E R I E S
M O T O R
G R A D E R S
A P P L I C A T I O N
G U I D E
S E R I E S
Tire Chains
Because of the limited traction normally available in
winter operations, tire chains are frequently required.
Several different types of chains are available, each
designed for specific conditions.
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H - S E R I E S
M O T O R
G R A D E R S
A P P L I C A T I O N
G U I D E
S E R I E S
Ice Buster
Serrated or Carbide
Moldboard Wing Gate
Cutting Edges
These units cut grooves in the hard surface, improve
material penetration and speed up snow or ice removal.
The rough surface provides more surface for tires to
grip and aids the sun or salt in melting material quicker.
Although they improve performance in removing
packed snow or ice, caution must be used with this
attachment to prevent damaging the travel surface.
For additional information on Cat H-Series Motor Grader attachments, please refer to:
H-Series Motor Grader Attachments, NA/ES & GlobalAEDC0348
H-Series Motor Grader Attachments, Standard & GlobalAEDC0346-01
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H - S E R I E S
M O T O R
G R A D E R S
A P P L I C A T I O N
G U I D E
Don Hess
Don Hess has operated heavy equipment
for more than 50 years, and motor graders
since 1950.
Don began his career operating
equipment for a number of contractors in
the Eastern and Midwestern areas of the
United States. He joined Caterpillar in the
late 1950s spending time in sales
development and 5 years as a machine
applications representative in California.
He spent 36 years with the company,
retiring May 1, 1995.
From 1970 to 1995, Don was a Product
Evaluation Engineer. During that time, he
was instrumental in helping to develop the
Caterpillar G and H Series Motor Graders.
AEGQ0945-01
www.CAT.com
2000 Caterpillar
Printed in the U.S.A.