Chris Sheppard

This week was unusual if nothing else - Wednesday saw us craning out most of a big old turkey oak as one big lump, lifting it onto a lorry, driving it across a park, dropping it into a big hole. There'll be pics in a couple of weeks I'm sure and it'll all make sense Oh, and I got a black eye off the cab of the mog when we were winching out the crane lorry when it sank

This reminded me of your old one Stevie grain forestry tree farm tipping trailer with crane on eBay (end time 30-Mar-11 16:31:00 BST)

I've tried yellow and agree - the problem I found was them steaming up or getting sweat dripping on them when snedding.

We're going to be starting on some thinning just off the York outer ringroad in April and there should be a good amount of processor sized hardwood firewood (mainly Birch but some ash and alder in amongst it) as well as softwood (predominantly scots pine with a small amount of larch and lodgepole) firewood and sawlogs. somewhere around 5-600 tonne to come out in total before next Feb. Access is good (stone road all the way in) but might have to be 8 wheelers initially.

Ah, hadn't noticed the twist. Worth a try though (but wouldn't heat it as it'll change the temper of the steel) - I managed to bend one quite sharply one morning, didn't have a spare with me but get it back straight enough to finish the day off just with a hammer, bolster and the top of the winch. you've just to try and apply the same forces but in the opposite direction if that makes sense? Bit like car body panels but stronger. Of pro lite and powermatch I've only ever used prolite (as that's all that's been available locally when I've needed it) but the 372 is most likely getting a powermatch on it when the bar that's on wants replacing.

New Saw Chains - Oregon Chainsaw Saw Chains, Guide Bars, Oil & Accessories at below trade prices! FREE UK delivery on all Bars and Chains! Tel: 01202 580612 seem good value but don't have any of the powermatch bars in at the mo according to their website. That looks quite a gente curve rather than a sharp bend - I reckon you could straighten that enough to use in the short term and keep as a spare, just try not to be too rough when straightening it. Our local Husky dealer is convinced that the husky bars are made by Oregon but I'm not quite so sure, or if they are then they've come out of the seconds bin. Paint usually comes off almost immediately, rails seem to wear quicker and the only times I've ever had a nose sprocket go or bent a bar have been on husky bars - could all be coincidental but that's just my thoughts.

Yep, Trailer is up there too, but capt Nemo should be heading south in the nautilus again by early April

Have had a look at the logster a couple of times and it does seem quite reasonable, but the thing that put me off (unless I've missed somethign) is that to do square edged beams could be a bit of a faff as there doesn't seem to be any real clamping/holding system or 90 degree arms to clamp to?

of the 395 and the 660, I think the 660 handles better and doesn't feel as big despite being similar CC

For the sort of diameter you're lookign at I'd reckon a horizontal would be most user friendly. Being Pop you shouldn't need much pressure really if you stick to 1m or so and it should still be reasonably quick compared to somethign bigger. you should be able to get something half decent, tractor hydraulic and around 1m stroke for around £1500 - £2000 or so

Gotcha - I wasn't sure if the 5 cube was in total or not as most I'd dealt with in the past were on nice straight softwood full of sawlogs

I'm off to have a look at a job tomorrow which will involve 5 or 6 reasonably sized Ash coming down from within a hedgerow but I'm not entirely sure whether they come under exemption from felling License or not. Size wise, if need be we'd be able to get round the FL by doing a couple before the end of march ,another two in the next quarter and the remaining the quarter after that but ideally it would be better to go in in one go. The problem I have is that whilst where they are is at a (semi secluded, rural) domestic address, I'm not sure they really fall under the "garden trees" exemption as they are on the side of a paddock rather than an actual garden. I know they aren't TPO'd it's just the FL side of things I'm unsure of. A couple of them are within range of a neighbouring building so justification shouldn't be a problem if need be. I know it's difficult to say without seeing them but anyone able to cast any advice?

What sort of budget and what do you want to run it off? there's plenty out there at around 1m stroke but 1.5m, 2m and even bigger are all possible on horizontals without too much hassle

Where are you based?

That's how I understood it too - the 35C14 I used to drive was 3500kg GVW and 140hp (though it was originally a 50C14 @5000kg and downrated)

I've had an alpkit one for around 6 months and it's been great so far, just a bit thirsty on batteries if you use the full beam a lot.

I'm guessing there's a bit more difference betwee nthe 350 and 360 than just a metre's reach then my 360 would lift over a tonne close in.

Awesome saw in bigger softwood thinnings - 15" bar and 8 tooth sprocket with full chisel and low rakers. Got a 20" bar for mine too but it feels slow after using the shorter bar.

Crane's not a bad one, I had the 360 on the County (which I think was the same just 1m longer) and it would lift a lot more than it looked like it should.

I think the 4 ram idea mightn't be as daft as it looks; if all 4 are pushing equally then it should reduce a lot of the stress on the plate and runners and ensure it pushes square rather than just pushing in the middle if that makes sense. Most of the failures i've seen on conventional splitters have been from a twisting force (whether twisted grain or not square ends) thats' been exagerated by the pushing from the ram - at the end of the day something's got to give.

Looks like the bloke's given it some thought but it doesn't look like it's done much and it's already bent one of the knives

Might be worth taking off the exhaust and havign a look into the barrel at the side of the piston.

Is it getting a spark? Does it pull over the same as it always did or any easier/less easily?

To get clio diesel like MPG, I'd say you'll struggle to find any 4wd that will get near it in reality. Can't you look at some decent open (ish) centre tyres on a diesel van? There's some speed rated nobblies (look like a rally tyre) that you can get in normal sizes as a mate of mine has them on his VW T4 and it's surprising where that will go now

That's same engine as ours - only problems on that age seem to be at around 70,000 miles the crank pulley starts to delaminate and throws belts (£150 and and hours job) and the crank and/or cam sensors can play up a bit - £150 ish and 30 min job to swap