A pair of new technology features are coming to John Deere’s GP Series motor graders, and are aimed at boosting productivity for both new and seasoned operators. The equipment maker introduced Auto-Pass and Auto-Shift Plus last month, building on upgrades to the line of graders in late 2020.
An industry-exclusive feature, Auto-Pass helps program machine movements at the beginning and end of grading passes.
“While adjusting the speed of these movements and rotating the blade 180 degrees, the machine will simultaneously place the blade on the ground while preparing for the next pass,” Deere said in a release, noting the new feature is available as an option on the GP-Series models and standard on the SmartGradeTM motor graders.
AutoShift Plus, meanwhile, enhances the AutoShift transmission feature introduced last year. Eliminating the need for an inching pedal, the feature lets the operator use the throttle and brake for increased control of the machine, and allows the grader to come to a complete stop without stalling.
