Ty Korrigan

If that is a reference to me, I've long moved on from the Efi saga and joined the Kubota V1505 club However during that Efi period of woe I did make contact with several others experiencing the same or similar issues. Everyone, like me, found the dealers to be less that satisfactory and ended up trading their Efi powered chipper in for diesels. Costly move but the stress and uncertainty was just too toxic. I notice the posts asking about problems have largely dried up, hopefully the updated 40hp Efi will prove to be more reliable. I liked the Efi when it worked...

I like quoting and enjoy selling our services. Upon first contact with clients, I try to win them over with some flattery. Compliment them on their garden, house, always pet the dog, trying to present a friendly front. I give the tree a quick review and say "lovely form that birch but I can see the seeds might bother the neighbour because he has Velux windows, if it was mine I'd..." I'll then take a closer look at the tree and either reassure the client or condemn it with a tatty tap of my boot or by putting my entire arm inside the trunk and sucking my teeth whilst looking serious. I'll say "I'm no carpet salesman* but if the wind blows, I'd sleep in the back bedroom until it's removed" * French expression I might ask "Do you have a fireplace?" As we lend clients a complimentary wood splitter if they wish to both keep the wood and make an economy. Tell them how useful woodchip is around the garden in case they want to keep it. This doesn't change the price though as my tip sites are local and free. Tell them the stump is always an option priced separately. If it's to be a decent pruning job, I'll send before and after images of similar jobs This is a useful tactic as I don't believe many competitors do the same. Stuart

The proven recipe of Arb tipper and 6" road tow is difficult to argue with for general arb work. Good coin can be made with a 20 year old transit and venerable TW150 However, how others roll is often of interest and a talking point. I started with a Kangoo and 3m caged trailer with a wee chipper and rapidly proving Dempsey right when I outgrew it. One tool that gets the French aroused is the 3.5t tipper fitted with a grab. They sell them here for €25k ! Wee chippers have a very strong following. In fact two of my 3 subby climbers run medium vans, caged tippers and wee chippers. Both use their vans for private use, not earning enough to justify a separate family vehicle. I doubt Mrs Accountant will go there but a 7.5t hook loader with an 8" tracked chipper would work well for me. Attached image lifted from a discussion on a French arb group.

I believe the UK to just as complicated but with the added burden of shite weather and eyewatering house prices...

Phytosanitaire info: https://planthealthportal.defra.gov.uk/trade/exports/exports-to-the-eu/export-it-systems/plant-health-export-service-phes/apply-for-a-pc-used-farm-machinery/

That most certainly isn't an option.

I've just had a horrible flashback to the time I bought an Atlas tipper trailer in 2012 which despite the instance of the dealer, didn't in fact conform. What followed was 9 months or more of visiting to the DREAL also known as the 'MINE' by some French. We had to assemble a dossier of every CofC for each component of the running gear. I eventually asked if they wanted a CofC for the air in the tyres. Now a trailer is simple enough but your machine doesn't conform in other ways other than merely running gear so avoid the DREAL route is my advice.

To add... The registration process is done online via ANTS. Accueil Immatriculation - Immatriculation - France Titres (ANTS) IMMATRICULATION.ANTS.GOUV.FR Other than your usual i.d and proof of residency, you need to upload your CofC for the machine. Very simple process. One thought, perhaps GM could supply a chassis which conforms...?

Hello, I've imported several chippers into France and helped several of my French colleagues do the same. I've sadly no idea (post Brexit) on how to obtain a phytosanitaire certificate as this was something that was of no concern beforehand or even if it concerns road tow machines. I suspect tracked chippers, tractors, diggers and other earth moving machinery are obvious candidates. Just to throw another obstacle into the mix, your machine does not confirm to E.U norms and most likely cannot be made too either. Neither can a used non-conforming machine be (legally) sold in France. Less important if it's for your own use but important if anyone else is using it as one important modification was increasing the length of the infeed chute to reduce the risk of 'foot feeders' losing an appendage. Some manufacturers have made kits with which to upgrade machines but only the more recent higher volume models. Regardless, I have a colleague who against my advice bought a UK chipper which was pre CofC and found he couldn't register it as a result. He had a custom chassis made costing around €4k, still cheaper than buying the same machine used in France. Where are you setting up in France? Regards Stuart

Oh my, thank you very much for finding that link!

The tax credit system in France is rotten with fraud.

What is your tax rate over there for self employed? Ours is around 50% of profit in social charges with income tax being very variable depending on whether you are married and the number of children in the household. Some single people in our trade with no kids pay around 65% combined social charges and income tax.

Hello, In the absence of decent Youtube videos, I'm looking for advice on taking the front off to access the radiator. The bumper in particular looks to be a bit of a mystery. I'm reluctant to use a garage as throwing money at an old truck will just give my accountant wife further reason to delay purchasing a newer one. Any advice welcome. Cheers Stuart

I'm on a 4 day week with Wednesday's being quotes and tool fettling. Come September the apprentice will be fettling whilst I quote I do occasionally work a 5 day week but the extra effort required often impacts on my weekends energy reserves.

I mostly work local and often with my wife when in town so arrive around 9 and leave by 3:30 to collect the kids unless they have after school club. Both stubby climbers have kids to drop off or collect so it's often a later start to suite us all. Now with an apprentice starting in September I need to keep an accurate time sheet.

Oh! You find that funny do you? Siding with my wife now? Bastards, the lot of you...

A rake, a lovely wide plastic rake with a varnished wood handle. I really wanted a 7.5t Isuzu tipper but Mrs Lee vetoed that as she wants a house instead.

Ah nuts, I found the source of the carb problem. Dust infiltration. The new air filter isn't seated tight enough.

Is it worth getting a compression test before dismantling it?

No idea as to the cause, I just change the oil and air filter. As a fresh engine is just a day's turnover, it seems tempting to go for one rather than fecking around fettling or handing it over to the local mower shop. Moteur HONDA GX390 SXQ4 13 CV 3600 tr/min avec démarrage à lanceur - Regelav SHOP.REGELAV.COM - Moteur à essence monocylindre 4 temps- Moteur à essence OHV- Arbre de prise de force horizontal- Cylindrée du...

Now then, This engine is on my wee FSI B20 stumpgrinder and has done 200 hours. The head gasket is failing. I can also smell oil being burnt. A kit containing all the gaskets and seals can be had for just a few Euros. Is it likely I will need a new head though? I could buy a new engine for under €800 Meanwhile, It will have to hang on a little longer before my long Summer break as only then will I have the time to fettle.

Arbtalk be talking about Skinny... https://youtu.be/CHR5Ly3TrwM?si=JfmCmhqZOD4CZYxb

Who are you with your 15K posts and wot do you know about chainsaws anyway...?

Hello all, Well, that was 'fun'... As suggested by a forum sage, I took the exhaust off and used the airline to push the broken piston blocker towards the port, time and time again until I could winkle it free using a bent chainsaw file (handle end) I never once lost my temper, just kept winkling away until it came free. Put the saw back together to find it now won't start...FFS! What might I have done during my winkling session that has affected the saw so it won't start? Stuart

I was seriously questioning my competence after this. Now to figure out if the Sugi bars are a dodgy run or not.