Chris Sheppard
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Everything posted by Chris Sheppard
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Forgot about shocks - I really rate the Koni Heavy track. Fairly pricy but they seem to take the abuse. I've a set on the rear of the 90 that I took off the 130 before I sold it and between the two vehicles have done something like 55 - 60,000 miles and are still going strong. Mine are the standard Heavy Track, there is an even heavier duty one called the Heavy Track Raid. I'd like to see a Britpart or Terrafirma last like these
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Think you might struggle to find a new 346 now. I've got one of the first 550's and it's never been any trouble as yet.
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Have you guys ever seen a hydraulic wedge?
Chris Sheppard replied to sylvanfirewood's topic in Video forum
Norwood used to do something similar but they never really seemed to be that popular over here. I like the idea of the hydraulic wedge over using a bottle jack as there looks to be less set up time. Still unsure as to how much use it would get in reality though as if there were enough trees in the wood to do that were going to be a pig to wedge over, then surely it's as likely to end up with a tractor and winch on site? -
Looks a dead handy setup
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I had Britpart HD springs on my old 130 and they were OK for a year or so and then started to sag/soften up. Went for Bearmach blue ones on the 90 and they've been on a couple of years and sit the same as ever. For weight carrying though, the standard 130 set up with the helper spring in the middle is about the best there is. Will go straight onto a 110 if you get the cup inserts too.
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Cold, wet and Windy here, we were waiting it ot but just had call to say stuff it Going to get fire lit and find something indoors to do
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What Christmas tree, real or fake?
Chris Sheppard replied to normandylumberjack's topic in General chat
Real one here, Nordman this year as the new house is warmer than the last one and the Norway last year wasn't looking great by Christmas day. Doesn't help that Wife want's to get tree the first weekend in December each year. It's turned into a bit of a day out though now - head off into Helmsley, go round the shops, go pick a tree then head up to the Lion at Blakey for some Dinner. -
Glad you like it - it will get better and better over the next week or so after a few more tanks. If you haven't already done it, take the spark arrestor screen out of the exhaust - that made mine pick u even cleaner and lost most of the flat spot that you get if it's been sat ticking over for a bit. Plus it sounds better too
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Well, not quite, but at least it was warm and wet instead of cold an wet Can just about feel my feet and fingers now
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We've had snow today, from sleety wet stuff to proper blizzarding big flakes. Cold and windy too. Come back Summer, all is forgiven
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On the whole, a front steer alpine will turn a whole lot tighter than a conventional small tractor of similar physical size, just the artics turn that bit tighter again. My Carraro was front steer and was fine in tight thinnings. One thing to remember with an artic is that if you're skidding and the front goes light you will lose the steering as the artics don't (usually) have independant brakes.
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There is, but it's usually sold before a saw hits it or we don't get round to felling it all before shooting season starts and they turf us out til spring
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looking for a large hp alpine, got a spare one?
Chris Sheppard replied to treedave's topic in Large equipment
That big Carraro's actually owned by an Arbtalk member too. From what I've expereinced of the ferrari/BCS/Pasquali, they seem pretty robust, well thought out and nicely finished. On the whole, the bigger ones are easier to work on too as there's more roon to get at stuff - generally the smaller ones need kiddy sized hands to work on them. I remember fitting a starter motor to mine and very nearly getting quite angry with it. -
I'd agree with Dave, maybe even a tad more if it's going to be all Ash.
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Great Pics Bet the guy on the Matador has some great stories to tell from over the years
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looking for a large hp alpine, got a spare one?
Chris Sheppard replied to treedave's topic in Large equipment
If one were to come up, I really quite fancy one of the 95hp Carraros. I can't remembr the model number off the top of my head but it had something like 16" ground clearance, big lift capacity and a 40k box on it. Was probably only similar size to our 40hp Kubota. In 2wd on that ali roadway stuff they put down on showgrounds if it's wet it would drift off the throttle Got to spend a bit of time using one a couple of APF's ago and reckon it would work really well with either winch or forwarding trailer. It's the £40K that put me off nd I've only ver seen one come up second hand. -
That's hardly difficult Come on, get some videos
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I'm looking forward to seeing the results of your testing Jon, I think it could keep Husky on their toes if nothing else. Had husky not brought out the 550, I'd have been more open to trying something else. I've not had any experience of the Makita/Dolmars but I'm going to take some persuading to hang up my 550, it's just so light and zippy
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We have a 454 too and it's been a grand little bus. When we got it there was (and still is) something come adrift inside the injector pump so it only has tickover or about half/three quater throttle and that's done off the stop lever. We used it for a few months pulling our forwarding trailer and it's now sat in the yard running sawbench or splitter. I'd go as far as saying I've never known a better starting tractor than that one - it can sit for months and will go first turn of the key with no heat or hesitation. Was worth the £700 it cost
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Stick an 8 tooth rim on with the 15" and it's even quicker again Mine lives with a 15" most of the time for felling rougher pines etc and it just eats wood.
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I've never use the X torq one but the older ones we used to run on 15" - chances are the X torq is a fair bit pokier now so reckon 20" should be fine. I've not put anything bigger than a 20" on my 372 but most of the time it's pulling an 8 tooth sprocket.
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Dunno, but I used one very briefly a few weeks ago and it wasn't great. Am pretty sure I've seen the same in red too.
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365 probably better suited to a bit of logging.
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I needed a new small thinning saw. Already have 3 60cc saws on the shelf but the old 353 was getting tired and needed replacing and I didn't want a 346. Depending on whether we get similar stands to work next season, a 560's on the shopping list as soon as I can justify it. Talking to Husky at the APF, they suggested that most of the saws that have had running problems (rather than mechanical failure) were saws that wre only getting lighter use on arb type work (so more sporadic use during the day) rather than being pushed hard in the woods all day.
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It's Quad Bike Time Again
Chris Sheppard replied to samarb's topic in Forestry and Woodland management
Can't help from a towing point of view, but in my experience, any cheap old quad is going to be fairly knackered - and bits soon start to add up cost wise if you have to get geniune bits. Last one I had was an old 2wd honda 300 Big red and whilst it ran fairly well, needed about £400 just on a few brake parts and bushes for the suspension so ended up on ebay.
