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The fore-mounted operator's station is located close to the blade and moves with the blade as the unit turns, giving the operator a continual panoramic view of the blade at all times. The seat-mounted controls consist of a single right-hand lever that handles blade functions, while the left control lever performs steering and FNR/speed change duties. The rear hydraulic controls are mounted to the right of blade control lever. Deere's Quad Cool system helps keep the cooling elements clean and is less susceptible to plugging. The standard reversing fan automatically ejects material at regular intervals to further minimize cleanout time.

Event generated serious interest
The guests had the opportunity to attend a business meeting highlighting current industry challenges, product demonstrations, hands-on equipment operation sessions, educational sessions and an exhibitor trade fair. During the equipment operation sessions, guests had the chance to operate all machines, including the 3D-MC²-equipped 764, which they used to spread fill material to grade at speeds approaching 12 mph.

One guest company that spent a great deal of time learning about both the 764 HSD and 3D-MC² was RJS Construction Group, Superior, WI, a general contractor with both building and heavy highway divisions serving northern Wisconsin and northern Minnesota. RJS uses dirt-moving equipment to provide services such as grading, sewer and water, site development, underground utility work, landfills and sewer treatment ponds. CEO Todd Johnson and Vice President Dave Lemke headed out to Arizona having heard about the benefits of machine control as well as Deere's new dozer.

Lemke explains that one ongoing project would particularly benefit from greater speed: a 5.7-mile rail spur near Grand Rapids, MN that requires 2.7 million cubic yards of excavation, 40-foot cuts and 40-foot back slope fills. After the group demonstration of the equipment, he and Johnson operated the 764 for themselves. "With very limited instruction, were able to put the machine in gear and actually move some dirt and we're not operators," says Lemke. "We spent a lot of time on that machine and spent some time talking to Topcon about the 3D-MC²." Lemke came away particularly impressed with the hydrostatic transmission. "Using the joystick was very easy, having the machine on full rpm and letting the computer and engine do its thing," he says, adding that the machine handled like a passenger car when traveling under full load.

Johnson and Lemke also got additional time on the 764 HSD the next day, which was set aside for recreational activities or return travel, and spoke about it at length with Scott Bayless, high-speed dozer product consultant for Deere. "We had probably two hours of one-on-one time with Scott going over that high-speed dozer in great detail," says Lemke.