Once you get to grips with a skid steer, you won’t want to move away from such a machine. This was exactly the case for Dunsany dairy farmer Shane Thynne, who got hooked after a week-long demonstration.

Coming from a tractor and front-end loader setup, Shane never owned or previously operated a skid-steer.

Milking 100 cows with just the one labour unit, he took up on the offer of a demonstration and was very impressed with the capabilities of the machine.

He explained: “When the demo machine arrived, I genuinely had no intention of buying it. As I began to use it, I grew more and more fond of it.

“I have a lot of low sheds with restricted access and narrow passageways. This was where the skid steer came into its own.

“It allowed me to get through work far quicker, while cutting out a lot of the manual labour involved in the day-to-day running of the farm.

“From time to time I have had problems with my back, so I was always conscious about minding it.

“The skid steer has cut out a lot of the physical work on the farm, such as cleaning out calving areas or pushing in silage.”

Shane Thynee

The machine

The Manitou 1650R is a direct replacement for the older Mustang 2054/2050 models, which continue to prove popular on many farms around the country.

The 1650R has a maximum lift capacity of 816kg with the additional counterweight.

The recent introduction of the updated model numbering relates to the machine’s operating capacity (in pounds). For example, the 1650R has an operating capacity of 1,650lb (748kg without ballast), with the R relating to radial lift.

With an unladen weight of 2,796kg, the skid steer has an operating height of 3,876mm when fully raised.

Milking 100 cows with one labour unit, Shane never owned or previously operated a skid-steer.

Engine

The entire radial lift range, including the 1650R, is powered by a four-cylinder Yanmar engine.

Meeting Stage IV emission standards, this non-turbo engine generates 69hp (52kW). This is substantially more than its predecessor, the Mustang 2054, which had 47hp underneath the bonnet.

One thing Shane was quick to point out was how accessible the unit is, whether you are entering the cab or accessing all major service areas.

“Once you open the back door and bonnet, all filters, fluid fill points and the isolator switch are straight in front of you.

“If you pull the locking pin on the radiator it swings out, meaning you have great access to the engine.

“Once you open the back door and bonnet, all filters, fluid fill points and the isolator switch are straight in front of you”.

“Meanwhile, the hinged cab can also tip back and upwards via gas struts if need be. I haven’t had the need to try thism but it’s just a matter of loosening two nuts and lifting,” Shane said.

Drive

The 1650R is fitted with a single-speed Poclain hydrostatic drive. Meanwhile, a two-speed transmission is available (19.5km/h) as an optional extra. Shane’s unit features the former, which has a top speed of 12.6km/h.

Although it sounds quite slow, Shane said that this machine is solely for use on either concrete or settled stone.

Having brought it into a field on one occasion, he would strongly advise against this, noting the unit will cut up ground due to the nature of its steering system.

He only uses it around the farmyard and doesn’t find forward speed to be a limiting factor.

The drive motors are centrally mounted between the front and rear axle, with two chains on each side rather than a single chain.

Manitou notes that this distributes forces more evenly and allows the chain to be tensioned more easily by moving the stub axles away from each other along the slotted holes.

"The biggest thing I like about the machine is how nimble and versatile it is."

Cab

The 1650R comes with three controls options. The first is mechanical hand/foot control. This system uses levers to control the drive and pedals to control the loader functions.

The second uses T-bar controls, using two levers, each of which can be pushed forward and twisted. The left lever controls drive, while the right lever controls the loader.

The final system is pilot-control joysticks, similar to the T-bar system, with the left joystick controlling drive and the right controlling the loader. The machine Shane purchased features the T-bar controls.

“I love the T-bar control setup. It took a day or two to get used to it, and I did find it a little bit jumpy at the beginning. In saying that, it’s now like second nature to me.

“The control layout is straightforward. Aside from the T-bar controls, other features are accessible through switches on the pillars. A small digital display on the right-hand pillar displays the machine’s information.

“I would be very happy with the lighting and the visibility to the front and side of the machine. However, visibility to the rear is restricted. I have planned to retrofit a reversing camera to the machine so I can keep an eye out on this blind spot.

“The machine also features telematics, which I think is a great job. When the skid steer was actually brought down to R&M to have the euro hitch fitted, my dealer called me to let me know the machine had been moved from my yard and was just double-checking that I was aware,” explained Shane.

Once engine revs have been set with the dial, the foot throttle can be used to override if more revs are required for faster forward speed or greater hydraulic flow.

The parking brake and hydraulic locking function engages automatically every time the body restraint is lifted, helping to prevent a potential accident.

Optional cab additional specs include side windows (on Shane’s machine), a front door, various seating options, heating/air con and hydraulic attachment locking/unlocking.

Hydraulics and coupling

The 1650R comes with two hydraulic options – the standard 71.4l/min pump or the high-flow option which delivers 114l/min. Shane’s unit has the standard option.

He noted that this 71.4l/min pump has more than enough juice for all applications on his farm. This includes for running the silage grab, bale handler and yard scraper.

The machine initially came with a standard skid steer-type headstock. To be compatible with all implements used by his tractor and front-end loader, Shane opted for a euro headstock adaptor, which was sourced from nearby engineering firm R&M.

To make the initial entry step or final exiting step that little bit easier, Shane got Mortimer Machinery to fit a small step on to the side of the headstock.

Two positive hydraulic-related features that Shane picked out were the third service pressure-relieving coupling block and the ease of accessibility to pipes, fittings and rams, in the event of a leak or pipe bursting.

The coupling block has a built-in depressurisation system, which relieves pressure once its flat-faced couplings are pushed into one another.

Verdict

“I have been really impressed with the 1650R. I took delivery of the unit in April 2020 and have clocked up over 375 hours since. It doesn’t sound like a lot, but the machine was used every day in its first 12 months on the farm, even throughout the summer for buffer feeding.

“Although used every day, it’s often only for very short intervals. For example, I use it to push in the silage in the main cow shed, which has a 140ft passageway. It only takes a minute!”

“It certainly has the capabilities of replacing a second tractor around the farmyard. The biggest thing I like about the machine is how nimble and versatile it is.

“It has cut out the task of manually carrying buckets of meal around the farm and has made my wheelbarrow redundant.

“Because it’s much easier and much faster, I now find myself cleaning out the calving areas and the calf shed much more frequently.

“The one thing I did learn is that the use of a skid steer is solely limited to hardened stone areas and on concrete. It will tear up grass or freshly laid stone.

“It originally came with very poor quality tyres. They only lasted 300 hours, which was disappointing. Other than that, the blind spot at the rear is another concern.

“Overall, the machine is very well built. I like its simplicity and accessibility, including ease of access to and from the cab and service locations.

“I feel it has ample engine and hydraulic power for general farm duties. The machine has a 62.5l diesel tank, which I tend to fill every two weeks at the earliest. Now that I’m used to the T-bar control system, I don’t think I could move away from it,” he said.

? Likes

  • Easy to access cab and running gear.
  • Ample engine and hydraulic power.
  • Very nimble.
  • ? Dislikes

  • The original tyres.
  • Poor visibility to the rear.
  • Spec

  • Engine: 69.3hp 4cyl Yanmar.
  • Hydraulics: 71.4l/min (114l/min optional).
  • Max lift capacity: 748kg (816kg when ballasted).
  • Unladen weight: 2,796kg.
  • List price: €43,595 plus VAT.