Manitou MLT630 Flex plate cracked/broken

[ravensneuk]

Hi All

We've got a Manitou MLT630 with 3600 hours (around 500 hrs since we got it).

It had a bad rattle/squeak coming from it when driving the mechanic has told us that the flex plate between the engine and torque converter has cracked and they are replacing it. Even had a chunk of the plate to show us.

Does anyone know if this is a common fault or if it should really be happening on a machine with those hours?

Would be good to understand what caused it so we can avoid it happening again.

Cheers

Dave

 

[Oscar]

We have an in house Manitou expert who no doubt will once again answer the question later however I can t for the life of me remember his username?!!!! Sorry

 

[vantage]

We have an in house Manitou expert who no doubt will once again answer the question later however I can t for the life of me remember his username?!!!! Sorry

@ACEngineering

 

[ACEngineering]

Hi All

We've got a Manitou MLT630 with 3600 hours (around 500 hrs since we got it).

It had a bad rattle/squeak coming from it when driving the mechanic has told us that the flex plate between the engine and torque converter has cracked and they are replacing it. Even had a chunk of the plate to show us.

Does anyone know if this is a common fault or if it should really be happening on a machine with those hours?

Would be good to understand what caused it so we can avoid it happening again.

Cheers

Dave

Hello

Yes it's common, it will be cracked because the bearings are loose in the gearbox casing.

Replacing just flexi plate and or just bearings is normally just a short term fix.

 

[ravensneuk]

Hello

Yes it's common, it will be cracked because the bearings are loose in the gearbox casing.

Replacing just flexi plate and or just bearings is normally just a short term fix.

Hey

Thanks for taking the time to answer and good to know, I'll make sure both get replaced now.

Cheers

Dave

 

[ACEngineering]

Hey

Thanks for taking the time to answer and good to know, I'll make sure both get replaced now.

Cheers

Dave

Your missing my point, bearings loose in casting is more than just replacing bearings.

It could be the gearbox is scrap and will need a new one.

 

[suffolksmallholder]

From a complete layman's point of view this is low hours to fail so badly!
SS

 

[ravensneuk]

Your missing my point, bearings loose in casting is more than just replacing bearings.

It could be the gearbox is scrap and will need a new one.

Ah right, this machine has been a right pig in poke since we caught it. Cracked fuel filter housing, shredded belts, new alternator, worn through wiring loom, burst brake pipe!

Maybe we need to cut our losses and get rid of it.

Thanks for clarifying, much appreciated.

Cheers

Dave

 

[ACEngineering]

Ah right, this machine has been a right pig in poke since we caught it. Cracked fuel filter housing, shredded belts, new alternator, worn through wiring loom, burst brake pipe!

Maybe we need to cut our losses and get rid of it.

Thanks for clarifying, much appreciated.

Cheers

Dave

I wasn't saying there no good just answering your question as to why it's cracked and what you need to look for.

 

[ravensneuk]

I wasn't saying there no good just answering your question as to why it's cracked and what you need to look for.

Appreciate that, just trying to weigh up spending on a new gear box and then what ever else goes wrong over trading in and getting a much newer one.

I was told today that the 635-130 is a much better machine. We've got a 737-130 on loan just now, which has been making jobs much quicker.

Cheers

 

[ACEngineering]

Appreciate that, just trying to weigh up spending on a new gear box and then what ever else goes wrong over trading in and getting a much newer one.

I was told today that the 635-130 is a much better machine. We've got a 737-130 on loan just now, which has been making jobs much quicker.

Cheers

i would have to agree tbh, 635 and the 737 do still have 90 deg gearbox issues which are very common and well known BUT the gearbox is cheaper to buy new and is in most cases rebuildable if you want too. Unlike the narrow compact 630 which has a different make of gearbox in it and the parts are crazy expensive so add up to the cost of a new box if its failed badly OR the casings are damaged from loose spinning bearings so again back to buying a new box in alot of cases.

 

[mo!]

Fuel filter bracket is very common. We've gone through 3, I think the original that I welded up with a gusset was the strongest one.

The clock is a joke, the steering kicks back, the hydraulics lock all the time (unless in bucket mode which helpfully turns itself off all the time) and starting is a lottery. It has great cab access, is more compact and a better joystick than the main competition which is why we bought it. Manitou have typical french attitude to rectifying the issues.

 

[ACEngineering]

Fuel filter bracket is very common. We've gone through 3, I think the original that I welded up with a gusset was the strongest one.

The clock is a joke, the steering kicks back, the hydraulics lock all the time (unless in bucket mode which helpfully turns itself off all the time) and starting is a lottery. It has great cab access, is more compact and a better joystick than the main competition which is why we bought it. Manitou have typical french attitude to rectifying the issues.

fuel filter bracket is the same on all the deutz, just needs welding up properly and a gusset in the right place and they dont break again.

i think theres an accumulator on the steering to stop kick backs? not sure about clock but if its got a screen then i think theres updates for that too.

Starting?? there is a starter motor mod on early deutz machines as the dust was getting in them and preventing the starter gear meshing in to flywheel properly.

 

[mo!]

fuel filter bracket is the same on all the deutz, just needs welding up properly and a gusset in the right place and they dont break again.

i think theres an accumulator on the steering to stop kick backs? not sure about clock but if its got a screen then i think theres updates for that too.

Starting?? there is a starter motor mod on early deutz machines as the dust was getting in them and preventing the starter gear meshing in to flywheel properly.

Manitou man has been out and done lots of tests on the steering. Some machines do it, others don't. He said next time order the other spool block (?) which is awkward as our dealer only sells one spec.

Clock update apparently doesn't entirely fix the issue and the Manitou man advised us not to have the update done...

Starting is a lottery due to the electronics. If you let the screen fully boot up then it will start. If you just get in and turn the key then about half the time it will start. No other machine we have requires a pause before starting. Lots of excuses have been made but it's a complete pain and major design fault on a machine that may start and stop upwards of 20 times per day.

The step into the cab is great though.

 

[Wesley]

Clock update apparently doesn't entirely fix the issue and the Manitou man advised us not to have the update done...

Assuming its the same screen/software as the 635, I’ve had it done & no regrets. It’s not perfect (a few minutes out in weeks/months rather than days, but far better than it originally was…but to be fair a sundial on the roof would’ve been an improvement!

 

[Db990]

Fuel filter bracket is very common. We've gone through 3, I think the original that I welded up with a gusset was the strongest one.

The clock is a joke, the steering kicks back, the hydraulics lock all the time (unless in bucket mode which helpfully turns itself off all the time) and starting is a lottery. It has great cab access, is more compact and a better joystick than the main competition which is why we bought it. Manitou have typical french attitude to rectifying the issues.

They’ve finally brought out a mod that moves the fuel filter bracket off the engine and on to the side panel!

 

[Fergieman]

Is this flex plate/bearing issue only an issue with powershift gearboxes or do hydro versions have the same issue?

 

[davidroberts30]

Hello

Yes it's common, it will be cracked because the bearings are loose in the gearbox casing.

Replacing just flexi plate and or just bearings is normally just a short term fix.

had a jcb that broke the plate, the thrusts in the engine had dropped out

 

[ravensneuk]

Is this flex plate/bearing issue only an issue with powershift gearboxes or do hydro versions have the same issue?

In this instance it is a manual gearbox, not sure what other options a 630 has.

 

[ACEngineering]

Is this flex plate/bearing issue only an issue with powershift gearboxes or do hydro versions have the same issue?

just applies to the narrow MLT 630 and 730 and with torque converters. fairly sure the hydros dont have the 90 deg gearbox in them.