PeteB

Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year to you all. Be as big a kid as your own tomorrow - work hard and play hard. Cheers all.

Naturally, I've used them, in fact quite nearly all of them. Like anything, it's only as good as the guy using it - same goes for any machinery. Some people like me have a go and very quickly can make it go some. Other people do not have that naturaly deft touch. A grinder is a grinder, some people find others easier to operate, I like the GreenMech and the vermeer, Carlton is good but apparantly pricey, to buy and to run and Dave Kendall has sacked his dealers so it's back to Liston for back up and spares.

Please be very aware as those who stole from you also realise that you will need to replace your kit and might visit you again. We had something like 30 saws stolen over a three period and that included poss 6 088s with long bars. We once got done three wednesday nights on the trot. On the fourth I stayed awake in a 110 with a big GSD for company until dawn - we still got done over.

Be aware that the bad guys are very inventive in their methods any very daring in their style. I've heard off machines that have been HiAbed over fences, of wheel clamps that have been dealt with, chains that have been smashed and dragged out of mudholes. Removed at traffic lights, stolen whilst in use, immobilisers and tracking devices that have been overcome. I've even heard a story about a hijack. The baddies tools can include freezing kits, battery powered grinders and the latest wheeze is to clamp their own ball hitch to your own covered one and drive off. My own advice is forget datatag, try not to get it pinched, use a thick wire rope and a very big (expensive) lock and chain it to your truck daytime and through a hole cut on a sizable length of heavy RSJ laid underneath it. Wire rope is hard to cut with a grinder, impossible with a hacksaw, or pinch with croppers plus a freezing kit will not work. With a long length of RSJ laid underneath, the bad men cannot pick it up to store it in the back of their truck or machine and the noise and sparks as it is dragged down the street will attract attention.

I'm in, Ta and best wishes.

Define silly money. Is it classed as silly when the item does what you want it to and you are happy that it will continue to does so when other, possibly cheaper, alternatives have failed. For example, if it comes into it's main to go to and off road tip, would a better investment by a roadway, new yard etc.

If its got a nipple, two or three pumps at once a week - there is a danger that overgreasing can pop seals or even induce overheat. Check rotor bearings for play (often), check paddles for wear (imbalance) check the shear bars (anvils) for wear, ensure safety devices work as they should, check brakes and lights work. Make sure belts are tight and blades sharp, check for chafing wires and other fire hazards.

A good contract site would be good,flat and hard. biggish chipper and on site tip. I'd say treble your 1400. you can always discount if wind in the right direction. You cannot go up usually.

After many years doing utility work. We always tried to balance what was best for the tree and what they owner wanted. The tree supremo from the distrib co said our work was not good for the trees and that we should educate the landowner what was best for the trees and impress Mr Shigos codit on them - he wasn't impressed when I replied that many landowners would not accept his 3m clearance and would tell him to put his overheads somewhere else and educate him with a pitchfork in a dark oriface!!! Balance is the key - if they are happy, run with it and take the loot! You are dealing with their property and the customer is always right.

In 1982 I went to the final gig by Status Quo at the NEC. "The End of The Road Tour", still got the T shirt somewhere. How many final gigs have Quo done now? At least I went to the last of the first of the last!!!

A friend of mine went to see them, did not turn in for work today so I have to wait till I see him in the factory later this week. I applied for three tickets as Xmas presents for my 11 year old son and 9 year old daughter but got told by ex-wife "No way" Bitch. Good job I wasn't successsful. The guy who balances GreenMech flywheels has some family link to John Bonham!

Reminds me of the Reliant Ant that was marketed as an option to the Vespa of some years ago. Like to see it with a chip box towing a big lump mind.

Too right, always learning, always paying out. Well done.

As you've got hydraulic power, use that. You'll need another spool valve, hoses and motors and drive wheels. Yes, about a grand'll do it. But it's still a road tow. Buy a tracked machine it'll ease the pain. Brian James do a great trailer that is only just as wide as the towed vehicle, it'll fit in a container and as a tipping unit, can be used pretty well like a road tow on the back of a vehicle.

Why are you looking at a 3500kg 4x4? Having run them in the past I would now question their application. Consider the options if you would. If its needed to carry kit off road, then buy a standard 4x4. If its needed to drag a road tow chipper across fields, buy a tracked woodchipper. Leave your wheels at the roadside. If you need it to carry woodchips, think! A Landrover type 4x4 is narrow (relatively), high and comes with axle travel. It WILL rock and roll. A transit type 4x4 will not carry any more, but same as the others, will sink into the mud, cut up the grass and be expensive to buy and run. A truck type 4x4 could be the way forward if you need to recover your chips and tow a chipper and have a licence to suit the combo. But costs are high and resale value is low.

Took the shine (profit) off the job! Hard lines

I chopped off a thump twenty years ago wearing a soggy glove on a circular saw - never wear any jewellery, it can get lost or eaten in machinery. Always wore a watch tho. Hope you heal quick, Best regards.

My Rodeo is twenty months old and has done close to 100k miles with no problems, newer Rodeos have a better interior and better engine, but i've no real complaints about mine. New shape Nissan Navaras might have a clutch problem (heard they're fixed under warranty - but it's the hassle). Ranger supposed to be good, L200 look silly, Landrover will always hold their value - new ones with six speed box and Transit engines are great, I've been around the 4x4 course at Gaydon in one.

A friend had a crew that did major work to a laquer tree that apparrantly was a miss-ident. Wow, they were burns that made a leg of burnt pork look off putting. Case ongoing I understand.

Great revenge trick. I've laminate floors in my gaff, my lad wanted to do donuts with his RC car on living room floor. Rolled back the rug and polished the floor with Pledge, wicked donuts and skids ensued. After I took the kids back to their mothers, I walked in and bent down to turn on the box and went base over apex big style. How they would have laughed!!!

"Do you know the arse is hanging out your trousers"? "You hum it, I'll come in on the chorus"!

Girlfriend is like a moped. Great fun to ride - but you wouldn't like your mates to see you on it!

Looks like this thread has died. But by looking at the poll I'd say that someone jumped ship fro the popular to the less so.

I do what I can for folks I know, whether they be old customers, friends or people I know that have had a bad turn. I can remember my own vultures spiraling. I can remember the putting my business into liquidation and getting broken into the day the notice went out - nobody helped me. I know how I felt. I still have a bad credit rating thanks to a business putting goods supplied to my business onto my own card. Sometimes life sucks - sometimes you deserve it. Thanks Craig, your a ****!

Sometimes just being a sympathetic ear and a shoulder to cry on is all that you can give - but thats stacks more than a cold shoulder. I'm sure they realise that you are not able to help financially or with a roof. Good luck to your mates.