Test driving a grader and high speed dozer
When I was at John Deere’s Proving Grounds in Sacaton, Arizona recently, I was finally able to operate their 764 High-Speed Dozer (HSD). This is a whole new class of machine, with quad rubber tracks and articulated steering. Last year it was still in the testing stage of development (cover story, April 2008 issue of Heavy Equipment Guide). Now the machine is in production.
I know it is called a high speed dozer but once I got in the cab and started driving it, the speed surprised me. It travels at 18 mph! And grading and moderate dozing can be done at about double the speed of a similarly sized crawler.
Dan Drescher, who is Deere’s product marketing manager for crawler dozers and crawler loaders, summed up the machine when he said, “The 764 HSD has the potential to revolutionize site preparation and road building with its speed alone.” But it also offers more than speed. Articulated steering makes the dozer very maneuverable. The rubber tracks means the dozer can travel on pavement without damaging it, which means less trailer hauling and no need for contractors to lay out mats just to cross a road. The main reason I was in Sacaton, though, was to see and test another product, John Deere’s G-Series grader. This is an impressive machine. I am not a grader operator but in a very short period of time, I was able to use their new arm-rest control system with ease. It is extremely intuitive and easy to operate. The photo to the left shows the controls on the left hand arm-rest.
Deere has kept the steering wheel (as can be seen in the photo below) at the request of operators. “We had operators asking us for the traditional console industry standard control levers, and operators interested in easy-to-use armrest industry standard fingertip controls, but most of all, operators told us to retain a steering wheel,” said Kent Stickler, grader product marketing manager for John Deere Construction & Forestry. “That’s why we went to work on the G-Series with the idea of choice. “Contractors told us that one size doesn’t fit all. Why can’t they have fingertip controls with lever steering and a steering wheel?” Every time I operate a piece of machinery, I admire operators who make it look so easy. I also know it can be tough work. But manufacturers are listening to your needs and designing machines that are easier to operate, more productive and more comfortable. These are just two examples. You will find lots more in this issue, whether it is earthmoving, milling machines, soil compactors or something else. Enjoy.
I know it is called a high speed dozer but once I got in the cab and started driving it, the speed surprised me. It travels at 18 mph! And grading and moderate dozing can be done at about double the speed of a similarly sized crawler.
Dan Drescher, who is Deere’s product marketing manager for crawler dozers and crawler loaders, summed up the machine when he said, “The 764 HSD has the potential to revolutionize site preparation and road building with its speed alone.” But it also offers more than speed. Articulated steering makes the dozer very maneuverable. The rubber tracks means the dozer can travel on pavement without damaging it, which means less trailer hauling and no need for contractors to lay out mats just to cross a road. The main reason I was in Sacaton, though, was to see and test another product, John Deere’s G-Series grader. This is an impressive machine. I am not a grader operator but in a very short period of time, I was able to use their new arm-rest control system with ease. It is extremely intuitive and easy to operate. The photo to the left shows the controls on the left hand arm-rest.
Deere has kept the steering wheel (as can be seen in the photo below) at the request of operators. “We had operators asking us for the traditional console industry standard control levers, and operators interested in easy-to-use armrest industry standard fingertip controls, but most of all, operators told us to retain a steering wheel,” said Kent Stickler, grader product marketing manager for John Deere Construction & Forestry. “That’s why we went to work on the G-Series with the idea of choice. “Contractors told us that one size doesn’t fit all. Why can’t they have fingertip controls with lever steering and a steering wheel?” Every time I operate a piece of machinery, I admire operators who make it look so easy. I also know it can be tough work. But manufacturers are listening to your needs and designing machines that are easier to operate, more productive and more comfortable. These are just two examples. You will find lots more in this issue, whether it is earthmoving, milling machines, soil compactors or something else. Enjoy.