monkeybusiness

Check the thermostat isn't sticking.

I needed it for a job the following day, and I assumed that is how they come as I've never seen one up close before. It does work well, just doesn't look very well finished at all. I'll have a look at one at the APF to see how mine compares.

There is a massive difference in cross country ability between a chipper with fixed tracks and a Safetrak or equivalent. That would be my number one consideration when purchasing a tracked machine, they are all pretty heavy when compared to road tow alternatives.

I have finally bought one of these on the back of a return visit to a previous customer with a horrible sloping limited access garden. We worked there 4 or 5 years ago and I vowed that if we ever went back I would invest in a trolley to make the extraction easier! Having never seen one up close in the flesh I have to admit to being rather disappointed in the quality/finish of the product when it was delivered from Jonesey. This isn't a cheap product, but I do understand the reasoning for the pricing as explained succinctly in an earlier post by RCO. However, the fact is that it carries a heavyweight price-tag for what is in effect a few sections of steel profile and a couple of wheels/tyres. As a result of the price I expected a well manufactured, nicely finished product but the reality is quite different unfortunately. The bolsters haven't even been cleaned up after cutting to length, the telescoping section is extremely loose in its socket, the paint/powdercoat finish is very poor, and the welding looks amateurish to say the least. In fairness, none of this affects the way the trolley works. It is a well thought out, strong design and saved us a good deal of time dismantling and removing a mature Alder and clearing up various other pruning works. Now we have it I'm sure it will be put to use fairly regularly on other jobs, and it looks as though it will last for a while. I have a couple of Stein bollards which are very well manufactured bits of kit - I can't help but feel that the manufacture/finish of the ArbTrolley lets it down in quite a big way (if I had seen one in the flesh before hand I would not have spent the money on it rightly or wrongly). But it does work!

Great post Timberwolf Sales - the chipper sounds very impressive too! I'm looking forward to seeing it in action at the APF.

Greatest quote on arbtalk, that made me laugh!

Navara with seat covers if you have kids - doesn't matter what spec, get the newest/lowest mileage you can for your budget. Even the basic ones have plenty of kit. I've had 2 from new over 7 years and they are great. It's the wife's family car in reality, does everything we need. If looking at another make I'd have a butchers at the Isuzu, but for your budget you won't get the new one so it will be agricultural in comparison to the Nissan. Toyotas are OK but mega money - get a newer higher spec'd better more powerful faster better looking nicer to drive more comfortable better Nissan IMO...

Good deals to be had then Pete?...

The tw150 gets a slating (from me as much as anyone else) but well maintained examples are good machines for relatively light duty work in all fairness. They have certainly earned a lot of companies a lot of money over the years, and held their value well. It is a very old design now with known weak points but has remained a bit of a benchmark until recently. When the design was new it was excellent to be fair. IMO TW have been a bit slow in responding to criticism of late and their competitors have overtaken them a while back. I would imagine they are now seeing a slump in sales and have subsequently responded. Their comeback needs to be good - if it is simply the addition of greaseable bearings then I feel they may have let themselves down.

I'd insist on paying for it with Paypal - if the seller won't do that then avoid like the plague. If they will then you are covered by Paypal if the chipper doesn't turn up/isn't as descrbed.

No worries - good luck with it!

Good luck with the machine, if you have any issues call Greenmech and speak to Mac or Jason, they'll sort any issues you may have down the phone.

That looks ace!

Heat, a bigger bar and don't use cheap sockets. A decent socket shouldn't break before the bolt head snaps off. If the bolts snap then drill them out and start again.

Why didn't you check the serial number before purchase? I can only think of one reason that a machine wouldn't carry a serial number...

Speak to Engines Plus if you are looking for a new engine, they are the importers. The engines are Isuzu 4le1 or 4le2 - both will fit. They are also used in some jcb and other tracked excavators and a number of generators if you are looking for second hand.

Considerably cheaper than £3/l - closer to £1.

There is no problem using fresh clean engine oil as chain lube - all mineral oils (engine, gearbox, chain etc) are manufactured from the same 'base' oil. From a health and environment perspective it is no different to running any other mineral based chain lube. Thinning with paraffin seems very strange though. I have run saws on engine oil in the past, as it has been cheaper to buy good quality 15w40 from Europarts than chain oil from just about anywhere, even when buying in bulk (ie 600l plus at a time). I can only imagine that it either comes down to supply and demand, or profiteering on the part of the chain oil producers/retailers. However, I recently bought a pallet of chain oil from Ryeoils (on here) and it was both good value when compared to engine oil and good quality. Tesco veg oil is ok when necessary, but I have found that big bars don't seem to like it.

I've got a KTS from ryetec and am very pleased with it.

Be careful towing the gm with the hopper folded - they can be a bit top heavy and prone to tipping. I would only fold it up for storage personally. Great chippers though!

Perfecto! Great idea IMO. Metal detector is all that is required, and then make sure chipper operators have metal impregnated gloves (the steel toecaps on the boots will sort out the other end). I think this is a very good idea!

Cheers chaps - I'll make some calls tomorrow!

Getting them back end is no problem, neither is planting/staking. I just need them now!

Alternatives aren't going to work very well in this situation, to change from current would require a major landscape redesign unfortunately. I need decent sized trees for instant impact, hence the query as I am struggling to source any. I know they will be expensive...

Hi - I'm struggling to source a couple of largish (3.5m plus) container grown conifers to replace a pair of dead lawsons cypress we are pulling out next week. Ideally the replacements would also be lawsons as they are part of a group but the client is also open to something golden coloured if straightforward lawsons are unavailable. They need to be bushy though! Any ideas of suppliers boys and girls?