PeteB

Still like mint sauce! Even add a bit with a raw courgette and tomato salad, with plenty of garlic and salt and pepper. Each to there own I suppose!

They got some right tasty looking fat on them! Just short of gravy and mint sauce.....

I got a 240v Kango off of ebay, advertised as non working. Cost £15 and a fiver to repair! Sweet!

Thanks for your comments Doobin. With only some 38 years around timber machinery, I wouldn't call myself an expert but, I would like to think that I'm no muppet either! Speaking as someone who has only had some 20 years working for GreenMech, I can confirm that the engineering acceptance has always been signed off by all of the engine suppliers that we have used and the filtration is something that is included in the testing.

Even the cats have that as last resort!

Just doing a paprika sausage stew!

I have seen a lot worse on filters before now - you should see the filtration on my Stihl 090 - non existent compared with the saws today! I wouldn't worry over much but you did the right thing in checking it out.

Youd need to upspec your licence if towns a chipper weighing greater than 750kg. That I do know.

Got to admit, that jam jar curry was good for convenience only! Not having that again!

Jase knows how to reset the box to the next service interval. I'll warrant he will send you the instructions by message.

Tonight's chicken curry!

My Uncle, David Barrowcliff, joined the army as it was coming to an end. On a training exercise near Northampton, the man behind him slipped and stabbed him in the backside with his bayonet. The war was done by the time he was passed fit for duty. He got his truck licence in the Army and did driving jobs in Austria before being demobbed. Using various machines in post war Austria was a valuable experience for his future as after a few years with the BRS, then working on the construction of Ratcliffe Power Station, he went back into the tree game.

I seem to recall that it was Stuart who elected at the outset to bring his machine back when he came to the Arb Show. He was happy enough to wait until then. When the lockdown started and travel restrictions put in place, Jase offered to get the tool sent over and this was turned down....twice.... Stuart and I have had numerous discussions over the years about expectations and reality, and while his expectations are not being met in France, and I'm sorry for the root cause, I go back to the mantra of buying local, create a relationship with the suppliers, work with them and they'll be there to help you. Keep buying online or travelling to get a deal and ultimately, you'll be left unhappy. There is a range of diggers, tractors and mowers available in the UK, if you ring their office for a part for a "grey" import, the response will be " not available " and a click as the phone goes down......

Mum's Dad was in the tree game, felling and converting before WW1 and was a sniper in Ypres where he met his future wife. Post war, as well as the timber, he ran the village post office from his house, poached, shot with local landowners, ran the local gun club etc. After he died, his kids met to clear out the house and found a cache of Martin Henry action guns, 410 in a walking stick and a fair pile of ammo of various sizes. The local Bobby did not want to be involved, so a deep trench was dug and the lot got pushed down with a sledge hammer! All the rounds got heaved into the canal. He never really spoke about the war.... Dad's Dad was in the local tank regiment and was injured in, essentially, an RTA at Anzio. I once tried to talk to him about it and he just laughed and said "you don't really want to know all that boring stuff, I've got nowt to say". My Dad was an Air Force pilot until the 1990's. He flew V Bombers with the atomic payload, with enough fuel to get to Russia but not back. He flew spy planes in various countries, worked for Intelligence, flew air to air tankers, did Ops Wing for the Falklands flights and is officially a bad pilot as he had one more take off than landing! We find out some details of what went on but not much. Proud of them all....

Unfortunately, in Stuart's case, he was told that it needed to go away. If my memory serves me, the nearest who was equipped and trained on the EFI, was not local, and didn't have a loan chipper. It was some weeks before they got to see the machine and there may have been a misdiagnosis or that the mechanic wanted to do it his way etc....for whatever reason, a replacement pump wasn't to hand and took a while to sort. As frustrating for GreenMech as it was for Stuart. I understand that we made representations to Vanguard in the UK but it was a trying time for all. I heard from another Vanguard approved dealer and they are supposed to carry out repairs to Briggs engines no matter in what. He had a domestic lawn mower in that would not run. The owner brought it from an online supplier and they referred him to the Briggs webpage. He refused to accept that if it wasn't warranty or the warranty refused by Briggs, he would be liable for the bill. As he wouldn't pay the estimated £60 per hour workshop rates. The dealer told him to return it to the supplier as they didn't want to be involved.....

To get any warranty on an engine, there are a certain number of hoops to jump through before you get engineering acceptance to sign off the fit. Then the engine supplier likes things done his way in terms of an investigation into the cause and the repair and any costs involved and who pays for them. If the manufacturer tries to circumvent these pathways, perhaps by diagnosing over the phone or getting a non approved agent to do any work, the engine supplier can wash his hands of the whole affair! In the extreme, they can withold future engines and decline to be a supplier from then onwards. Global reacted very well in this instance and as they are approved Vanguard service people, and have a close relationship with Wayne, they were able to get on with the job promptly and they had an Evo165 available at the time too. The fault was regrettable but they were in a position to step up and thanks to there efforts and the relationship they have with Wayne, it worked well. Well done Global, and well done Wayne for your comments. Not all dealers are allowed to do warranties on engines, they have to go to an approved dealer and you are at their back and call. That is irrespective of engine make or machine.....

Beginnings of home made Sweet and Sour with eggy rice. Hope it goes well or it'll be a ham sandwich!

She ran on it! I've decided to clean her up, do a little research on the serial number and flog it once this crisis has done. No use sat on garage floor for ever more In fact, I think a garage purge may happen! Hot Rod, various V8 blocks, carbs, gearboxes and general kilter!

I dug out the old 090 the other week, it has sat on the floor in the garage since I last started it some 5 year ago. There was fuel in it, so a couple of tugs and she backfires, about ripping my fingers out! Several similar goes later and with tender fingers and a sore arm, I left it. A couple of days later, I showed it to Jase, Nick and Raf at GreenMech Service, they were amazed at the size if it and that I started it! Deafened by the noise too! She runs and old fuel too! I think I got a bar and chain available but she is fit only for a slabbing saw as there is an AV cage but no chain brake....

14mm open spanner usually fits, as does a worn socket!

The GreenMech Service department is still open. Call 01789 400044 and press 2 at the prompt. Jase Hutchinson, the Manager is available on here too. He will no doubt respond later.

I used to get a local Ag Engineer to do my GreenMech blades as well as those on my Arboreater. He did all three machines blades and at a manageable price. Don't give up on the local trader! Take them your local dealer if they are close enough.

As GreenMech has had to furlough, Sales folk have to take a break. We, like everyone else in the world, need business to continue when we return, so here is a global newsletter that will have gone out to everyone on the GreenMech owners database. Here is is for you chaps too! Stay Safe and keep on working where it is safe to do so. GreenMech_Global Newsletter (004).pdf

Got to say, the garage had the ford people give their best opinion but went into lockdown.....the other Ranger with the dented front went into a spot to be fixed, got a Seat Leon as a loaner. The said to collect her today. Unfortunately, they gone into lockdown and it is a few days away from being ready. The motoring gods and me don't align....

Fridge soup! Mother calls hers Enthusiasm Soup, as in, you put everything you have in to it!