Ty Korrigan

I have long thought of you as a pretty savvy hard nosed arb guy and reading your words actually shock me a little. I know I am not alone, I've other arb friends here who too have fallen foul of French aftersales and their loose interpretation of the word warranty. These situations do make you question your sanity as I certainly wouldn't dare treat my own clients this way. When the machine broke down in late March, I moved work around to do hedges, stumps and chippette suitable jobs and took holiday to minimise hire costs and stress, giving the Briggs guy a month from 5th April to resolve the problem. I told the guy I would happily pay for every Efi component to be changed at my cost regardless of warranty. I didn't factor on the mechanics incompetence and indifference. He got the 'ump when I suggested he reach out to Briggs themselves for advice, coming back with '15 years a Briggs approved mechanic'... Hopefully, this next machine will prove reliable, a simple Kubota diesel which can be fixed by any tractor dealership and a 1000kg weight so no deforming metalwork. So far, I'm not picking up any real harsh criticism of my chosen future machine. Good things may yet come my way. Stuart

That is all one can say really.

No. The black comedy of Briggs aftersales continues, mañana after mañana. It will be 4 months on the 4th August since I dropped the machine off. The warranty ends on the 10th. I don't even care about having the job done under warranty, I just want it fixed. Empty words follow empty words, he will be looking at it tomorrow, next week, waiting on this part that part and of course he got Covid at one point. It's replacement is delayed too. I have shoulder problems from feeding that wee chippette so have been renting the Bugnot alot more often. Hanging in by a thread these days. Stuart

Is there still a boom on? In my region, since 'deconfinment' commenced combined with the Summer holidays, things have become very quiet and I'm not expecting another boom come September. Stuart

I saw several 'tops' complete with branches being hauled out. The fragility of some of those logs surprised me too. They could have lowered stumps further or blown them up perhaps? Stuart

Also, the values quoted constantly for these logs, surely an exageration? Stuart

I never saw much of Axe men, only clips. Canadians seem calmer, less shouty, less dramatic even uncomfortable on camera at times. Questions for those in the know. The logs they are pulling up often look to be very poor, like they have been down for many years, is this just for the camera? Also, the working conditions, is this how it really is? It is a shit show of thousands of trees ****************ed over on top of each other any old how. I have a crisis when a conifer branch snags on Mrs Miggins gate and have to work around dog shit and flower pots never minds that slippery slope of near death those guys dance around on. Stuart

Anyone currently binging on this series? Stuart

This is a budget Chinesium 15hp drum chipper. It rarely blocks on leafy material. Stringy dead dry leylandii will do it but almost nothing else unless you overfeed it. As for Hazel, I'll often separate the wood from the leafy parts and chip each separately. The clean wood makes sought after decorative chip and the leafy stuff for compost mulch. Clients who keep chip often appreciate the gesture. Stuart

Chapeau! I reckon on one turn of Greenteeth for a stump that size. Stumps with wee grinders benefit with some prep to reduce machine time. I scrape the bark off with an axe before cutting low as inclusions allow. Sometimes cross hatching deeply helps break up the stump during grinding. Bet you felt that in your arms afterwards. Stuart

I once lost a large grinding job because the client was advised by others that grinding encouraged dangerous fungi. I was unable at the time to argue sufficiently well in French to counter that. Yesterday, I was working opposite a grind job I done back in October 2020 and saw a large erratic ring of field mushrooms on the grindings. Stuart

Got any images? Stuart

In defense of Mick, I find him pretty direct in his posts but certainly no dick. I find in discussions with some of those of my aquaintance who have never suffered from depression or anxiety, that they can often be coldly indifferent and almost without empathy towards those with these problems, whilst others do try to understand and offer comfort but remain puzzled by these conditions. Stuart

It is typically French...

You're right, I'm lying in bed with a temperature, not quite in my right head. I can't seem to recall much about the last few days except from phone images. I've a Covid jab Wednesday too

Cesson Sevigné, Rennes. I often worry about underpricing and this Euc growing through an old gravel and bitumen path did just that. Fortunately no large hardcore was present so my fears where unfounded. 10 min prep digging around, 45 min grind, 20min clean up, 9 barrows of grindings. Stuart

I asked for a quote for an T500 last week but Jo-Beau also sent me one for an M500. M500 €15k inc tva (£10'900 plus vat) T500 €9k inc tva Stuart

I was worried I'd under priced this Eucalyptus but wasl pleasantly surprised with the speed the wood chipped using fresh teeth. It had grown in a gravel path so was hard on the lead teeth as I chased a few roots out. An hour to prep and grind out with 10+ barrows of grindings to clear after. Stuart

I'm seriously considering abandoning 6" chipper ownership and moving back to a better brand of wee chippette and renting a 6" when required after negociating a deal with a local hire firm. Stuart

Hello, Does anyone know the micron rating of the tank fuel filter in the 500i? Also, in the injection unit, is there an additional filter and if so what is it's rating? Cheers. Stuart

Leaded Gas Was a Known Poison the Day It Was Invented WWW.SMITHSONIANMAG.COM For most of the mid-twentieth century, lead gasoline was considered normal...

David Cropper is still with us too. We've given up waiting for him to croak so we can divide his shed contents up between us. We reckon he met the devil at a crossroads and done a deal... Stuart

Hello Ben, I remember you well. Sorry your to learn of your troubles but pleased to read optimism in your words. Regards. Stuart

I'm not saying you are wrong. Just for your info. A CS80 (most excellent yet in dire need of updating) costs around €6500 ttc in France whilst it's Chinesium copy currently €1480ttc and uses the same engine. Stuart

There is virtually no product the Chinese have not copied and adapted. From international designer brands to Americas figher aircraft. I might own a Chinesium clone of a CS100 but I'll be the first to admit the quality isn't that of a Greenmech. Alignment of components, changes of design to get around patents, paintwork and material quality, all are below that of European manufactured brands YET... not so low to render them useless or throwaway. Stuart