Machinery Grab work on the estate includes manure handling and occasional forestry tasks. A useful feature is the ability to select different oil flows for each hydraulic valve so that the grab can open slowly and close quickly, for example.
Visibility when working with pallet forks is excellent. ...from previous page
Jon commented that after just a few hours worked, he found the cab quiet and comfortable and the controls well positioned. Visibility was described as ‘excellent’, particularly down to the front attachment, and significantly better than either of the farm’s current telehandlers. “My first impression of the new cab roof guard design was that it is quite clever, but in practice the improved vision is significant. From the seat, when working at height, you look right through it without really noticing it’s there, and because it lets more light in the cab feels more spacious. There is a handy sun blind too,” he said. For yard work the view all-around was good although the top-mounted external ram for the three-stage boom restricted vision over the operator’s right shoulder. “There are two cameras which both offer a great view through the in-cab display but only one can be selected at a time. It would make far more sense to have a split view, allowing the right side and rear to be monitored simultaneously,” he explained. On the road the good visibility was also praised, although the nearside mirror view was described as ‘poor’. “What impressed me most was how much quieter it is than any other handler I’ve driven – even at transport speeds there is little engine or transmission noise. The new MLT940 is almost as comfortable as one of our premium-brand tractors so I have to give it 10/10 for roadwork,” he stressed. “It’s also very quiet in the yard although when pushing hard there is slightly more transmission noise, but never enough to be an issue. The Michelin tyres give a good ride on all surfaces although being a little larger than standard tyres means a slightly reduced steering angle, but manoeuvrability is still excellent. Even
with the larger tyres, the steering is very light.” The cab layout was described as significantly better than the farm’s current Manitou. “Everything is to hand and it’s hard to beat the JSM joystick for ease and comfort of use. The trailer hitch release has been repositioned from behind the seat where it is very awkward to get at, to the right hand side in front of the seat which is a big improvement,” he said.
Transmission Experimenting with the engine and transmission set-up proved worthwhile. “With several operating modes and set-up options, finding the best for each task took a while,” he explained. “But the system is quite user-friendly so after a couple of days it became easier to start new tasks and immediately optimise the system for performance and economy.
Access for servicing and daily checks is very good.
The NewAg handler is homologated for gross vehicle weights up to 28t when towing. The compact design means there is little overhang and if the rear wheels clear an object during manoeuvring then the handler’s rear weight will too.
“Pushing up the muck heap required a lot of power and traction as well as fast loading cycle times so I set the engine speed on the hand throttle at 1,600rpm, then controlled the travel speed using the foot pedal. That made a big difference to the operation improving productivity considerably. I also used the ‘Return to load’ hydraulic function more than I had expected. It seemed a bit of a gimmick at first simply allowing me to set the bucket at an angle and height above the ground and memorise it for immediate return to that position just by pushing the joystick fully forward. Once I was used to it I found it a big help, and because it relies on adequate oil flow to work effectively this was another situation where setting the engine revs on the hand throttle and driving on the foot pedal worked well.”
Conclusions After two weeks with the machine Jon said it had continued to impress and so he scored it at 9/10 overall. “Fuel use is minimal and I almost worried at times that the gauge was faulty as so little was used for the hours worked. Adblue consumption was negligible with no top-ups needed. “The transmission is a highlight for me. So much power available for pushing up the muckheap and for ground work, but it’s so flexible and responsive at high travel speeds too. I love it; it’s a clever design, it’s quiet and it helps users get the best from the machine. The engine has plenty of power although with one of our larger trailers on the back we could have done with a little more at times.” The cab also continued to impress, with the new control layout proving practical and optimising the space available. The large front windscreen offered excellent visibility and made the cab feel light and airy. Jon also complimented the climate control which proved more effective than the farm’s current Manitou. “The new cab remains comfortable even after long working days and in almost every area the NewAg handler is improved over our four-year-old model. “My only real criticism is the boom suspension. It’s very effective but for tasks such as unloading pallets from a flat-bed trailer the suspension disengages while additional functions such as tilt or crowd are used, bur reengages when only raising or lowering
Jon Bedford (left) with Manitou product specialist James Hulme.
allowing the boom to drop slightly while the suspension adapts to the new load weight. This can take the operator by surprise. Ease of maintenance was also improved over the farm’s own handler and daily checks are carried out in just a few minutes. Central greasing looks after almost all the lubrication with only a few grease points needing separate attention and all with easy access. “All in all the Manitou NewAg exceeded my expectations in almost every way and I think it would be very hard to beat now as a versatile farm handler,” concluded Jon.
Manager view Farm manager Matthew Hawthorne also tried the machine and was impressed. “I like our current Manitou,” he said. “But the latest version has many improvements. What impressed me immediately was how compact it is for the lift height and capacity. In the past I have never considered 9m machines because the additional boom length usually creates an overhang, making them appear cumbersome and better suited to industrial use. However, against our current 7m the new Manitou is of similar length so, with the additional reach helpful in some situations such as pushing up the manure heaps, it might be that in future we consider the larger model.” ■
The MLT940 140+ came on Michelin Bibload tyres which gave an excellent ride, gripped well and remained clean where cleated tyres would have collected mud. Ground clearance is impressive at 41cm.
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