Billy Goat Gruff

Thanks Guys, My worst fears confirmed, will have to be another trip to the dealers and another spend out, but I hate things not working properly, so will sort it out. I will probably take it to Stantons, like you have suggested, (thanks Husqvarna King) I think the problem was that it was running lean for some reason, due to the scoring on the exhaust port side.

Thanks Guys, Will do a bit of research, but as I expected the price is at the upper end of the market, guess I will have to go and see the bank manager now, but I doubt in this econonic climate, he will sit me down with a cup of tea and listen thoughtfully, not like the good ol days !!!!!!!

I am currently considering bidding, regarding a piece of woodland, it is approx 25-30 acres in size, and consists of mainly broadleaf, Oak, Hornbeam, poplar, Ash, Maple, Silver Birch. It is in south East Essex, a bit too close to urban areas, and is privately owned, can any one give me a guide to its value, as I think the figures I have been quoted are too much

Yeah Sorry, Have only just seen the date, oh well I was only a year too late!!!!

My 660 has been playing up so last year (Nov) went to use it and there was no power in it. when I started cutting the revs died. So took it to a local dealer, who said the piston was scored on the exhaust port side. It was I saw the piston afterwards. A new piston and rings were fitted, he said the barrel was O.K. I used it a few times with the 25" bar on some conifers and it was o.k. but last week took down a large Oak 15' girth I felled it o.k with the saw, but when it came to ringing up the sections again it just lost power as before. I was using the 36" bar on it. I know that this is the biggest bar that can be used on the 660, was it just a case of using the biggest bar and cutting through large sections of hardwood Oak, with lots of sawdust clogging every thing or should it have performed with ease?? It had a brand new chain on that morning. Your experiences and comments would be appreciated, as if I take it to the local dealer again, I will be at his mercy and the bill last time was not cheap!!

Buzz, Have been talking to Neil Mapleston, from your company, wants pics sent of woodchip, but I'm sceptical about payment in terms of rejection of loads if it's not exactly what you want. He says send pics, but you cannot determine any quality assesment from a picture. I am located in North Essex, is any one passing through?

Phone Derek, at Timberwolf, he is always most helpfull with all our TW probs. 01449765800

Steve, Pm me if you have not done the job already as I have that sort of gear available.

I rescued a large cockatoo, out of a tree a couple of years ago. It was up a willow, and as soon as I got to it off it flew, No suprise there, into a conifer. It did the same in the conifer. Then it flew into a sycamore, so as the Fire Service were there, and they were getting impatient, they decided to soak it with water, their belief that it wouldn't then fly off. The only problem was they soaked me also, as I was just below it. However, I did have the last laugh, as I grabbed the bedraggled bird, it dug its claws really hard into my hand, I was wearing gloves, but the unfortunate Fireman who I later handed it too, wasn't and the bird exacted it's revenge in true parrot fashion.

That's true, they are very protective of owner and property, but gentle with kids, and family, if you want to see what sort of dog they are google image Australian Cattle Dog and there are loads of pics, and you can see they come in a variety of shades and spots, mostly Blue Merle or a rusty type of red.

Havin a poodle is better than having no dog at all. I have a Blue Heeler, ( Australian Cattle Dog), I did have two but sadly one passed away, I first came across these dogs 25 years ago when I was working in outback Australia, they are kinda what out back Australia stands for, rough tough and ready for anything, and they are excellent guard dogs, when shes at work with us every body goes what the **** is that cause not many people have got them in this country.

When work starts to p*ss me off, I just think of all those poor s*ckers sitting at their office desks staring at their computer screens, longing for 5pm, and I smile, As they can't feel the rain on their face, the wind in their hair, or smell the dog sh*t on their boots, they don't get the fantastic views at the top of the tree, and they are not at one with nature, and the elements. this job IMO sure takes some beating.

If yo are serious about gathering information regarding our industry, I can put you in touch with a person who, has been in arboriculture a considerable length of time, has worked for others and now runs his own business, works 15-18 hours a day six and a half days a week, and tries to have sun afternoon off, but some times does not manage it, and holds down two other jobs, one involving night work. He could put this into perspective for any BBC interviewer!!

A mate of mine has one on his farm, He uses half tonne round straw bales in it, and old scrap wood, I some times take him a trailer load of my unsaleable wood, usually the stuff from the bottom of the log piles, and we load it onto a cradle and shove it into the burn chamber on the front of the teleporter. He heats all his rented buildings on the farm with it, so in effect costs him peanuts.

It must have been you I was following up the M11 then, Frank:scared1:

What is it with today's motorists? Driving back up the M11 from work this evening, and its a little foggy. But a good 150 yards visibility, and every other moron has their fog lights on!! So you are following cars with this intense red light right in your eyes, so when they actually brake, there is no distinction between the two lights. When do you use your rear fog lights ??

Forget all this HSE bullsh*T. A chain saw is only as safe as the person who is using it.

Last time I got sand on my balls was a beach in Australia, Very true poem, I WILL start to build that tree house for my boys, they have only been waiting two years.

Bobb d, Welcome to the forum. I would seriously advise you to initially use a file guide, as it seems you are very new to sharpening. I can remember long long ago, being in your shoes and the frustration of getting sharpening correct! I bought an oregon file guide approx £20.00 from local arb shop, and it saved the day, as you can set up the angles correctly, and the depth also. this is most important, when you practice and become efficent, then you can do it by eye, but this only comes with practice, you will not achieve it over night. Most importantly use the same pressure on the file on both left end right cutters, or else you will find that you will still get a banana cut. Also only file in one direction across the cutter, do not run the file back in the filed groove. Remember practice makes perfect. Good luck!!!!!

Ha Ha, Human Trauma, if you experienced the energy blast of my little device you would need alot of Celox to stick you back together again.

Its too big to download, and I'm pretty sure it is a required document that has to be obtained from the HSE. Also it costs more than £10

Stew, PM me when you put the Lantra course together, as It would be usefull to have, P.S. If you need an extra instructor, I have plenty of experience in this field, and I am trained in trauma First Aid. Although, realistically Scotland is too far for a southerner like me. Be Safe

Would be interested in the facts surrounding this tragedy, condolences to his family. Was all his equipment loler tested?

Stew, Welcome to the club!! Looking at your photo's it would suggest that you are using a Rodenator, as you are standing next to the lance when you press the button. In the second photo you appear to be smiling, Grimmacing?, What if Mr mole had burrowed between your legs, and you then hit the button !!!!??? As I wanted to keep the crown jewels intact, I use a Burrow Blaster, which has the control box 10 meters from the blast zone, and mate it is great fun push the button and it's like vietnam. I notice you have yours on a trailer on the quad, I have mounted mine on a tow bar from the quad and it hooks over the rear rack, but if you do this there is a problem, all the weight is at the back so you have to put some sand bgs on the front for counter balance, it's better than pulling a trailer and alot neater. I use mine mainly for rabbit control on the farm, and contract out to other farmers, but the NFU were twitchy insuring me. Also it is against the law in the u.k to use explosives to kill wild animals, as DEFRA made clear in a public statement in May 2007, but they can be used to collapse burrows and tunnels if no animals are present. The maximum penalty for using an explosive other than ammunition for a firearm, to kill wild animals is currently £5,000.00 and six months in prison. You currently do not need a licence to use one, but I would say make sure that you record your use of a ferret, or phosphine tablets, on premises blasted, as if you are inspected and you have not, you could be demmed to have breached these laws. Happy blasting Dude. Will try and put up some piccies of mine if I have time

Bought my 660 in 2004, but has new fuel and oil caps and no heated handle ?! Brilliant saw I run a 25", 30" and 36" bar on it, bought it as I couldn't handle the weight of the 088 any more, too heavy up a tree, (well I am 50, now and not the lad I once was) The blokes love it, and there is always a fight to use it. BUT, I have had problems with it starting, after about a couple of years it fluctuated on the revs, so took it to a dealer who, put a new carb on it, was o.k. for a while, then played up again, I took it apart this winter and found that the piston was scored on the exhaust port, and the small inner filter on the carb was gunged up, so can only think it got starved of oil, and then heated up, ended up puting on a new piston and stuff. Goes grat now, just keep it maintained, especially if you employ staff!!!