Chris Sheppard

I've never had the protector pros, but the Tibets have been great. Current pair are about ready for replacing and have had a couple f years full time use on them. Still wearable but tread has about worn away and they leak now. They have a proper Vibram sole, which looks to have a better tread pattern for out in the woods especially if bank sides make up a chunk of your work. They're a bit clunky to start with but I've always found they bed in nice and are dead comfy. Only vehicle I struggle to drive in them is wife's Jimny as they are too big to fit the pedals unless you're really concentrating. I'll more than likely be going for another set shortly.

As above - unlucky if you are the one who has to deal with it. Only ever done anything with one so far and hope never have to again

Bet it's a beast now then Would be good to see it in a cut off against a standard one. 560's on the shopping list still but running out of room to hide saws from Mrs at mo and somewhow ended up with a really shiny 357 xpg a week or two back that I couldn't pass up on Wonder if he can do the same with a 550?

If ebay is owt to go by, not far off the price of a new one.

No, but they'd be a good pair for hedge cutting or log splitting etc. For helmet mount the Husky/Sordin ones are good. The old type ones lasted me 7 years beforefinally dying. Got a set of the new type ones and they seem OK so far.

It's rank here too. We got a bit of a start this morning but gave it up as a bad do mid morning. More frustrating thn owt as a good couple of days would have finished that block off and we could start on the next site.

Wash your mouth out

That sounds like it might be the case, the 2159 is on 3/8ths and has big hole rim and the 357 is running 325 on a small hole rim. What confuses things is small hole 3/8ths rims Sounds like If I swap the pinion over too then it should all work, which is good The XPG will be getting the auto decomp removed shortly - it's been on the to do list I'll have a look at the exhausts when I get a few min, don't think I've taken any notice looking in from the other side.

Nice one, hopefully I can swap them over then. The bit that was different was the prongs on the back of the clutch drum and the slots on the black bit on the oil pump that the prongs locate into - They definitely didn't go together (but that's not to say that one might even be the wrong one from before I bought it). I didn't have time to delve right into it when we were in the wood so it all got put back together and forgot about until now. Going from the stickers on the 2159 it's an aussie import and reckons to be only 85db - it's a bit quieter I suppose but not loads. Will the baffle be visible from the outside or would I need to open it up on the seam? With the screen in it, it did sound a bit like a newer 346 exhaust noise with that sort of whistly rattly noise (can't think of a better way to describe it). Also, whilst thinking 357, did the older ones (darker orange) have more go about them thn the newer ones (lighter orange and auto decomp?). The one I put the ARB pot on felt a bit less aggressive than the older ones but thought that was the pot, but the latest one I picked up has done next to nothing, appears to be running fine and pulls well enoughvbut just doesn't seem to have the punch of the older ones. The one we've been comparing it to was bought new and hasn't been fettled with so should be all stock. Just a bit curious.

My 2159 has one of the spark arrester type exhausts (though with the screen removed), is there any advantage performance wise if I stick a proper exhaust onto it? I'm thinking of parting with one of my 357's so not too fussed about swappign a few bits over before it gets advertised and know the exhaust will fit. Also, the 2159 is a bit of an oddball as it is small mount (like the 357) but uses big hole sprockets, meaning that unless I run a 9 toother, it's 3/8ths only. That in itself isn't a problem but it's the only saw on the shelf that is small mount 3/8ths as all my other small mount bars are .325 and all 13or15" and I like t keep things easily interchangeable where I can. Does anyone happen to know before I start stripping it down, if the oil pump drive and clutch drum off a 357 are compatible with the 2159? This would mean I can then run .325or 3/8ths rims on it making it a bit more versatile. I know the clutch itself is the same as a 357 but the drum has different lugs that dont fit the oil pump drive on the 357. Hope that makes some sense Before anyone states the obvious and says to get rid of the 2159 and keep the 357, I know that'd be simpler but I really quite like the old 2159 as it's not done a lot and it's a bit different

I had one a few years ago for dealing with billets and small roundwood and sold it to get a processor. Wished I'd kept the eagle too as it was a really good little thing. never had much bother with it, seem to think we tightened the belts a few times and other than a leaky seal on the gearbox that was it. second hand ones don't seem to come up that often and when they do, seem to hold their money fairly well. If you buy new, go for the TCT blade without even hesitating

Saw one once called something like a Rokon Ranger. Think they were available in the UK too.

That would be cool. I still have a hankering for a Vimek 404T (i think it was) but don't fancy the headaches of keeping it in work. At the risk of telling you how to do it, make sure you walk the WHOLE site before commiting to anything - quite often you'll find something that could slow the whole job down if you're not ready for it.

Rhino trophy head I think

Been thinking about a chainsaw winch for a while as I think it could come in handy for some of the thinning we end up doing where most of it is shortwooded from stump but there's often a few bits that need pulling into reach and trailing the tractor and winch down is sometimes a bit overkill, but quicker than tirforing or dragging with the crane and a selection of strops. Anyway, I've just picked up some work on a site I was last at 4/5 years ago (maybe more) when I still had the Carraro. It's a long valley with some real nice Larch and there's a fair bit of smaller diameter firewood grown up in among it that's been drawn up - probably very little over 12" diameter and mostly 8-10" In the past we've cut it fairly short and hoyed it downhill to the track but some of it's a bit too wide for it and also some of it would be better off uphill. I'm thinking a chainsaw winch would be a useful addition to the fleet and think it could be one of those things that gets brought out more than I'd have first expceted. So far, the Lewis seems to have had nothing but praise and seems to be the cheapest too (about £860 inc vat) but I've no experience of using one. Are they up to doing a reasonable amount of skidding on smaller poles? Are they much cop at pulling out hangers? I'd probably give it a try as a haulback line for when we're doing banksides with the tractor winch too -interested to hear if anyones tried it and how well it went.

Just heard on the radio the council have changed their mind and the blogging can continue

Rained off today so had chance to get a proper look at the old 242. Fired pretty much straight away, started well and ran for 2/3 seconds then died. Pulled and pulled and wouldn't fire again. Took starter cover off and cleaned and refitted the ignition (properly gungy) and is definitely producing what looks a good spark and seems to be consisitent. Fairly sure it's not pulling fuel through (when pulled the plug out after it wouldn't start, it was dry too). Checked filter in the tank and that seemed clean. Fuel pipe looks to be OK. Did notite when pulling the engine over on the bench that there was a squelching noise coming from near the carb though, but not a noise I'd expect to hear. I've never had need to dip into a saw carb (fortunately) but am wondering if it could be a worn diaphragm? It that's a possibility, how easy are diaphragm kits to fit? Have worked on bike carbs before in the past - so aren't completely ham fisted (well maybe a little ) Am open to other suggestions too Whipped exhaust off and the piston looks to be in good fettle and compression feels as good as any other 242.

They are cool

Dropped into local dealer yesterday and we put the coil on some sort of tester and it was sparking inside the casing - apparently a new one on them. Anyhow, got a used one out of their scrap bin but had to fit my HT lead - thankfully they do unscrew So, good news is 2159 is sorted now and the 372 took all of 2 mins to fit the new AV. My latest ebay saw arrived yesterday - 242 G that reckoned to be a bit temperamental. Shoved som fresh fuel in and it'll sometimes run for a few sec, other times just fire and other times not do owt. Tried a splash of fuel down the plug hole and it firedstriaght away. It seems to be sparking fairly well too and doesn't seem to be wetting the plug so I'm guessing it's not sucking fuel through very consistently.

Our Husky delaer stocks various 2 stroke oils and has never pushed any particular oil. He reckons he sells more Oregon to pros than owt else. As far as I can remember I've never used anything other than Oregon over the last 12 years and have been OK so far. Do the newer saws really rev that much higher?

Ta

Ta How does the HT lead come off at each end? Bike ones used to unscrew but do saw ones do the same? Found some non gen coils on ebay for £20 are they worth bothering with or are they a bit naff?

at 36 ft long I'd have guessed in the round