Caterpillar Product Information

Salesgram
September 2000

Cat Motor Grader

Blade Forces

Caterpillar Motor Grader Marketing would like to bring two

specifications to your attention. They are Blade Pull and
Blade Down Pressure. These specifications are calculated
using the following formulas:
Blade Pull
This specification provides theoretical drawbar pull and is
calculated as follows:
Variables:
Weight of machine
=W
Coefficient of Traction = T (Performance Handbook #30, pg 29-2)
W 2 T = Blade Pull
Example:
Calculate the blade pull for a 140H NA version machine operating
in a quarry pit
W = 14,724 kg
T = 0.65
32,460 kg 2 0.65 = 9570.51 kg

For Dealer Sales Personnel

NA
Models
120H
135H
12H
140H
143H
160H
163H
14H
16H
24H

Total
Machine
Weight
(lb)
27,600
28,550
31,410
32,460
33,120
34,360
36,460
41,410
54,560
143,000

Total
Machine
Weight
(kg)
12,519
12,950
14,248
14,724
15,023
15,586
16,538
18,784
24,748
64,865

Traction
Co-Efficient
0.65
0.65
0.65
0.65
0.65
0.65
0.65
0.65
0.65
0.65

Total
Blade Pull
(lb)
17,940
18,557.5
20,416.5
21,099
21,528
22,334
23,699
26,916.5
35,464
92,950

Total
Blade Pull
(kg)
8137.58
8417.68
9260.92
9570.51
9765.10
10,130.70
10,749.87
12,209.32
16,086.47
42,162.12

Note: The traction co-efficient changes to match conditions (see pg 29-2 of the Performance
Handbook). Make sure to use the same co-efficient of traction when comparing to competitors
specifications.

Blade Down Pressure

This specification refers to the amount of down force that can be
applied to the moldboard before the front tires rise off the ground.
It can be calculated as follows:
Variables:
Blade to front axle length = BA
Weight on front wheels = Wf

Wheel base length = WB

Blade down pressure = BD

[WB/(WB-BA)] 2 Wf = BD
Example:
Calculate the Blade Down Pressure for a 140H NA version
machine
BA
Wf

=
=

2565 mm
4223 kg

WB
BD

=
=

6086 mm
?

[6086 mm /(6086-2565 mm)] 2 4223 kg = 7299 kg

120H
135H
12H
140H
143H
160H
163H
14H
16H
24H

Weight on
Front Wheels
(Wf) (kg)
3574
3701
3797
4223
4214
4491
4917
5539
6985
19123

Wheelbase
(WB) (mm)
5871
5871
6068
6086
6086
6086
6086
6460
6960
10230

Blade to
Front Axle
(BA) (mm)
2596
2596
2565
2565
2565
2565
2565
2860
3071
4075

Max. Blade
Down Pressure
(kg)
6407
6635
6577
7299
7284
7763
8499
9939
12501
31784

Max. Blade
Down Pressure
(lb)
14121
14623
14496
16088
16054
17109
18732
21906
27552
70051

All weights are representative of the base machine weight. Optional attachments may significantly change the calculated values.

The examples and charts above should help you find the Blade Pull
or the Blade Down Pressure specification for a given machine.
These formulas will also be available in the next edition of the
PHB. Keep in mind that the Coefficient of Traction plays a key
role in the amount of blade pull a machine can generate, and that
the fore-aft balance is key to optimum traction.
If a machine has too much weight on the front axle the blade down
pressure specification may be high, but the grader may lack the
essential rear weight and traction needed to push through heavy
loads. Conversely, too much weight in the rear axle and the grader
will not have the necessary weight on the front axle to maintain
proper steering control during heavy cuts. Cat Motor Graders are
engineered with the optimum balance in mind, and built with the
proper weight distribution necessary for maximum productivity.
These performance specifications are provided to meet new Bid
Specification requirements and should not be used as an indicator
of a motor graders productivity.
It should be noted that Champion/Volvo uses a traction coefficient
of 90%, which is equivalent to operating on concrete!
Keep this salesgram with your Bid Specification documents for
further reference.

The information contained herein is intended for circulation only to Caterpillar and dealer employees whose duties require knowledge of such reports and is
intended exclusively for their information and training. It may contain unverified analysis and facts observed by various Caterpillar or dealer employees. However,
effort has been made to provide reliable results regarding any information comparing Caterpillar built and competitive machines. Effort has been made to use the
latest available spec sheet and other material in the full understanding that these are subject to change without notice. Any reproduction of this release without
the foregoing explanation is prohibited.

TELQ0183
September 2000
www.CAT.com
2000 Caterpillar
Printed in U.S.A.