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essexpete

Member
Location
Essex
I see the axles on the Matbro have the Sh!te outboard brakes like the old Sandersons and early Manitous. It does look quite straight and makes the Sanderson above look a bit pricey. I still think a Manitou or Jcb from the early to mid 90s might be a better buy.
 

davedb

Member
Location
Staffordshire
Definitely look for a matbro they are very well built and reliable, I brought a tr250 itl for £5000 and spent a bit of time tidying it up, the main expense was the headstock rebuild but we’re lucky we can do that ourselves I’d be lost without it now tbh
 

Ukjay

Member
Location
Wales!
I still think a Manitou or Jcb from the early to mid 90s might be a better buy.

May I ask why you say this (my question coming from a person having never owned a TH before), also, why are the brakes shite if fitted as these appear to be - do they get dunked up easily?
 

Ukjay

Member
Location
Wales!
Just coming back on this - has anyone dealt with the company selling the Matbro, because it is a fair drive to view and I would not wish to waste my time going up north because it will be a full day roundtrip?
 

ACEngineering

Member
Location
Oxon
I see the axles on the Matbro have the Sh!te outboard brakes like the old Sandersons and early Manitous. It does look quite straight and makes the Sanderson above look a bit pricey. I still think a Manitou or Jcb from the early to mid 90s might be a better buy.

Yes same brake hub set up as sanderson, but matbros work better!
Ts 260 had a 2 stage master cylinder which if it was set up right were quite good. If it was set wrong they were BAD!
Next models on ts270 and 280 had power assisted brakes from hydraulic pump and they worked really well.
Although the power assisted ones did eat brake discs regular:facepalm:
 

essexpete

Member
Location
Essex
May I ask why you say this (my question coming from a person having never owned a TH before), also, why are the brakes shite if fitted as these appear to be - do they get dunked up easily?
Ace would be able to answer better than me. Our old Sanderson has that type of axle and I have always felt the brakes are not that great.
Regard to Manitou and JCB they are both manufacturers still in business. When we owned an elderly JCB wheeled digger I found it possible to source parts fairly easily and sometimes from our local agent. At the end of the day the Matbro main components are used on other makes as well.
 

ACEngineering

Member
Location
Oxon
May I ask why you say this (my question coming from a person having never owned a TH before), also, why are the brakes shite if fitted as these appear to be - do they get dunked up easily?

Imo them carraro axles are sh1t no matter what they fitted to! They are too weak on the king pins and bearings. But they are fixable still so not all bad and they were very very common.
 

Ukjay

Member
Location
Wales!
So, taking on board what is said, would I be buying a short lived machine in terms of the mature due to parts, or for non commercial use would they be ok?

In terms of mechanical ability, I am fairly reasonable and I can weld / fabricate etc. Electrics are my weak point, but can usually get the basics right. Hydraulics are my new learning point.
 

ACEngineering

Member
Location
Oxon
So, taking on board what is said, would I be buying a short lived machine in terms of the mature due to parts, or for non commercial use would they be ok?

In terms of mechanical ability, I am fairly reasonable and I can weld / fabricate etc. Electrics are my weak point, but can usually get the basics right. Hydraulics are my new learning point.

its no big secret parts supply for the sandersons and matbros is not getting any better. Most parts can be got some easier than others but certain things have been unavailable for a long time now and recently as in the past 12 months I have found a few more items that have been added to the list of not available.

One item on the sanderson that springs to mind is the carraro steering case (bit were the king pins fit and the steering ram connects too)
these do sometimes fail, either by wheel bearing failure or by the steering ram ripping out of it. I believe the only new stock left now is Manitou and they only have 1 or 2 and they are over £1k! so they will sit there till someone wants to pay and that will be that.

Luckily matbro steering case is different and easy available, I do wonder if the matbro one could be re machined to fit a sanderson?

There are lots of other bits and pieces not available but on the whole most parts can be got or worked around, for how much longer I have my doubts?

Yes there are several matbro parts specialists about having bits made etc etc but the matbro bubble has long burst so I cant believe these people are shifting the volume of parts they once were which begs the question how much longer will they continue supporting a brand that ceased trading 20 years ago?
 

Ukjay

Member
Location
Wales!
OK so maybe not the wisest investment maybe due to parts, probably better investing in another make and look to add some more funds maybe.

Thanks All for your contribution / advice much appreciated!
 
Older machines that had a high pivot point are much less stable than newer tyres which have a much lower pivot point. I bought a older manitou for a building site I had and it was a bit dodgy on any slope with the boom up
Can't see the logic in the pivot argument from a stability point of view. More overall design of machine with a purpose built frame not based on an off the shelf skid unit.
Back to subject, go for it, is the same anything if you get a good one then fine if not tough. Better to get a £5000 lemon then a £10000 one and no guarantee that below £20000 you will get a gem.
Paid £1250 for mine non runner but just needed transmission filter back flush, now works fine and already paid its way.
 

ACEngineering

Member
Location
Oxon
Can't see the logic in the pivot argument from a stability point of view. More overall design of machine with a purpose built frame not based on an off the shelf skid unit.
Back to subject, go for it, is the same anything if you get a good one then fine if not tough. Better to get a £5000 lemon then a £10000 one and no guarantee that below £20000 you will get a gem.
Paid £1250 for mine non runner but just needed transmission filter back flush, now works fine and already paid its way.

Like he said its more important not to buy a lemon or a nail! To the OP, take a friend that knows something about them or better still find the local independent repair guy that you would be using and pay him to go look at some with you.
 

cousinjack

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Cornwall

Looks a good machine IMO.. for that kind of money you're not going to find a Jcb or manitou in as good a condition...

Is that joystick cable or hydraulic operated ?? Anyone know?

If it's cable then worst case is two new cables... if it's hydraulic, it's unlikely to cause problems but could be costly to repair if there were leaks, And if it's electric it'd be a nightmare !!

I have a new found admiration for matbro's... they are well built machines.... I can see why all dairy boys like them !!
 

ACEngineering

Member
Location
Oxon
Looks a good machine IMO.. for that kind of money you're not going to find a Jcb or manitou in as good a condition...

Is that joystick cable or hydraulic operated ?? Anyone know?

If it's cable then worst case is two new cables... if it's hydraulic, it's unlikely to cause problems but could be costly to repair if there were leaks, And if it's electric it'd be a nightmare !!

I have a new found admiration for matbro's... they are well built machines.... I can see why all dairy boys like them !!

electric danfoss stick. IMO that's a plus point, nothing much wrong with them really.
 

cousinjack

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Cornwall
electric danfoss stick. IMO that's a plus point, nothing much wrong with them really.

Never had anything to do with them..
.. not maintenance wise anyway..

Is that similar to the manitou joystick from a few years back ??
I think our cat th330 is electrical..... no feel to it ... I'm dreading it going wrong...

Do they just use an electro-Hyd spool block ??
 

ACEngineering

Member
Location
Oxon
Never had anything to do with them..
.. not maintenance wise anyway..

Is that similar to the manitou joystick from a few years back ??
I think our cat th330 is electrical..... no feel to it ... I'm dreading it going wrong...

Do they just use an electro-Hyd spool block ??

Manitou did use same danfoss system way back in the early 90's yes.
But only as an option and not many bought it.

Danfoss has been used since on the late mlt 627 and 629 rear engine.
 

ACEngineering

Member
Location
Oxon
Never had anything to do with them..
.. not maintenance wise anyway..

Is that similar to the manitou joystick from a few years back ??
I think our cat th330 is electrical..... no feel to it ... I'm dreading it going wrong...

Do they just use an electro-Hyd spool block ??

The TH330 did have alot of electric issues with hydraulic controls. Mainly the silly expensive solenoid set up on spool block and for the up dated parts you were talking many thousands pounds! Some would have been done on warranty though but know some people had to pay!
 

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