pyro

Hi folks, long time no speak! Just wondering if, or what, you guys do with regards to biosecurity, either between jobs, sites or just in general. No right or wrong answers I'm just curious! At events such as the APF, which brings people together from all over the country often in work gear (no comment) or at least boots, it seems a hot spot for cross contamination and potentially spreading problems. Even the car park with the work vehicles in is a potential problem. Personally, I work on one site (120acres) and all tools get disinfected daily - cleankill - and if we are working on something that doesn't look right, then tools will get cleaned before moving onto the next. Tools including pruning saws, chainsaws, secateurs, loppers etc. Vehicles are of course a different matter but we try to keep gators, tractors as clean as possible... I welcome your thoughts! Ben

The H&S manager is excellent at delegation! Because I've been given lead on this project, (I can't remain a lacky forever and need full project management experience!) It's my job to source said report and advice. Ben

Sure, Its a design based on an enclosure in Escot park, devon. Squirrels like the boardwalk, hand rails etc, but having somewhere where they can quickly get out of the way (when people are coming), ie under the walkway, reduced stress levels of the squirrels quite noticably. It also increased interaction with people, knowing that they had a safe haven. Ben

Certainly worth bearing in mind, The boardwalk it self will be with in a Red Squirrel enclosure, the boardwalk being raised is fairly key in making the squirrels feel safe. But as a charity we may just have to accept this can't happen financially. Ben

I agree, it sounds crackers to me. I've followed a known and trusted design, I've built similar before, much higher and carrying more weight on PROW with the btcv and North Yorks council with no sign of plans, let alone an engineers report. Ben

Indeed they did, the tree top walkway. Ours is substantially smaller and simpler, however much of the same rules apply. I'll have a word, Many thanks Ben

Hey folks, Not quite sure where to put this, so here it goes! I am in the process of designing and ultimately building a boardwalk in an Arboretum. I've just been informed by out H&S manager that our insurance company needs a structural engineers report on the design prior to building, (along with a potential inspection mid construction and then being signed off) The Boardwalk is 60m long and the walking surface is 300mm~ from the ground, hand rails etc. Has anyone encountered anything like this before, or have any advice? I started as a draftsman/engineer so I'm confident in my design, but obviously this doesnt tick the H&S box! Thanks Ben

Hi all, Since my stihl ms250 saw died and beyond economical repair for the charity I work for I've been looking for a replacement for myself. I've my eyes on a husky 550xp, I believe it is the mk1, barely used, new 15" bar and chain at £300, would this be a reasonable sort of price? I'm not too familier with the newer huskies, my last one was a 357xpg. It's between repairing the 250 - basically a full engine rebuild this 550xp a new stihl 261 - would be nice, but as I'm buying it not the company its a bit out of my price range! we have a 461 and 462, but as I'm currently spending my time thinning 6-10" hornbeams, and copicing never ending willow I want something a bit smaller and lighter! Hope this makes sense, any info or insight available! Cheers Ben

Noted on the beech and sweet chestnut, I had my woodturning head on! Oak would be a preference for the everything, but as a charity we will use what we can afford of course. pyro.

Hi all, First post in this particluar section so bare with me! So in brief im just enquiring as to the availability, existance of a mobile sawmill that could be available for a few days/weeks work in Ryedale/North Yorkshire. Perhaps it may be suited to a lucas mill, but we can move timber around with a forwarder We have a project going on next year that requires a 110m boardwalk, we have some large stems of oak, sweet chestnut (and possibly beech) that are essentially at our disposal. As ive been charged with getting quotes, costings etc I would like to be able to use the timber from the same site that the Boardwalk is going on - so that means a mobile sawmill! A simple remit would be as many 100x100 posts as possible. however I havent produced detailed plans yet. Do they exist? is there anyone out there that may be interested? or does anyone know of a boardwalk contractor that may be interested in the build? Many thanks Pyro

That is indeed the one! The wood was left for their own volunteer team to full clear. All brash went for our fire, as for the semi rotten rings they were "arranged" further into the tree line for nature piles/habitats. The good rings I imagine are making excellent firewood! Ben

It would probably have stood for another 50 years with no bother, but it was over a scout campsite and main path, it was pollarded or significantly reduced Id guess at 20 years ago, it had come back fairly strong untill a few years ago. Since then though it has really reduced canopy, and looking weaker and weaker every year. So the decision was made to loose it all together and open up a new campsite area. I do have some pictures of it standing somewhere, Ill have to have a look! Ben

Heyhey, last weekend I was on a scout camp near doncaster when I was asked to see if I had an opinion (or skill!) to take down a rotten/hollow ash, here are the resulting pictures! I think one of the scouts has it on video coming down which I will try get just for interest! This was possibly the trickiest one that I have done, unsure as to whether I got the right (official!) technique but it went where I wanted it to go, and under my terms so it'll do me! one safer campsite and a bit of experience or confidence building for me! cheers Ben

Hey all, quick question for ya! Are there any chainsaw trousers out there for those of us that aren't built like whippets?! Ive a set of stihl Dynamic Cs (I think) and I've had to go up to a 42-44" waste to be able to get my calfs in, (im normally a 36") even on these I have to stitch the gusset back up fairly often! any help or pointers would be appreciated! thanks Ben

Hey all, long time no speak! I was just wondering if anyone here has been on an IDS bursary tour. I have a chance to go for next years to Slovakia. As part of this I have to write a personal statement and of re-write my CV. My question is - has anyone any experience or advice that may be useful or guide me on the way?! thanks in advance! Ben

Thanks stubby, I shall investigate Monday morning! I was looking at the solenoid and wondering! thanks Ben

Hey all, not been about for a while but Ive been busy! At work we have a jensen a540 chipper, id guess at about a 2010 model, and its been no end of bother, Its got 164 hours on it, and in the past 12 months it has had: new circuit board feed roller bearings 3 exhaust flexis (they fit one each time it goes in for repair!) and one or two other bearings. It only gets light work, no where near what it is capable of. so the latest problem: Started it yesterday morning, first time in a while, and it ran perfectly for a couple of hours, pulse feed when necessary. Perfect. after we stopped for a brew in the morning, we started it up again, and no feed. at all. no matter where the stop/reverse bar was. the only way to get it to feed was to turn all the way in the little brass nob on top of the valve block. Now whilst this gets it feeding again, there is no stress control. with the little nob turned all the way out again, nothing at all. speed control seems to work at it should. at a bit of a loss with this one, and its getting a bit annoying really! Its been in to beaverplant (Stamford bridge) a few times and as usual it behaves perfectly. Its been an on going problem for a few years this, we think we get it sorted then it gives up again! any help would be appreciated! thanks Ben pictures for interest:

Well shes all together, rings were easy enough to get in as you said! It does start, and will run at a fast idle, i.e with the trigger squeezed a bit. But does cut out after about 30 seconds, will also not stay running at idle. I'm assuming the carb will need setting up again, shame the local guy that does it is close until Tuesday! Certainly takes a bit of a tug to get it to go over with no de-comp! Feels far better than it did though, far smoother and easier to start. Ben

Now that is something id forgotten about good call! Not done anything with it yet besides popping the ring on. Id read about the zip tie method, may give that a go if I cant ease it in. Cheers!

Well the cylinder is here, all i could get was the 46mm hyway, 47mm was out of stock for a while, all parts look good. Ive got: Piston Ring Gudgeon pin Small end bearing Gasket Cylinder decompressor blank. still waiting on: Carb partition Flange and metal clip Any tips on getting the piston and ring into the cylinder, Ive got the ring on the piston, and yes its the right way up! Ben

Thats what i was leaning towards, getting rid of it. I had it set up late 2012, but it wasn't used an awful lot. Im pretty sure it was running lean and it nipped up. Ive checked over the boot/rubber carb mount and its fine, but also found a dodgy thread on the flange (the bit that the boot fits into, and carb clamps/bolts onto) Other than that the only other thing is a 2-3mm tear in the decomp pipe. Ill get the crankcase pressure tested and carb set up once shes together. Ben

I have emailed him regarding this, money is bit of a problem at the minute so hopefully wont be too much of a kick in the you know whats! I'm between jobs at the minute, was hoping to earn a bit with the saw whilst I was off, couple of windblowns and a few other bits. Next question is: Do i rid my self of the auto decomp? Ive found part numbers for the blanking screw and cap, and there is a hole in the hose. Ben

I think tesgol is the seller of the set I'm watching, along with a set on sawbits.com Yeah I seemed to recall that the arrow always goes towards the exhaust port from somewhere! So the general consensus is to stick with the 46mm/357 set up? On the up side, the bottom end is perfect, Cant feel any up or down play in anything. all looks as it should! what was the benefit of the 359 then if there was more power from a 357? Ben

Hey all, Ive stripped the 357 down as per my other thread, Heavy scoring/gouging on the exhaust side (I think, forgot which way round I took it out!) First question: Is there any advantage to up-sizing to a 47mm piston over the standard 46mm? Second: I'm assuming the top end kits on eBay aren't up to an awful lot, but good enough for occasional work, would this assumption be right? Third: Which side/end does the arrow on the piston face? I'm pretty sure it faced the exhaust side. Ive ordered a new partition and clip, flange. Will be ordering barrel, piston, pin, circlips, piston ring and gasket set when i figure out which one! anything Ive missed? Certainly an easier and lighter rebuild than my land rover engine! Ben

Cheers, I did have the carb side off as i say, But Ive not had a look at the exhaust side of things yet. Bloody annoying as ive a week off work (where Ive a stihl ms460 i think!) and ive got a large hawthorne thats partially over, a small woodland to thin, a laurel to severely prune and firewood duties! Ben