2003 Manitou MLA 628 engine cutting out

Sole Hill Farm

Member
Mixed Farmer
Hi all and apologies asking for help in my first post!

I have a 2003 (53) Manitou MLA 628 that I bought off of a friend on Friday (20.05.22) that has suddenly started cutting out - randomly.

She was absolutely fine for the 5/6 mile drive home & fine for the first day of work but then today the engine cut-out as I was lifting a small Conquip autolock skip... at first I just thought she had stalled due to the load and being at near idle (1k rpm) but upon reflection I was using her at near idle for most of the day before without issue and, let's be honest, a small skip of horse manure isn't a massive amount of weight. If I may add she started up instantly - as if nothing had happened & when she cut out the ignition lights ect all stayed on, dash wise.

She was then fine for several hours after but then cut out as I was travelling down the, bumpy, drive in 2nd at around 1800 - 2000rpm (no hydraulics in use), again, I put her in neutral, turned the key and she started up immediately. She then decided to cut out when she was just sat idling in neutral about 2-3 minutes later. Again she started absolutely fine and immediately. I then drove her down the main road 4th gear between 2 - 2500rpm for a few miles without issue & back up our drive, 2nd gear 1800-2000rpm without issue.

While she was running I wiggled the ignition key, the battery isolator switch and the wires to the stop solenoid but she didn't die!

I'm rather tempted to put a new stop solenoid on her but just wanted to humbly ask if any experts on here could tell me of any known issues that could cause this?

There are a few other little things that don't feel quite right to me (hydraulic input/calibration related) but I don't want to start on with a mahooosive thread, yet!

I'll also just state that I've known of this machine (and used her a few times) for the past 10-12years to-which she has been nothing but brilliant - I must admit I feel a little deflated as buying her was a big deal for us (financially and mentally) after battling probate and managing to turn this farm around in to being profitable... this was supposed to be a bit of a nice moment - as sad as that sounds, considering it's still just a 20year old machine!!

Any help would be much appreciated & I hope you're all having a good day!

Martyn.
 

bravheart

Member
Location
scottish borders
Don't know the machine but would suggest your on the right lines with the stop solenoid. Check the wiring to the solenoid and the connections because it sounds like it's cutting out after a bit of movement or vibration on the engine and solenoid losing power through the wires.
 

Bucks Boy

Member
Mixed Farmer
Hopefully ACE will be along to help you soon. Series 3 have electric fuel pump. Often give problems. Probably worth checking and fuel pipes too. Plus fuel filter.
 

ACEngineering

Member
Location
Oxon
Hopefully ACE will be along to help you soon. Series 3 have electric fuel pump. Often give problems. Probably worth checking and fuel pipes too. Plus fuel filter.

i restrained myself from commenting when a i read "I feel a little deflated as buying her was a big deal for us (financially and mentally) after battling probate and managing to turn this farm around in to being profitable... this was supposed to be a bit of a nice moment - as sad as that sounds, considering it's still just a 20year old machine!!"

If he feels like that with a minor fuel problem talking to me will probably make him really depressed :X3:
 

Sole Hill Farm

Member
Mixed Farmer
i restrained myself from commenting when a i read "I feel a little deflated as buying her was a big deal for us (financially and mentally) after battling probate and managing to turn this farm around in to being profitable... this was supposed to be a bit of a nice moment - as sad as that sounds, considering it's still just a 20year old machine!!"

If he feels like that with a minor fuel problem talking to me will probably make him really depressed :X3:
Haha; don’t you worry, I’m very used to it… it’s just a little deflating, knowing a machine for so many years that was basically trouble free only for it to develop what could be an annoying issue within a day of owning it… that and the fact it’s taken up a good portion of the bank account to buy it!

Cheers for the reply’s so far!
 

ACEngineering

Member
Location
Oxon
Haha; don’t you worry, I’m very used to it… it’s just a little deflating, knowing a machine for so many years that was basically trouble free only for it to develop what could be an annoying issue within a day of owning it… that and the fact it’s taken up a good portion of the bank account to buy it!

Cheers for the reply’s so far!

2003 is on the change over between series 2 and 3, series 3 had electric lift pumps with the 1100 series engine, lift pumps bad for failing and there is a better genuine perkins one available, Note if you order a genuine manitou one they now supply a non genuine copy not the genuine perkins one!

so it could be electric pump failed, the pipes from pump to tank like to perish the rubber lining under the metal braiding and then suck air that oftne also knackers the electric pump, the banjo fitting on the top of the tank blocked, or bad connection at or near the fuel stop solenoid, unlikely the stop solenoid itself imo more likely the connection but possible.

When looking at the stop solenoid do not remove the pot switch on the injector pump, if you do you will need to get the dealer out to recalibrate it.

If you have a series 2 then its much the same as above but no electric lift pump, there is a mechanical one under the turbo and has a small plastic filter on the inlet.
(hopefully you do not have a series 2 because the throttle pot switch which do fail is obsolete and was manitou only, i contacted the orginal switch supplier but min order was 200 units so just not going to happen, i then tried to modify the machine to use the pot switch off the newer model thinking once mounted it would calibrate just the same BUT it wouldnt work, the ECU is different and that means it would cost and arm and a leg to replace the ecu and then the wiring loom aswell just so you can use the later type pot switch. Ended up calibrating the old pot switch as best i could and leaving it, not ideal but no other way as i'm not ordering 200 pot switches for one model that was only built for 12months :X3: )
 

Sole Hill Farm

Member
Mixed Farmer
That’s amazing info, thank you ACE.

Annoyingly I’m off of the farm until Friday but I shall have a quick look and check of those bits as soon as I’m back. I believe it’s an S3 but, obviously, I’m not that clued-up with these machines! It’s a 120LSU if that helps? (I’ll see if I can add a pic but for a guy in his 30’s I’m freakin’ useless with tech!)

I spoke to the previous owner today and he said that the same has happened to him & that it started after he had the injector leak-off pipes replaced… He was told by the Tech doing that job that it needs new spade connectors on the stop solenoid wiring connectors but he forgot to sort that out. Fingers crossed that’s all it is.

The prev owner also stated that it had a new fuel pump installed - believe it’s a Delphi unit - so, just throwing that out there, in case that itself could cause the issue, if not properly calibrated?!

Sorry for a stream of, possibly, useless info… I’d just rather share what I’ve been told!

ACE, may I ask if you have a donation link or anything? I’m not one for free advice… &, sorry to ask, but could you recommend anyone who could work on this machine in the future? I’m located in Hampshire, near Romsey.

Thanks again and all the best.

4192A12D-6A66-4D67-B5ED-EA76E76BD74C.jpeg

4A67EC71-DE71-4F81-AAC9-A06AD7A6FD3F.jpeg
 

ACEngineering

Member
Location
Oxon
That’s amazing info, thank you ACE.

Annoyingly I’m off of the farm until Friday but I shall have a quick look and check of those bits as soon as I’m back. I believe it’s an S3 but, obviously, I’m not that clued-up with these machines! It’s a 120LSU if that helps? (I’ll see if I can add a pic but for a guy in his 30’s I’m freakin’ useless with tech!)

I spoke to the previous owner today and he said that the same has happened to him & that it started after he had the injector leak-off pipes replaced… He was told by the Tech doing that job that it needs new spade connectors on the stop solenoid wiring connectors but he forgot to sort that out. Fingers crossed that’s all it is.

The prev owner also stated that it had a new fuel pump installed - believe it’s a Delphi unit - so, just throwing that out there, in case that itself could cause the issue, if not properly calibrated?!

Sorry for a stream of, possibly, useless info… I’d just rather share what I’ve been told!

ACE, may I ask if you have a donation link or anything? I’m not one for free advice… &, sorry to ask, but could you recommend anyone who could work on this machine in the future? I’m located in Hampshire, near Romsey.

Thanks again and all the best.

View attachment 1038092
View attachment 1038093

it looks like a early series 3 with the black axles and silver wheels, and i think the series 2 where just 120 LS models and not 120 LSU.

the main injector pump is a Delphi pump should originally have a push on plug on the stop solenoid but might have been replaced for one with spared terminals. The electric lift pump isn't Delphi was made for Perkins only but there are now tons of cheap nasty copies, that said up to 2014 even the genuine Perkins one was junk but they changed the design of it slightly and since then they have been good.

"Donation link" :unsure: Now there's an idea:ROFLMAO: Honestly save it till you need some real advice/help, I've not done anything yet!

Don't really know anyone Hampshire way IMO and i hardly do any site work now, mostly in my own workshop with the odd local machine or just selling parts for others to get down and dirty fixing them:)
 

IOW91

Member
Livestock Farmer
That’s amazing info, thank you ACE.

Annoyingly I’m off of the farm until Friday but I shall have a quick look and check of those bits as soon as I’m back. I believe it’s an S3 but, obviously, I’m not that clued-up with these machines! It’s a 120LSU if that helps? (I’ll see if I can add a pic but for a guy in his 30’s I’m freakin’ useless with tech!)

I spoke to the previous owner today and he said that the same has happened to him & that it started after he had the injector leak-off pipes replaced… He was told by the Tech doing that job that it needs new spade connectors on the stop solenoid wiring connectors but he forgot to sort that out. Fingers crossed that’s all it is.

The prev owner also stated that it had a new fuel pump installed - believe it’s a Delphi unit - so, just throwing that out there, in case that itself could cause the issue, if not properly calibrated?!

Sorry for a stream of, possibly, useless info… I’d just rather share what I’ve been told!

ACE, may I ask if you have a donation link or anything? I’m not one for free advice… &, sorry to ask, but could you recommend anyone who could work on this machine in the future? I’m located in Hampshire, near Romsey.

Thanks again and all the best.

View attachment 1038092
View attachment 1038093
You could try Mike Garwood's they're based in Alton.

We have used the Isle of Wight branch for years, and the engineers they have are great.

That is unless someone in Hampshire, knows of a local telehandler specialist.
 
That’s amazing info, thank you ACE.

Annoyingly I’m off of the farm until Friday but I shall have a quick look and check of those bits as soon as I’m back. I believe it’s an S3 but, obviously, I’m not that clued-up with these machines! It’s a 120LSU if that helps? (I’ll see if I can add a pic but for a guy in his 30’s I’m freakin’ useless with tech!)

I spoke to the previous owner today and he said that the same has happened to him & that it started after he had the injector leak-off pipes replaced… He was told by the Tech doing that job that it needs new spade connectors on the stop solenoid wiring connectors but he forgot to sort that out. Fingers crossed that’s all it is.

The prev owner also stated that it had a new fuel pump installed - believe it’s a Delphi unit - so, just throwing that out there, in case that itself could cause the issue, if not properly calibrated?!

Sorry for a stream of, possibly, useless info… I’d just rather share what I’ve been told!

ACE, may I ask if you have a donation link or anything? I’m not one for free advice… &, sorry to ask, but could you recommend anyone who could work on this machine in the future? I’m located in Hampshire, near Romsey.

Thanks again and all the best.

View attachment 1038092
View attachment 1038093

I send him chocolate biscuits when he's helped me out.
He likes spiced rum too....
 

Timbo

Member
Location
Gods County
To add to ACE's reply ( I also have a S3 MLA) - there is a relay in an auxiliary box in the steering column that runs the fuel pump and stop solonoid on the pump, and also a fuse in the main fuse box. The relay is not easy to spot nor to remove as its partially behind the column covers. Either of these could be making intermittent contact or the relay failing as it warms up...

The OP needs to do some investigation next time it stops and check for power at the stop solenoid on the pump / and or the fuel pump still running (or not) when it next cuts out. There is also a Deutsch multipin connector close to the hydraulic tank filter that also carries switched power to the engine harness.- worth checking that too.
 

Sole Hill Farm

Member
Mixed Farmer
Well, cheers everyone for the help and advice... back on the farm now and since putting new spade connectors on the stop solenoid wiring she has behaved. Fingers crossed it was that simple!

ACE, while I have you may I just ask a question regarding parts supply? The heater control / AC panel in the cab is broken and I was just wondering if this is something you could supply? I'm happy to try to grab a part number if that helps? Keen to get the AC & fan working again!

I really don't want to ask too much but - if anyone has time - could you just guide on the following, too?

. Is there a kit to add a rear spool/trailer tipping pipe to these machines?

. Can trailer brakes be added? (Hydraulic)

. Am I correct in thinking the hydraulics can be calibrated on these machines? I've noticed that telescoping (or should that be Maniscoping? I'll see myself out...) back in is less responsive and saps alot more engine power than booming out &, earlier today, I lifted the boom up, all of the way, but when lowering she was slightly bumping as she dropped until around halfway down where she smoothed out.

Thanks again everyone, hope you're all keeping well!
 

ACEngineering

Member
Location
Oxon
Well, cheers everyone for the help and advice... back on the farm now and since putting new spade connectors on the stop solenoid wiring she has behaved. Fingers crossed it was that simple!

ACE, while I have you may I just ask a question regarding parts supply? The heater control / AC panel in the cab is broken and I was just wondering if this is something you could supply? I'm happy to try to grab a part number if that helps? Keen to get the AC & fan working again!

I really don't want to ask too much but - if anyone has time - could you just guide on the following, too?

. Is there a kit to add a rear spool/trailer tipping pipe to these machines?

. Can trailer brakes be added? (Hydraulic)

. Am I correct in thinking the hydraulics can be calibrated on these machines? I've noticed that telescoping (or should that be Maniscoping? I'll see myself out...) back in is less responsive and saps alot more engine power than booming out &, earlier today, I lifted the boom up, all of the way, but when lowering she was slightly bumping as she dropped until around halfway down where she smoothed out.

Thanks again everyone, hope you're all keeping well!

I supply all manitou parts but only to main land UK address.

there is a new style cab heater panel for it to replace the old one.
Most of these MLA had a double acting service to the rear as standard i think, they would just need a switch and possibly a fuse to make it work. have a look for the pipes at the back if there are there and just banked off its an easy job to get them working.

Yes trailer brakes can also be fitted but its probably going to cost quite alot IMO.

the hyd flow on the pump is calibrated to available power from engine yes but your problem you describe there is a simple adjustment of the lock out valve on the extension ram, it could be the reverse of the same problem with the lift ram BUT if its got boom suspension then it will be the valve itself faulty, there was a replacement "flapper valve" on them cause the springs used to break and cause juddering on lowering.
 

Sole Hill Farm

Member
Mixed Farmer
I supply all manitou parts but only to main land UK address.

there is a new style cab heater panel for it to replace the old one.
Most of these MLA had a double acting service to the rear as standard i think, they would just need a switch and possibly a fuse to make it work. have a look for the pipes at the back if there are there and just banked off its an easy job to get them working.

Yes trailer brakes can also be fitted but its probably going to cost quite alot IMO.

the hyd flow on the pump is calibrated to available power from engine yes but your problem you describe there is a simple adjustment of the lock out valve on the extension ram, it could be the reverse of the same problem with the lift ram BUT if its got boom suspension then it will be the valve itself faulty, there was a replacement "flapper valve" on them cause the springs used to break and cause juddering on lowering.
Thanks ACE.

I'm located down near Southampton so postage shouldn't be an issue! I'd be keen to get a price and order-up a heater panel.

I'll have a look to see if I can spot a spool, but I don't recall seeing one. Call me stupid but it wouldn't be used up for the pick-up hitch would it? They are the only hydro hoses I recall seeing back there.

Can't say I'd know if she has boom suspension or not... there is an orange rocker switch on the lower right main dash binnacle with the pic of a ram on it but I am yet to work out what that does?!

Sounds like trailer brakes may not be worth it then. I don't think it'll be a major issue, as, in truth, I didn't realise that these were only 30kph machines, was rather hoping she would do 40 & I guess if I'm going to do more roadwork / trailer towing I should probably just man-up and invest in a new tractor!

I feel rather pathetic with my lack of knowledge here, but I truly thank you for your time!
 

ACEngineering

Member
Location
Oxon
Thanks ACE.

I'm located down near Southampton so postage shouldn't be an issue! I'd be keen to get a price and order-up a heater panel.

I'll have a look to see if I can spot a spool, but I don't recall seeing one. Call me stupid but it wouldn't be used up for the pick-up hitch would it? They are the only hydro hoses I recall seeing back there.

Can't say I'd know if she has boom suspension or not... there is an orange rocker switch on the lower right main dash binnacle with the pic of a ram on it but I am yet to work out what that does?!

Sounds like trailer brakes may not be worth it then. I don't think it'll be a major issue, as, in truth, I didn't realise that these were only 30kph machines, was rather hoping she would do 40 & I guess if I'm going to do more roadwork / trailer towing I should probably just man-up and invest in a new tractor!

I feel rather pathetic with my lack of knowledge here, but I truly thank you for your time!

Oh right, yes one double acting service to rear is all that was ever available. Dont use it for tipping trailers, you can put any great weight on the rear hitch, the mounting bracket is weak but also you will get very light on the front axle for steering.

They will do over 30k with good tyres and if hitting full rpm 2450rpm but no they dont do 40k.

The orange switch with ram on it turns the aux off on the headstock, please use it cause it's a saftey thing to prevent accidentally realising bucket, ideally use the manual tap aswell.
 

windyhall

Member
Livestock Farmer
2003 is on the change over between series 2 and 3, series 3 had electric lift pumps with the 1100 series engine, lift pumps bad for failing and there is a better genuine perkins one available, Note if you order a genuine manitou one they now supply a non genuine copy not the genuine perkins one!

so it could be electric pump failed, the pipes from pump to tank like to perish the rubber lining under the metal braiding and then suck air that oftne also knackers the electric pump, the banjo fitting on the top of the tank blocked, or bad connection at or near the fuel stop solenoid, unlikely the stop solenoid itself imo more likely the connection but possible.

When looking at the stop solenoid do not remove the pot switch on the injector pump, if you do you will need to get the dealer out to recalibrate it.

If you have a series 2 then its much the same as above but no electric lift pump, there is a mechanical one under the turbo and has a small plastic filter on the inlet.
(hopefully you do not have a series 2 because the throttle pot switch which do fail is obsolete and was manitou only, i contacted the orginal switch supplier but min order was 200 units so just not going to happen, i then tried to modify the machine to use the pot switch off the newer model thinking once mounted it would calibrate just the same BUT it wouldnt work, the ECU is different and that means it would cost and arm and a leg to replace the ecu and then the wiring loom aswell just so you can use the later type pot switch. Ended up calibrating the old pot switch as best i could and leaving it, not ideal but no other way as i'm not ordering 200 pot switches for one model that was only built for 12months :X3: )
sorry for jumping on the post but my 735-120 LSU 2012 year has started to cut out randomly. she will start back up after she turns over for 10 or 20 seconds.

thanks
 

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