PeteB

For what it is worth. In my opinion, don't entertain buying blades that you don't need. I'm not against pattern parts (you pays your money and makes your choice), but where do they get off borrowing an oem set off of you, copying them, then asking you to fund the research they were too cheap to fund themselves! Tell to take a hike! That is just plain rude and nails it for me!

Great tales well writ!

I'll ask the chap who "does" for estate tree department.

To be honest, 1200 hours is not a lot really - it equates to about 2 hours a week for the last 11 years. At the end of the day, it is only steel. Money can rebuild it! If my memory is correct, it was close to the 750kg mark, later machines had a heavier Deutz engine that took it to 800kgs or so.

Make a few handbags tho'!

Been trying to get this to fire but it wouldn't. Now I know why! Hydrauliced followers just kept growing and bent a load of pushrods. Plan C to follow.

Blimey, I had a demo of one back in 1989 from Trevour Rivett. Bandit maybe able to help or your local blacksmith could help fix it.

When it was new, the EC150MT25D wasn't a bad machine at the price they got sold for. I have not seen the fleabay ad, but if you get the serial number then we can give you its birthdate and original destination. Same as anything mechanical, they wear out eventually and things need tweeking and changing but on the whole, all the bits are still available. Bearings were big flange bearings that can be greased, the "no stress" device is reasonably simple, the pump drive has a knack to setting it up, the tow set became unavailable so is difficult to change. The shear bars could be changed (with reasonable ease and a decent workshop). The engine has 3 cylinder heads which can blow a gasket (noticable with a "popping" sound when you start her up) but aren't too bad to do by an experienced mechanic. I sold loads of them back then!

Dunno, but she'd have it!

Driver her home, you'll be well acquainted with how she drives by then! Probably deaf and sore shouldered without power steering too! I'm almost tempted to say I'll do it for expenses and £250 as a weekend adventure! On a serious note, try looking at HGV breakdown people in the area as a suspended ride rather than a low loader.

I was sent this last night as a Round Robin email; Brilliant! To commemorate her birthday , actress/vocalist, Julie Andrews made a special appearance at > Manhattann bsp;'s Radio City Music Hall for the benefit of the AARP. > One of the musical numbers she performed was 'My Favourite Things' from the legendary > movie 'Sound Of Music'. Here are the lyrics she used: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >> > > > > > > > > > (Sing It!) - If you sing it, its especially hysterical!!! > > Botox and nose drops and needles for knitting, > Walkers and handrails and new dental fittings, > Bundles of magazines tied up in string, > These are a few of my favourite things. > Cadillacs and cataracts, hearing aids and glasses, > Polident and Fixodent and false teeth in glasses, > Pacemakers, golf carts and porches with swings, > These are a few of my favourite things. > When the pipes leak, When the bones creak, > When the knees go bad, > I simply remember my favourite things, > And then I don't feel so bad. > > Hot tea and crumpets and corn pads for bunions, > No spicy hot food or food cooked with onions, > Bathrobes and heating pads and hot meals they bring, > These are a few of my favourite things... > > Back pain, confused brains and no need for sinnin', > Thin bones and fractures and hair that is thinnin', > And we won't mention our short shrunken frames, > When we remember our favourite things. > > When the joints ache, When the hips break, > When the eyes grow dim, > Then I remember the great life I've had, > And then I don't feel so bad. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >>> > (Ms. Andrews received a standing ovation from the crowd > that lasted over four minutes and repeated encores. Please > share Ms. Andrews' clever wit and humour with others who > would appreciate it)

There ain't a dirth of companies in the middle of Wales. Stunning countryside, but not a great deal of arboriculture. Those that do exist have to travel long-distance to find work. Good luck with your search.

Simple solution. Get the wench to do it!

Bloody world! I knew James at Martin and before that at Network Rail. Great chap who cared for his family even through their troubled times. Such a shame. Such a great shame. My thoughts and best regards to his family.

When I picked the boys up last night, I was talking to an old mate whose daughter was there too. We both remember our own school disco, where we walked in with long hair, wearing denim (with Whitesnake, Deep Purple or Motorhead painted on the back), with twenty No6 and a quarter bottle of vodka hidden about your person! All of us hoping to pull a right one who wanted a fumble in the park on the way home after! Mind you, that was some 30 years ago when air guitar was real, POP music was for girls and "Americanism" was not invented!

Tonight is my lads school prom, I did my best to get the hot rod running in time but, alas, it was not to be. So he and his mate from next door got delivered in the GreenMech tow tug Isuzu Rodeo towing a QuadChip! Someone said that it was a brilliant entrance, better than all the pink Hummer limousines and the Lincoln town cars. It was good to see all the kids going into the next phase of their lives and moving up a school. I did not recognise half of them in their finery. Shame it rained for most of the arrivals. What did make me laugh was the flash Mercedes car that bumped into the back of the pink limo when the Mum's foot slipped of the clutch! Doh! I did prevent myself from giving the lads some wicked chat lines tho!

Too a degree you are correct. Clutch wear could be a problem, many road cars are high geared, slow speed manoeuvres can be a drag. Hill starts can be fun too. The clutch in the FreeLander got fried in 25k miles, although the circumstances were a tad extreme. The clutch was replaced in the Isuzu at 180k more because the box was out than through wear. The main reasons for considering a softroader are; comfort, mpg, no taco hassles and ability over a standard reps car.

I've still got a Bedford MK lodged in the brambles in a mates yard. ! Cracking truck, hope it brings you lots of fun!

The more I think about it, the more attractive the softroader cars become. With a crewcab, if I tow a QuadChip, I am bound by tacho rules. Which does seem an awful lot of admin for a light load. With a softroader, I can tow about 2000kgs without any hassles from the VOSA people yet have the comfort of a more car like ride better fuel consumptionetc. However, I've to see the Amorak yet.

To be honest Pete, I would have a Defender but, I would still have to fit a tacho and wood it do over 40k a year?

Mazda B2500!?! Do they still exist?

I need to be able to tow about 2600kgs occasionally with regular bouts of say 1500kgs. I have to say that using a tacho (honestly) is a pain, but then so is BIK values for non-commercial vehicles (I object to paying the state for a tool). A Passat type deal would not be good for a lot of towing and softroaders (Skoda Yeti for example) do seem an attractive alternative but then the inconvenience of vehicle swaps for the larger load is tiresome too. I like the look and spec of the Amorak but have they fitted a tacho yet and availability might be a problem. The Isuzu has been superb, but, would the next one be as good. She has done over 110k on a set of BFG's, clutch lasted 180k, 27-24mpg and relatively cheap to service.

I used toi live next door to some mature (professional) students who regularly got back from te pub and played King Crimson at deafening levels. After several attempts to reason with them, I got rather irate and wound up the Alsation and sent him in. The next time it happened, I took the dog again and they went quiet quick!

When you've fixed that, come and look at my V8, I cannot even get it to misfire!

My GreenMech tow tug, an Isuzu Rodeo is due for a change at 250+k miles and 5+ years old. What shall I get next? Anyone got an Amorak?, can you fit a tacho in them, should I have another Isuzu? .Nissan Navarra? How about a crossover/softroader and not have the towing capacity bit but not having to use a tacho? Your thoughts please ladies and gentlemen.