Chris Sheppard

Got a go with it today pulling some hangers - really quite impressed with it so far. Want's a bit of a tune and the clutch setting up properly, but nowt major. Seems a bit steady on line speed but reckon it'll be low geared because of it only haviing a small engine compared to say a lewis with a 372 bolted to it.

I had an early 353 as my main thinning saw for years and really rated it. Compared to the orange side 346's, I preffered it as it was less revvy but with a bit more bottom end. The later ones seemed to be less good though. I've not used a 545, but imagine it to be much like a 550 but less aggressive. I've been on my 550 most of today after not using it much for a while and forgot just how great it is. Been thinning some fairly heavy branched Ash/Oak/Sycamore with it and it just rips.

Like the others have said, meant to be the best of the best. I've not used them myself but can highly recommend the Koni Heavy Track shocks (the standard ones, not the Raids). I've got a set on the back of my 90 that must be over 50,000 miles old now - they were on my old 130 befor they went on the 90 and are still going strong. They're quite expensive too but for how lng they last they probably work ou quite chea in comparison to Terrafirma and Britpart.

I jut wait til mine's gone to bed

It is - when compared to buying a new Lewis winch or similar I think it was a bit of a bargain, especially as it comes with it's own powerhead so isn't tying up saw either Well spotted, the black cap does say something about not needing chain oil but does fit the fuel tank fine. Cheers

I've found myself with a bit of an oddball petrol winch which appears to be based around a Homelite saw. It only arrived today but fired straight up and sounds OK and seems to work fine, though I've yt to get a proper go with it. I's nice and compact and is light enough to carry around too, no worse than a biggish saw. One thing missing is the chain oil cap - it's redundant as it doesn't need to oil anything, but it's be nice to have a cap on there to keep crud out. I know I could make something to fit but if I can easily get hold of a proper one then great. Does anyone know anything about these winches? Or where in the UK might be able to supply Homelite parts?

That's exactly what our terrier does

I reckon you're right - something just doesn't quite look right.

I've always been dubious, partly down to their short length and partly due to how little effect standing on even a big felling bar has. It's a bit like the normal short felling bars - generally if you can't get it over by hand then a short felling bar isn't going to do it either.

I've got one of the larger oregon ones and find it pretty good. So far it's not bent (got to be 8 or so years old now) whereas others with different ones have. The hook on it doesn't seem to bite the best at times but it works OK. Can't really see what you could do for grip when pushing down on it without making it too thick, but when pulling up, I find the lip works well. Also, only being lipped on the bottom edge makes it easier to persuade into the cut, especially for if you're running .325 chain as the larger bars generally have a thicker foot than the smaller ones. Have you tried using it upside down? Guessing if you're pushing down on it, it's because you're on the low side and can't reach high enough to push - upside down might still have enough room to either push down and get the lip to bite in, or pull up from a better position (hope that makes some sense written down - I know what i mean but can't describe it well).

I use it as and when I feel it necessary - which isn't as often as I perhaps should. I tend t find I'll use the chainbrake on an arb type job much more than I would in the woods though. I'm never going to advocate someone not using it, but it does seem that how it's taught now, is in my opinion, excessive.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytogT81EIvU]URBAN SM70 - YouTube[/ame] Is this the one you mean, Dean?

Yep, though there's alays the chance the speedo's out a little. Think the little suzuki engine is so frugal as it's the least poweful of them all - pretty sure they're only 11/12hp when new. The 100mpg tank included some green lanes too I still want to get the yellow one MOT'd and on the road eventually but for the time being it's my lightweight, stripped down race bike Got a go on a DR 200 yesterday and even though they're only meant to be about 5hp more, the difference was definitely noticable and they're almost identical to the 125's other than bore and stroke. Supposedly they'll do nearly 100mpg too.

I'm technical middle class suposedly.

Ta I've not actually done many miles on it while I've had it but did get just over 100mpg out of one tankful - was quite chuffed with that. I do keep looking at DR 600/650, XR 600, Tenere's, Dommies, Transalp's and Africa Twins but think that might have to wait til I've cleared some more space and saved a few more pennies. Plus I need to get my arse in gear and get a Vinduro bike sorted before mid June - Hopefully off to look at a late 80's KTM 250 before too long

It lives again! still a few bits to sort out properly but I rode it down the lane few times and it didn't go bang so that was a bonus. Can't sell it yet as entered the Ryedale Rally on it which is in July. Should be a good laugh. I know it's a silly little 125 but I still think it looks pretty cool.

To be honest was pretty broad sweeping rather than specifics, but his opinion was the it was what had been done to meet the emissons and I'd be surprised if any one local would do anything other than take it out of the box and use it as is - good to here they can be made to run right He did say though they had one which was in and out a few times and even when it went back to husky they didn't know what was wrong with it (I dn't know the symptoms either)

Lagavulin is about the smokiest/peatiest I've found so far - not something I'd want all the time but it was nice on occasion. Bit like Laphroaig (sp) but heavier again. It's worth a try

As above, sounds like theyre decent enough size trees to be worth taking a little extra time over if need be. Oregon multicut's not bad for abrasion resistance but it's fairly tough on files and doesn't bite like a conventional full chisel chain. We've been using it on some scrub clearance over winter and it definitely outperformed in that instance.

The 550/372 combo does work well, but the 560 will just about do the work of both (excepting big bar work, though mine never has bigger than a 20" anyway). Was speaking to our local dealer about the new 372 X torq and he said they're not as good as the older, non x torq, ones. I was quite surprised as there'd been plenty of hype about the newer one and I was half fanying one myself. Reckons they had one come back that even husky couldn't work out hat was wrong with it. It will be a shame when the 372 finally gets phased out.

Good call. I've only ever used a 576 briefly and just didn't like it. I've had my current 372 for about 10 years now and it's ace. It doesn't get used every day but with a 15" bar on it's a good saw for rough branched hairy softwood or snedding rough hardwoods.

OK, I'll change 357 to Jonsered 2159 - is that better Not quite as aggressive as the 357 but my "one saw fits all" saw - with an 18" and 3/8ths it gets used for just about anything (if you're patient enough) and never seems to complain.

I think it's just the way they are - my 300 90 has 295,000 miles on it so far, bog standard and goes well. I had an ex utilities 300 130 quadtech with something like 170K on it and it always seemed like it was loaded, even when it wasn't. When it was loaded it still felt fairly similar though so figured it couldn't be in too bad fettle. Think they're just a big heavy barge to be getting dragged round by 112hp. Out of interest, have you gone any taller than 235/85 or 265/75 tyres? I always felt they could do with being slightly lower geared than they were.

Is it a TDi? If so, my Tdi 130 was a slug too, especially compared to a Tdi 90.

You couldn't resist, could you? I'm going to go 560 too - even with the marmite reputation. Taking the 560 out of the equation I'd probably have gone for an early 357 - pre the emissions crap, when they ripped!