Ty Korrigan

So, I have an electrical issue which gives me half of my chipper lights. On the truck, specifically a 2007 Iveco, where is the wiring loom earth to be found? On top of the battery is a plate with multiple connections. Could it be here? Might as well try the basics before I call in an auto-electrician. Regards Stuart

Nah, more to it than that it seems. Luckyeleven has found one on Ebay. I'm just waiting on a reply to my message.

Hello, Wingmirror number 4 passenger side smashed off by a speeding Frenchman on his phone. I had my wheels on the verge to try and avoid him. Anyway, I though I had a bargain online but it is a left hand drive wingmirror which is useless for vision although it fits. Can any one point me to a reliable source other than Iveco themselves? Looking to avoid paying dealer parts prices. Thank you in advance. Stuart

Ah, that will be the infamous 'Quittus Fiscal' in triplicate, stamped and signed by the tax office, your social security organism, the mayor, your doctor, the gendarmerie and the local bar to say you have paid your tab. Stuart

Any French government website or body which demands you justify yourself by producing endless pieces of paper less than 3 months old and when you have submitted your dossier replies after 28 days that you lack an 'element' which isn't even on the list (2 elements actually) which if not submitted in 5 working days will cause your application to be rejected so requiring a day off work traipsing from one 1970's architecturally challenged building to another where people tell you that you do not need this paper anyway despite us being told to produce it... Stuart

Me too, here in Liffre. Full road closure, diversions in place. Council gave us the barriers and an official 'arret municipal' permissions. Jogger vaults the barriers just as a chog bounces past him. Teenager also tried his luck and petulantly called his Father to get us to let him through. We spoke to the Father later and he apologised for his son. Old people "but I walk my dog here every day"... Another job out West and a British tourist and his family in a Freelander, up the pavement, onto the bank and gets bitch slapped by a leylandii. Didn't stop to pick up his passenger wingmirror either. Stuart

This image shows the tree December 2016 during a deadwooding operation. The crane behind is part of the viaduct construction. Stuart

Just to be clear, I was referring to the throw of that Delek item made from Chinesium.... Not dissing Jo Beau or Haeksler in anyway. Stuart

One of my older and higher spending clients had some land expropriated by the city of Rennes for the new metro system. This 25m oak stands near the limit of the property with a third of it's roots now lying under a metre of bund with a fence on top. To the left a hedge, leylandii which my company planted by cutting a trench right through the roots. I was as the Germans used to say "only following orders" As the clients personal contractor I had zero influence over this project, I could only speak to the city project managers through my client. Doing so led drew negative focus on our small company and caused us to not be invited to tender again. So now, 4 years after the metro began, this tree has now significant die back and it's life significantly curtailed. However, more problematic is this handsome ganoderma I saw this on this evenings inspection. Potential targets are a new metro line above ground on a viaduct, fences and the house. Question is, before I get one of the few specialists out to survey (picus has arrived in France now) How far advanced might this fungi be? I think I might be looking at my first ever crane job... Stuart

In that video on the link, the chip throw is just overwhelming. I'm not sure it would even reach the back of my truck in a light breeze. Is there anyone out there who has put some serious hours on one of this type of machine? We have a CS100 with over 300hrs and it is still punching above it's weight and still in great condition. Stuart

Morning, After I had a hedge cutting accident in 2007 I bought a Henchman platform, senior I think. I was working for a French company as an employee harvesting yew at a vinyard and was cutting off a ladder with a plank attached to it. Plank slipped, hedge cutter made contact with my left inner forearm severing tendons. Oddly enough, this has just happened this September to a mates young employee here despite me warning him this could happen one day. I had previously had a heated discussion about safety only a few weeks before and got the usual Gallic shrug for my efforts. He'd been cutting off domestic steps for 20 years he said... Type of guy who cuts branches working from ladders. However, working from steps is strictly forbidden even in France especially for employees. Stuart

I find the legs go in between plants quite well. Besides, clients who plant up to hedges are just not thinking about the practicalities of maintenance. How dare they moan about my size 10's leveling their annuals and herbaceaous border as I get on with the impossible task of missing their marigolds with feet, ladder or rake... Stuart

https://www.henchman.co.uk/products/hi-step-platforms.html Possible the finest and safest solution cost wise. Worth every penny but I do cut alot of hedges. Stuart

Henchman platform. 4 legs extendable by 70cm I have an extension kit for it too for extra height but rarely used. Feeling safe vastly improves productivity. Stuart

I imagine that after Jan 1st 2019 when red is no longer supposed to be used for plant, the Gendarmes and Douaniers (customs) will start dippping tanks of plant both at roadside checks and on sites to check if it is being used illegally. They regularly visit building sites checking for unregistered workers as it is. Stuart

Any-one interested in working in Brittany? 2 local firms have contacted me to ask if I know any suitable candidates. An experienced person required for a landscape and maintenance company and a climber is required to join a tree firm. You need to speak some French though. Stuart

Why would I risk it? I get stopped every year more than once as it is. Proximity to ports and our trade like the building trade is known for such tricks. Stuart

Here is one of many articles online. http://www.lefigaro.fr/conso/2018/09/24/20010-20180924ARTFIG00306-en-2019-le-prix-du-gazole-va-quasiment-rattraper-celui-de-l-essence.php GNR (which replaced fioul in 2011) will only be available to farmers and the rail transport sector from January 1st 2019 Diesel at the pump to rise by around 7cents. I think the maritime guys have their own diesel stained blue. Stuart

Red diesel is almost finished in France. Gasoil non-routier will no longer available to any-one other than farmers or trains. We must all run on white. The purchase price is lower than a diesel, fuel consumption and cost slightly higher, lower cost of interest on finance due to lower price. Playing around with figures, I deduce that over the 5 years I will own the machine, the cost is about the same as a diesel. However the initial investment was lower. Besides this, I live opposite a petrol station. Diesel will certainly rise in price as it is slowly squeezed out of fashion. My house is rented and I have no local yard, thus I am limited by law to storing no more than 20litres of petrol (Aspen in my case) or diesel so a 200litre barrel of cherry bought from a farmer is out of the question. I get stopped by the Douane a couple of times a year who dip my tanks. If they find cherry in them after the date for stopping it's use has passed then it's trouble at mill. So lot's of good reasons for choosing a petrol engine over diesel. Stuart

Yes, U.K bought although I rather thought the machines were all made to the same 'norm' these days. Perfidious French!z Until I get a stop switch fitted it does not conform to the tighter French safety regs. Of course these things are only important when you have an accident using the machine or want to re-sell. Reading into the new regs here, all existing machines must be converted to bottom bar with a minimum of 120cm to the feed rollers. Machines which do not conform can no longer be used or sold unless for parts. Stuart

Me too, no 'brash pusher' too which is usefull. I'll ask Jase Hutch about supplying and fitting the stop buttons. The French really are a bit odd having their own requirements above that of other nations. Stuart.

Hello, Just for peoples info. I'm now running the new GM 150p which is fitted with one of these engines. 10 hours now on the clock, 51m3 of chip produced. The fuel consumption per hour to date is 4.5litres which costs me around €7.60 for SP98. I'm very pleased with that as I was expecting a far higher figure. So far my observations are quite positive. Chip quality is very fine from it's 4 disc blades and is thrown strongly to the rear of the chip box. The new style longer infeed folds up so creates great additional storage. The running gear is uprated to 950kg which should cope well long term with the 690kg weight. The tow hitch is sturdy and lockable. As I stow the chipper in my garage, I ordered the optional chute support which fixes to the drawbar. It is the work of a minute to undo 2 bolts and fold the chute down. My previous GM was the 200 model. In France we have additional stop buttons which I will get retro fitted. The bottom stop bar is very sensitive, requires uprated springs I feel. My old Quadchip could reverse the rollers by pulling on the stop bar, I liked that feature and wish the 150p had that feature rather than having to fumble for a side button. An optional spare wheel carrier wouldn't go amiss for those of us who are not affected by towing weights. Stuart

Hah, this is on my fantasy shopping list. Fuel consumption from it's common rail engine is a mere 4 litres per hour. Have you got a price from FSI France? Earlier this year their quote for a TP175 was an eyewatering 40% more than JaspWilson. Stuart

In 1994 the Tour de France came to the U.K. Like many club cyclists we were enlisted as marshals. I was posted to a pedestrian crossing point in Rowlands Castle. At the appointed time I closed my barrier and before the caravan came through. People still tried to get across, one angry person wanted to use the Post office despite it being closed for the day. Others claimed they knew nothing about the event. One ultra old biddy had never heard of the race and didn't believe anyway that the TDF was passing and that I was being cheeky it being a French race. We put up with it every few years as it breezes through our region, diversions, business shut for the day, still more happy people than nimby faced ones. Stuart