How to Improve Motor Grader Operating Skills for Smoother Roads

Skill

Purpose

Things to note/implementation details

Ensure good drainage and crown design

Poor drainage can lead to water accumulation, mud damage, road deformation, and seriously affect the flatness. A horizontal slope allows rainwater to flow naturally to the shoulder or drainage ditch.

Cross slope is typically around0.5%–3% on straight sections(e.g., ¼ to ½ inch per horizontal foot). This is adjusted based on road type and climate. Straight sections have different slopes than curves.

Use the correct blade angle, tip/pitch/tilt

Blade angle and tilt control the cutting force, rolling or pushing characteristics of the material, thus affecting whether the cut is level and the material spread is even.

When cutting materials, the blade angle and the penetration of the blade tip into the material should be appropriate;

A slight tilt of the blade forward can help to slightly organize and mix the material, allowing it to roll and flow; if the tilt is excessive or in the wrong direction, it may cause material accumulation or unevenness.

The moldboard tip angle can be used to adjust the "cut vs. push vs. blend" action.

Front wheel lean

Offsets side thrust, helps stabilize the machine, improves precision, and reduces bumps caused by front wheel slippage or deflection.

The top of the front wheel should be tilted in the direction of material discharge (i.e. the heel side); this is especially important when working on a side slope, turning or cutting a ditch.

Appropriate walking speed and strategy for multiple light cuts vs. fewer heavy cuts

Too fast a speed can easily cause the machine to hop ("hopper/loping/bounce") or the blade to lose control; too slow a speed can lead to low efficiency. Heavy cutting can easily cause blade wear, material waste, or insufficient compaction.

On uneven or potholed surfaces, slow down and smooth things out gradually;

When a good surface is already available but a smoother finish is required, a slower speed and lighter cuts should be used;

Multiple light cuts combined with appropriate rolling (rolling/wheel roll) are much more effective than a single heavy cut followed by "repairs".

Pay attention to blade wear and maintenance

Blunt blades or blade edges can lead to uneven cutting, edge strain, poor cross-slope formation, and even false shoulders or center drop.

Check the cutting edge regularly to see if it is evenly worn and needs to be rotated or replaced.

Maintain the blade's edge shape (straight, without excessive curvature or concavity);

Pay attention to whether the top of the moldboard tilts forward or backward to avoid excessive pushing when cutting the material or weak rolling ability of the material.

Maintain uniform material moisture and gradation

Humidity can help bind materials (especially fines and gravel), reduce dust and improve compaction; uneven grading will cause tall particles to protrude, and less fines will weaken the bond and make the material loose.

During some dry weather periods, you may need to water or wait for rain;

Use appropriate materials (particle size, fine material content) for paving; before laying new materials, "rough up" the existing groundbed to allow the new materials to bond;

The material can be rowed during drying to prevent the dry material from becoming loose due to spreading too large an area at one time.

Use the machine's own weight/make good use of compaction and back-rolling

Tight compaction can eliminate gaps between the pavement and the subgrade, reducing unevenness caused by settlement or rebound.

Use the wheel rolling of the grader or use attachments;

After the shape and cross slope are established, make one or two high blade passes or light cuts to compact the surface;

Avoid warping or overcutting in loose material.

Handling special terrain: slopes, intersections, bridge heads, trenches

Special terrain often leads to unevenness, water accumulation or inconsistent curbs, affecting the overall flatness and smooth transition of connections.

There should be a transition section at the bend or bridge head so that the crown gradually decays to the level of the bridge or pavement;

At the junction with the paved road, the edge of the gravel road or unpaved road should be brought closer to the paved surface to avoid forming obvious bulges or depressions;

Control the false shoulder and shoulder height to prevent water from flowing along the edge or accumulating and causing injuries.

Feature Category

Why it matters

Specific points/specification recommendations

Moldboard size and structure

The width, material and structure of the blade directly affect the width of the material spread at one time, the cutting depth and durability.

The blade width should match the road width; wide blades are recommended for wide or high-speed roads and heavy-loaded sections;

The blade material should be wear-resistant and high-strength (such as with wear-resistant steel blades or replaceable blades);

Consider the blade side protection and structural rigidity to reduce deformation.

Angle adjustment and control system

Good performance angle control allows the operator to fine-tune the blade tip/pitch/angle, thereby better controlling the material cutting and spreading.

Whether there is tilt/pitch/tip control;

Is there an automatic inclinometer, cross-slope control or auxiliary reference system (laser, GPS, photoelectric, etc.)?

Whether the joystick in the cockpit responds sensitively and whether it can be adjusted quickly.

Front wheel camber adjustment and tire system

The correct tire type, air pressure, and front wheel camber can improve stability and reduce slippage or deviation, making the blade run straighter and smoother.

Tires should be suitable for the type of road (gravel/dirt/hard soil/mixed terrain);

Supports adjustment of front wheel inclination (or design allows natural tilt); easy air pressure control and on-site adjustment; spare tire selection and matching; front and rear wheel load matching.

Machine weight and stability configuration

The weight is sufficient to help compact and maintain blade stability; stability affects runout, vibration, and deformation of the machine body during cutting/spreading.

Consider additional weight options or weight bags;

The cab handling and suspension are well designed;

Articulation, if any, should be designed to provide better grounding and more controllability.

Powertrain and drive modes

The power must be sufficient to drive the blade into the hard surface while the drive wheel maintains traction. The drive mode and torque are related to the surface cut uniformity.

The engine power must be matched to the workload;

Are there 4WD or VFD options? Differential lock or traction control?

The hydraulic system responds quickly and stably, and the blade adjustment and floating control are smooth.

Auxiliary control/precision measurement system

Equipment used to monitor cross slope, blade height, GPS/laser/total station reference, etc. can make flatness more controllable and achieve design standards faster.

Slope meter or slope indicator;

Automatic control system or semi-automatic/manual control assistance;

Can be equipped with laser guidance or GPS control system (depending on the project accuracy requirements and budget);

The blade height can be sensed or displayed, and the operating room is transparent and has a good view.

Repair and wear parts support

If the parts that require frequent maintenance (blade, blade connector, hydraulic pin, etc.) are inconvenient to replace or the cost is high, the flatness will be reduced when the blade is damaged.

Accessories are in sufficient supply and at reasonable cost;

Wear-resistant parts are made of good material;

The machine is designed to facilitate maintenance and repair (e.g. easy removal of the blade and replacement of the edge);

The machine has strong after-sales support, including operator training.