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Part I: Introduction
If you've ever felt bored and helpless, road grading is for you. When traveling across dirt is a normal part of your everyday life, the ups and downs of a bumpy dirt road can translate directly to the ups and downs of your mood and even psychological well being. If you wake up in the morning feeling great, or have a fantastic day at work, the dirt road can be a faithful partner in "keeping it real". Yea, the transcendental qualities that knit the road condition to the human condition are as resolute as gravity, death and taxes; for the individual and the community alike.
Fortunately, God made many, many smart people. Some of those smart people went on to create brilliant machines such as Gravely tractors, and DR Power Graders. As a bonus, God also allowed the possibility for stupidity so that such smart things and the techniques for their operation could be improved to spread the possibility of their enjoyment across the bell curve. As a result, we have lovely inventions such as ROPS, clutch and PTO safety switches, seat safety switches, and even belt guards for those "other" machines.
This thread is a study of the art of road grading with these two devices from both perspectives: that of admiration for the performance characteristics imparted to the equipment, and of the lessons learned that come from the solemn penitence of taking that equipment and using it to make extraordinary mistakes. The sum total of these is a remarkably smooth dirt road that has become steadily easier to maintain, more resilient to rain, and has brought a little cheer to the community, and even a little gas money to the operator.
Oh and yes, there will be pictures.
If you've ever felt bored and helpless, road grading is for you. When traveling across dirt is a normal part of your everyday life, the ups and downs of a bumpy dirt road can translate directly to the ups and downs of your mood and even psychological well being. If you wake up in the morning feeling great, or have a fantastic day at work, the dirt road can be a faithful partner in "keeping it real". Yea, the transcendental qualities that knit the road condition to the human condition are as resolute as gravity, death and taxes; for the individual and the community alike.
Fortunately, God made many, many smart people. Some of those smart people went on to create brilliant machines such as Gravely tractors, and DR Power Graders. As a bonus, God also allowed the possibility for stupidity so that such smart things and the techniques for their operation could be improved to spread the possibility of their enjoyment across the bell curve. As a result, we have lovely inventions such as ROPS, clutch and PTO safety switches, seat safety switches, and even belt guards for those "other" machines.
This thread is a study of the art of road grading with these two devices from both perspectives: that of admiration for the performance characteristics imparted to the equipment, and of the lessons learned that come from the solemn penitence of taking that equipment and using it to make extraordinary mistakes. The sum total of these is a remarkably smooth dirt road that has become steadily easier to maintain, more resilient to rain, and has brought a little cheer to the community, and even a little gas money to the operator.
Oh and yes, there will be pictures.
:fing32:
