Ty Korrigan

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

Important feature...

Now THAT is an unknown. I hope the faulty components and time are covered under warranty. I don't know just how much time he is alloted by Briggs for diagnosing problems and if he will invoice above and beyond the repairs. 3 months in a workshop for a problem involving so few variables. Like you wrote Mick, if I fell in a barrel of tits, I'd come up sucking my thumb. Stuart Anyway, I had the chippette out again today. Another €200 saved in hire. Tomorrow too. Rest of the weeks jobs I've pushed back until I've a more capable machine.

I do not know, he avoids my requests for images and is vague with his responses. I have reached out for legal advice and know that a Gun Ho! visit, rucking up with Komatsu Clive and the Fat Afghan in tow to seize the machine isn't an option. Stuart

I do blame the mechanic. It literally cannot be anyone else. French law is quite clear in that he has the right of retention whilst money is owed whilst the same time a responsibility to repair within 30 days. His treatment of me is polite in messages yet abusive in denying me the machine. How would you sort it? I'm at a total loss. Stuart

I long guessed guessed that was the case. Anyway, using this machine I've not much choice in the matter. With our GM150P in the incompetent hands of a French Briggs Efi approved clown, now in it's 11th week with no end in sight. He won't give it back because he won't get paid. His latest message says a new loom arrives end of next week which is week 12. Meanwhile we do what we can by pushing larger jobs back still further and using what we have to hand. I gave the twunt a 4 week window which even by French 'laissé faire' standards should have been enough. I arranged 4weeks of hedges, stumps, subbing, wee chipper jobs and some time off. Laugh if you will, I'm depressed and beyond caring. Lidl shelf stacking looks more appealing day after day. Stuart

Skarper and Haecksler are from the same factory in Czech I am informed. Better build quality than Chinesium copies but 4 times the price. The Chinesium machines are more than adequate despite having a narrower infeed. There are protuding bolts inside the infeed on mine which twisted branches sometimes catch on. Part of the hinge mechanism and security cutout. There is also a gap on top of the anvil which traps branches at times. On the whole it does a pretty good job but those constraints do make it harder work, requiring more snedding and positioning of branches as you feed. Stuart

That description might give the more sensitive clients nightmares to think of giant spider legs under their lawn... Stuart

When quoting, make it clear to clients that it is a stump grinder not a root finder. Stuart

Agri-euro 15hp 10cm capacity I paid €1372 Very good value. Circumstances have meant we've had to use it as a back up chipper for almost 3 months. Served us well. Stuart

The E.U and U.K still consider Gibraltar to be part of the E.U. It couldn't function otherwise. Stuart

If you search the FB page 'Angry people in newspapers' it carries the article. It appears to be a privately owned verge. Not council property.

I know little about the administration surrounding trees in the U.K Would such work require a felling licence? Hot topic amongst some friends. I cannot link directly as it simply says 'log into FB' Stuart

Yes. Many of working age depended on other Brits buying properties and using other Brits to renovate. This has stalled with Brexit and Covid. Property owners are no longer able to bring over cheap materials for renovations which in turn makes it less atttractive to buy here. Many Brits without sufficient French language to find French clients are struggling for work. Unwilling or unable to return to the U.K, often they are trapped here by Covid or their own unsaleable unfinished renovations. Having removed themselves from the U.K property market they stand little chance of buying back into it. Covid has seen property prices rise in more rural areas but the Parisian professionals are wanting ready to move into properties not half finished, amateurish Brit renovations with ring mains, 3 pin plugs and no tradesmans guarantees for work done. Yes, some families are pushed to relying on state aid (RSA) and 'Resto du Cour' food banks. Stuart

I wonder where you get your anger from? Have you got personal problems at home or work perhaps? If I annoy you so much, just block me. Stuart

Almost. Needs brakes though and it is too loud for Protos eard defenders. The exhaust venting next to my work position isn't great. However, it certainly is good for Pyracantha! Stuart

Hey Conor, You sound like an Orange Plant employee or a hungry post Brexit Brit, maybe both.

The engine comes as standard with a 30 micron pre-filter. The mechanic is now fitting a 10 micron. Just what pollutant traversed the pre-filter to block the pumps own 10 micron is beyond all ken. I've given up on the machine. If I could have slid a diesel into it I'd have kept it but it is now 2 months in a mechanics workshop so I'm moving it on, sadly. I'm considering running 3 CS100 wee chippettes and pay €5 per hour to hungry post brexit Brits for feeding them... Stuart

I've a Bugnot sat on my drive this lunch time. Knarly single roller, toothed conveyor, deafening Kohler diesel encased in a metal box. Belt tensioner clutch, no brakes but a parking brake like my grinders which acts on the tyre. In the last year 2 hire places opened up in town. I tried the Rabaud 150 2 weeks ago and that was an awfull machine to use. I've used this Bugnot before when it was new and fitted with cutting tools instead of flails. Flails today, shrub-er-ama-smash. Plenty of bramble, eleagnus and twisty vile stuff. Toothed conveyor is ideal for this. Stuart

Rarely use stored petrol (except when the French blocade refineries) and that I do use is kept in pristine used Aspen containers. I'll ask the mechanic, if he ever leaves hospital, if the gummy deposits on the filter can be identified. @bigtreedon This is not a GM issue. It is a Briggs Vanguard problem. The engine has a separate warranty from the rest of the machine. Sadly, no-one seems keen to become a Briggs Efi certified mechanic so their aftersales service is thin in the ground. This lack of mechanics able to work on Efi is in itself reason enough not to buy another. Next machine will have a straight forward Kubota diesel that any tractor dealer can work on. Stuart

Breton oak, a boundary tree rich in iron. Cooked 2 chains just knocking the stem over. The stump was better though. 10 min scratching around picking out stones and 40min machine time. Stuart

When I changed to a French licence I automatically recieved the C1E without any tests apart from a rudimentary medical. Lucky me. Stuart