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Recent content by sdPete

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    An argument against joysticks

    Bluetop Man, appreciate the reply. My background on grader operations is much different than yours, as our machine sees maybe 15-20 hours per year doing off road dirt projects all the rest is on township gravel roads. Snow operations run at 10-17 mph, steering gets learned pretty quick...
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    An argument against joysticks

    Who to blame CAT retains enough lawyers to understand product liability and what it takes to put a machine on the market with minimal litigation risk. The 140M graders here have received required machine updates when determinations are made that safety is a critical concern. A couple in...
  3. S

    An argument against joysticks

    OK, discuss it. And just what is this argument, Mr. Diagonal Brace? The condition report on auction website says OPERATOR LOST CONTROL AND HIT A WALL. QUOTE....I posted it in hopes of getting the great debate going again....END QUOTE If you need to bash joystick steering then say...
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    Any Cat M series Graders operators out there?

    Don't knock it until you have tried it. I put a JD autosteer unit in the combine last fall and all drivers said WOW. We have run steering wheel combines since they were invented. It has nothing to do with ability to steer. The reduction in fatigue is hard to grasp without first hand...
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    Any Cat M series Graders operators out there?

    City of Sioux Falls, SD finished year 4 of leasing 24 140M AWD units for snow removal (6 month lease). The comments I have heard on steering relate to less wear on driver thumbs running cul de sacs on the old steering wheel machines. If safety was an issue I doubt the leases would have been...
  6. S

    Opinions on Best Graders

    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...
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    New JD770G

    Regarding AWD.... I used to think similiar thoughts. BUT, the trade deal on a Sioux Falls SD 6 month lease machine made the 140M AWD deal work, so now we have one with two seasons on gravel and one on snow. Last winter offered plenty of experience, drivers run with the front axle on quite a...
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    Cutting edges and tires..........

    Chains? Question about the 17.5 tires....we just went with those on a 140AWD, with intent to eliminate use of chains. Some drivers would not consider running without chains. For most of what goes on around here I get along fine without chains, some of the credit for that goes to better...
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    cat m popularity

    Our township ran a 140M doing snow and gravel for 3 years, that machine was far more productive than the H we traded off. A township about 10 miles away bought a 140M a year after ours did (they actually called and asked my opinion at the time) and they were disgusted as heck with it, the...
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    centering on 140M steering

    Did not know that was possible. Guessing new M operators would want the detent, some security in knowing where the center is supposed to be. Recent driving I tend to run articulated 5 deg most of the time... being away from the detent seems to go better for me.
  11. S

    Cat m wreck

    M discussion From what you write I will guess the procedure might have been similiar to what was done here, 7 hours to install temp sensor near the front of the machine, assemble and install wire harness from that point across the top of the beam into the cab hook into computer down under...
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    14M spotted and i got pics

    No kidding And it has not even been a decade...
  13. S

    snow plowing

    SD version Got a little deep in places
  14. S

    coming snow storm

    Ready.... Fuel is whatever works, more #1 the better when it gets to -20F, no one wants to hear about the machine stalled, drivers do not complain as long as the grader runs.
  15. S

    heavy traffic

    Lose/Lose situation You are correct, the roads have not kept up with the times. Getting the $$ to catch up is a challenge. Tax increases are not popular. Some heavy road users will help with costs, most figure it is the government's job to maintain roads. Load limits are fine but who...
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