Manitou 630. Which gearbox

[bht]

Looking at a new manitou 630-105 unsure which gearbox to go for.

General livestock farm work mainly in the yard with a short daily road run. Mainly tmr mixing, spreadabale stacking bales mucking out etc.

Have heard reports of the vario box having issues?

Machine would stay for approx 6000 hours

 

[ColinV6]

We’ve had the V box for 2 and a bit years now, it’s absolutely wonderful. Not a chance would I swap it for the PS+

Even now we get people ask if you can “feel” the wall with the bucket etc, it’s simple, and you never need touch the brakes at all.

 

[vantage]

If you’re into bodybuilding, left leg especially go for the torque converter, otherwise for an easy drive hydrostatic.

 

[ACEngineering]

If you’re into bodybuilding, left leg especially go for the torque converter, otherwise for an easy drive hydrostatic.

It's a manitou not a jcb

 

[vantage]

It's a manitou not a jcb

Mine must have been the “macho” special! I can finally wear trousers that aren’t two sizes two large , to fit over my leg! Weidemann is a revelation!

 

[ACEngineering]

Looking at a new manitou 630-105 unsure which gearbox to go for.

General livestock farm work mainly in the yard with a short daily road run. Mainly tmr mixing, spreadabale stacking bales mucking out etc.

Have heard reports of the vario box having issues?

Machine would stay for approx 6000 hours

Fairly sure the powershift isnt an option on the 630, so limited your choice to 4 speed manual or the hydro.

The hydro isnt quite going to drive like the V plus 140 models though but its probably better than the old 4speed box imo?

The hydro/vario does not use the 90deg transfer box so imo that's a big plus for long term reliability. Just about every 90deg transfer box will be knackered or very worn by 6k hours!

The hydro will be noisier in the cab though and you really need to drive one if you not driven a hydro before cause there very much like marmite!

 

[bht]

Thanks all, thinking hydro will be better for bedding up as we drive in with the cattle and at the moment you are revving to get enough oil flow whilst holding it back on the brakes.
Any other comments on the machine? Happy with them?

 

[ACEngineering]

Thanks all, thinking hydro will be better for bedding up as we drive in with the cattle and at the moment you are revving to get enough oil flow whilst holding it back on the brakes.
Any other comments on the machine? Happy with them?

yes if your bedding with it then i would say the hydro will be best IF you can set the forward speed independent of the engine RPM like you can on the V plus.

 

[ColinV6]

yes if your bedding with it then i would say the hydro will be best IF you can set the forward speed independent of the engine RPM like you can on the V plus.

You can. Set the revs using hand throttle or preset button, the speed is all governed by the foot pedal.

 

[ACEngineering]

You can. Set the revs using hand throttle or preset button, the speed is all governed by the foot pedal.

no brainer then for a bedding machine

 

[bht]

Thanks all

 

[Down farmer]

Have the vario now about 18 months and would be v well pleased with it used to have a JCB and it is much superior to the yellow gearbox would agree with the positive comments above and would definitely buy again

 

[Happy]

What did you go for in the end @bht ?
Got similar dilemma in replacing a 627 to do much the same jobs plus grain bucket work.
Have never driven a vario before. Can anyone tell me what I am missing out on?

Read on another thread someone saying vario lacks feel when mucking out against walls, do others find this the case?

Tempted to stick to what I know but local dealer has a pre price increase 630-105 vario in stock. Next ones they have due in will be the more expensive stage 5 engined ones.

 

[Drillman]

We had a vario manitou for 3 months while waiting for ours to be fixed (long story)

I hated it. You would think you had come to a halt but it would keep going a touch more , not a lot only a foot or so but was enough to drive me mad. it lacked feel as well, wasn’t just me either as several other folks had a go on it and said the same.

i Never missed it when it went even though it was a lot newer than ours and much better in other ways.

 

[ACEngineering]

We had a vario manitou for 3 months while waiting for ours to be fixed (long story)

I hated it. You would think you had come to a halt but it would keep going a touch more , not a lot only a foot or so but was enough to drive me mad. it lacked feel as well, wasn’t just me either as several other folks had a go on it and said the same.

i Never missed it when it went even though it was a lot newer than ours and much better in other ways.

Maybe it was faulty adjusted wrong? never heard anyone say that they do that, the lack of feel i would agree on but most would get used to it i'm sure in time, it will have more torque at slow speeds and low revs than a torque converter model which will take some getting used to.

 

[Drillman]

Maybe it was faulty adjusted wrong? never heard anyone say that they do that, the lack of feel i would agree on but most would get used to it i'm sure in time, it will have more torque at slow speeds and low revs than a torque converter model which will take some getting used to.

It had been thru the hands of the local dealers forklift specialist before I was given it to use.

And the chap in question is about as good as they get on Manitou.

it was fine in open spaces but anything that requires fine control it was awful even attaching stuff on the front was hard work compared to our much older TC version

 

[ColinV6]

It had been thru the hands of the local dealers forklift specialist before I was given it to use.

And the chap in question is about as good as they get on Manitou.

it was fine in open spaces but anything that requires fine control it was awful even attaching stuff on the front was hard work compared to our much older TC version

I seriously fail to see how that one was right. It’s an absolute doddle to control, at slow speed or high. Literally couldn’t be any easier. Your foot controls the speed. That’s it

 

[Drillman]

I seriously fail to see how that one was right. It’s an absolute doddle to control, at slow speed or high. Literally couldn’t be any easier. Your foot controls the speed. That’s it

It was horrid I did think several times about getting a price to swap ours for it as in a lot of other ways it was better but the gearbox put me right off it

 

[Yale]

TC or Vario if doing a week of silage clamp work per year.

Would the silage clamp kill the vario?

 

[Fergieman]

630 is only available with hydro or TC, the vario is a different box and only available on the larger machines.
I have a 630 hydro and a 741 vario and to be honest I prefer the hydro but it's maybe what I am used too. 630 has 3300hrs on it now with no problems other than servicing.