For normal grading operations, the upright positionon the blade is used. For a greater cutting action, thebackward pitch is used. For a greater mixing and rollingaction on the material being side tasted, use a slightforward pitch.When spreading, finishing, ormaintaining surface material, use a full forward pitch.This pitch accomplishes a partial compaction of thesurface materials and assures filling any low spots.When selecting the correct blade pitch, you have tothink about the type of operation, type of material, depthof cut, and speed of operation. Experience and practiceenhance your skills to know which pitch positionsachieves the best blading results for the type material.ScarifyingScarifying is breaking up hard or compactedmaterials, using the scarifier on the grader. A decisionto scarify a road or not depends on the availability ofwater to obtain the proper moisture content of thematerial and the amount of traffic that travels the road.The proper moisture content supports the binding of thematerial required for compaction and is also used as dustcontrol.Just placing fill material on a dirt road to fill the rutsand potholes is a temporary fix. The fill material doesnot bind in the ruts and potholes and, therefore, willNOT remain in place.The proper way to reshape a dirt road full of ruts andpotholes is to scarify the surface to the depth of thedepressions.This breaks up all the compactedsurrounding surface materials. After scarifying thematerial, blade mix the surface materials, reshape theroad, and compact.forFigure 10-23.—Marking cut.To scarify extremely hard or consolidated material,remove alternate scarifier teeth. This will ease passageof the scarifier through the material.CAUTIONNever make sharp turns with the scarifierteeth in the ground. Making sharp turnsdamages the scarifier and possibly bends orbreaks the teeth.During prestart operations, check the scarifier teethwear. When the caps are worn enough to causedamage to the shank, replace the cap (fig. 10-22).Figure 10-22.—Scarifier tooth.Figure 10-24.—45-degree position of the blade.10-10
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