Big 'Ammer

IC Trees has not reported on the forum that his chipper has been returned yet. Kwik Chip 222 turbo turntable was recently stolen.

Me also. All next weeks work is on that basis and I have two calls today from customers to 'just come and do it'.

Sorry I mis read this. as Cheapest bar in UK!

Risk assessment should be your first priority as always Dean. Why not get one of Ed's Landrover cranes fitted and lift it out whole, prune it on the floor in the road and then lift it back over and replant it? This would surely satisfy any HSE types as you are taking steps to avoid working at any height. Go on Dean, do it by the book!

325 8 rim 14" bar just to be different! Husky don't have a 14" bar you all cry. Dunno what its off but the oil hole matches up, had to file the slot back a bit to get it to fit. Got it in a closing down sale for £1! Its a power match, starts AO95 or KO95 so I knew it would fit. 262's been wearing it mostly, lurvely! Prefer 357 with 7 rim when it wears 18" bar.

Thanks, i'll get one. Cheap insurance at that price imo.

I always wondered what the life expectancy of Cobra was. Time to get the diary out and see if we can sell anybody some more then!

Where from M?

If its not diseased, I would make a proper target pruning cut. Its not a particularly old ash tree and will develop to account for the limb removed. You'll let more rot in in the long run leaving a stub to resprout.

...And the stupid little plastic peg behind the trigger which stops you using it on its side with your thumb on the throttle! Not to mention, as its marketed as a saw for trained professionals for use in the tree, from the picture it appears to be fitted with ramped safety hobby chain! Which is useless and IMO more risky on a topper.

Guidelines are what they say they are - a guide. They are a starting point, you then need to apply common sense, and your own skill and experience to safely and efficiently carry out the task in a given situation.

I have a 2100 which my mate offered me back the other day after having had it borrowed for two years. Don't know what year its from though? When did they stop making them? He said it wouldn't start and he'd got a good deal on a new 'old' Husky as the new models are about to come out. Put some petrol in, half a dozen pulls on choke two more on 1/2 throttle and off she went like a good 'un! I told him he was being gay and not pulling hard enough! It is surplus to my requirements and in good condition if anyones interested, bid me, 28" bar on 3/8 chain.

I had a look at one at a local dealer and it seems a lot of trailer for the money, with all the high sides, ramps and partitions thrown in for the price. Don't quote me but, someone told me that Ifor Williams had dropped there prices to compete, so they must be selling a few. Also they are made in China and assembled here. A selling point was that they are 'better' galvanised than stuff made here as the Chinese arn't so fussy about the workers health at the galvanisers and can use a stronger recipe than we can! Whether either of these points is right or not.....?

I started up the trees with a red Komatsu Zenoah topper too. Not a bad thing either, for new starters to use a less powerful saw, as it makes them learn to do proper cuts, keep the saw sharp and not just plough on through with brute power. Not a bad little saw and always used to use it for pruning jobs after we got a Stihl also, as it was handier, with a nicer angle on the top handle for reaching out to the ends with one hand.... Got a similar thing in orange in the shed called an Oleo Mac 932. Thought about selling it, but it doesn't stand me anything and its there once a year or so as a back up saw.

Ow! stop bullying me!

Me too. Lots of hire invoices.

Agree with all that. You don't look at the controls when your driving a car do you? I prefer to work in a basket by myself.

It not funny really.... How did you get the .22 one? Were you driving and holding the lamp with an over enthuasitic rear gunner?

Market Weighton?

That would be a Hundredweight then Dean.

I don't like the Teupen Leo 15 for tree work, because although it has a movable fly jib arrangement, you can't control it from the basket, the machine moves it where it wants to move to keep itself within it operation window, rather than where the operator wants it to move, which is infuriating. Its overengineered and would be far better with a fixed basket on the end of the boom. Also the ground operation controls are not easy to hand, they are under a cover with some small valves to push in and piss about with. Not something I would want if it was an emergency and I wanted a groundy to get me down fast. I havn't tried any other Teupens to give an opinion. Other machines with a simple lever to throw for ground or basket and a bank of levers at the bottom is far better and more straightforward. Second hand RQG 18 would be good as Dean says, a very versatile machine for tree work, provided you don't need narrow access, but I guess thats not a big issue for you being LA John. I have not tried the Bil Jax wheeled machines yet, but plan to. Easylift 150 and Basket RQG 15 are good too, but again Dean's right with the headstones issue, as they both have telescopic legs which are a pain. Italmec R16 is still my favourite though, bends in all the right places for tree work, but they are real lightweight wobbly little buggers! Not for the faint hearted, puts plenty climbers off mewps!

Does 'Pete the plumber' still go? He used to have some filthy videos and jokes on his phone!!! Used to have a good laugh with that crew, wish Kevin and co all the best from me.

You'll be with Kevin Moss then. Winston 'Winny' Hagston is the bloke with the shooting rights. Say hello to Kev and the boys then from Nige at Driffield. I used to shoot with those lads quite a bit a few years back for a few seasons as part of a roving syndicate, but got chance of a 'dead men's boots' syndicate place and couldn't go with them as often and Kevin used to run it on a first refusal basis for those there to attend the next day. Also, the lad I used to go with to these shoots emigrated to Spain and so I have lost touch with Kevin's crew. You'll enjoy your days out with them if you can shoot, cos theres a good few duffers in the team and it makes for a cheap day. 3 or 4 of us used to regularly shoot half the bag!

First day out for me yesterday on a little walk and stand grouse day over near Penrith. Plenty of birds, but pretty windy so all going with the wind. I only had a couple of rangy shots, as I was out of it all day, buts thats shooting is'nt it. A good start to the season and a bloody good walk. Start pheasants in a fortnight. Where / with who are you shooting at Market Weighton Dean? Syndicate job or let days?

Nice Job.