Free grader monthly inspection checklist
Free motor grader monthly inspection checklist. Moldboard circle wear, articulation joint, AWD propshaft, brake disc, ROPS, blade function test.
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Updated 26 Oct 2026
Grader Monthly Inspection
Monthly periodic inspection
Chassis, articulation & drawbar
Hydraulic hoses & routing
Pin, bush & tandem play
Brakes
ROPS/FOPS & cab
Function tests under load
Defects & close-out
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Short answer
A grader monthly inspection checklist records a competent person's check of a motor grader: moldboard, circle and drawbar pins, articulation joint play, brakes, axles and drives, ROPS, hoses and a full blade function test, with measurements against OEM limits. Monthly is common site practice. Regulation 213 of the model WHS Regulations requires plant inspection by a competent person following the manufacturer's recommendations.
Checked against Model WHS Regulations as at 5 December 2025 (cited within as the Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011) on by the MapTrack templates team. How we check templates
Key takeaways
- The MapTrack grader monthly inspection checklist contains 36 checks across 7 sections. Sections covered: Chassis, articulation & drawbar, Hydraulic hoses & routing, Pin, bush & tandem play, Brakes, ROPS/FOPS & cab, Function tests under load, Defects & close-out.
- Model WHS reg 213 requires a competent person to inspect the grader following the manufacturer's recommendations; the monthly interval is site practice.
- Record pin play, circle wear and brake disc thickness as measurements against OEM limits, not just pass or fail.
- Inspect out of cycle after a rollover, a ROPS impact, an articulation repair, a brake pack change or contact with overhead services.
- AS 20474.8:2025 sets grader design safety requirements; the OEM service literature supplies the reject criteria.
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What is a grader monthly inspection checklist?
A grader monthly inspection is a structured form used by maintenance supervisors and competent persons to confirm that a motor grader is mechanically sound, structurally intact and safe to continue working between OEM services. The motor grader is one of the most articulated and pin-heavy machines on a typical road, mining or quarry fleet, with a moldboard, circle, drawbar, articulation joint, scarifier, optional side wing and front and rear axle assemblies that all rely on pivot pins and bushes operating within tolerance. A monthly inspection on a CAT 14, 16, 24, Komatsu GD-series, John Deere or equivalent grader typically takes two to three hours and is completed by a heavy-duty fitter, mechanical supervisor or other nominated competent person while the machine is parked, isolated and partly cold. The output is a documented record of every pin play measurement, weld observation, hose condition, brake disc reading and function-test result captured during the inspection.
Motor grader monthly inspection records feed into the site maintenance plan (on a NSW mine that needs a mechanical engineering control plan, that plan), the OEM warranty record and any insurance audit that follows. Items such as moldboard pin and bush wear, circle gear tooth condition, articulation joint pivot play, drawbar and yoke pivot wear, all-wheel-drive propshaft and universal joint condition, brake disc thickness (oil-cooled or service brake), and ROPS sticker integrity are all evidence-heavy checks that a daily pre-start cannot reasonably cover. The monthly cadence also gives the planner a chance to function-test the full blade range, including lift, tilt, side-shift, articulation and circle rotation, against the loaded behaviour the operator reports day to day. A disciplined monthly inspection programme gives you a signed and dated record of each inspection that helps show it was carried out by a competent person, as regulation 213 of the WHS Regulations 2011 (Part 5.1) requires, and protects the largest single capital asset in many civil and mining fleets.
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Benefits of using this grader monthly inspection checklist
- Protect the moldboard and circle: Pin, bush and circle gear wear is the single most common cause of grader downtime, and a monthly measurement programme catches play before it eats into the circle support structure.
- Verify articulation joint health: The articulation pivot carries every twist load the grader sees, and any sloppy bushes or weld fretting at that joint are caught and recorded under controlled conditions.
- Catch drawbar and yoke wear: The drawbar and yoke pivot points are inspected for play and weld condition so the circle remains correctly tracked relative to the chassis.
- Measure brake disc wear: Service-brake or oil-cooled brake disc thickness is measured against the OEM minimum so the planner can stage brake-pack replacement during a planned outage.
- Confirm AWD and final drive integrity: All-wheel-drive propshafts, universal joints and tandem walking-beam pivots are inspected for play and leaks that would otherwise only show under load.
- Function test the full blade range: A formal function test through lift, tilt, side-shift, circle rotation and articulation under hydraulic load surfaces hose, valve and cylinder issues that no pre-start can find.
- Hold fine-grade accuracy: Tracking moldboard, circle and drawbar play monthly keeps the blade holding a true cutting edge, so the grader still trims to a tight finish-trim tolerance instead of leaving the rework that loose pins create.
Benefits of digitising forms in MapTrack
When you digitise grader checklists in MapTrack, you get:
- Field users can easily scan a QR code to complete a form on mobile. Unlimited users.
- Email the right people when a form is submitted, with an automation you set up.
- File every completed form against the asset, location or person it covers.
- Download any completed form as a PDF, with failed answers listed at the top.
- Fill in forms offline; they upload when the device is back online.
- 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.
- Set who can view, fill in or edit forms with user roles.
- Upload a paper form (PDF, Word, Excel or a photo) and MapTrack's AI builds a digital version for you to check.
- Raise a work order from a submitted form with an automation you set up.
- Track service intervals by hours, kilometres or calendar date in one place.
- Attach supplier invoices and parts receipts to each maintenance record.
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What to include in a grader monthly inspection checklist
This grader monthly inspection checklist covers 14 key areas:
- Moldboard cutting edge wear and end-bit condition
- Moldboard pin, ball-socket and circle wear measurement
- Articulation joint pivot pin play and weld visual
- Drawbar and yoke pivot pin and bush check
- Scarifier carriage (if fitted) pin retention and tooth wear
- Side wing mounting and hydraulic supply (if equipped)
- All-wheel drive (AWD) propshaft and universal joint condition
- Brake disc thickness measurement (oil-cooled or service brake)
- Tandem walking-beam pivot and final drive leak check
- ROPS and FOPS certification sticker and cab-mount integrity
- Hydraulic hose chafing under deck and around articulation
- Defect log review against last month plus open work orders
- Function test of full blade range (lift, tilt, side-shift, circle rotation, articulation)
- Operator-station check (seat belt, isolators, fire suppression service tag)
How to use this grader monthly inspection checklist
- Plan and isolate.: Pull the grader out of the schedule, park it level with the blade lowered and articulation centred, complete lockout-tagout on the master isolator and battery, and let hot panels cool. Review the hour meter, last service interval and any open defects in the maintenance system so the inspection is informed by known issues rather than starting blind.
- Inspect the moldboard and circle.: With the blade safely supported, measure cutting edge and end-bit wear, then check moldboard pin and ball-socket play through lift, tilt and side-shift movements. Inspect the circle gear teeth for chipping or excessive wear, the circle support shoes for thickness, and the circle drive pinion engagement. Record measurements against the OEM reject chart.
- Check articulation and drawbar pivots.: Move to the articulation joint and check pivot pin play in both horizontal and vertical planes. Walk the drawbar and yoke pivots, checking pin retention, bush wear and any weld fretting at high-load joints. Sloppy bushes here load up the circle support and the chassis cross-members, so flag any measurable play.
- Inspect scarifier, side wing and ripper attachments.: For graders fitted with a scarifier or rear ripper, check shank pin retention, tooth wear and hydraulic supply hoses. For side-wing graders, inspect the wing mounting bracket, hydraulic supply and any weld additions to the chassis so unauthorised modifications are caught and recorded.
- Check AWD, tandems and final drives.: On AWD-equipped graders, inspect front propshafts and universal joints for play and grease condition. Walk both tandem cases, checking walking-beam pivot play, final-drive leak status and oil level via the sight glass. Note any abnormal noise reported by the operator on uneven ground.
- Measure brakes and confirm steering.: Measure service-brake or oil-cooled brake disc thickness against the OEM minimum and record the reading. Test parking brake hold on a measured grade, brake balance during a controlled stop, and steering response through articulation. Record any pull, drift or delayed response.
- ROPS, FOPS and hydraulic walk.: Confirm ROPS and FOPS certification stickers are present and legible, check cab mounting bolt torque, and verify no unauthorised welding has been done to the cab structure. Walk every hydraulic hose under the deck and around the articulation joint for chafing, oil weep, loose clamps and breather condition.
- Function test the full blade range.: With the grader warmed up on level ground, run the moldboard through full lift, tilt, side-shift, circle rotation and articulation while watching cylinder behaviour and hydraulic pressure. Repeat under a representative cut on a test pad so loaded behaviour is observed, not just no-load function.
- Document, sign and raise work orders.: Photograph every defect, record measurements against the form fields, sign as the competent person and convert each defect into a prioritised work order in the maintenance system. Schedule the next monthly inspection date and confirm no overdue work orders carry past 30 days.
In MapTrack, you can schedule and track maintenance digitally, by date or meter reading. Each submission is stored as a timestamped PDF against the asset record.
Get the free templateEnter your email above to download the full grader monthly inspection checklist as a PDF.Back to download formHow often should you complete this checklist?
A motor grader monthly inspection is completed every calendar month for any grader in active road, mining or quarry use, alongside the OEM 250, 500 and 1000 hour service intervals. Sites operating graders on highly abrasive material or running multi-shift cycles often shorten the interval to every 200 operating hours because moldboard pin, circle and end-bit wear accelerate well beyond the calendar-based assumption. Escalate to a more detailed quarterly or annual inspection after any rollover, dropped load on the ROPS, articulation joint repair, brake pack replacement or any contact with overhead services. Run an immediate out-of-cycle inspection if the operator reports articulation play, brake imbalance, hydraulic loss, abnormal circle noise or any structural crack. MapTrack schedules each grader monthly inspection per asset, alerts the planner before it falls due, and converts every captured defect into a tracked work order with photo evidence and reject-criteria measurements.
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Frequently asked questions
Applicable regulatory standards
This template is a starting point. Check the current requirements that apply to your equipment, work and location. The template alone does not establish compliance.
| Standard | Edition | Clauses this template relies on | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Model Work Health and Safety RegulationsRequires competent-person inspection and maintenance following the manufacturer's recommendations. | Model WHS Regulations as at 5 December 2025 (cited within as the Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011) |
| Safe Work Australia (drafted by the Parliamentary Counsel's Committee) |
| Model Code of Practice: Managing risks of plant in the workplaceGuidance on how and when plant is inspected by a competent person. | November 2024 version (reviewed May 2018; amended 2021, 2023 and 2024) |
| Safe Work Australia |
| Earth-moving machinery - Safety, Part 8: Requirements for graders (ISO 20474-8:2017, MOD)Design safety requirements for graders; the OEM literature supplies the reject criteria. | AS 20474.8:2025 | Whole instrument | Standards AustraliaSold by the publisher |
| Earth-moving machinery - Safety, Part 1: General requirements (ISO 20474-1:2017, MOD)General design safety requirements for earth-moving machinery. | AS 20474.1:2025 | Whole instrument | Standards AustraliaSold by the publisher |
| Earth-moving machinery - Operator's field of view - Test method and performance criteriaOperator field of view test method, relevant when mirrors or cameras are checked. | AS ISO 5006:2020 | Whole instrument | Standards AustraliaSold by the publisher |
Model Work Health and Safety Regulations
Edition: Model WHS Regulations as at 5 December 2025 (cited within as the Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011)
Requires competent-person inspection and maintenance following the manufacturer's recommendations.
- reg 213: Plant must be maintained, inspected and, if necessary, tested by a competent person, following manufacturer or competent person recommendations; annual inspection applies only if neither is practicable.
Safe Work Australia (drafted by the Parliamentary Counsel's Committee)
Model Code of Practice: Managing risks of plant in the workplace
Edition: November 2024 version (reviewed May 2018; amended 2021, 2023 and 2024)
Guidance on how and when plant is inspected by a competent person.
- Section 3.5: Inspecting plant: how and when plant should be inspected by a competent person, reflecting reg 213.
Earth-moving machinery - Safety, Part 8: Requirements for graders (ISO 20474-8:2017, MOD)
Edition: AS 20474.8:2025
Design safety requirements for graders; the OEM literature supplies the reject criteria.
Standards AustraliaSold by the publisher
Earth-moving machinery - Safety, Part 1: General requirements (ISO 20474-1:2017, MOD)
Edition: AS 20474.1:2025
General design safety requirements for earth-moving machinery.
Standards AustraliaSold by the publisher
Earth-moving machinery - Operator's field of view - Test method and performance criteria
Edition: AS ISO 5006:2020
Operator field of view test method, relevant when mirrors or cameras are checked.
Standards AustraliaSold by the publisher
Each source was read at its publisher and the page checked on 26 October 2026. The publisher's current text is the authority.
Check the current source
Grader Monthly Inspection Checklist preview
The numbers behind this grader monthly inspection checklist
The pages below gather the figures behind this kind of check. Each figure on them carries its source and date, so you can quote it in a toolbox talk, a budget case or a board paper without chasing the original report.
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<p style="font-size:12px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0.05em;text-transform:uppercase;color:#071D49;margin:0;">Free template</p>
<p style="font-size:18px;font-weight:700;color:#071D49;margin:6px 0 0;">Grader Monthly 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;">Moldboard cutting edge wear and end-bit condition</li>
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Moldboard pin, ball-socket and circle wear measurement</li>
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Articulation joint pivot pin play and weld visual</li>
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Drawbar and yoke pivot pin and bush check</li>
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Scarifier carriage (if fitted) pin retention and tooth wear</li>
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Side wing mounting and hydraulic supply (if equipped)</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-monthly-inspection-checklist" style="color:#071D49;font-weight:600;text-decoration:none;">Grader Monthly Inspection Checklist</a> by MapTrack</p>
</div>Free to reuse, including commercially. This template is published under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. Copy it, adapt it, put it on your own site or in your own docs. All we ask is that you credit MapTrack with a link back to this page. The snippet above already includes that credit, so if you use it as-is you’re covered.
Cite this template
Writing about this topic? You’re welcome to quote this checklist. Here’s the wording to use so your readers can find the original.
The MapTrack grader monthly inspection checklist contains 36 checks across 7 sections.
- Short attribution
- MapTrack Grader Monthly Inspection Checklist, https://www.maptrack.com/templates/grader-monthly-inspection-checklist
- Reference list
- MapTrack. (2026). Grader Monthly Inspection Checklist [Checklist template]. Retrieved from https://www.maptrack.com/templates/grader-monthly-inspection-checklist
Free to reuse with credit under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. If you’d rather link straight to it, the page is https://www.maptrack.com/templates/grader-monthly-inspection-checklist.
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