monkeybusiness

Caravan movers took one of my chippers a couple of years ago...

Construction related occupation. If you have passed the touch screen test, then yes.

Have a look at this thread - CRO is the way to go I reckon http://arbtalk.co.uk/forum/general-chat/84900-rolo-course-content-test-questions.html

Not really. With a chipper the general rule is that the larger the chipping capacity of the machine the wider the throat/feed hopper etc. This makes a massive difference in the real world. A lot of machines will drag in whatever you can get to the rollers, but that isn't much use if the rollers are at the bottom of a narrow funnel preventing you forcing the big gnarly thorn etc to the bite point. We use 1928 Greenmech chippers day in/day out - they are fantastic machines and will pull in more than an equivalent square feed 7.5 inch machine. When we use 6inch machines of various makes (including TW, Forst and Jensen) with or without letterbox openings the most noticeable difference is how small the hopper is in comparison. Just because the machine will chip 7.5 inch/9 inch/15 inch etc doesn't mean that you will necessarily put that size log through it. Brash will be dealt with much more quickly and easily with a bigger machine. The only negative that I can think of is man handling the chippers when disconnected from the van (eat your Weetabix and you will be fine). They are easier to reverse as you can actually see them, and in reality a 7.5 inch chipper is well within the towing capacity of any Arb truck. Go big, it's the future!

I disagree with ga - get the bigger chipper if you can tow it legally. They are built heavier (ie stronger, not down to a weight) and will increase your productivity massively. You can give up on snedding - if you can drag the brash to the machine it will eat it! TWs hold there money like nothing else - older Greenmechs can be picked up really cheaply and blow their competitors out of the water! Today I've been working with a friend's GM 1623 and have been amazed how good it is. It is a 10 year old machine that has a 6 inch x 9 inch feed hole (something TW and all the others have only just started to offer) - you can get these on wheels under 750kg for a lot less than an equivalent TW150 and they are twice the machine IMO.

Eye hitches are easier to secure apparently. Thief beaters offer an insurance approved locking pin that can be left in place when attached to the tow vehicle. Otherwise it's just personal preference really - most items of plant can be used to drag a trailer with a ring hitch about if necessary - it is slightly more complicated with a ball hitch.

Nice one Peter!... Application sent!

I wouldn't bother with the green cards if you are CSCSing new operatives Paul - from what I can gather they only need to do either the ROLO or the green card H and S nvq course (plus the touch screen test for both). Don't bother putting them through the h and s training course if you plan to follow the ROLO path at a later date - they will be covering the same ground twice. £500 a day for training is about right IME.

Cheers Paul - I'll definitely be in touch. One of the trainers I spoke to today has offered me a course that I consider to be pretty good value and they are happy to be flexible re fitting in around working hours (which in reality makes up a massive part of the overall cost to the business). I need to make a decision as to whether to bother investing further into this side of things and spend more time dealing with construction firms and their industry wide (from my experience so far) lack of ability to plan a p**s up in a brewery tied to terrible payment terms or focus on what brings the money in at present I suppose! As an aside I am still working on premises (this has been dragging on for more than 12 months now). There have been a couple of false starts which has been massively frustrating but I think we may be close to being sorted so I will be in touch about getting onboard with you guys soon (I hope!). I still can't help but feel that the course is a box ticking exercise however, even if this may be perceived as a contentious viewpoint...

I understand that, I'm just trying to get my head around the point of the course. We've all passed the computer course - does the ROLO course cover anything else not tested in the computer course? Is it worthwhile or simply a box ticking exercise?

Hi all Can anyone give me an outline as to what is included/covered in the ROLO course? We are being asked to go down this route by a couple of customers and I'm concerned that it appears to be a bit of an expensive box ticking exercise offering no particular benefit other than access to some sites (or am I being cynical?). For what it's worth, I have absolutely no qualms investing money in anything that will advance safety within my business. I have spent an absolute fortune on new and update training over the last 12 months and have an extremely highly qualified workforce (everyone as a minimum holds up to and including cs40 or whatever it is called now as well as ua2.3 along with all of the prerequisites). A good proportion of our work is utility cutting, so the health and safety side of the business has been and continues to be scrutinised regularly by our clients, none of whom ask for or appear to have any interest in ROLO, LISS, CSCS, CPCS, CITB, BALI etc. The cost of putting 10 lads through a 1 day ROLO course is horrendous when lost work and wages are included - if it will benefit the business in a meaningful way other than financial then it is obviously a worthwhile exercise of course. I am concerned having spoken to a couple of ROLO course providers today that it isn't really going to teach us anything that we haven't been taught many times before - both tutors (who shall remain nameless) stated that in their opinion the course would be a waste of time for us in reality as it is designed as a 'catch all' to force some health and safety knowledge on those working in landscaping who may not have attended any courses previously. I am a bit disappointed that the NPTC haven't done anything to fight their own corner here, and perhaps offer BALI and the CITB more of an insight into what their courses offer and what level of competence holders of their cards have already been assessed at. If someone could give me an insight into what is covered on the course then perhaps I will eat my words. Maybe it isn't just another course for the sake of having a course after all! Cheers, Dan.

The only time I've personally known trailers to come detached from towing vehicles is when towball bolts snap, normally as a result of badly maintained trailers crashing and banging around on the hitch. That towball chain or a breakaway cable looped around the towball neck would be totally useless in that scenario.

Sometimes heavy trailers pointed backwards downhill need a bit of extra handbrake lifty lifty to really engage the brakes in my experience. Mr Blair - if your trailer handbrake can foul on the headboard at or near full application then I would think that there is something wrong with the design/construction of the trailer. If the handbrake is restricted in its movement then full braking force can't be applied and your trailer may well run away backwards downhill. Heavily laden trailers with not enough handbrake application can creep back a bit until the handbrake settles and is pulled on further by the mechanism, but they shouldn't run away more than a few inches if correctly constructed and maintained. There are many adjustments required to properly set up trailer brakes - it isn't just a case of winding up and then backing off the shoes as the amount of play in the cables is equally important. It's a bit of a dark art which is why I leave all of my trailer/trailed plant running gear servicing to an expert every 3 months. Engines, vehicles, tractors and chippers are a piece of cake in comparison!

They do munch trough the brash when set up properly! I think a lot of these machines have been used on hire fleets with limited maintenance - get one that is looked after and not much will keep up!

Search for rye oil (that's his username but might be spelt wrong) on here - great value and really thick sticky oil!

That powerline will happily electrocute you to death just as quickly as any other - do not assume it is insulated whatever people on here say. Talk to the DNO (whoever owns the electricity network in your area eg Scottish Power, Western Power etc) before you mess around near that.

Crappy news, sorry to hear this. Good luck getting sorted pal.

Hi - we are taking a big beech tree down at the end of the month in Mobberley near Knutsford, Cheshire. I'm looking for a buyer for the timber. It can be delivered locally by tractor and forwarding trailer or stacked at roadside for your haulier. If you are interested please call Dan on 07970188050. Cheers!

Where? To buy or rent?

Greenmech 1928 Safetrak will get to places no other chippers will reach. They are great at chipping too!

Check it isn't drawing air in upstream of the pump (ie on the suction side).

Gray Git - what make is the platform on your Landy? I'm in the market for one and want as much reach as possible - yours looks good!

I've had foaming hydraulic oil on a chipper before and it was because air was getting in through a badly sealed filter in the suction line to the pump. Check all connections on the suction line.

Well done Steve and all the contributors - that is a well deserved thank you (and a nice touch to boot)!

I'm crying!!!