Charlotte, NC - Ever since a major OEM retired its benchmark line of mid-sized motor graders years ago, a noticeable gap has existed between compact and traditional full sized graders. It was a gap that Champion Executive Vice President, Bryan Abernathy, thought needed to be bridged. Enter the new 23,500 lb Champion C110 C Series Production Class Grader – a concept that found its way onto Champion drawing-boards a couple of years back.
“Essentially, we wanted to design a mid-sized grader from the ground up with all of the hallmark power, performance and efficiency of our compact lines,” says Abernathy. “We surveyed the market for the most efficient and productive components for the projected C110 C Series Production Class Grader. After much deliberation and consultation, we settled on a Cummins QSB6.7 Tier 3 engine and combined it with a conventional direct drive Funk DF150 Powershift 8 forward - 4 reverse transmission and gear-driven NAF tandems.”
According to Abernathy, Champion’s new Production Class Graders are the culmination of a collaborative effort and a meeting of the minds between the company and its engineering partners, proven leading manufacturers of heavy machinery components in their own right.
“Being that we truly understand graders and how they work, this fresh approach to designing a brand new product was the only way to go.”
The right-sized machine to fit mid-size grader projects
With the increased power and better torque curve offered by the emissions-compliant 6 cylinder Cummins Tier 3 engine, the C110 C Grader is poised to become the versatile mid-sized grader package of choice for increased job applications.
“What the two extra cylinders primarily offer is a smoother drive and better torque-curve at the lower RPMs,” says Jeff McKee, Champion Vice President Engineering. “The grader’s torque-drive doesn’t drop off like it would with a 4 cylinder engine. What operators should notice is much less use of the engine’s inching pedal when they’re running the graders slowly or in fine grading applications, which ultimately gives them more power to do the job at hand.”
McKee says that operators can achieve the same smooth control at low speeds and fine grading feel with the 6 cylinder’s conventional direct-gear drive that they do with the hydrostatic drive on Champion’s Compact Graders equipped with a Cummins QSB4.3 Tier 3 engine. He says that the C110 C Series Grader’s Funk DF150 Powershift transmission is a proven performer that gives the new mid-sized grader the direct drive system it requires to match its engine power to do the job at hand.
“With the increased torque and horsepower (120 hp) from the Cummins QSB6.7 Tier 3 engine, as well as the increased weight to horsepower ratio and a travel speed of 27 mph (43.4 km/h) on the C110 C Series, a hydrostatic transmission like that found on Champion’s compact graders becomes less efficient,” says McKee. “The DF150 transmission features 8 forward gears and 4 reverse gears – a common configuration for operators – and is much more in keeping with larger machines.”
The gear driven NAF Tandems on the C110 C Series Production Class Graders provide a long lasting mechanism that withstands severe stress caused by load-shocks better than conventional chain drive systems, says McKee.
“The gear driven mechanism is much more compact than a chain-drive tandem,” McKee says. “In addition, having gears means having less backlash or slack in the driveline. This is a big advantage in tight spaces like parking lots where the operator is being asked to perform a lot of direction changes. You don’t get the lag-time like you would with a chain drive.”
The gear driven tandem drive remains under-stressed resulting in more efficiency, less wear and tear and less maintenance. “Using stronger, heavier built pieces pays off in the long run,” says McKee. “The gear-driven NAF tandems on the Champion C110 C Production Grader have a long life.”
A good match
“Champion has partnered with some of the leading manufacturers of heavy machinery components to produce a larger grader that is the true heavyweight Champion among today’s small graders,” says Woody Ferrell, Champion Vice President Sales & Marketing. “The Champion C110 C Production Class Motor Grader features a good match all the way through from the Cummins QSB6.7 Tier 3 engine to the Funk DF150 drivetrain to the NAF gear-driven tandems. With a full range of front and rear mounted Champion attachments and options available, the C110 C Production Class Grader truly is a versatile mid-sized package for increased job applications for all of our customers, from contractors to municipalities.”
“Since we introduced the new Champion Production Class Grader at ConExpo, we have had literally hundreds of inquiries,” says Abernathy. “Today, these graders are starting ‘The Main Event’ Demo Tour across North America. If you want to see the C110 C up close and put it through its paces on your jobsite, contact your local Champion dealer to find out when it is coming to your neighborhood.”
About Champion
One of the oldest names in the equipment industry, Champion Motor Graders has specialized in the development of motor graders and attachments for over 25 years. Champion engineering and manufacturing, based in Charlotte, NC, are dedicated to the production of Compact and Production Class Motor Graders that assure customers of the same productivity and quality standards they expect from the best in full-size construction machinery. The Champion line-up now includes seven basic models with operating weights from 12,000 to 24,000 lbs., featuring the full range of single-axle, tandem and all-wheel 4x4 and 6x6 drive systems. Champion continues to develop a growing range of specialized equipment for the road maintenance and paving industry.
For more information on Champion Motor Graders and “The Main Event” Demo Tour, contact:
Woody Ferrell, Vice President Sales & Marketing
Champion Motor Graders
8844 Mount Holly Road
Charlotte, North Carolina 28214
Tel: 704-392-1038
Fax: 704-394-0802
www.championmotorgraders.us
