Digger on the “Grade” with Case

by Nick Drew | Mon 06 Jul 2015

Digger on the “Grade” with Case

During my recent visit to the Case Customer Centre in Paris to check out the new D Series excavators, I was also invited to take to the controls of the company’s latest grader models.

These new Case motor graders are built in Berlin and take a lot of their heritage from the old O&K range, so needless to say there is quality in the German built machines. Two models produced are the 13 tonne class 836C and the 16 tonne class 856C which was the model at our disposal during the visit.

Now I’m no grader operator it has to be said, but I’ve worked beside them on many occasions in the past and always fancied having a go on one, so this was an ideal opportunity for me to do so. Climbing on board to be greeted by so many controls was a bit daunting it has to be said and it comes as no surprise to me that grader operators can command a good rate of pay these days. Controlling one of these machines is a work of art and to watch a skilled man at the controls really is something else!

This all-wheel-drive machine features a 6 cylinder 190hp (173kw) Tier 4 Final/ Stage 3B emissions compliant engine which features DOC (Diesel Oxydation Catalyst) and SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) technology with no need for a DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) and using AdBlue fuel additive. A large one piece bonnet hood lifts electrically to make daily checks easier for the operator.

I was given a brief overview of the controls and was left to get on with things. The easy bit was using the forward and reverse lever on the right hand side of the massive cab which has a high build height to enable the operator to stand up if required when performing grading duties. What was most daunting was the row of 8 levers mounted just below the steering wheel that control all the various movements of the blade and chassis.

I drove off to conduct a few practice grades and although I didn’t try to do anything fancy like tilting the wheels or off-setting the chassis I was relatively pleased with my first ever attempt at operating a motor grader, having said that I really do take my hat off to guys who can make these things sing, it’s a fine art and one that is becoming harder to find within today's younger generation of operators.

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