The Caterpillar 12M is a motor grader designed for road construction, maintenance, and site preparation. It is part of Caterpillar's M Series and is used for grading, leveling, ditching, and shaping surfaces on highways, municipal roads, mining sites, and large earthmoving projects. The 12M typically features a front-mounted blade, articulated frame, and operator controls for precise moldboard positioning and material control. It is commonly equipped with a diesel engine, hydrostatic or powershift transmission, and advanced grading systems for accuracy. The Caterpillar 12M is used in applications requiring consistent finish grading, slope control, and efficient material movement.
| Blade Tip Range - Backward | 5 degrees
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| Blade Tip Range - Forward | 40 degrees
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| Circle Centershift - Left | 25.80 in (65.53 cm)
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| Circle Centershift - Right | 25.80 in (65.53 cm)
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| Maximum Blade Position Angle | 90 degrees
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| Maximum Depth of Cut | 28.30 in (71.88 cm)
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| Maximum Lift Above Ground | 16.80 in (42.67 cm)
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| Maximum Shoulder Reach Outside of Tires - Left | 68.60 in (174.24 cm)
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| Maximum Shoulder Reach Outside of Tires - Right | 75.00 in (190.50 cm)
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| Moldboard Sideshift - Left | 20.10 in (51.05 cm)
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| Moldboard Sideshift - Right | 26.00 in (66.04 cm)
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| Blade Base | 8.30 ft (2.53 m)
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| Front Ground Clearance | 1.90 ft (0.58 m)
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| Ground Clearance - Rear Axle | 13.60 in (34.54 cm)
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| Height - Exhaust Stack | 112.40 in (285.50 cm)
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| Height - Front Axle Center | 22.50 in (57.15 cm)
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| Height - Top of Cab | 10.80 ft (3.29 m)
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| Height - Top of Cylinders | 113.70 in (288.80 cm)
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| Height to Top of Isomount Cab | 10.80 ft (3.29 m)
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| Length - Between Tandem Axles | 59.50 in (151.13 cm)
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| Length - Counterweight to Ripper | 389.30 in (988.82 cm)
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| Length - Front Axle to Mid Tandem | 232.80 in (591.31 cm)
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| Length - Front Axle to Moldboard | 98.90 in (251.21 cm)
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| Length - Front Tire to Rear of Machine | 334.10 in (848.61 cm)
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| Overall Length | 27.90 ft (8.50 m)
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| Rear Ground Clearance | 1.20 ft (0.37 m)
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| Tandem Axle Wheelbase | 5.00 ft (1.52 m)
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| Wheelbase | 19.40 ft (5.91 m)
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| Width - Outside Front Tires | 97.70 in (248.16 cm)
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| Width - Outside Rear Tires | 97.70 in (248.16 cm)
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| Width - Tire Center Lines | 84.10 in (213.61 cm)
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| Width Over Tires | 8.20 ft (2.50 m)
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| Arc Radius | 16.30 in (41.40 cm)
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| Blade Down Pressure | 27,066.20 lbs (12,277.04 kg)
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| Blade Down Pressure - Base GVW | 17,566.00 lbs (7,967.81 kg)
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| Blade Down Pressure - Maximum GVW | 28,254.00 lbs (12,815.81 kg)
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| Blade Pull - Base GVW | 20,830.00 lbs (9,448.34 kg)
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| Blade Pull - Maximum GVW | 25,862.00 lbs (11,730.82 kg)
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| Blade Pull at Max Weight | 26,465.00 lbs (12,004.34 kg)
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| Blade Width | 12.00 ft (3.66 m)
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| Cutting Edge Thickness | 0.60 in (1.52 cm)
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| Cutting Edge Width | 6.00 in (15.24 cm)
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| End Bit - Thickness | 0.60 in (1.52 cm)
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| End Bit - Width | 6.00 in (15.24 cm)
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| Max Depth of Cut | 28.30 in (71.88 cm)
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| Moldboard - Height | 24.00 in (60.96 cm)
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| Moldboard - Thickness | 0.90 in (2.29 cm)
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| Moldboard Height | 24.00 in (60.96 cm)
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| Moldboard Length | 12.00 ft (3.66 m)
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| Moldboard Thickness | 0.90 in (2.29 cm)
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| Moldboard Width | 12.00 ft (3.66 m)
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| Side Shift Left | 20.10 in (51.05 cm)
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| Side Shift Right | 26.00 in (66.04 cm)
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| Throat Clearance | 4.90 in (12.45 cm)
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| Articulation Angle - Left/Right | 20 degrees
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| Circle Gearbox Fluid Capacity | 1.80 gal (6.81 l)
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| Cooling System Fluid Capacity | 10.40 gal (39.36 l)
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| Forward - 1st | 2.40 mph (3.86 kph)
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| Forward - 2nd | 3.30 mph (5.31 kph)
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| Forward - 3rd | 4.80 mph (7.72 kph)
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| Forward - 4th | 6.50 mph (10.46 kph)
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| Forward - 5th | 10.20 mph (16.42 kph)
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| Forward - 6th | 13.80 mph (22.21 kph)
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| Forward - 7th | 19.00 mph (30.58 kph)
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| Forward - 8th | 27.70 mph (44.58 kph)
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| Fuel Capacity | 90.00 gal (340.65 l)
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| Hydraulic System Fluid Capacity | 16.00 gal (60.56 l)
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| Max Operation Weight - Front Axle | 15,284.00 lbs (6,932.71 kg)
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| Max Operation Weight - Rear Axle | 29,406.00 lbs (13,338.35 kg)
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| Max Operation Weight - Total | 44,690.00 lbs (20,271.07 kg)
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| Operating Weight | 32,016.00 lbs (14,522.23 kg)
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| Rear Diff/Final Drive Fluid Capacity | 13.20 gal (49.96 l)
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| Reverse - 1st | 2
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| Reverse - 2nd | 3.80 mph (6.12 kph)
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| Reverse - 3rd | 5.60 mph (9.01 kph)
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| Reverse - 4th | 8.60 mph (13.84 kph)
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| Reverse - 5th | 16.10 mph (25.91 kph)
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| Reverse - 6th | 23.50 mph (37.82 kph)
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| Std Operation Weight - Front Axle | 8,836.00 lbs (4,007.95 kg)
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| Std Operation Weight - Rear Axle | 23,180.00 lbs (10,514.28 kg)
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| Std Operation Weight - Total | 32,016.00 lbs (14,522.23 kg)
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| Steering Range - Left/Right | 47.5 degrees
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| Tandem Case Fluid Capacity (each) | 16.90 gal (63.97 l)
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| Top Speed - Forward | 27.70 mph (44.58 kph)
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| Top Speed - Reverse | 23.50 mph (37.82 kph)
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| Turning Radius - Outside Front Tires | 24.50 ft (7.47 m)
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| Front, V-Type, 5 or 11 Tooth - Scarifier Shank Holder Spacing | 4.60 in (11.68 cm)
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| Front, V-Type, 5 or 11 Tooth - Scarifying Depth, Maximum | 18.40 in (46.74 cm)
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| Front, V-Type, 5 or 11 Tooth - Working Width | 47.40 in (120.40 cm)
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| Mid, Straight - Scarifier Shank Holder Spacing | 4.40 in (11.18 cm)
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| Mid, Straight - Scarifier Shank Holders | 17
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| Mid, Straight - Scarifying Depth, Maximum | 12.50 in (31.75 cm)
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| Mid, Straight - Working Width | 71.00 in (180.34 cm)
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| Mid, V-Type - Scarifier Shank Holder Spacing | 4.60 in (11.68 cm)
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| Mid, V-Type - Scarifier Shank Holders | 11
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| Mid, V-Type - Scarifying Depth, Maximum | 11.50 in (29.21 cm)
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| Mid, V-Type - Working Width | 46.60 in (118.36 cm)
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| Rear - Scarifier Shank Holder Spacing | 10.50 in (26.67 cm)
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| Rear - Scarifier Shank Holders | 9
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| Rear - Scarifying Depth, Maximum | 10.50 in (26.67 cm)
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| Rear - Working Width | 91.00 in (231.14 cm)
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| Gross Vehicle Weight - Base - Front Axle | 9,919.00 lbs (4,499.19 kg)
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| Gross Vehicle Weight - Base - Rear Axle | 23,145.00 lbs (10,498.41 kg)
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| Gross Vehicle Weight - Base - Total | 33,064.00 lbs (14,997.60 kg)
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| Gross Vehicle Weight - Maximum - Front Axle | 15,954.00 lbs (7,236.62 kg)
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| Gross Vehicle Weight - Maximum - Rear Axle | 48,736.00 lbs (22,106.31 kg)
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| Gross Vehicle Weight - Maximum - Total | 44,690.00 lbs (20,271.07 kg)
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