Cat Grader Models comparability

I'm knew to this thread so forgive my ignorance. I searched quite a bit but couldn't get a straight answer. Is the saying true that a cat 12M grader is basically the same as a 140M, the 14M=160M? How much difference in a 140M to a 160M

I don’t know about m series but for h series 12h 140h and 160 h have the same parts book. Parts are same the difference is in horse power and a weight. With this two difference when you work with 12 and after with 140 and then 160 you will sure understand that is another machine even that if you just looked from down is the same

Fabianc said: I'm knew to this thread so forgive my ignorance. I searched quite a bit but couldn't get a straight answer. Is the saying true that a cat 12M grader is basically the same as a 140M, the 14M=160M? How much difference in a 140M to a 160M Click to expand... 12M, 14M, 16M Is a construction grader which are built heavier more power compared to 120, 140, 160 which are more suited towards maintenance graders, 12M and a 140M are pretty much the same graders, weight and power wise we have both, 140M would have a 14ft blade, 160 would be a bit heavier, more power with a 16ft blade.

20/80 said: 12M, 14M, 16M Is a construction grader which are built heavier more power compared to 120, 140, 160 which are more suited towards maintenance graders. Click to expand... This is exactly what the difference is. Cat refers to the two grader model ranges as Mining (12, 14, 16, 18, 24) or Construction (120, 140, 160). The Construction range application would also include being used for road maintenance tasks. The first two digits of the model number are the moldboard length in feet.

Fabianc said: I'm knew to this thread so forgive my ignorance. I searched quite a bit but couldn't get a straight answer. Is the saying true that a cat 12M grader is basically the same as a 140M.? Click to expand... Pretty much. If you go up one model from a mining grader then that model would be more or less the equivalent in the construction grader line. So your analogy of 12M->140M or 14M->160M is correct. If you want to compare the differences between a 140M and a 160M the best way is to download the spec sheet. Google "Cat 140M Specalog" and this link should appear. It contains the specs for all the Construction line of graders. https://s7d2.scene7.com/is/content/Caterpillar/C802193

I wonder why they make a 12M and a 140M if they are essentially the same other than the standard moldboard width? Is there much price difference?

Our 12M2 came with the 14 ft blade, compared to a 120M with a 12ft blade, not sure if the 14M comes with a 16ft blade or not, it could easily handle it.

To add to the confusion...........the model numbers have changed....!! The 12M has disappeared from the range of Mining graders and has become the 140 in the Construction range. What was previously the 140 has become the 150. The mining range is now the 14, 16, 18, & 24. To answer Dave's question one of the big differences is that Mining graders are designed to have the capability of working 12-hr shifts amongst other things. They also tend to be heavier. All the Construction grader models are now listed with a 12ft moldboard as standard equipment and a "2ft LH extension" available as an attachment.

The 12, 140 and 160 are all the same frame with different options to fit different tasks. You can get any blade you want on them. They also make extensions that will bolt onto the ends of the blades. The 14 and 16 that I have some experience with have much larger frames and are much larger machines all around. The blades all come in 14' and 16' for either machine and you can also get extensions for them. The base material these blades are made from are much thicker and the blades stand taller to move a lot more material per pass. As I recall the M was a model designation that was newer than an H model. The M had joystick controls as opposed to a steering wheel and lever controls. I'm sure all the designations have been or are being changed now days. The manufacturers like to keep people guessing. It is a way to keep people engaged with the sales forces.

The 12M and 140M are very close in weight. I would have thought a grader for road maintainence would have as large a fuel tank possible for running all night clearing snow. The new 140 the operators union brought to my oval track had conventional controls with a steering wheel. That's a definite difference some operators prefer. Some of the differences in earlier machines like the 12M and 140M obviously aren't so noticeable but must be there to warrant making 2 different machines. Maybe it's just a matter of bolting a few different components to the same frame kind of like different arrangement numbers on the same chassis? The head grader instructor said he had a lot more feel with conventional controls over the joystick controls in the M series. They have both as well as a JD 772GP. He likes the Cat 140 but said the JD is a real nice machine too and JD has made some good improvements to their graders. The union must have boat loads of money the way they keep getting new machines the last few years. $1.2 million Kobelco crawler crane, another Liebherr all terrain crane on rubber close to a million, a Todano rough terrain crane, Cat 140 grader over $500K and the list goes on. On Monday when I drove by it looks like they've added a new Komatsu excavator to their fleet.

is the 120 AWD next gen similar to the 12H ?

inx001 said: is the 120 AWD next gen similar to the 12H ? Click to expand... Search the web for a document Cat calls the “Specalog” for both models and compare them. Here’s the one for the 12H to start you off. https://s7d2.scene7.com/is/content/Caterpillar/C198755

Nige said: To add to the confusion...........the model numbers have changed....!! The 12M has disappeared from the range of Mining graders and has become the 140 in the Construction range. What was previously the 140 has become the 150. The mining range is now the 14, 16, 18, & 24. To answer Dave's question one of the big differences is that Mining graders are designed to have the capability of working 12-hr shifts amongst other things. They also tend to be heavier. All the Construction grader models are now listed with a 12ft moldboard as standard equipment and a "2ft LH extension" available as an attachment. View attachment 263660 Click to expand... Very good & thank you for the explanation. I thought the 160M was similar to the 14M We work heavy, big acreage agricultural road & erosion maintenance work with a 140M, which is gutless by comparison to a 140H, so a 160M would be better suited. We have a 16M in our fleet but being 30 ton, it's just too heavy once we have a wet farming season.

Re the 140M. Steering joystick, 95% of them I've operated have suffered from what I call the "dead stick" Luckily mine has had a good diagnostic fitter to sort the issue out. I also had issues not hitting 7th & 8th gear. One of my articulation re- centering solenoids had failed, hence I would centre the frame to travel, manually by the artic' gauge. He advised me, to articulate to the side with the working solenoid which, when hitting the re centre button would pull the frame straight. A great young bloke with so much knowledge for only 36 yrs of age & works freelance.

bigrus said: A great young bloke with so much knowledge for only 36 yrs of age & works freelance. Click to expand... If he knows that much it must be better than working for the dealer.

Good men like Paul are hard to find Another issue I had with aforesaid 140M, would run hot after an hour, 108c Pull up, blow out the radiator, not much debris, cools to just over thermostat opening temp. This went on for weeks, working in ambient temp of 25-31c. The whole machine felt red hot. The big time fitter (ex mine contractor with the up spec truck) his diagnosis- fit a cooler pack) The other fitter Rod, (small ute, trailer not mine spec, part time farmer) went through coolant, thermostat, belts, radiator flow etc. Then removed the oil cooler & found it fairly well blocked with rubber (radiator hose/belt type material) He replaced the cooler, problem solved. Our boss was convinced it was the radiator! A month later, Rod was let go. That was very disappointing!

I forget which engine was in those but I had several machines with wet liners where the O rings disintegrated and plugged the water side of the oil coolers.

John C. said: I forget which engine was in those but I had several machines with wet liners where the O rings disintegrated and plugged the water side of the oil coolers. Click to expand... Much older than the C7 that's in the 140M surely.?

John C. said: I forget which engine was in those but I had several machines with wet liners where the O rings disintegrated and plugged the water side of the oil coolers. Click to expand... The 466 engine in my Dresser A450E had dubious service history when I purchased it. The smell of pepper in the radiator was ominous sign of some poor maintenance. In the middle of doing a shopping centre car park job, I noticed steam emitting from the breather & upon cracking open the sump plug found water in the sump! Luckily, we had a break in the production, so I drove it around to a mates yard & we stripped it down for an "in frame" rebuild. Upon removing the liners, we discovered rust around liner groves, with one O ring broken but a lump of solder from a radiator repair, jammed in the hole in the liner. The radiator had seen better days, multiple previous repairs! The core had a lot of sand damage, so a new one was on the cards next time.

20/80 said: Our 12M2 came with the 14 ft blade, compared to a 120M with a 12ft blade, not sure if the 14M comes with a 16ft blade or not, it could easily handle it. Click to expand... The 14 Can handle a 16 foot blade. Is it good for it? Not in my opinion. Transmission killer and underpowered. The 16 is much better suited to the task. Much bigger and stable platform. Very nice machine to drive. Haven't driven a 160 but it's basically just a little bit bigger version of my 150. Nige said: Mining graders are designed to have the capability of working 12-hr shifts amongst other things. They also tend to be heavier. All the Construction grader models are now listed with a 12ft moldboard as standard equipment and a "2ft LH extension" available as an attachment. Click to expand... More weight and power, designed to really push down on the blade to combat heavily compacted pavements, and to deal with bigger windrows (more material). Shorter, taller blade. A 12M is now a "140", 140M is now "150". You can get all in a 12ft variant, you can also get them in a standard 14ft blade, and you can even get a 16 foot blade if you don't like your circle motor and all of your bushings. I have driven 12M's. I really don't rate them. They are short and bouncy, not planted in the front end and bulldoze the front wheels around corners. 140M/ 150 is where it's at for road construction. Very good stable platform, plenty of power to weight, planted front end, good weight on the blade. And for the connoisseurs who understand where outright production and performance is, there's the AWD variant. More weight and traction on the front end, another 30% traction and motive force and the ability to drive the front end around the corner with the variable output of the AWD to provide more torque to the outside wheel.