Difference between Cat 12F / 12G

8T series most likely........there were lots more of them made. Could be a 70D or 71D which came after, still with the D318 engine and oil clutch........cant remember which was pony start and which was direct electric start. Late 8T also have oil clutch using engine oil pumped into it and returned by flywheel slinging it back into engine.

Serial number would help.

Thanks for the help and info on here, I don’t have the serial of it yet. Here are more pictures of it. It has a 12F sticker on the cab. Also the owner says it’s a 1959. I still would like to know what the difference is between a 12G and 12F is. I also thought that a 12F had hydraulic over mechanical. I don’t think this does.

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Hi, 1941D4DOZERBOY.
It may be as late as an 8T but I seriously doubt ccjersey's suggestion that it might be a 70D/71D as I think they had gone to having the instruments mounted in a panel beside the seat instead of in the box on the pipe column to the right of the control box like yours has - see photo 3 of your last post.

The 12F DID have the hydraulic over mechanical controls - hydraulic boosted - but the most noticeable difference from a distance was the blade lift gears being mounted on the front end of the main frame instead of being on the front of the cab.

If the current owner is selling it as a 1959 model and priced accordingly, methinks you ought to make sure what model it REALLY is and what the market value of that model is before laying down your 'hard-earned' - - - - - - IF you haven't already laid it down. If you can post the serial # here, somebody will likely come back pretty quick with a build year for you.

Re the differences between the 12F and the 12G, I thought...................................... See my earlier post.

On top of that, and in more detail, the 12Gs had hydraulic rams for the blade lift, braking on all four rear wheels, hydraulic side shift for the circle, hydraulic lock-pinned saddle frame carrying the lift rams and side shift ram to allow complete in-seat side shifting of the blade to one side or the other for cutting slopes, hydraulic circle reverse and hydraulic leaning front wheels. It also had the 'piano keyboard' controls which shared a control column with the steering wheel, said column being movable for and aft to suit operator reach and to allow easy access to and from the seat.

Just my 0.02.

Worlds apart!!! to begin with the 12F (say 13Kxxxx) will have a D333c engine.
The 12G (say 61Mxxxx) will have the 3306 engine, direct drive powershift, articulated frame, all hydraulic controls, oil disc brakes and all the modern features.
Your looking at one of the D318 engine models, totally different affair.

Hey 1941D4DOZERBOY,

Ive attached 3 pictures comparing the grader that you are looking at, to a 12F and a 12G.
Red circles are showing the differences of the drive gears and the shafts that a few guys have made reference too. Rear driven, vs front driven.
The machine you are looking at is most definitely not a 12F, as i'm sure you have read more than once in this thread.


12F:
Caterpillar D333 six cylinder diesel engine
6F-4R gears, direct drive.
Hydraulic over manual control with Hydraulic assist
Rigid frame
14' moldboard
Side shift
Optional 2' left blade extension
30,925 lbs. base operating weigh

12G: Total redesign model
Caterpillar 3306 six cylinder diesel engine
6F-6R gears, powershift.
Fully hydraulic controls for all blade functions
Articulating frame
14' moldboard with optional 2' extension
Hydraulic side shift
29,525 lbs operating weight

Hope this helps you out
Cheers
Nate

Thanks for the help gentlemen. Anyone think this might be a cat 112?? Where can I find a list of serial identification numbers for the years of grader? Or can you tell me what engine this grader has?? Thanks!! I’m very greatful!!!

I’m thinking it could be a 112F. Check out this video.

https://youtu.be/SlQiNgZw59A

Get a serial #. Every picture there is identical to my 1949 8T cat 12 right down to the air filter. It has a 318 engine, 6 cylinder. A 112 would be a 4 cylinder. The price depends on condition. The big gears on the front of the cab that lift the blade will tell a story. If they are in fair to good shape, you will be able to push the levers forward and lift the front end off the ground. If they are severely warn, the levers will kick the hell out of you. They can be turned to a new wear spot but that can not be recognized from the outside. Lift arm ends another place to look. Any slop? New they had a shim pack at the ball. Any shim pack left? How much wear on the circle gears and top and bottom of the circle. Lift front off ground. King pin and wheel bearing slop. Old 12s are good old machines and don't have hydraulic pumps and controls to go bad which can get expensive. Big farms in CA keep them around to straighten up their roads. New China tires are about $600 ea. Watching a you-tube vid, 1952 had pony controls inside the cab. This one they are all outside. 1948 and earlier had a different engine also.