LGP 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

If you can move it no issues, get the 8 tonner first as last. Easy to hire in a 3 tonner for the little jobs, and an 8 will cover almost all of 5 to 13 easily. Most should be double piped and more about steel tracked which is the way to go and put clip on rubbers if you need them. More Shear choice too including new exac one with rotate grip and cut in one unit. Eddie

Yes that's why I ended up building my own. I used the Tiger cut minus the blade as the ultimate bombproof gripper unit and added the unrivalled Exac-One cutter underneath. Best off all worlds with the bonus of fully independent control of either grip or cutter unit. You should see that go under the Engcon on my 8 tonner. You'd pay £22k to match it with a Westtech! Eddie

No I certainly wouldn't, a lot handier to transport and pack a lot more punch than many would give them credit for. It will do some serious work in a shift. Eddie.

You will surprise yourself what you will achieve with a TMK and no rotate. They have a demo day in a week or so somewhere? You have to remember that the steeper the angle from vertical the more chance it will get away from you with either the Tiger or the TMK. Eddie.

One tip with the tiger cut, make certain the blade bolts are tight, and I mean tight, slightest play in them and my 8 tonner would fetch the whole set off in one go. Not the Shear's fault, I used it brutally under the Engcon on the 8 tonner, as the Engcon lets you pull at all sorts of odd angles. Anyone purchasing for a 5 tonner can be confident you'll never hurt it! Eddie.

Yes the Yanmar in the image certainly appears to have the necessary twin auxiliary circuits required for not only a shear with rotate function, but a Timber or Selector grab with rotate too if required. As for Shear, if it's cut and drop you want then nothing to match an Exac-one cutting head. Cut and hold with a percentage chance of dropping material then an Intermercato Tiger Cut 200 can take any abuse you can throw at it! However the TMK simply can't be ignored? Incredible cut capacity and I'll tell you the trick to cutting half as much again as it's rating after this test one has gone back!! TMK will also do a lightened version in thinner plate if weight is an issue. Eddie.

Thanks Stephen, need to work not only financially, but can't be doing with the uncertainty, I'd rather keep busy. Suits the Komatsu perfectly, as it's a very light shear, I doubt it would even get the Westtech more than 3/4 out over the side without falling over! Just taking the tops out closer to the road, but where it's safe, everything comes down whole, flush to the ground is easy with the TMK. Eddie.

Finally back up and running with a replacement in the form of a Komatsu PC240 18metre Long Reach that's had a few mods for the intended projects over the next few weeks. It's had extra lines added to be able to use a Selector Grab, Case Drain for Mulcher, Guarding on front screen and top, plus rubber block pads for road work. It's currently running the new into the UK, TMK 400 Shear from NCD Equipment, with Nick there very keen to get feedback on how it's performing. First thing we noticed upon delivery was the fact the gripper arm left a considerable hole at the rear of the jaw when fully closed, and it was obvious that anything under 5" was in danger of being dropped. A quick mod with a couple of plates sorted that, but obviously a slight corresponding drop in overall capacity. The Komatsu is blessed with being able to set flows from the screen in the cab very easily, and we were able to dial the TMK up to a pretty impressive but controllable speed of operation. So first afternoon out, and all I can say is this thing is light and very quick! No issues whatsoever on the long reach, even out full reach over the side, and to be honest direct mounted onto a top quick hitch I'd probably even put this this on an 8 tonner to try. The 240 is obviously putting enough flow and pressure to make this TMK fly, but the whole unit suits what I would consider to be applications where the dropping of material is not of concern. The TMK needs a few more quite easy mods to make it a true hold and cut, not cut and then hope it holds shear, and I think this unit has got massive potential. This unit sadly isn't fitted with the new TMK Turbo ram, as I consider that possibly the biggest advancement in Tree Shears for quite some time, and once fitted would be even quicker in operation. I'll get some images or video of it in action, but at a price that undercuts the bigger name rivals massively, and a sensible weight for a wide range of carriers, TMK have the makings of a real winner here. Eddie.

Pretty much now a case of seeing who will do you the best deal or which route you prefer as the NPORS is now an official recognised partner scheme of the CPCS. https://www.cscs.uk.com/about/partnercard-schemes/ As for FMOC I'd forget it for construction sites, unless you're using it to prove competence in a category over and above some form of CSCS card that you hold already. An example could be operating a Forwarder, you could use your FMOC for it, but either a CPCS Excavator, or CPCS Chainsaw would cover the fact you had achieved the touch screen test, and basics to be on a construction site. The main contractor will generally need to see some form of CSCS, even if it's just the touch screen test passed as a minimum for a short probationary period to even get you onto site. I suppose it's just the opposite way around on FC sites, they aren't construction so why should they have CPCS unless it is actually construction work you are undertaking. Would I be correct in thinking the FMOC provisional for an excavator can be gained by holding a CPCS for that category, and then you train for specific tasks and attachments? Eddie.

Thanks to everyone who has sent messages of support, and offers of assistance by all the various channels, it does help restore a bit of faith. No shame in admitting it's been a pretty tough week or so, but back on the project tomorrow with a hired in machine solution to fill the gap, nothing like just getting your head down and back to work to clear your head. The machine is simply awaiting it's fate with the loss adjuster tomorrow, and yes Liebherr are still happy with the three week timescale if they get the nod to put it back to how it was. Impressive if they get the opportunity and deliver as promised. Eddie.

I use 'Pig Products' for my spill kits etc and use their Forkift kit for the smaller plant, which comes with a tub of repair putty you can put over a puncture in a drum, split pipe or whatever to buy a bit of time. It's also available separately to buy and add into a larger kit. Well worth having, it could just save the day. The other product that I think essential is a 'Plant Nappy' these aren't cheap, but last well, and you can buy replaceable liners for them. Just look more professional when fuelling up or whatever, and can be left out in the rain with no problems as they allow water through. Always got loads of rags with me, as I'm one who likes to go around the machine and wipe off all the excess grease before I actually grease it. Amazing the bits and pieces you find on that wipe around with a rag that all add to to keeping the machine spot on in terms of reliability. Eddie.

Form and orderly queue guys, you'll never get another? Backhoe with Floatation Tyres, Engcon, yes Engcon! Plus only 500hrs?? http://www.coatesplant.co.uk/construction/?item=237 Eddie.

I was quite surprised at the spec of the small model on paper and have been watching with interest. It really seems to be just like a TB016 Takeuchi in terms of the expanding undercarriage, decent reach and generally straightforward build. They say it has very good ground clearance which is a bonus for a lot of guys here, and the general rumblings seem it's surprised most who've had a try. As I said before Sany will almost certainly progress at least as fast as Doosan/Hyundai but who knows these first machines don't look far off the mark from the crate? It'll take a few years to put some residual against them, as that only really comes with a solid reputation. Looks like I will get to cast an eye at Plantworx. Eddie.

Did anyone ever get a go on that Sany 16 1.5 tonner? I was looking at some images of its demo tour on Facebook, and I have to say it looks a tidy, hi spec bit of kit for the money. I'll be casting an eye over one at Plantworx show if they attend. Eddie.

I did the exact same with a motorcycle and it came really good in the end. In this instance, the machine really needs the full repair by Liebherr UK to retain all of it's value and integrity going forward. It's not a cheap bit of kit to hire, clients and myself must have full confidence the machine is absolutely as close to how it left the factory in terms of condition and reliability must be certain. Liebherr will give 12 months warranty on any and every part that they fit to repair it, and they don't 'fix' things so to speak in this instance, it's simply put back to as it would have left the factory. Fingers crossed it can be sorted asap and put the whole sorry episode behind me. I'm at that point now where you're trying to turn the tap of money going out off, to actually see where the damage ends, before beginning to move forward again. Might be a nice Kubota and attachments up for sale real soon! Eddie.