monkeybusiness

I'd try it as mower fuel, or something with a Honda GX or equivalent engine, even if you mix it further with more petrol. We always put 2 stroke in the generator, water pump and jet wash that have Honda and/or cheap Chinese copy engines and they all run fine (we don't keep unmixed fuel in the yard to avoid chainsaw disasters...)

Got to love a Transporter - you're in pretty good company in that owners club.... http://www.realwire.com/preview_writeitfiles/Jimmy1.jpg

Exactly this - our job is hard on kit and stuff wears out. That is all fair enough, and part of running a business - there are no comeback to the lads for any of that. It is the total lack of care/abuse that leads to damage that is the issue - as Bob says it seems to be a lot less likely to happen to kit lads have paid for themselves.

I don't think the Xmas party thing is the correct or ultimate solution - I've been trying to come up with something workable all year and have only fallen back on this as it was mentioned at the start of the year and I feel that I need to try and reinforce the point somehow! The store person would be the best answer I reckon, but expensive and unfortunately not really viable in a small business like mine. I'm going to watch this thread with interest and see if anyone has a decent solution that I can pinch going into next year!

I try to treat my lads to a decent Christmas bonus/day out/booze up. Last year it cost a few grand in total (and was a great laugh!), and at the start of the year I earmarked the same for this Christmas. However, I warned the lads that breakages etc would have to come out of it. I'm not sure they believed me as there appeared to be some surprise when I told them there was no money left when I was asked what we are doing this Christmas. It's pretty gutting to be honest as they are great lads and I really enjoy our annual shindig, but I really really need to reinforce the point that leaving saws out that subsequently get nicked/running chippers with loose/missing blades until the flywheel rotor is destroyed/running fully laden brand new trailer tyres into curbs thus tearing chunks out of the sidewalls on a regular basis/running pole pruners with no air filters until the engine is knackered/leaving lowering kit/fuel cans/rakes on site/in chip piles/wherever etc etc costs a lot of money!

What he said. It's the manual lowering valve - mine has a knurled silver head that you push in and turn to let the ram/body drop through gravity. If this isn't fully reset the body will slowly lower on its own. It can get pretty stiff though.

I heard about this today Dave, really crappy news. Give me a shout if you need a hand with anything mate.

A round silage bale on the front of a 3000 would be asking for trouble anyway! We've got one and I'm sure the loader would physically lift, but I doubt the bale would leave the floor (the rear wheels would come up first!).

Can you not fit your old Honda tank and cap to the new engine?

I was given some orange chocolate digestives and they were AMAZING!!! Haven't seen them for sale since though - they were possibly some sort of limited edition perhaps? Packaging looked like hobnobs which would have put me off if I didn't know what they were. Best biscuits out there are Duchy Originals (I think they are called) lemon shortbread. Really expensive, really difficult to not eat the lot once opened... I've yet to see a plate of any biscuits go unfinished on a tree job to be fair, even bog-basic ones taste mega on a cold wet day when served with a brew! The worst biscuits I have had were some really cheap Jaffa Cakes - there are some really tasty budget/own brand versions but I picked up a packet of the nastiest facsimiles ever in a petrol station and couldn't eat more than 3 (I had to make sure I didn't like them)!

This!!!!

I didn't realise there was a br700. It must be the 700 you go for now, if you want a backpack blower then get the one that blows the most! What can do a lot can do a little (it's probably a good idea to also invest in some really heavy shoes, or tie a sleeper to your belt before using it if not)...

BR400 magnum, but use the right oil as it is a 4 mix engine and they dont like red Stihl oil in them...

Spin on won't be much (£15 ish?). Hydraulic will have bent you over, £80 plus I reckon!

So ultimately it will potentially need felling at some point, meaning paying yet more money in the future to deal with existing issues? And will the other two 'condemned' trees need anything doing in the future, or are they healthy and structurally sound? Whilst you have saved the client money in the short term have you definitely saved them money altogether? I'm not agreeing with the tree surgeon's approach and know nothing of the job, but I have been witness to consultants eking out the last vestiges of life from potentially hazardous trees that end up costing the client more money than going for the fell in the first place would have. What costs more in the short term effectively saves money long term in some instances.

I'd suck as much up as you can with cement dust, then brush it up and spray the entire area with tfr and rub it all in everywhere with a stiff yard brush (spread the stain over as big an area as you can). Finish with a good jet wash (spinning patio cleaner head on a petrol jet wash for best results).

Lot of work gone into that - looks lovely! I can't help thinking that some of those mods might cause some issues that they were designed to prevent - branches caught behind the exhaust and intake guards when reversing could damage what they are protecting for example. It does look very well guarded when going forwards though!

That's incredibly cheap!

Listen to this man ^^^ Nobody knows more about Greenmech chippers!

Spend peanuts on an old 4x4 pickup and the widest wheels/tyres you can fit under the arches, and only drive that across.

Speak to Engines Plus - 01453 547273. They import the Isuzu engines and are really helpful.

I think the size/weight of subframe and stabilisers required will be your biggest problem.

I've got lads that are even more 'Special' than that. Didn't even notice an entire blade and bolt had come off/disappeared (obviously that wouldn't have made any noise at all...). Even though the chipper was shaking like a sh***ing dog as the rotor was totally out of balance. They kept feeding it and only gave up when it wouldn't eat any more goat willow. Didn't think to open it up for a look (all have NPTC chipper qualifications, for what that is worth!). There was a passing comment 'That chipper is really blunt' when they returned to the yard at the end of the day. So their Christmas party fund is an extra £1500 down now, to pay for parts. So don't despair Bob, it's not just you that is a magnet for eejits lacking mechanical sympathy and common sense!

This is a great video showing the requirement for nose weight, and the detrimental effect a poorly loaded trailer can have on the towing combination's stability. [ame] [/ame]

Exactly as you describe. I'll try and post a vid. I agree - unlikely to fail in the real world. It has failed the LOLER inspection though, and another of a similar age is showing similar wear (but isn't popping open yet).