A motor grader is an essential piece of machinery on South African farms. Primarily, it’s needed for grading and maintaining a farm’s gravel roads to keep all areas accessible.
But there are many other ways a motor grader can help on South African farms, from field preparation to building terraces.
What makes a rebuild Caterpillar grader the best choice for farms
A rebuild Caterpillar grader is the best choice for a farm in South Africa. Caterpillar is the world’s oldest and most trusted grader brand.
The performance and reliability of Caterpillar graders are exceptional. This is why we specialise in rebuilding Cat 140G, 140H and 140K graders.
Our graders are subject to an extremely comprehensive “bare frame up” reconditioning process and rigorous testing. This eliminates the potential downtime and worries associated with buying a used motor grader “as is”.
All our rebuilt motor graders offer the performance and lifespan of brand new Caterpillar graders – at a fraction of the cost of new machines. Our rebuilt motor graders are 40% to 60% cheaper than comparable new machines, despite delivering identical performance levels.
In South Africa, there’s a ready availability of spare parts, keeping downtime to a minimum. We can assist with access to finance and, once you’ve taken delivery of a grader, we continue to provide support and advice. Every grader comes with a full warranty.
Uses of motor graders on farms
Owning a motor grader allows a farmer to do so much more than build and maintain a farm’s gravel roads. A motor grader has many other applications that make it a worthwhile investment on a farm, from field preparation to sloping waterways.
Maintaining haul roads and driveways
Nearly 600,000 km of the almost 750,000 km of road in South Africa are gravel roads. The majority are on farms.
Gravel roads are essential for farm logistics. They make the operation and transport of heavy farm equipment easier and safer. Unfortunately, heavy trucks, tractors, farm vehicles and natural elements put great strain on these essential roads.
A grader is crucial for the construction of new and maintenance of existing farm roads and driveways. A grader quickly smooths and levels the ground, removing cracks and potholes that threaten farm machinery.
Field preparation
Fields must be smoothed and levelled before planting crops. A grader makes quick work of levelling ground for planting.
It can also help a farmer identify obstructions, such as large rocks and dips.
Creating turnrows
A turnrow, also known as a headland, is a strip of graded land at the end of a field. It’s where the plough turns after completing a furrow.
A grader is the best and quickest way to create a turnrow, which needs to be smooth and flat so the tractor and plough can turn easily.
Building and maintaining terraces
A motor grader can help build and maintain terraces on a farm. Terracing flattens sections of sloped land to create large, level steps that can be planted without the risk of soil erosion and landslides.
A terrace usually runs parallel with a steep back slope, but contour terraces follow the lie of the land to avoid obstructions.
Cleaning and sloping ditches
A grader can be used to make and clean drainage ditches in fields. Proper drainage is essential to avoid standing water and waterlogged crops.
Good drainage leads to higher crop yield, better soil structure and better traction for fewer cultivation passes.
Fields with standing water and waterlogged soil carry a high risk of parasites and snails that carry disease. If a field is used for livestock, bad drainage can lead to foot rot and poor udder hygiene.
Sloping waterways
A grader makes light work of building and reshaping sloping waterways.
Basic maintenance of graders
A motor grader works hard and all the parts, from the blade (or moldboard), turntable and frame to the hydraulic cylinders and gears, must be well maintained, checked and regularly serviced.
Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for checking parts and getting them serviced. Don’t overlook the basics, such as the fan belt, engine oil and battery contacts.
To get the best performance from your grader, formulate a maintenance strategy that identifies faults before they happen. Apply condition monitoring, which uses sophisticated technologies to carry out essential functions, from tracking the brakes between overhauls to verifying fault codes.
What to check when buying a grader for agricultural use
There are several vital components to check before buying a used or reconditioned motor grader for your farm, from steering and hydraulics to the circle, moldboard and body alignment. Look for signs of wear and tear and shabby repair jobs.
Our process for rebuilding Caterpillar graders
At KH Plant, skilled and experienced technicians follow a rigorous step-by-step rebuilding process. Only the best repair and refurbishment techniques are employed to create a “good as new” and fully operational motor grader.
The process starts with an exhaustive pre-build inspection and evaluation that pinpoints exactly which components must be repaired or replaced. Once a rebuild blueprint is in place, the machine is sandblasted, primed and disassembled.
Each part is carefully examined. Any cracks, metal fatigue and abrasions are identified for further attention.
Damaged, worn or faulty components are repaired or replaced with new parts. The entire power train is remanufactured, incorporating updated cutting-edge engineering innovations. The reconditioned motor grader is then assembled and performance tested.
At KH Plant, we know how a motor grader can help on SA farms. We specialise in restoring Caterpillar 140G, 140H and 140K motor graders to as-new condition – so you can get the benefits of a new motor grader at a fraction of the cost of a new machine. Contact us for more information or to discuss your needs.