LGP Eddie

Plenty have got themselves a fixed head stuck on a timber grab and made themselves a metal birds nest when used under a Tiltrotator! Once you start getting the force from that bucket ram introduced, things get found out very quickly! If you're aware, make sensible steps to beef them up before use, and simply don't go mad then it can work out no problems. I'm still sruggling to find anything that really matches the Intermercato range of Tiger grips for excavator applications. If you look in Europe they favour big box tyne designs that have limited range of opening and a lot of weight. The American kit is nice, but they think a 20 tonner is a mini excavator, so perhaps still a gap in the market for nice hardox tyne grabs with worm drive rotators that are most suited to excavators. Eddie.

Yes the Rotator has to be beefier to cope with the forces and it's hard to get the power and hold right unless you go full Tiltrotator with worm gear, which is another story, but more and more good solutions available now. It's simply a case of having an extra dimension available, you wouldn't want to work with your wrist broken and hand flopping about, nor does an excavator. Eddie.

Couldn't agree more. Free swinging grabs just straightforward rob you of an extra dimension the excavator can provide over traditional timber cranes. It's almost a culture thing, guys are used to having a swinging grab and rotator and seem reluctant to try anything else. Cost is obviously a factor, but when you see what benefits something like an Intermercato grab, properly setup fixed to the machine with heavy duty rotator, it's night and day. Eddie.

Liebherr repair is finally underway thanks. It has been a total nightmare for me, but I'll hopefully be back in action in around a week with my new Kobelco unit and the Liebherr following back soon after. I'll probably take a few adverts out as both are aimed at guys who simply need a few days muscle on the job and then off again. The Kobelco is some spec and I'm looking forward to getting it all finished and shaken down. I miss the Kubota, but I've done that class of machine to death and want to offer solutions to guys who would normally think such kit out of reach. Eddie.

Looking good Stephen, you can't regret buying that setup I'm certain. Eddie.

The need is to establish what you're looking for, you could be into true doorway machines like the Kubota Kx008, or the larger one most who use these things are talking about the Bobcat E10/Doosan Dx10z in whichever colour you choose. I'd go Doosan, the Bobcat paint comes off in the rain! Eddie.

First decision is, what are you looking at this class for? True 'doorway' performance to access where others can't go, or you're happy to accept slightly larger to get into the 1 tonne class where the machines are much better performing? Eddie.

Out of Stanstead Wednesday at 18.15 on Ryanair, collected car and dropped on as everything else had gone, so brand new Nissan x-trail. Cheap hotel close to airport and up early for a very wet but stunning drive to the show. Car park was horrendous in the section I was in, but the rest seemed to be holding up better on the sloping areas. Enjoyed a full day at the show, extremely friendly, some huge stands, and despite the horrendous weather, still fine to walk around. Made a decent enough escape from the car park, and then stayed about 45 minutes away at Grenna, north of Jonokoping, which was a lovely place on the side of the lake. Made the call to leave it on the Friday, had a leisurely day, lovely drive back to Gothenburg and back to Standstead. Seen exactly what I went to see, enjoyed it very much, and will return to Sweden using Gothenburg again, as it was so cheap and simple. I only booked 2 weeks before and got a pretty decent deal all round. Eddie.

The whole setup has been purchased by Ground Control for the mechanised division. If you ever need assistance in a solution it's something I do a lot of for guys now. Cutting through everything to pull together a complete package that actually works really does take some legwork. Eddie.

Just a quick update to say thanks to everyone for the kind words and support through what has been a very difficult time since the arson attack on the Liebherr machine. It is finally all going through, with Liebherr undertaking the repairs, and I have every confidence the machine will be perfect on it's return. In addition I've sold the whole Kubota setup and gone with a carrier that can share all the big Liebherr attachments, but in different applications. It was at the Plantworx show in it's base form, but will be having the mods added over the next cookie of weeks to become a compact powerhouse of a tool, ideal for roadside work or awkward sites the Liebherr can't access. I'm looking forward to it's arrival and getting back to work. Kobelco SK270srlc Eddie.

The Kubota can hold it's own with anything, simply dated now in terms of extra auxiliary hydraulic circuits which a lot of guys on here want. Rock solid residual and ultra reliable. The dark horse is the Komatsu, great machines in this class with zero swing and good power plus decent loadover height which can be handy. If you want an owners machine then it's different than something everyone jumps on. If it's for multiple operators, not a lot to touch the Takeuchi, they are simple and stand up well to the abuse, if a little weak on pin/bushes, but these are cheap enough anyway. I don't include the FR series in that statement, as I'd not touch one unless for a specific application. Just a heads up on Plantworx show, first week of June and going to be some show by the look it. Well worth a trip. Eddie.

This the one you've seen? Our Gallery - Pickup Systems Ltd Eddie.

Incredibly you've missed absolutely nothing! Still awaiting Insurance approval of the repair! It's sourcing the Police report that's been the major hold up, and I'll be perfectly honest it's been a total nightmare in terms of stress, hassle and obviously financially. Just need it back asap! Eddie.

Not a huge curve and it was secured with the normal adhesive that would be used for the screen instead of having to have it bolted. Marguard is one of those things that three or four guys clubbing together on here could possibly split a full sheet and get a huge saving? Eddie.

Availability is big issue. My Kubota had Marguard fitted directly into the existing frame, plus a bottom window cut for around £600, and quite honestly even 3 years on you wouldn't know it wasn't glass. For yourself I'd say a good mesh is a good insurance policy and shouldn't be too expensive for a fabricator. If you use a couple of vandal guard mounts at the bottom and a hook it on at the top you can take them off easily. Some are available on the Cabcare website, I had the Kubota one, but in all honesty expensive for what they are, and easily replicated. Mesh Guards | CabCare Eddie

Seems all a bit backwards from the norm in mounting? I'd get that motor guarded up as it's running in the material to be cut all the time. Doing the job nicely though. I'd say it would be £300 day plus delivery/collection, but I'd want to see some guarding over that front window before I allowed you to start! Anyone who doesn't think you need to guard it because it throws sideways, wait until that stone hits a tree and comes at you! Those bars on the Kubota used to ring like a bell, and there was marguard in the front window behind that if it got past. Eddie.

Just tell them you're hiring in a replacement machine which you will invoice them for and it's £1.25 a mile for delivery collection, plus time. I had a Liebherr fitter come out after hours and that was £1.25 plus £85hr just to drive the van! Sometimes these companies use up all the goodwill and slack rope in one go and you have to toughen up pretty sharp. The way I now look at it is they would charge me top dollar for their services and I'm fully entitled to do the same for any cost or inconvenience caused to me. Eddie

Straightforward good bollocking rounded off with, right let's crack on, get it up and laid back right. I'm just old school, you mess up, you get what's coming learn from it and move on. The key bit is no long faces after and all forgotten about by brew time. Every day is a school day in my book, and if you get taught a new trick then give the person some appreciation and say I'm having that thanks. Had a 30 tonne long reach picked up a few weeks back by a huge low loader with a 22 year old driver. The lad showed Greg and I a trick with a rusted up ratchet binder we both looked at each other and nodded in approval. Had some good banter about a young pup showing us the ropes. It's your job, from your description I like your style, and I would be exactly the same. Pulled a bricklayer up for messy work once and he said tidy doesn't pay, the reply nor does messy get your flask and f@@k off sorted that! Nip it straight in the bud, you are really only ever as good as your last job. Eddie.

I thought these Truxta were some bits of kit and articulated steering for little mess. The battery one would be welcome on the domestic stuff. Diesel 300 & 450 | TRUXTA Eddie.

Couldn't believe it when I spotted it on e bay, but pretty much what I was thinking anyway? It would be interesting to see it work? tree surgeon arborist stump grinder woodchipper chipbox | eBay Eddie.

I've used tweaked excavators that are supposed to do this and that, but facts are simple, if you haven't the power in the engine no amount of hydraulic trickery is going to make up the gap. If you ever get chance to witness a Menzi Muck in action with it's full dedicated Powerline system bringing its engine right down but still going at it with all the other functions, it quickly shows what a purpose designed setup around higher hp can do. With regard to Stump Grinders, I've been doing a fair bit of research of late, and my take on it is you're simply better off carrying the engine and grinder on the front of the machine. The chance to take decent power to the stump without all the expense of repowering or hydraulic trickery, and no lump of a power pack hanging off the back. Could easily be shared across a range of carriers too without any mods required. If you looked at the spec of the biggest Bandit stump grinder and imagine it without wheels/tracks, even that wouldn't need a huge carrier to handle it? Easy to scale down and make a real handy setup. Eddie.

There's never really been a Case presence in this area until now, so one manufacturer I've had little experience with apart from the larger machines which are excellent. Hyundai like Doosan etc, just seem to get better and better as years go by? They are sadly forced to fit more technology for emissions etc every few years, and like all manufactures this can throw up the odd blip. Hitachi hit a bit of a wall on some dash 5 models that nobody would have ever predicted. My first choice for a 5 tonne machine of similar year to you describe has to be the Kubota kx161-3, simply bombproof machines. Eddie.

I do believe Shaun got a deal sorted with an Arbtalk member on that lovely Pc27 Komatsu and Engcon setup, so thanks to everyone who enquired, I hoped it would do someone on here a good turn. Eddie.

Just had the heads up that the Komatsu PC27 with Engcon Tiltrotator setup that's appeared on here via myself a few times will be coming up shortly. Apparently it will be available with all the buckets and Timber Grab, and all I can say is you won't find another setup as sorted or tidy ready to go. If anyone here is interested then best DM me quick as I doubt this will need any advertising, but it's just perfect for so many guys on here. Eddie.

This is the new Exac-One setup, the gripper unit is detachable. Shown on a Powertilt, but I assume a Rotator will be available? Guaranteed to cut whatever you get in it! Eddie