hi

   we have been running a manitou mla since 1998 and r curently on our 3rd machine with 4000hrs on the clock. our first mchine was execlent the second a 53 plate was bad and the current machine a 56 plate is atrosous in term of reliability. has anyone else had any prolems with pivot manitous coz at the minute manitou dont wont to no and we have made it known at both cereals and lamma over the last few years but they dont seem bothered. we have now had enough and dnt dare use it coz we can garentee as soon as it comes out th shed it will break down again!!!! we are now looking at the jcb 310 machine and i was wondering if anyone has has any experiance with them and wot they are like in terms of drivability and reliabily as our machine clcks up around 1500 hours a year so it needs to be ready for wot ever we give it. our dealer blames the way we drive it for its problems but we have a matbro tr 250 done 8500 hours and r currently hiring a terex tr 250 done 4000 hours and both of these machine go from service to service with out a spanner in sight.

many thanks

I maintain that Manitou have been useless since they went side engined on the rigids. They even denied making my 932 as a standard machine at the Doe show one year! They had to buy back my brother in laws 7m machine it was so useless, and a friend with a pivot steer went for months before they got it working properly as a new machine a couple of years ago!

I miss my Matbros, I don't know anyone who doesn't remember them fondly now, even with the torque converter problems on the original telerams! I don't know what to go for next, I've heard bad stories about all the main brands, mostly about over-complication. I'm strongly favouring the Massey at the moment (I went rigid a long time ago, not willingly, but never regretted it), mainly because Massey and Bobcat (the manufacturers) give a strong warranty. I don't plan to ever run a telescopic out of warranty again!

I hope you get more responses, I'm keen to see other opinions!

you want sell your matbro tr250?