Free grader moldboard and circle inspection checklist
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Free grader moldboard and circle inspection checklist covering cutting edges, circle gear wear, drawbar pins and cylinders per AS 4024.2601.
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Updated 25 May 2026
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What is a grader moldboard and circle inspection checklist?
A grader moldboard and circle inspection checklist is the attachment-level structural and wear assessment used by a competent person to decide whether a motor grader moldboard, circle assembly and drawbar group stays in service, goes on a watch list, or is retired and replaced. It applies to motor graders from 12 tonne maintenance graders up to 30 tonne mining production graders across CAT, Komatsu, Volvo, John Deere and Champion machines, and covers the complete blade group: moldboard, cutting edges, end bits, circle gear and bearing, drawbar pivot, side-shift cylinder, lift cylinders, tilt cylinder, brace arms, blade-tip slope sensor mounts and the scarifier shank assembly if equipped. Unlike a grader pre-start that runs across the whole carrier, or a 250 hour service that focuses on lubricants and filters, this checklist concentrates on the blade group and its hydraulic actuation. The scope covers moldboard cutting edge wear measurement, moldboard side cutter wear, end bit wear and replacement timing, circle gear tooth wear profile inspection, circle bearing slop measurement (the critical metric that drives circle rebuild), drawbar pivot pin and bushing condition, side-shift cylinder rod condition, lift cylinder rod condition (both left and right lift cylinders), brace pin condition, moldboard tilt cylinder rod condition, scarifier shank inspection where the grader is fitted with one and blade-tip slope sensor mount integrity for graders running automated grade control.
AS 4024.2601 (Safety of earth-moving and road-construction machinery) sets the Australian floor for earth-moving attachments in service, ISO 6165 (Earth-moving terminology) gives the OEM documentation baseline, and the WHS Regulations 2011 Chapter 5 make blade-group and circle condition part of the PCBU plant maintenance duty. ASME B30.20 (Below-the-hook lifting devices) applies where the blade is used as a lifting point through certified lugs, and the Safe Work Australia 2018 Code of Practice on managing the risks of plant in the workplace is the practical guide most supervisors use to scope this inspection. Circle bearing slop above the OEM threshold is the most common reason a grader blade group is retired for rebuild, because excessive slop introduces grade error into automated control and accelerates wear on the circle gear, the drawbar pivot and the blade-tip cylinders. A digital record in MapTrack ties each inspection to the carrier grader serial, the blade group install or rebuild date and the operating hours so circle rebuild decisions remain defensible at trade-in, finance audit and SafeWork inspection.
Learn more about compliance and inspections in MapTrack.
Benefits of using this grader moldboard and circle inspection checklist
- Attachment-level accountability: Each blade-group decision is signed against the competent inspector who measured circle slop and cutting edges, not lost inside a generic grader signature
- AS 4024.2601 alignment: The checklist captures the exact wear and discard criteria from the Australian standard so SafeWork audits and OEM warranty claims are straightforward
- Circle bearing slop visibility: The OEM circle bearing slop threshold is captured in measurement, so the circle rebuild decision is data-driven rather than a visual guess at a glance
- Cutting edge and end bit visibility: The cutting edge wear and end bit wear thresholds are captured in measurement, so the replacement decision sits inside the planned maintenance window
- Grade control accuracy: Blade-tip slope sensor mount integrity is signed off, intercepting the slope sensor drift that corrupts automated grade control on civil and mining haul-road work
- Cylinder rod protection: Side-shift, lift and tilt cylinder rod condition is signed off, intercepting rod scoring, seal failure and the resulting hydraulic dump that drops a blade unexpectedly
- Lifecycle records: Every blade group rebuild, circle bearing replacement, inspection and discard sits against the carrier for the full life of the asset
Benefits of digitising forms in MapTrack
When you digitise grader moldboard inspection checklists in MapTrack, you get:
- Field users can easily scan a QR code to complete a form on mobile. Unlimited users.
- Automatically get alerts when faults are identified.
- Link every form digitally as a PDF to the relevant asset, location or person.
- Receive a digital PDF copy with every submission to your email.
- Ability to share forms digitally.
- Build conditional logic (show or hide questions based on answers).
- Take pictures or attach photos. Not possible with a paper-based form.
- Electronic signatures.
- Edit forms later without reprinting.
- Restrict permissions (who can view, complete or approve).
- Build forms with AI (describe what you need and MapTrack suggests the form).
- Escalate critical hazards instantly to safety managers via push notification.
- Maintain an auditable safety register that satisfies WHS regulator requests.
- Correlate incident trends across sites with built-in safety analytics.
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What to include in a grader moldboard and circle inspection checklist
This grader moldboard and circle inspection checklist covers 13 key areas:
- Carrier and blade group identification: grader make, model, serial number, blade group install or rebuild date and operating hours since install or last rebuild
- Moldboard cutting edge wear: cutting edge thickness measured at three points across the moldboard against the new edge dimension, percentage wear calculated and bolt torque verified
- Moldboard side cutter wear: side cutter wear measurement on both ends of the moldboard, retainer bolt torque and adjacent moldboard condition verified
- End bit wear measurement: end bit thickness and remaining material measured at the outer corners of the moldboard where wear accelerates, retainer bolt torque verified
- Circle gear tooth wear: circle gear tooth profile inspection against the OEM template, tooth pocket wear and gear-to-pinion backlash measurement
- Circle bearing slop measurement: circle bearing slop measured against the OEM threshold using a dial indicator at the moldboard tip, the critical metric that drives the circle rebuild decision
- Drawbar pivot pin and bushing condition: dial-indicator measurement on the drawbar pivot pin and bushing against the OEM clearance specification, with the diameter reduction discard rule applied
- Side-shift cylinder rod condition: side-shift cylinder rod scoring inspection, chrome coverage check, seal condition at the gland and rod alignment from full retract to full extend
- Lift cylinder rod condition: lift cylinder rod scoring inspection on both left and right lift cylinders, chrome coverage check, seal condition at the gland and synchronisation check
- Moldboard tilt cylinder rod condition: tilt cylinder rod scoring inspection, chrome coverage check, seal condition at the gland and tilt range verification
- Brace pin condition: brace pin and bushing wear measurement on each brace position against the OEM specification
- Scarifier shank inspection (if equipped): scarifier shank visual for cracking, scarifier tip wear measurement, scarifier hydraulic cylinder rod condition, scarifier pin and bushing condition
- Blade-tip slope sensor mount integrity: slope sensor mount inspected for cracking, bolt torque and mount alignment, sensor cable chafing inspection
How to use this grader moldboard and circle inspection checklist
- 1. Plan the inspection and isolate the carrier: pull the blade group history file including install or rebuild date, operating hours and previous wear measurements, position the grader on level ground with the moldboard flat on the deck and scarifier retracted, lock out the ignition and key in pocket, allow the blade group to cool
- 2. Identify the blade group and verify configuration: confirm carrier make, model and serial number, blade group install or rebuild date and operating hours since install, verify configuration against the OEM specification including slope sensor model and automated grade control wiring
- 3. Measure cutting edges, side cutters and end bits: measure cutting edge thickness at three points across the moldboard against the new edge dimension, calculate percentage wear, verify retainer bolt torque, measure side cutter wear on both ends and end bit thickness at the outer corners
- 4. Inspect circle gear and measure circle bearing slop: complete the circle gear tooth profile inspection against the OEM template, measure tooth pocket wear and gear-to-pinion backlash, then measure circle bearing slop using a dial indicator at the moldboard tip against the OEM threshold
- 5. Measure drawbar pivot pin and brace pin condition: with the blade group on the deck and unloaded, attach the dial indicator to the drawbar pivot pin and each brace pin position, lever the linkage against the indicator and record the measured clearance against the OEM specification
- 6. Inspect cylinder rod condition: extend each cylinder (side-shift, left lift, right lift, tilt) through full stroke and inspect the rod for scoring, chrome coverage loss and seal leakage at the gland, verify rod alignment from full retract to full extend, confirm lift cylinder synchronisation
- 7. Walk hydraulic hose runs and scarifier: deliberate walk of all hydraulic hoses from carrier to blade group through the lift, tilt, side-shift and circle circuits, marking any chafing or abrasion against frame edges, complete the scarifier shank visual and tip wear measurement where the grader is fitted
- 8. Inspect blade-tip slope sensor mount and electrical: blade-tip slope sensor mount inspected for cracking, bolt torque and mount alignment, sensor cable chafing inspection through the harness, automated grade control calibration record verified against the most recent OEM service
- 9. Make the end-of-life decision and record: mark the blade group as fit for service, watch list (with a shorter inspection interval), partial rebuild (cutting edges and end bits), full circle rebuild or retire and replace now, photograph any discard-criteria finding, sign the record and attach to the asset in MapTrack
In MapTrack, you can digitise safety inspections and compliance forms. Each submission is stored as a timestamped PDF against the asset record.
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AS 4024.2601 and the Safe Work Australia Code of Practice on plant set the inspection cadence the blade-group inspector should follow. The operator runs a visual pre-start moldboard check each shift, looking for missing edge bolts, end bit loss, cracked welds and obvious hose damage at the visible blade-to-frame interface. A weekly visual inspection by a trained technician covers more of the moldboard, circle gear and cylinder rods under controlled conditions. A monthly competent-person inspection covers cutting edge wear measurement, end bit wear measurement, circle gear tooth profile inspection, drawbar pivot pin measurement, cylinder rod condition check and a function test of automated grade control where fitted. A 6-monthly major inspection sits inside the carrier grader monthly cadence and goes deeper, including the critical circle bearing slop measurement that drives the circle rebuild decision, plus MPI on suspect welds where the blade group is on heavy production duty in mining haul-road maintenance. Any impact event, dropped blade, hydraulic dump, scarifier strike, sudden grade-control error or near-miss triggers an out-of-cycle inspection before the blade group returns to service.
Frequently asked questions
Applicable regulatory standards
This template aligns with the following regulations and standards:
- AS 4024.2601 (Earth-moving and road-construction machinery safety)
- ASME B30.20 (Below-the-hook lifting devices)
- ISO 6165 (Earth-moving machinery - Basic types - Identification and terms)
- WHS Regulations 2011 Chapter 5 (Plant)
- Safe Work Australia CoP 2018 (Managing the risks of plant in the workplace)
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<p style="font-size:12px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0.05em;text-transform:uppercase;color:#0E7490;margin:0;">Free template</p>
<p style="font-size:18px;font-weight:700;color:#071D49;margin:6px 0 0;">Grader Moldboard and Circle Inspection Checklist</p>
<ul style="margin:12px 0 0;padding-left:18px;color:#374151;font-size:14px;line-height:1.6;">
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Carrier and blade group identification: grader make, model, serial number, blade group install or rebuild date and operating hours since install or last rebuild</li>
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Moldboard cutting edge wear: cutting edge thickness measured at three points across the moldboard against the new edge dimension, percentage wear calculated and bolt torque verified</li>
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Moldboard side cutter wear: side cutter wear measurement on both ends of the moldboard, retainer bolt torque and adjacent moldboard condition verified</li>
<li style="margin:4px 0;">End bit wear measurement: end bit thickness and remaining material measured at the outer corners of the moldboard where wear accelerates, retainer bolt torque verified</li>
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Circle gear tooth wear: circle gear tooth profile inspection against the OEM template, tooth pocket wear and gear-to-pinion backlash measurement</li>
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Circle bearing slop measurement: circle bearing slop measured against the OEM threshold using a dial indicator at the moldboard tip, the critical metric that drives the circle rebuild decision</li>
</ul>
<p style="font-size:13px;color:#6B7280;margin:14px 0 0;padding-top:12px;border-top:1px solid #E5E7EB;">Free <a href="https://www.maptrack.com/templates/grader-moldboard-circle-inspection-checklist" style="color:#071D49;font-weight:600;text-decoration:none;">Grader Moldboard and Circle Inspection Checklist</a> by MapTrack</p>
</div>Please keep the “by MapTrack” attribution link in the snippet.
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