monkeybusiness

Seconded - give them a ring and speak to Will. They now include a courier service in the price of the re-grinds, and supply a high quality case to send/return the blades.

The revs would be my biggest concern - I have a hycrack that runs directly off a tractor PTO and 540rpm is plenty fast enough. I'm not sure what a circular saw runs at but I'd imagine it is a lot faster than that. If you can gear it down, subsequently increasing torque then I think it might work.

If that's true (and I really hope it is) then that is the greatest idea in the world ever!

Try John Bownes at Winsford - google will pick them up.

Mint - always a buzz smashing out big tops!

You're right, 200kg basket weight limits are looking like they might become a problem!

I'm saying that modern utility arboriculture couldn't be done without MEWPs. I don't believe anyone has it physically harder today than 20 years ago, but I know for certain that the job is far more rigorously monitored than it has ever been. I find it very amusing that the modern generation feel their lot is so much harder than the generation before maybe we just moaned less and just got on That looks like one of Mr McCain's finest to me, maybe I'm too sensitive though!

How old are you? You must be ancient if you consider me the modern generation. And you must have a bit of a chip on your shoulder if you think I'm implying my lot is harder than yours might have been. Times change old sport, working methods move on and health and safety is now (fortunately) more important than ever. In the past you have suggested that there isn't a tree that you wouldn't climb and I'm not suggesting that you wouldn't have the spuds to see that promise through. I know plenty of lads with the same attitude (I used to be one of them, but I'm getting too fat now), and it is a great attitude to have 99% of the time. However, there are always going to be those jobs that are too risky - why stick your neck out when modern technology is there to lend a hand? There should be no need for unnecessary risks nowadays - safe systems of work should always be implemented before misplaced bravado kicks in.

The more you use a MEWP the more you see their benefits. Also, an inadequate machine can be more of a danger than a help. Outreach is everything - height is often irrelevant. Furthermore, MEWPs present an additional target/constraint on the ground. I wholeheartedly agree that they are not the answer to every job. However, if you are used to using them/have the right machine for the task/know the machine and its strengths and limitations it is amazing how useful they can be. It is important to remember that a MEWP has limited reach and a climber doesn't. If you are going to use a MEWP for a job get one bigger than you think you need - it makes all the difference as you can set it up further away from the drop zone and have a much larger working envelope, so you can position yourself and the machine correctly for any cuts etc.

Not necessarily - often the easiest trees to sort are the ones that have caused a fault as the lines are often on the ground/poles snapped etc when you get there, removing significant constraints before you start. I'm not suggesting you ever brought down any conductors - I know plenty of very experienced and incredibly capable cutters that have though. Network operators are now limited to the number and duration of shutdowns they are allowed per year (it is measured in customer minutes lost) - if they exceed these limits they face heavy financial penalties. One of the issues that arises from this is extremely tight timescales for any planned shutdowns. There is also a very detailed (and subsequently time consuming) procedure for switching out lines, earthing up and issuing permits to work. A shutdown may be booked for 20th December from 9.30 until 3.30 - it is likely that Mrs Miggins power will go off at 9.30am exactly but it can then take upto 3 hours before a permit to work is issued and any tree cutting is allowed to start. The power MUST be back on at 3.30 or fines are imposed, so the permit needs to be cancelled with enough time left to remove the earths and perform any necessary switching. A day's tree cutting on paper often ends up being done in 2 - 3 hours. Tricky trees need taking down with significant time constraints in place - in certain circumstances there is no substitute for a MEWP. Failure to complete a shutdown whereby another needs booking can lead to significant fines being passed on to the contractor, so the cost of a MEWP becomes irrelevant (not that cost should come in to safe systems of work!).

Things were a bit different 20 years ago. Trees only got cut when they were a problem, and bringing conductors down was almost accepted as something that happened from time to time. Nowadays that is a huge no no - if you damage the network then you can say goodbye to your authorisation. The utility job is (quite rightly) far more regulated now than it ever used to be - safety is paramount. There are jobs where MEWPs are essential, and the job couldn't be done safely within the required timeframe without them. Arguably there are other tree jobs that are done from a MEWP that could be done more effectively from a rope and harness but legislation now dictates that if a MEWP can be used then it should be...

I guess you haven't done much utility cutting then. A very good climber is often quicker than a MEWP (and is certainly cheaper), but there are times when there is no anchor point, not enough space (eg between a limb and the conductors below), or a tree is in such a bad state that climbing it for the sake of climbing is plain stupid. When you have a knackered tree, a very finite timeframe to complete the job, and a multitude of site constraints the correct platform comes into its own.

What chipper is it? Aren't they tightened up with the nuts on the back? As long as you can stop them spinning you should still be able to torque them I would have thought, and replace them ASAP. Definitely don't use anything but the correct tensile bolts - I've got a feeling they are 10.9 which is over and above anything you might find off the shelf. I doubt you will find the correct profile at a lower tensile strength though. If a blade comes loose as a result of incorrect bolt strength you will end up with a massive bill (and potential serious injury!).

Great outcome, let's hope they get a suitable punishment and not a pointless slap on the wrists.

Iveco with knobbly tyres on the back - still crap off road but better clutches and gearboxes than Transits for trying to pull away when loaded, and the traction control is surprisingly good in certain situations.

They will often try and drive your point of contact away from Ebay (ie direct email addresses etc) which then removes a layer of security from the transaction. You would have to be pretty brave/stupid to buy a large piece of machinery unseen IMO but there must be unfortunate people out there who get sucked in occasionally.

I was warned off fitting a solid flywheel to my Iveco Daily (3l engine) - apparently Iveco supplied a number of these engines to a bus manufacturer who fitted them with solid flywheels and they subsequently suffered from broken cranks. The 2.8 Iveco engine is apparently fine with the conversion though. I have also heard of a couple of Sprinters snapping their cranks when fitted with solid flywheels, but know of a number of Transits and Navaras that are trouble free on solids. I was told it is partially down to the high torque of the engines and is more of a problem on 4 cylinder than 6 cylinder engines as the individual punch of the cylinders firing causes stresses that are partially absorbed by the dual mass flywheel - the more cylinders the engine has the smoother it runs.

I think it is the top of a walnut whip. Or maybe Ganorderma.......

Looks kool. What payload? How much?

Ripeur gloves paired with SIP arm protectors - this is the best thorn combo IMO.

Why have you only got 2 friends? Maybe you should get out more!

Great post, I totally concur! Let's start price fixing - how about £800 per day for 2 man team with relevant kit? I think it sounds like the right money, and you'd only need to do half as many jobs to earn what most do now anyway! Less wear and tear on kit and people too. I'm in, let me know when we all start!

Great trailer - what's the ring on the headboard for?

Have you been spying on me?

We've got Insa Turbo Dakars on the back of our Ivecos - I think 205 wide.