Another Road Grader

[ww_kayak]

Well, it must be that time of year. Here's another "road grader" I made from a bunch of scrap that I picked up at an auction. The lawn mower is just for testing. I based mine Ron's Grader, which was based on a "Bad-Boy", and it ended up looking like a DR, although I'm sure mine will last alot longer (and I know it was alot cheaper!)

My problem is that have a 14000 lb. loader/backhoe, but I still don't have anything with a 3-point hitch yet . So... I had to build an ATV version. I actually had this mostly built when I saw that DR commercial. I was originally going to add 2 linear actuators to lift it (no hyd. ), but I saw the DR had fixed rear wheels on the back. So, now I have an extra actuator to mount some other implements on the back

The property I'm using this on is ALL sand, so this thing works really well. I have some pics and video of it in action if I can find it!

3 tons of scrap at auction... 60 bucks, 2 linear actuators off ebay... 50 bucks, Harbor Freight HVLP gun and tires... 70 bucks, turning a bumpy road into smooth road... PRICELESS

Oh, and ignore those bird shat welds, I like TIG better than stick





Here's a video of the actuator too

 

[Dmace]

Man that is awesome, Nice job!

 

[3RRL]

Well that is about the prettiest road grader I've ever seen.
Very nice job showing off your superb craftsmanship Robert!
The video of the actuator is very cool. You got a lot of travel out of it.

 

[SkunkWerX]

Looks factory built, make that, better-than-factory.

Nice job!

 

[bob_wood]

VERY nice fabrication job !!! Thanks for posting all the pictures and sharing the info .

Bob

 

[AKfish]

Man... super job! Real professional and it looks like it really does the job. Thanks for sharin'.

(If that's your stick work --- your TIG work must be like peanut butter spread...)

AKfish

 

[ww_kayak]

Thanks guys, fortunately it's not that pretty anymore . Oh, and I have a 3D Sketchup version if anybody is interested (see attached). It uses SketchyPhysics, which is fun, but not required.

 

[ww_kayak]

Well, If figure I'll give a quick update for anyone interested. It works pretty good. A couple of design issues:

1. The Harbor Freight wheels lasted about an hour (I know, big suprise). The load rating was technically correct, but any amount of side loading will trash them quick. I need to make some real gauge wheels.

2. The front blade is too close to the front, and the back blade is too close to the back. Again, very obvious once I saw it work. It just doesn't cut the highs and fill the lows as well as it could.

3. Once I hit the wet stuff (more clumpy) I realized why others were adding a plate to act more as a box scraper. No matter how smooth you think it is, you will need to MOVE some of the dirt as you scrape.

Anybody want buy my first version

Here's a movie of it in action:

 

[3RRL]

Ha! Cool video.
Yeah, I'd be interested if you don't want an arm and a leg for it. Shipping might make it too much though.
You could modify it easily adding the rear box type blade. I'd consider making it so you could angle it for windrowing too.
For heavy duty gauge wheels, I used rotary cutter tailwheels. They are tough and stand up to abuse, and the pivot. Here's a set of gauge wheels I built. I use them on the rotary cutter, box blade and rake. Maybe you can get some ideas from it?

Hydraulic QA Gauge Wheels

 

[akpilot]

ww_kayak
Very nice build....cool video thanks for sharing

3RRL
Those gauge wheels are TRICK!! you do nice work

 

[atgreene]

Can you set a crown with it or is it fixed? That has always been my concern with a drag type grader, without being able to pull material into the road and create a crown, water will still stand and make potholes. The Roadrunner? brand has an angled blade that pulls material into the center and I belive it allows you to set the depth from side to side..

Great craftsmanship there, very nice work.

 

[WayneB]

Hi Tom, nice job! Where are you located in Upstate New York. We have a summer place on the Raquette river near Potsdam (actually closer to South Colton) rest of the year we are here in souther New Hamsphire

Wayne

 

[schmism]

Anybody want buy my first version

na, just zip it apart with a plasma cutter and make v2.0

no need in wasting the material you already aquired. (so it will be a 1/2" narrower, big deal)

 

[ww_kayak]

Crap!, I forgot I needed a plasma cutter ,

Rob and atgreene, you absolutely right, without the ability to angle the blades, I'm pretty much guaranteed to create a bowl or half pipe. But lets face it, an ATV this isn't exactly the right tool for the job, but it's fun trying

So, any suggestions for a simple/typical mechanism that will allow me to angle the "blades" in 2 directions? Without a complete overhaul, all I can think of is some sort of pins and/or slots that I can manually arrange the blades. I'm assuming front to back and top to bottom...




Wayne, I'm not as "upstate" as Potsdam is , I'm north of Syracuse in the southern "Tug Hill" region.

 

[WayneB]

Yea it is a bit colder up in Potsdam, but we don't normally get the snows that they get down near Syracuse. Although we are only up there three seasons and leave winter for the strong at heart!