Figure 10-25.-Ditch cut.Ditch CutThe first step performed on a road project is toestablish drainage normally through the use of a ditch.To construct a ditch, you must know how to cut a straightditch line and make sure the ditch line stakes fit theplans.The first cut to make is the marking cut. Themarking cut is a 3- to 4-inch-deep cut made with the toeof the blade (fig. 10-23). The toe of the blade ispositioned in line with the outside edge of the front tire.For cutting, the blade pitch is adjusted until the top andbottom edges of the moldboard are alignedPerpendicular to the ground. The marking cut is atechnique used for easier grader control and straighterditches.After the marking cut, position the blade at about a45-degree angle to perform an efficient ditch cut (fig.10-24). The toe of the blade is positioned in line withthe center of the lead tire, while the heel of the blade israised to allow the windrow to form either inside oroutside the rear wheels (fig. 10-25). It maybe necessaryto remove the scarifier teeth to keep them frominterfering with the blade.NOTE: Do not forget to lean the top of the frontwheels in the direction of the flow of the cut material.After each ditch cut, the material should bewindrowed or spread towards the middle of the road,away from the ditching operations. This technique iscalled shoulder pickup. To spread the windrow awayfrom the ditch, position the front grader tire on the insideof the windrow. Side shift the blade and the circle so thetoe is positioned to the outside of the windrow, as shownin figure 10-26. The heel is positioned to allow thewindrow to side cast inside the rear tandem tires. Thepurpose of the shoulder pickup is to move the windrowaway from the foreslope of the ditch.Figure 10-26.-Shoulder pickup.10-11
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