Raygo Giant Grader: Double Engines, Double Articulation, Double Weird...
Posted by Mobryan71@reddit | WeirdWheels | View on Reddit | 19 comments
Built by Ray-Go Manufacturing in Minneapolis during the late 70's, the Giant was raw American horsepower applied to the problem of ever-increasing project sizes. Only 7 were made with most exported to Canada.
Known primarily for articulated scrapers and compaction equipment, Ray-Go took what they knew and made it bigger and badder. They essentially suspended a dedicated grader frame between two scraper tractor powerplants, each with a 318HP two stroke Detroit and creating the distinctive double-articulated steering system.
Youtube video showing the process of starting up one of these beasts after decades sitting in the weeds and doing some 'light' dirtwork: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7heLIyh3Fg
JefferzTheGreat@reddit
"Powered by a pair of two stroke Detroit 8v-71 engines."
And they say you can't hear pictures. For those who don't know.
UnLuckyKenTucky@reddit
THANK YOU I knew but still enjoy the music
JefferzTheGreat@reddit
I have fond memories of that sound. Growing up, the "big" neighbor farmer had a White with 8v71, and you could always tell when he started harvest, you could hear that thing screaming from miles away.
UnLuckyKenTucky@reddit
That sound never fails to trip a nostalgic memory.. when I was young our family would do these road trips, 800 to 1400 miles a year. And they were still in the older rigs at the time, but damn near every rig that had that 2t sound was in stupidly good shape.
Every time I hear that sound, it triggers a good memory.
Some_Conference2091@reddit
truck sounds like a sports car!
JefferzTheGreat@reddit
That 2-stroke sound!
Mobryan71@reddit (OP)
I believe at least one of them was repowered with TA or TTA engines as well, adding the whine of multiple turbos to the cacophony of the twin blowers.
akbornheathen@reddit
So a backwards scraper without even the scraper. That’s interesting.
Mobryan71@reddit (OP)
More like two scrapers butt-to-butt with the grader frame in between.
Same powerheads and everything.
akbornheathen@reddit
Tandem scrapers have 2 engines. But the cab is in the front. This thing the cab is in the rear. And it doesn’t seem like it would be super practical or safe.
UnLuckyKenTucky@reddit
Was perfect for the time, though. Still dangerous, but not much more than any other machine built back then..
Mobryan71@reddit (OP)
Yeah, but steering that thing at top speed (22mph) must have been frightening.
UnLuckyKenTucky@reddit
No doubt.
RuinFabulous3077@reddit
“Double your pleasure, double your fun.”
OPGuest@reddit
Great machine!
perldawg@reddit
quality post
mind-freaker@reddit
PhantasmologicalAnus@reddit
That video is sick.
fredthefishlord@reddit
They use these for SNOW in Sapporo, japan