This week, we take a look at something a bit unusual, a Merlo telescopic loader with the backend of a tractor! Back in 2000, Merlo launched its Multi Farmer series of telescopic handlers, which incorporate a three-point linkage and two-speed pto on the rear (front pto is also an option).

Up to then, many manufacturers offered just the option of a hitch and trailer brakes. But a full three-point linkage and pto on a telescopic handler —now, that would broaden your imagination! Others offering these combination telescopic-tractor machines include Dieci, Faresin, Deutz-Fahr and, at one stage, AGRO in Landini colours.

Multi Farmer facts

There are six models in the Merlo Multi Farmer series with lifting capacities from 2.7 to three tonnes, lifting heights of 6m to 8.55m and engine powers of 101hp to 120hp. There are also two levels of specification available — Classic2 and Top2.

The Classic is a standard specification machine with standard instruments and controls. Rear linkage control is simply an extra hydraulic lever to raise or lower the arms; there is no draft control.

Draft control is available on the higher specification Top2 models, which incorporate Merlo’s MERlin computerised control system. The MERlin system monitors and controls the telehandler’s functions and incorporates a digital instrument cluster where settings can be accessed.

For our recent field test, we got our hands on a Multi Farmer 30.6 Classic2, which has a maximum three-tonne lifting capacity and a maximum lifting height of 6m. It is powered by a Deutz engine.

This is paired with a two-speed hydrostatic transmission which gives a top speed of 40kmh.

Braking power is provided by car-type disc brakes operating on each wheel. These are mounted out of harm’s way in-board beside the centre differential on both front and rear axles. The handbrake operates on a separate disc brake mounted on the front axle drive.

Four-wheel steering is standard. There are the usual three modes of front wheel steering for the road, four-wheel steering for maximum manoeuvrability and ‘get out of trouble mode’ crab steering. Modes are selected by a simple hydraulic lever on the right hand control panel.

Our Merlo was fitted with 460/70R24 Mitas tyres on all four corners, which don’t offer great ground clearance for field work. Merlo has designed its axles with ‘dropped-hub’ type final drives to provide extra ground clearance under the axle beam. The drive enters the top of the hub to sit higher in relation to the swivelling hubs.

Tractor

From the rear wheels forward, the Merlo Multi Farmer 30.6 Classic2 is a box-standard telehandler. From the rear wheels back, it is all tractor.

There is a three-point linkage, two speed pto, pick-up hitch, three double-acting spool valves and a trailer brake.

Linkage lift capacity is quoted at 4.3 tonnes; the lift arms had Cat II quick hook ends. The drop-arms and lift arms have a multitude of possible height settings to cater for many different implement requirements.

Our Irish spec machine was fitted with a Bill Bennett Engineering pick-up hitch. This tied up one of the loader’s double acting hydraulic services to operate the hitch up and down.

It could also jack the rear of the machine off the ground, if necessary.

Loader operation

Our Merlo was delivered with a large bucket, grab and forks plus pallet forks. We had a shed of very deep dung to clean out, so it was a perfect match.

To get into the cab is a bit of a climb on ladder rather than stair steps. The cab is quite small by tractor cab standards but typical for telehandlers.

What struck me was the excellent all-round visibility frontwards, rearwards and boom side. Side boom machines of this type are typically ‘blind’ on the right once the boom is raised at all.

The over-boom visibility on the Merlo was very good, largely due to the boom’s rear hinge point being positioned forwards which you can get away with on a 6m machine. The implement’s front right hand corner remains typically hard to see when cleaning out the shed.

The controls were nicely positioned, simple and intuitive to operate. The joystick incorporated two thumb-wheel switches on the top, one for boom extension and the other for third service, either grab operation or quick hitch operation.

Hydraulic function speed was not as fast as you would have expected. Merlo quotes an hydraulic flow of 107 litres/minute for this machine.

Handling a grab full of dung was no problem for it; I had to be gentle so as not to drive the load monitor and its annoying buzzer mad. Loading over the side of the Herron trailer required an amount of boom out but not enough to make the machine uncomfortably unstable; it always felt stable.

To facilitate the Multi Farmer’s dual role as telehandler and tractor, Merlo has swivelling axles both front and rear. When used as a telehandler, the hydraulic ram locks out the front axle and as a tractor, flicking a switch releases the front axle and locks out the back axle. Another lever enables the machine to be levelled on uneven ground when telescoping out.

With a wheelbase of 2.7m and four-wheel steer, the Multi Farmer 30.6 was extremely manoeuvrable. It was at home navigating through a yard and buildings initially constructed with an MF35 in mind. The overall height is also low at 2.495m, again very useful in older, lower buildings.

Its hydrostatic transmission was smooth and very controllable. Two ranges provided speed options of 0kmh to 16kmh and 0 to 40kmh; the former was used through the loading operation. Overall, as a telescopic loader, we were very impressed.

Tractor operation

It took a while to appreciate the fact that the Multi Farmer has three-point linkage pto and a hitch, and what we could actually do with it. We considered yoking the plough to it, but with the lack of draft control on the Classic2 version and out of respect for the hydrostatic transmission, we decided against it.

In reality, it is not an all-out and out tractor; it’s a machine that can do some (and that might be a big ‘some’) tractor duties. It is ideally suited to baling, for example, where there is constant stop-starting and no massive continuous loading; that’s where an hydrostatic transmission is at home.

To cater for constant forward speed and pto speed requirements, Merlo has added a hand throttle and some extra adjustable forward max-speed limiting gadgetry.

We tried out the Merlo with a loaded Herron trailer. Yoking to it in four-wheel steer caused some ‘brain strain’ with the wheels going the wrong way in relation to lining up the trailer eye and pick-up hook. This was compounded by the ‘magic-mirror’ required to see the hook.

Once these were overcome, the Merlo pulled the loaded trailer well on concrete. In the field, it just didn’t perform. The reason for this is that most of a telehandler’s weight tends to be towards the front axle and, with 460/70R24 tyres, it has a small footprint.

We hooked to a Lely Lotus 600, four rotor, 6m tedder and twin windrower. It is reasonably heavy and an ideal partner for a dual purpose machine like this.

We didn’t have any work to do with it, but visibility to lift arm ends was excellent for hooking up to it and in ‘work’ visibility of the machine was again very good. The loader’s off-centre cab requires a little mental recalibration of the working position!

In summary, the Merlo Multi Farmer 30.6 Classic2 is like an extra pair of hands when they are needed the most. Is the extra cost worth it? It certainly will be for some.

Our machine didn’t have air-conditioning but I think if someone is buying it to perform tractor or field work, then it will be an essential requirement because the cab is small for a tractor.

Dyno test and service

It’s very unusual to be able to test the engine power on any machine of this type but since it had a pto, we gave it a try. The pto drive on the Merlo is provided by a shaft that takes the drive directly through the hydrostatic pump on the end of the engine.

Bolted to this is another drive shaft with constant velocity joints that brings the drive through the rear axle to a two-speed gearbox (540/1,000rpm) on the rear of the machine.

Access to service areas is excellent; all filters are readily exposed when the engine hood is lifted. Topping up the hydraulic oil requires the boom to be raised to gain access to the filler, however. What would happen if there was a big loss of oil and there wasn’t enough to raise the boom to top up the hydraulic tank?

Adam McDonald, from TTM Ltd, came down to Dyno the Merlo for us and the Deutz four-cylinder turbocharge’s engine produced a max power figure of 111.5hp at 915 ptorpm. Rated power at 1,000rpm was 109hp, while maximum torque produced was 736lbs/ft at 688rpm.

LIKES

Overall versatility.

Superb manoeuvrability.

Excellent visibility for a side boom machine

DISLIKES

Hydraulic speed a bit below par.

The climb into the cab.

SPECIFICATIONS

Merlo Multi Farmer 30.6 Classic2:

Engine: Deutz, 115hp at 400rpm

Transmission: Hydrostatic — two-speed max 40kmh

Max lift boom: 3,000kg

Max height boom : 6m

Hydraulic: 107 litres/minute

Rear lift capacity: 4,300kg

Wheelbase: 2.7m

Height: 2.495m

Weight: 6,550kg

Pto: 540/1,000

Diesel tank capacity: 155 litres

Tyres: 460/70R24 Mitas

Irish agent: McHale Plant Sales, Birdhill, Co Tipperary

Web: www.merlo.it

Price: €76,000, plus VAT