monkeybusiness

Greenmech have always been incredibly helpful and patient with me over the years. I've run a variety of their machines (all purchased second hand) and have learned my way around them pretty competently with the assistance of Mac and Jason down the phone. Before knocking their build quality, come and have a look at my 2005 1928 Safetrak. I bought it off a railway contractor 5 years ago showing 50hrs (it had just had a new computer and a brand new engine fitted, but looking at the condition of it at the time I would guess it had done at least 2000 hard hours on the railways prior to my ownership, not the easiest environment on a machine). The clock has just gone over 2000 hours with me, and we work the machine hard on utility and site clearance work. Other than routine maintenance (which I am anal about to be fair) the chipper has been fantastic, and I will be surprised if it's not good for another 2000 hours. I doubt there are many other 11 year old hard worked front line chippers out there still earning a living that are on 4000 hours plus. Everyone keeps harping on about Forst and I think they look pretty good - however, every single person that I have spoken to who owns one has had recurring problems (paint being one of the worst issues). Redwood have apparently been very good in terms of backup to their credit. I'm also aware of at least 3 TW230s that are suffering from fatigue/cracking. Those are a very good machine, but I'm not sure they have enough metal in them (as a result of the 750kg ceiling) to last very long. Woodchippers work in an extremely harsh environment, subjected to vibration/abrasion/impact/temperature fluctuations/road salt/intermittent and uneven loading on the flywheels/blades/engines etc. They are dragged along at high speeds immediately in the slipstream of tow vehicles that spray mud/stones/salt straight at them in all weather conditions. It's amazing that they last 5 minutes really, and probably forgivable if they lose their lustre after a couple of years IMO.

I'd buy him a new bar and chain. He was good enough to lend you his saw, now it's bent. You used it to earn money and he has come away with nothing other than hassle and expense after doing you a favour. Put it down to experience.

I'd get some other quotes - that sounds really really expensive to me...

Agrotron tree eater in action. [ame] [/ame]

Try Flowfit - I've had a flyer from them with a delivery today and they are knocking out Honda engines pretty cheap from what I can see.

4mix is rubbish. Very torquey, when new they are fantastic. However, the engines are fragile dog toffee that don't last very long IME (and we only run them on the recommended expensive Stihl green oil).

I think the twin-wall adds massive complications. What you need is a semi-permeable pipe wall that allows moisture (but not roots) through. Similar to old fashioned clay pipes, but with root-proof joints. This way the roots could envelope the outside of the pipe and exploit the water that finds its way out through the walls. It would be a difficult sell though - Osma (etc) offer a decent root-proof solution when installed correctly - trying to get people to install drainage that promotes root growth may be tricky...

No, but yours looks ace too (in your avatar)! The one I saw had a big steel tipping body, it looked really mean!

Saw a green RB44 on the M60 at Stockport at lunchtime today (I was going the other way). It looks ace - is it anyone on here's?

I've got a 6.7m KTS (Ryetec) and am very pleased with it. It is really strong, and certainly fast enough for arb. Not sure if it might be a bit slow for pure forestry, but it's very powerful and really well put together. It could do with a bigger grab though - it's not up to gripping 2 tonne plus oak butts (even though the crane will lift them).

They have therefore subsequently supplied you with a vehicle not fit for its intended purpose - you can return it for a refund under the sale of goods act as far as I'm aware.

I always wore protector pros for the same reasons as you state, but had pair after pair (mine and employees) split along the sole and the steel insert came out. The last pair didn't make it to 6 months, which is obviously unacceptable, and the issue didn't appear to have been rectified. I bought Arbortec Fellhunter experts at the last APF and they've been excellent - I am as happy in them as I was in the Haix and they seem to last forever! Give them a try next time you're buying, I think you'll be impressed.

Yeah - it was already on there Steve. I was wondering about Arbsafe - is there any way of setting it up so that when an item is marked stolen some sort of advert is fired out on here and across other social media? It could be optional (and in reality is probably a pain in the arse to set up!). Cheers

Cheers Pete.

Greenmech Arb 19-28 Mr 50d road tow various markings/stamps/engravings from previous a-plant ownership (their ID A423653) serial number 6270https://arbsafe.co.uk/photos/191/487/4871911414491465.jpg

Just had a Greenmech 1928 road tow stolen off site from Cleggs Lane, Bolton this morning. There is a reward for its return - ring Dan on 07970188050 with any info please.

Ha ha, might be wise!!! That's my thinking for taking the fold down flap off, a digger would soon bend that out of shape. Could you unbolt the entire hopper and just have bare rollers? That would be some weapon then (but you'd need to add protection around the hydraulics etc, as you'd end up working pretty close to the vulnerable bits).

I'd just take the fold down hopper and control bar off if you're feeding with a mini digger. It would be handy if you could come up with a radio control system to switch between feed and reverse.

I was told by some experienced old boy recovery chaps with a big (10 tonne? More possibly?) winch built into the back of a Major to always secure a double line to another anchor (big tree stump etc). You risk damaging the winch and carrier if not apparently.

This is exactly what happens. Fuel cards are fantastic from a book keeping/convenience point of view, and can be pretty good value too, but in my experience if you don't keep on top of it the prices sneak up and they fleece you. Definitely have 2 and use the cheapest - as has been said this soon gets the expensive firm in the phone asking why you aren't spending any money with them....

The best way is to have 2x fuel card accounts from different firms, and go with the cheapest week by week. Also bear in mind that the weekly prices they send to you don't include VAT. I'm using Keyfuels as one of the cards at the moment and their price on Friday was 99p/l, which looks good but is actually nearer 1.20p/l when you include VAT (not the best deal in the world in reality...).

I've yet to meet anyone who has successfully run anything relatively modern (ie with an ecu) longish term on veg/bio diesel. It seems to be fine in the short term but is plagued with stories of new fuel pumps (which are never cheap!)

Great first post on this thread - thanks for taking the time to put it together. I think anyone reading it will certainly reflect on it. Sad times for the fisherman and those he left behind.

Can't see the pics but it all sounds good in theory. I think you would need to get them CE marked to sell though, which I would imagine isn't particularly cheap...

You'll need to up-rate the rear anti roll bar if you go +2" as the standard LR one won't sit right. It's the front axle lift that causes the handling and majority of UJ issues (particularly if you stick with the original radius arms). Raising the rear and not the front shouldn't cause too many issues other than the anti roll bar, headlight levelling, and the appearance of driving around in a top fuel dragster when unloaded.