I operated a 710A Champion grader for ten years. This machine was nothing but trouble from the day I took control of it. Bolts were coming undone, the final drives became loose, bushes and pins wore out quickly, the diff needed repair the head was replaced. A rubber plug would fall out of the transmission and all the oil would pump out, one blade lift ram would drop at times out of the blue. Eventually the Cummins motor blew up and they replaced it with a Chinese Cummins which made it worse. The only thing i can praise is the reach with the blade was far above other graders dew to the length of the blade lift rams. After they replaced it I operated a Komatsu 555 for ten years and could not fault it. It did a multitude of work and it was a wonderful machine. I've driven many graders and models from Cats, John deers, Mitsubishi and Komatsu. I started my grader career driving an old 12E cat which my father drove for many years. I called it the wrist rattler as it made your hands, wrists, and arms sore by the end of the day. Thirty years I spent on graders and would recommend it to any young man who wants to do this type of work. Seeing what you have achieved at the end of the job is the most rewarding. My father said that too. Cheers from Nev.
It's fascinating to hear about your thirty years of experience with graders, from the challenging Champion 710A to the reliable Komatsu 555. Thanks for sharing your journey and the comparison of different models. It's clear that the work has been both challenging and rewarding. Cheers, Nev!
My Great Uncle and Aunt lived in Goderich, and as a kid in the late 1970's I would spend part of my days watching Champion Graders being loaded on rail cars and shipped to the World. Recently saw a Motorcycle tour on ytube (2022) through South America and in the background was a Champion Grader!
I had the privilege of climbing on one of these units back in 1992, up at Syncrude Canada. I can't remember if it was an 80 or 100t (think it was an 80t) It was sitting in the bone yard there, and had been out of commission for many many years already. I was taking a heavy equip. op. course in Ft. mac, and were were working at Syncrude. Our instructor used to work at Syncrude, and had actually operated that unit back in the early 80's. His exact words were- "It was a nightmare! " A very high maintenance, low productivity machine, constantly breaking down, and "took a country mile to turn around" It was also very horrible for the operator, as that V16 was very loud, and there was no such thing as a suspension, or air ride seats, so the ride was extremely rough. Awesome machine though, and really wished we would have got a chance to fire it up, and take it for a "grade"
Thank you for sharing your fascinating experience with the heavy equipment at Syncrude Canada! It's incredible to hear firsthand stories about operating such massive machines, even with all the challenges they presented. Your detailed account really adds depth to our understanding of these vehicles. We’re glad you enjoyed the video!
I remember the 100 T brought into Darlington nuclear site circa 1979-1980 Over the following couple years in action I once saw the 100 T cut a ditch a feet feet deep into pre glacier material , a very hard pan bed of material where D9s with rippers had difficulty with ,..
S. Pennock and Sons was founded in 1878 not 1978(1:24.) You might want your research team to dig deeper than small snippets online. Go to the library in Kennett Square or to a State University in Pennsylvania to source the documented history of the tremendous amount of engineering companies from that great state.
The 100T should be used in rough forming highways that are new nowadays. So many projects use machines that are still huge but not on that mammoth scale. So 20 -50 tonne diggers and dozers get to work for months on end trying to achieve what a pair of those 100 T s' could rough out in a few weeks or days readying the site for the smaller machines to finish. Canadians bring a lot of genius to the world but perhaps it is the transport of such work which leaves us longing for what we may never have due to it being left on the shelf. The ACCO is another example of brilliance just wasted. 😮💨
I saw a brand knew one on a truck in Western Australia 45 years ago (1979). Had the Cummins engine and was badged DRMCO. (Dominion Road Machinery Company). It would be great to know where they all are today.
Hi, BenTreasure-gu7gi. As I understand it, the one that went to Western Australia, I think to Mount Newman, worked for a while but the unions eventually 'speared' its use 'coz they reckoned it "put too many people out of work". I don't know where it went after that. I am also fairly sure that ti was the only one to come DowNunda. Just my 0.02. You have a wonderful day Best wishes. Deas Plant.
Of the 10 produced, I would guess less than 5. I know of one in Norway, that still runs, and one in Kentucky, that both still run - or at least did a couple of years ago. The 80t and 100t that went to the Canadian oils sands mine Syncrude, have both been scrapped. No one seems to know the whereabouts of the one that went to Australia. There is probably a couple more floating around the US, though they are probably also bone yard relics now.
I can't comment on the largest machines, but the smaller machines working on road jobs were nothing special. They were purchased by all levels of Government in Canada, because they were Canadian. The medium machines were cheaper than some competition and had a higher horsepower rating so they were purchased by owner operators, contracting to plow snow for local governments as they were frequently paid according to the horsepower of the machine. Just a really ordinary machine, with it's design quirks, and would have never survived as long as it did without government benefits and bias.
At minute 1:24 we had an error, the year in question is 1878 not 1978, we apologize. 😔
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
I operated a 710A Champion grader for ten years. This machine was nothing but trouble from the day I took control of it. Bolts were coming undone, the final drives became loose, bushes and pins wore out quickly, the diff needed repair the head was replaced. A rubber plug would fall out of the transmission and all the oil would pump out, one blade lift ram would drop at times out of the blue. Eventually the Cummins motor blew up and they replaced it with a Chinese Cummins which made it worse. The only thing i can praise is the reach with the blade was far above other graders dew to the length of the blade lift rams. After they replaced it I operated a Komatsu 555 for ten years and could not fault it. It did a multitude of work and it was a wonderful machine. I've driven many graders and models from Cats, John deers, Mitsubishi and Komatsu. I started my grader career driving an old 12E cat which my father drove for many years. I called it the wrist rattler as it made your hands, wrists, and arms sore by the end of the day. Thirty years I spent on graders and would recommend it to any young man who wants to do this type of work. Seeing what you have achieved at the end of the job is the most rewarding. My father said that too. Cheers from Nev.
Thanks for sharing your experience.❤
It's fascinating to hear about your thirty years of experience with graders, from the challenging Champion 710A to the reliable Komatsu 555. Thanks for sharing your journey and the comparison of different models. It's clear that the work has been both challenging and rewarding. Cheers, Nev!
I could watch these beasts operate all day.
My Great Uncle and Aunt lived in Goderich, and as a kid in the late 1970's I would spend part of my days watching
Champion Graders being loaded on rail cars and shipped to the World.
Recently saw a Motorcycle tour on ytube (2022) through South America and in the background was a Champion Grader!
A Champion in all categories on a rough track
I had the privilege of climbing on one of these units back in 1992, up at Syncrude Canada. I can't remember if it was an 80 or 100t (think it was an 80t) It was sitting in the bone yard there, and had been out of commission for many many years already. I was taking a heavy equip. op. course in Ft. mac, and were were working at Syncrude. Our instructor used to work at Syncrude, and had actually operated that unit back in the early 80's. His exact words were- "It was a nightmare! " A very high maintenance, low productivity machine, constantly breaking down, and "took a country mile to turn around" It was also very horrible for the operator, as that V16 was very loud, and there was no such thing as a suspension, or air ride seats, so the ride was extremely rough. Awesome machine though, and really wished we would have got a chance to fire it up, and take it for a "grade"
Thank you for sharing your fascinating experience with the heavy equipment at Syncrude Canada! It's incredible to hear firsthand stories about operating such massive machines, even with all the challenges they presented. Your detailed account really adds depth to our understanding of these vehicles. We’re glad you enjoyed the video!
That machine would have feared better if it was sold in Australia because their mines are absolutely enormous compared ones in the states
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I've been looking for this equipment like forever it got my attentions when it's release on the factory day
I remember the 100 T brought into Darlington nuclear site circa 1979-1980 Over the following couple years in action I once saw the 100 T cut a ditch a feet feet deep into pre glacier material , a very hard pan bed of material where D9s with rippers had difficulty with ,..
Thank you for sharing that powerful memory of the 100 T at work!
S. Pennock and Sons was founded in 1878 not 1978(1:24.) You might want your research team to dig deeper than small snippets online. Go to the library in Kennett Square or to a State University in Pennsylvania to source the documented history of the tremendous amount of engineering companies from that great state.
Oops, looks like we slipped a century there! Thanks for the correction and apology.
Champion it's Volvo grader now
A 100T in Norway
The 100T should be used in rough forming highways that are new nowadays. So many projects use machines that are still huge but not on that mammoth scale. So 20 -50 tonne diggers and dozers get to work for months on end trying to achieve what a pair of those 100 T s' could rough out in a few weeks or days readying the site for the smaller machines to finish. Canadians bring a lot of genius to the world but perhaps it is the transport of such work which leaves us longing for what we may never have due to it being left on the shelf. The ACCO is another example of brilliance just wasted. 😮💨
Acco was a bad boy!
🤘🤘
Champion built a very good grader now owned by Volvo.
Champion graders were popular with many army eng corps. Sad to see another big name in earthmoving disappearing.
It's unfortunate to see the decline of well-known brands like Champion in the earthmoving sector.
I saw a brand knew one on a truck in Western Australia 45 years ago (1979). Had the Cummins engine and was badged DRMCO. (Dominion Road Machinery Company). It would be great to know where they all are today.
Hi, BenTreasure-gu7gi.
As I understand it, the one that went to Western Australia, I think to Mount Newman, worked for a while but the unions eventually 'speared' its use 'coz they reckoned it "put too many people out of work".
I don't know where it went after that. I am also fairly sure that ti was the only one to come DowNunda.
Just my 0.02.
You have a wonderful day Best wishes. Deas Plant.
GODERICH is pronounced with rich as in i got money i am rich . not with the H sound
Thanks for pointing that out! It’s always helpful to get these details right, especially for those of us who might not be familiar.
It’s probably so big. It’s just really a specialized piece of equipment. Do you know how many exist now?
Of the 10 produced, I would guess less than 5. I know of one in Norway, that still runs, and one in Kentucky, that both still run - or at least did a couple of years ago. The 80t and 100t that went to the Canadian oils sands mine Syncrude, have both been scrapped. No one seems to know the whereabouts of the one that went to Australia. There is probably a couple more floating around the US, though they are probably also bone yard relics now.
LA-TURN-O is the correct.
Cummins, not cummings
I can't comment on the largest machines, but the smaller machines working on road jobs were nothing special.
They were purchased by all levels of Government in Canada, because they were Canadian.
The medium machines were cheaper than some competition and had a higher horsepower rating so they were purchased by owner operators, contracting to plow snow for local governments as they were frequently paid according to the horsepower of the machine.
Just a really ordinary machine, with it's design quirks, and would have never survived as long as it did without government benefits and bias.
CUMMINS.
Not CUMMINgS