In our telehandler fleet, we have:
2001 JCB 530/70 - here since 2yo, now a bit over 10,000hrs, blissfully simple and one of the most reliable machines we have ever owned. Bit slow in the hydraulics, and gets hot if pushed hard, but perfectly capable still. 40k, turbo, air con, 3t 7m etc.
2005 TM300 - here from new, less than 100hrs from hitting 10,000hrs - very nearly as reliable as the 530, and worked harder generally, very handy, liked by all, but tiring now. In many ways more user friendly than the 310s or 320s that it will likely be replaced with
Recent aquisition - 2012 536/70 - 5000hrs - decent hydraulics, (constant pump for bucket brush useful), plenty of power and a nice enough place to work, but wtf is that joystick about? Which comedian thought that the neutral button (dump switch, call it what you will) ought to move from the very convenient usable position under your little finger, to the top of the stick? How can I use the boom or auxillary rollers while my finger is on the dump? Do the desingers ever listen to feedback or drive the things??
Whats the crack with the gearbox? Why, on this fine earth, does a simple, used by everyone machine like a telehandler need three transmission modes? The bloody thing is always changing gear!! Surely it'll die much quicker than the 530? Surely an extra click on the twist grip, so it was 1234A would be fine? (A being 5th and 6th) Its also annoying that reverse (in every mode) is a gear slower than forward - 2nd is too slow backwards, 4th often too fast forward for close work.
Our other machines have almost perfect gear ratios- on the 536 3rd is often too slow, 4th too fast. Progress eh? Really not warming to this one at all. Maybe I'm just a grumpy sod!
Spud
2001 JCB 530/70 - here since 2yo, now a bit over 10,000hrs, blissfully simple and one of the most reliable machines we have ever owned. Bit slow in the hydraulics, and gets hot if pushed hard, but perfectly capable still. 40k, turbo, air con, 3t 7m etc.
2005 TM300 - here from new, less than 100hrs from hitting 10,000hrs - very nearly as reliable as the 530, and worked harder generally, very handy, liked by all, but tiring now. In many ways more user friendly than the 310s or 320s that it will likely be replaced with
Recent aquisition - 2012 536/70 - 5000hrs - decent hydraulics, (constant pump for bucket brush useful), plenty of power and a nice enough place to work, but wtf is that joystick about? Which comedian thought that the neutral button (dump switch, call it what you will) ought to move from the very convenient usable position under your little finger, to the top of the stick? How can I use the boom or auxillary rollers while my finger is on the dump? Do the desingers ever listen to feedback or drive the things??
Whats the crack with the gearbox? Why, on this fine earth, does a simple, used by everyone machine like a telehandler need three transmission modes? The bloody thing is always changing gear!! Surely it'll die much quicker than the 530? Surely an extra click on the twist grip, so it was 1234A would be fine? (A being 5th and 6th) Its also annoying that reverse (in every mode) is a gear slower than forward - 2nd is too slow backwards, 4th often too fast forward for close work.
Our other machines have almost perfect gear ratios- on the 536 3rd is often too slow, 4th too fast. Progress eh? Really not warming to this one at all. Maybe I'm just a grumpy sod!
Spud
♂
