Chris Sheppard

as far as I can see, the only real difference is the 560 is small bar mount and the 562 is big bar mount

Absolutely - set of 4 half decent tyres is thick end of £600

That's the one, thanks for that

My 300 tdi 90 on mud terrains gets between 28-32mpg generally. 300 tdi 130 used to be more like 25-27mpg

Didn't have the joy of a bench today so took up the kitchen floor instead (much to SWMBO's bemusement ). Finally got the 181 stripped down (this one) half expecting to find a bit of a mess but the bearings didn't look to have droped a cage or anything so am still no further towards working out what's embedded in the top of the piston and pot Tried ordering some main bearings and seals for it at local husky dealer yesterday but it's not listed on the computer anymore. A bit of a long shot, but does anyone happen to have access to part numbers for a 181 SE of around 1985 vintage ? Alternatively, does anyone know if they share the same bottom end as the 281 or 288 maybe?

I remember seeing something of a similar idea but much more heavy duty, think it was called a Log Dog or something similar. Really fancied one but apparently they stopped making them as they were a bit too over engineered (costly) to sell many.

Had hold of one yesterday and hopefully should have mine by Tues or wed next week. Taking a bit of a punt as not actually seen one running but if it does to the the 346 what the 560 did to the 357 it can't be bad. First impression when picked it up was it felt very similar geometry to the 242 - seems a step in the right direction

four inches or so here too - started about half three ish yesterday nad stopped about 11ish. Doesn't look like much fell overnight.

Exactly, they do some lab based tests in a controlled environment with simplifying assumptions made - in the real world with so many variables, how can they possibly say their results are a true reflection. Absolutely

yes, that whole chart is based on someones opinions rather than facts.

What a load of crap

That does look a nice truck Sam. I'd agree with Pete - keep it fairly original and unmolested. Only other thing I'd be half tempted to do would be to keep an eye out for a good (defender) 200 tdi engine for when the current TD engine lets go

I like them, I've had 4 so far (3 200 tdi's and a 3.9 V8) and the've done everything I've wanted, BUT they generally all go the same way and rot away. Yes it's all fixable but not cheap unless you have the time to do it yourself. I'd really quite like to find a really tidy one and keep it something like but can't bring myself to part with the current 90.

Charlie - why'd you have to go and post that? I was happily sat here reading through stuff and now I'm full of big ideas

Must be big stuff if something like a botex 560 won't pick it up. What about building/buying a big trailer and looking at something like a wagon crane like a log lift or Epsilon etc?

I got a loop of multicut a while back for crosscutting when we were skidding and at first really didn't rate it much as it didn't seem to cut particularly quick compared to standard full chisel and doesn't seem to take a good edge. However, while it doen't seem to be that fast cutting, it does go a fair while before dulling off much so can't be all bad. Would I use it again? Probably, but only when it was dirty enough to need to. For ringing up generally I'd go semi chisel, but if nice and clean then full chisel, low rakers and plenty of power.

The japa 300 is pretty much just a mirror image of the old Hakki Pilke Hawk liek I used to have. It was OK but was really quite a basic machine compared to if you were to look at a PTO machine, but at the time the Hawk and 300 were about your only choice of road towable ones. As far as I know, the hawk isn't available any more but as well as the japa 300, there's the hakki pilke 2x as a road tow, the farmi as a road tow and I'm pretty sure Palax do one too. The 2x and the farmi are both fairly high spec and would fairly easily out do a 300 speed wise. The main bugbear with the hawk was that in standard set up, you had to let the ram go all the way out and back again each time and while it was out you couldn't star tcutting the next log. We did find a way round this though and made it so it only went out half way each time which greatly sped things up. I've had a fair bit of experience of the Farmi from when I worked for the importer and found it a really simple and comfortable machine to use, but also very very fast for a relatively basic machine.

We use your's little brother 28hp landini and 3201 winch

Not jealous in the slightest That little forwarder looks a handy little thing

Finally got a photo of our "new" tractor for pulling the forwarding trailer. it's fairly big for an older Kubota and has loads more ground clearance than the old international so hopefully it'll prove to be a good move. Still need to sort out the roll bar and some proper guarding but it's getting there.

I've been stopped twice, both times were in a 30. First time I got to do a very short course if I went and did it there and then and it wasn't recorded. Second time was coming from a 60 into a 30 and the camera was on the start of the 30 and picked up points (first time in 12 years). I was fairly miffed at the time but ultimately was in the wrong and have found that since the points I'm more aware of my speed so can only really take them as a good thing. The frustrating thing was though that they've since changed the limit thhrough there to have a 40mph buffer and I'd have been OK

Just done mine, first time of doing it myself and wasn't as scary as thought it would be

Jon, it's like no other saw I've ever used - blows power to weight out of the water I really didn't expect it to be much cop and ended up doing a complete U turn (I can even overlook the starter bubble and the electrics for the time being!)

Quite liking the look of the Rojek one, especially with the delimbing knife attachment. Reckon that would keep a lot of the twiggy bits out.

Agreed - and very good for any of those really small obscure bits you might need too.