paddyvero

Its pretty impressive for the money. But you do need to be handy with the spanners, and dont be suprised when it wont start. Im happy enough, but I will upgrade as soon as I can.

Ive just got a muck grab type currently, and the standard bucket. Again, not alot of choice in manufacturers of grabs, and $$$$.

I have an AGT KTT23. The options over here in BC are somewhat limited. No Sherpa, Skidster or similar. There is a Cast dealer, or its Vermeer. The machine was $5k cad. Next option would be a Workyquad 11hp at $26k. For me it was a low cost way to see how much I will actually use a machine, if it proves usefull I will upgrade. The machine has the 23hp Rato motor. Its a honda clone, but its pretty crap. I see myself putting a genuine honda in it at some point. So far its doing what it needs to, but you need to be a little handy with the spanners. Alot of metal for the money!

Appalling!

Id say, black or dark grey canopy is ok on any vehicle colour. Coloured canopy needs to match, looks awful if not. White canopy pretty much only ok on white truck, might getaway with it on grey or muted colours maybe.

Im a dead eye guy. For the same reason you state. Woopies and loopies are crap. Ultra slings are good, but obviously no adjustment, usually pockets arent too far apart so doesnt matter much. POW are abit crap also. Fixed bollard unless its a long walk to the tree, then its probably wraps around the trunk with manky 3 strand.

Ive used 9mm in the past. Rigging smaller branches from very high, often need a light rope to help the stuff come down. Its probably against a rule somewhere. Micro rigging!

Fair enough, you have had a bad experience, but maintainance schedules on a petrol vs a diesel will always differ. You got a lemon. There isnt another engine option available at this time, thanks to emmisions regs.

Mine is up to 700hrs now, nothing at all wrong touch wood. 230vtr. None of the chippers are that old yet, so we arent going to be seeing huge hours yet. Agree with Mick, throwing another motor in isnt a huge deal, and base machine is cheaper, and the 25hp diesel just isnt powerful enough. Obviously if the 35hp diesel was still available new there would be no contest.

Canada is a very big country, where are you heading? Self employed climbers are not so common here, and its a much more involved process to be one. The trees and the type of work is also quite different. It takes awhile to become productive, even if you are the bollocks at home.

Once had an old dear make us a cup of Bisto with milk!

Are you on pole gaffs or those weird euro gaffs Distel make? Id say stick with the long tree gaffs, wont be long before you get used to them. I switched 9yrs ago and never went back to pole gaffs. Or file your long gaffs down until they are 'medium'.

Ive no idea about your machine, but the video I posted showed the issue with mine, its now back and running as normal.

Certainly similar, mine would rev all the way back up to full then die back to idle, might run at full pelt for5secs, 30secs, or a few minutes. Dealer mechanic said it was sparking at the engine mounts.

Mine turned out to be a bad ground and loose engine mounts. Fixed in a jiffy and back to work. They even washed it for me. Phew!