Grader Question:

LeoinMI

Member
I have a Cottage that is located on a private road (About 1/2 mile long). The road is gravel and really gets rough in the summer months but also gets very narrow in the winter months due to Snow fall and no place to put it.(Cannot push the snow back far enough).
I am looking at a motor grader to purchase to maintain the road some what so it is passable for emergency vehicles to drive down it in case of fire or medical emergency. There are ten other cottages located on the road as well,..six are year round residents. Hoping they will chip in some $$$ for this venture.
The price of the Grader is $4,700.00 I already have driven it and all hydraulics are good.(No Leaks) Engine is a Detroit Diesel and runs strong. Tires are in good shape all around and the transmission shifts good in all ranges. It has a cab heater that works.All the glass is good,no cracks. Needs new head lights and tail lights. The Blade works great in all positions and so does the scarver. Power steering that works good.
It is a late 1960's -early 1970's model. So what do you think? Is it a good buy or am I just day dreaming? All suggestions and opinions appreciated.
a153974.jpg

a153974.jpg
 
Just based on what your saying about it, as someone who works on equipment for a living, I'd say it sounds like a pretty good deal. The only thing I can offer beyond that is to make sure you buy a few cans of ether before winter sets in because that Detroit will more than likely need a snort to get it to come to life when it gets really cold.
 
I agree. We used ether to start it up about two weeks ago when the temp. was around 20 degrees. One shot of ether and it fired right up. It is gonna cost me some $$$$ to have it trucked to my cottage which is about 80 miles north.
 
Similar small subdivision near me bought a motor grader. All was well so long as one of the residents didn't mind putting his time into it. The group paid him a small hourly.

After awhile he decided it must be somebody else's turn. No takers. I know most of the residents there, one of them called me. When I told them what my time was worth, they said "oh".

A few days later I got a call offering to "give" me the grader. Right, I get a grader I can't use elsewhere and I'm stuck with the maintenance and operation in their subdivision in exchange for this "gift". No thanks.

I did arrange for the sale, to someone I knew, for $500. Surprised me that they accepted so little, but they didn't like their other options. Preferred to hire someone to come in with their own machinery.

You're signing up for a job. Hope you enjoy it.
 
Similar small subdivision near me bought a motor grader. All was well so long as one of the residents didn't mind putting his time into it. The group paid him a small hourly.

After awhile he decided it must be somebody else's turn. No takers. I know most of the residents there, one of them called me. When I told them what my time was worth, they said "oh".

A few days later I got a call offering to "give" me the grader. Right, I get a grader I can't use elsewhere and I'm stuck with the maintenance and operation in their subdivision in exchange for this "gift". No thanks.

I did arrange for the sale, to someone I knew, for $500. Surprised me that they accepted so little, but they didn't like their other options. Preferred to hire someone to come in with their own machinery.

You're signing up for a job. Hope you enjoy it.
 
Similar posts have been on here about people along a private drive that agree to pay for services - and then don't or won't after awhile.

I visualize that you will be doing the work for all just to have a good road to your place. If you can afford it, that is okay, but if you expect each to pay for the services long term, it won't happen!

Best to leave that kind of job to a professional that knows how to collect for his work.
 
You guys are right about getting anybody to help with money for the purchase or to help with maintaining the road. I have a couple of friends that live year round about three miles from my cottage. Both have acreage and live on long gravel roads. They may help with the purchase,..and would surely help maintain the grader itself in exchange for using it them selves.
I would have to maintain my road for sure. No body else is inclined to drive the grader. I think all the levers in the cab scare them. I figure I can maintain the road,especially if I decide to live at the lake year round. Until then I would grade the road only when I am up there.
Thanks for all the suggestions and opinions. I figure I can purchase the grader for $4,500.00 and that I could get at least part of that money back in scrap if the thing dies on me. So I guess I'll check it out a little closer and see what my cost would be to haul it North before I buy it.
Here's another picture of a grader for $5,700.00 in about the same condition that I am looking at.
Thanks Again,
Leo
a154014.jpg
 
No real good way to get to my cottage by using less traveled side roads. Most are main highways or freeways. Once I am within twenty miles of the cottage the roads are less traveled and easier to drive down.
Load limits prevent me from transporting the grader by any means at this time. Have to wait for the frost to get out of the ground before I can move it.
 
if your going to plow snow the ag tires on the yellow grader would be better. Price sounds very good to me if its as good as you say
 
I bid on an older model Galion with UD14 engine that the state was selling in early June. Got it for $900. Brother used it after harvest and cleaned out all our drainage ditches - then I sold it to a township in late fall for $2,500.

Only repair expense was $40 to repair the generator.
 
Tom,
Shoot me an email and I'll give you the particulars.
I think you have to be using modern view to see the email icon.
Bob
 
72 years old and have quite a bit experience and I,LL say this IF in fact you are going to buy a 30 year old grader you have found one that more than likely will not dollar you to death. The Detroit is easy to work on as is most of the rest of the old gallion. Power steering is a must. Most older ones the brakes do not work. I would maybe change the transmission filter and oil as it seems that is something lots of folks never do. I carried one about like it to scrap yard last year and walked away with over four thousand so if scrap goes back up a little you would be ok.
 
LeoinMI
The graders around here run a big plow on the front end for winter plowing. I'm not sure you would be happy plowing in deep snow without one. Your winters are not that much different from ours, we are just a little further east!
Just my $0.02 worth!
 
I agree about having a front plow on the grader.
However,neither one I am looking at have a front
mounted plow frame. I would have to look for one
later. Our road is pretty narrow,..about 40 ft.
wide at its widest point. So I think I could plow
it pretty good with the grader the way it is. I
can swing the blade out pretty far to push back
any snow that may impede traffic.
Thanks for your suggestion about a front plow.
I"ll try pricing some on C.L. to see what they
might cost.
 

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Back
Top