Your Guide to Motor Grader Lever Controls

While some Cat^® motor graders are equipped with joystick controls, others are equipped with steering wheels and levers for a more familiar operating experience. Motor grader lever operation is easy to master once you know where things are and how they work. Here are the controls that come standard with your motor grader as well as the optional ones.

WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH YOUR STANDARD MOTOR GRADER LEVER CONTROLS? [00:51]

Blade tip

• Forward: Push forward to tip top of blade. 

• Hold: Release to hold in selected position. 

• Back: Pull back to tip blade backward.

Blade lift (left)

• Lift: Pull back to raise the left end of the blade. 

• Hold: Release lever. Blade will remain in selected position.  

• Lower: Push lever forward.

• Float: Push lever all the way forward and then release to float the blade.

Blade lift (right)

• Lift: Pull back to raise right end of blade. 

• Hold: Release lever to hold blade in selected position. 

• Lower: Push forward to lower right end of blade. 

• Float: Push all the way forward. Extra effort may be needed. 

Blade sideshift 

• Right: Pull back to sideshift blade to right. 

• Hold: Release lever to hold in selected position. 

• Left: Push forward to sideshift blade to left.

Blade circle drive

• Clockwise: Pull back to rotate blade clockwise. 

• Hold: Release to hold blade in selected position. 

• Counterclockwise: Push forward to rotate blade counterclockwise. 

Centershift of drawbar circle moldboard (DCM) 

• Right: Pull back to move drawbar to the right. 

• Hold: Release lever to hold in selected position.

• Left: Push forward to move drawbar to the left.

Articulation

• Right: Pull back to move machine rear to the right. 

• Hold: Release lever to hold machine in selected position. 

• Left: Push forward to move machine rear to the left. 

Wheel lean 

• Right: Pull lever to lean wheels to the right. 

• Hold: Release lever to hold wheels in selected position. 

• Left: Push forward to lean wheels left.

WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH THE OTHER LEVER CONTROLS? [01:59]

Snow wing lift

• Raise: Pull back on lever to lift the wing. 

• Hold: Release lever. Wing will remain in selected position. 

• Lower: Push lever forward. 

Snow wing tilt

• Raise: Pull back on lever to tilt snow wing upward. 

• Hold: Release lever. Wing will remain in selected position. 

• Lower: Push lever forward to tilt downward. 

Ripper/scarifier

• Raise: Pull lever back to raise ripper/scarifier. 

• Hold: Release lever to hold in selected position. 

• Lower: Push lever forward. 

Snow plow/dozer lift

• Lower: Push forward to lower snow plow/dozer blade. 

• Hold: Release lever to hold in selected position. 

• Raise: Pull back to raise.  

• Float: Push lever all the way forward. Extra effort may be needed.

Dozer angle

• Right: Pull back to angle dozer blade to the right. 

• Hold: Release lever to hold in selected position. 

• Left: Push forward to angle dozer blade to the left.

Note that if your machine is equipped with a midmount scarifier, it requires a different hydraulic configuration. Contact your Cat dealer for more information on that one, or any of the other levers on your machine.

Remember: Always refer to your Operation and Maintenance Manual for guidance on maintenance, safety, settings, features and more. 

This is only a selection of available motor grader kits, add-ons and upgrades. For more, explore our motor grader rig catalog, and talk to your Cat dealer.