Machinery

parking brake.

Hydraulic ow is from a standard 48-litres/min gear pump, or a larger 62 litres/min version is an option giving extra ow for auxiliary functions. A ow sharing hydraulic distributor allows operation of multiple functions without sacri cing cycle times. A small 39-litre hydraulic oil supply tank has an anti-aeration lter to remove air bubbles – so that oil returned to the tank is suitable for immediate re-use.

A new electronic carriage angle compensation system uses an angle sensor at the rear of the boom and a carriage rod length sensor inside the bucket cylinder, removing the need for compensation rams and pipework and reducing weight. Advantages include extremely precise operation and reduced carriage drift.

Specify equipment

Manitou models come in three speci cation levels – Essential, Comfort and Classic. Options include LED lighting with poultry lights available, a reversible cooling fan, and air conditioning which adds 3cm to the overall height. Fuel savings are provided by an automatic stop/start system, which switches o the engine after idling periods from 1–30 minutes. To restart, the user has only to move the joystick or activate the throttle. The manufacturer said that handlers used in construction can spend up to 45% of the time idling, and that specifying the new option saves fuel, reduces emissions, extends the period between servicing and increases residual values, and it has proved popular on other machines in the line-up since it became an option in mid-2021.

Popular tyre options include Mitas TR07 31-15.5-15 agricultural, and Trelleborg 11LR16 industrial –additional options are available from Michelin, Alliance and Camso.

A range of 20 dedicated attachments is available with a range of bracket types, and Manitou expects early demand from poultry enterprises where advantages over skid-steer machines include greater lift capacity and height.

There is no homologation for pulling trailers, but a rear hitch provides limited towing ability around the yard.

Manitou telematics are standard, and free for the rst two years. Machines are covered by a standard two-year or 2,000-hour warranty.

Functional design

A look around the machine con rmed that although it is very small, it isn’t short of useful features.

The cab is compact, but with the seat fully back and the steering wheel suitably adjusted, taller drivers can work in reasonable comfort. The upper section of the door can be removed for operation in good weather, and this increases space for the driver’s left arm.

The cab feels much larger than its dimensions suggest – mainly due to the large glass area and excellent visibility. There is no B-pillar on the right-hand side so the view across the boom and engine hood to the front, side and rear is unrestricted.

The test area included a steep slope, and the opportunity to re-

You can rely on David Harrison to have the handling solutions to meet your needs.

From simple Visser palletisers to the Symach’s “all singing, all dancing” alternatives and from the incredibly accurate Manter weigher baggers to the tough and reliable Sack Filling Company stitching line they will, along with expert back-up, help to keep your packhouse both profitable and fully operational. David Harrison Handling Solutions Ltd are proud to have possibly the UK’s largest stock of used and refurbished potato handling equipment.