josharb87

Thanks for the replies so far Conor, interesting you say the greenmechs been unreliable, never really heard about them being unreliable before. I think the Bandit might not be the right machine, nimble manoeuvrability is pretty important to me. S o c, the 230 sure is impressive, and apart from the odd horror story seem to be lasting well. Thanks Mick, how'd it compare performance wise to your först? Ive used the smaller, 16-23 safe track and was really impressed with that, guessing the 19-28 is even better. Good to hear your machines been good Chopper Brown, and you're pleased with yours APB. The backup in the uk is renowned to be awesome, but im in sweden, and very much doubt the back up will be half as good as the uk, the new swedish dealer is 6hour drive away. TW is 30minutes to my east, Jensen 30 to my west and only heard horror stories about the Greenmech dealer here unfortunately.

What tracked chipper is the allround best? Ive recently sold my Jensen 530T. I liked its physical size, but spruce tops were a pain (lots of spruce here) Im now considering buying new, or used if a good deal. New options are Jensen (personal favourite) the 530T 37hp, or the 540T 50hp, both fixed or varitrack, both with hydraulic winch. Or Timberwolf 230VTR +winch. I don't consider there to be any other new alternatives. However, I've found a few used machines online, TW190TFTR 45hp, Greenmech 19-28 45hp (both about 500hours, both ex hire) and the wildcat, Bandit 75, 45hp 900hours (although the size is off-putting thinking about it) Offroad ability is pretty important. Not really interested in Först, never used one but they seem to be a poorly made Jensen copy where you really NEED the 3yr warranty...correct me if i'm wrong? Is there any news on the vermeer 190 being on tracks? Anyone any views?

Yeah the metal flag orientates the chain, and shows you the orientation too. the double sided chain you posted can still orientate itself on its side, you need that metal flag in my limited experience. It is expensive, but for me, its paid for itself this week already. Sorry to hear about your back @bigtreedon

Done as soon as I got the mail! Been contemplating making king my own chains for a while, will be interesting to see how they turn out, and how much money is saved

Considering the price of the tried and tested models, and the risk of serious injury of a home made one, why would you make your own? (genuine question!)

Hopefully a video in the link to my company’s Facebook page

A throw line, with a special chainsaw chain in the middle with alternating facing pairs of cutters. Also good for hung up trees or trees on power lines. Can even cut through if the compression is on the top side, it doesn’t jam. you'll be very sceptical to it until you try it, then it’s a great tool to have.

More trees on houses, Using a throw saw a lot, its been awesome, reducing the end weight significantly before climbing (if necessary). all but the big spruce, after removing as much as possible, sat up a few inches from the roof. The big spruce needed the hilux and a 3-1 system to pull it up off the house. Last job, hung up pine, ended up tipp rigging it from the aspen, cutting at the bottom over the fence. Biggest praise there goes to the aspen for holding a tree bigger than itself! All the jobs have been going incredibly smoothly

Nah, you need to change the wheel too. Change the wheel =new bearings so it’s a costly exercise but if you’re keeping the machine for a while yet want more performance it’s worth it. Can’t comment on eating bearings though.

At a previous firm we changed to the multitip teeth and wheel with noticeable performance improvement

Clearing up after last weeks storm, first job 5 spruce on a house, used the throw saw to cut them free, another leaning over the house caught up in a birch, side loaded the birch with a tirfor and felled then both. 2nd job 2 trees hung up in an oak, ripped them out with the Hilux, oak rootplate liftes, section felled. About 50 80ft wind blown spruce to sever from the rootplates. third job today was this, 5 trees on a fragile barn, picked them off with the crane More of the same tomorrow!

@Ian C after getting the ZT and seeing the increase in productivity I was really wanting the 2550 with blade and remote but couldn’t justify the cost this year unfortunately, as soon as I can justify it I’ll be getting one! (Size isn’t an issue here )

Ive the ZT and used to use the 252. BIG step up in productivity. The depth hasn’t been a problem for me, although an extra 6inches would be ace. its pretty long at 2.5m, fast ground speed though Its a very good machine for the relatively very low cost id personally avoid hydraulic driven cutter wheels under 40hp, they may be less maintenance but they do sap too much power on low hp motors

“No known faults” = there are, but I’m hoping you’re Stevie wonder and won’t see them “Mechanically sound” = looks like shite “reluctant sale” = I’m strangely attached to this peice of shit ”easy fix” if it’s easy, fix it yourself ya chuffin idiot!

Yes joe. you guys should have been working for bare minimum, barely covering costs, so you can moan about the low rates of the industry and that everyone should be upping their rates whilst simultaneously slagging off those charging decent rates for “ripping people off” and you’d have done that for £50, then back to moaning about low rates again

Electric would make a great work truck, tons of tourque, constant power, they just need to up the weight rules for electric work vehicles as the battery’s weight takes away most of the payload for a sub 3.5t work vehicle vw are bring out a 100% electric transporter next year, Scania have battery test lorrys on the roads. trains are diesel electric

Cheers @TIMON, The temperatures are'nt too bad yet, hovering around 0, did drop to -13 last week. Coldest I've worked in was -30 something. Luckily i've warm hands, thin nitrile dipped spandex work gloves work for most days, then Tegra winter work gloves for the colder days. Nothing special, but good to have a spare pair to change into if they get wet

Some recent ones. Decent sized ash stump to grind, that the guys took down a few weeks back "found" 4 rugby ball sized rocks in the stump. 2 pops to get on the deck ASAP before too much commotion/press turned up One or 2 avenue trees to prune

Flying bandit! Simple and effective

Is there an approved lifting point on a ZT1844? there's what looks like could be a point infront of the engine, but it looks like it won't be balanced? @GlobalNewark

This was a job I majorly underestimated the amount of work involved, pictures don’t do it justice, the final cuts needed the 46 with 25” bar to finish off. oak in decline, over new roof, new sewage system, fence, ornamental light etc, would have been a hard day rigging and humping material for a 3 man team plus extra day for one/2 cleaning up. Called in a favor and it was done in 2 hours I think it was, plus a birch felled. All fitted in the back. and ended up being a very profitable morning rather than a considerable loss

The grab will crush and break most forks, and you can use the saw on the grab to mash up in the container if needed. Straight through an average grip saw will cut about 50cm, if you’re bold you can do a 3way step cut to increase diameter

Cheers Yeah they’re quite common over here, grapple saw or grip saw they’re called. id love one, worked with them a few times and with the right operator they’re awesome. normally they’re on 18meter cranes and above. First will be to build the sides up though

Yes about £30k+VAT Not new obviously, from 2004 but with full Volvo service history

30k+vat full radio remote on the crane and tipping gear plus engine start stop and throttle Fancied a change from Hilux, tracked chipper and tipping trailer, will see if it’s a change for the better or not over the next few months.