LGP Eddie

Finished off the ditch today. The Engcon system changes how you go about many tasks. No need for tracking about when ditching, you just do it all in one pull. Eddie.

I'm happy to pass it on at cost, but won't just let anyone transport it for me. The guy I use has top class kit and drivers to match. Nothing is ever a problem, and they treat everything with great care. Real old fashioned service. Eddie.

It very much depends on the site it's going to, but generally it goes on a 6 wheeler with a nice flip over ramp setup that avoids the grounding issues you often get with a beavertail. The machine is 2.9m wide exactly to avoid movement order hassles, but has tiny bolt on blade extensions to take her out to 3 metres if required. Sometimes it will go via Tractor/Low Loader for access, but only for Forestry or work in an Agri Environmental scheme. Eddie.

It's mainly Environmental type work, with bits of Forestry and Groundwork thrown in too? Pretty much whatever comes along, but the main thing is obviously Low Ground Pressure kit and finding people a solution to sites most don't want to look at. I am lucky to know some great people to call on for projects, and can normally find a way to get the job done? It's feast or famine and a load of hassle at times, but when it comes together I'd not want to do anything else. Eddie.

I was simply there on a day rate, but it was a good showcase, and I think they did more than ok for their money? I don't much general hire stuff, usually my own projects, but just doing a bit for a very good client. Eddie.

Thanks for the kind comments, it's really just the machine doing what its built for. No wet feet for me, as I don't even have to get our now to change the attachments, it's a real time saver and ensures you always use the right tool for the job in hand. The brash in this instance will all be dealt with by the client, but normally I'd have sheared out anything worthwhile and chipped the rest of it. No excuses needed for a Valtra, but the loss of a planned yard this week has really set me back badly. Search is back on, and by the number of threads on here regarding yards it's a problem many have. As for cost without going into details, there would be change out of £400 and would anyone take a stab at costs of putting that lot on the floor safely by hand, besides getting a few shovels out for the ditch! Eddie.

Doing a bit with the Shear today, it was an awful wet site, but the Kubota stayed afloat. surprised myself what she tackled? 140 metres cut and stacked with the shear and half the ditch pulled in a 9 hour shift, which i thought was pretty good value for the client? Eddie.

It all comes down to cost, and how you have to cut your cloth accordingly? I've been trying to get down this route for an age, and all the hassles with my new Kubota have really given me a good hiding this year, knocking things back. However I'd agree with others, tractor first, preferably one that's not had a loader fitted, hopefully leading a slightly easier life before purchase. Cranes, AC Price, stunning Jake Mount, Kronos Crane, plus Front tank setups, you'll need to be lying down for the price, but I doubt you could buy better? Caledonian for the Kesla, and they really don't promote enough the stunning range of options they can do here. Their Guarding is really nice too, and they can do Roof or Jake Mount. You'd be well advised to get some images sent down from them. Wilsons, Botex, these are totally Marmite in terms of opinion, but I've tried the latest Joystick controls and got on great with them. Price simply cannot be ignored, and plenty of people have great success with the units. I like them. Are you looking at a T or N series? Eddie.

Liebherr probably make the best quality machine, but not in a huge range of specs? Eddie.

I'm liking that very much! Very neat winch and grab setup. I thought the Terex PT100 is now available in the UK? Eddie.

Thanks for the kind comments, I really wish I could have done the demo myself to show a little more of it's capabilities and how effective the attachments can be. The last bits of Rhodie on that cliff can't be allowed to drop, so there'll be something even bigger to finish it off! I really enjoyed the APF, some of the equipment suppliers had really put some serious effort in, but AC Price got the best in show from me! Eddie.

The Kubota made it down to the APF, but i couldn't go with it as I was tied up on a bit of a special mission. I did however attend Saturday and what a cracking show it was! Here's a video someone from another forum came and took of the Long Reach in action. I think he did a fair job of a video considering he runs a Groundwork company! Eddie.

Hard to explain without a diagram, but Doobin has got it. You cut a square hole in your blade for the box to fit through and ensure its shaped and welded to be a completely flush profile with the rest of the blade. No catching anything with the bucket, and certainly nothing that could contact anything else on the machine. A blanking plug could be fabricated, but little need in reality as the hitch and box will be easy to.push through a bit of muck in there. Eddie.

Looking good Stephen, must have been a cracking purchase for you? Here's my mount for monday, serious Rhodie basher! 15 Metre reach and Rubber Blocks on the tracks for working on the road. Any high hedges needing a trim! Eddie.

What you need to do is form what's termed a Receiver type Hitch. Basically a piece of box section welded into the blade at the required point, keeping it flush with the profile of the blade. The short piece of box will have a hole through it for a tractor type towing pin or the like. The tow ball is mounted to a plate with a suitable piece of box to slide into the 'receiver' and all that is required to fit or remove is pull the pin out. The box may get a bit of soil packed in it whilst in normal use but that's about it, and all digging duties against the blade can be done as normal. If you want a different type hitch or even just a piece of solid square bar with a hole for a shackle it's easy to do? Easy to fit another piece of box section on the back of the blade for stowage too, if theres not room to simply fit it in reverse? Some ideas here, as it's common for off roaders. 4x4 Receiver Hitches Eddie.

I assume you mean the Zago Ecogreen type shredder? I hired in the very large version many times and had brilliant success with it. It's quite surprising what will go through these, and what a nice product can be created. They're not massively horsepower hungry and very quiet in operation. I very much rate them, but make certain it has an Operator who will give it the constant attention it deserves for longevity. Eddie.

When will the Tajfun 600 finally be out? It would be nice if it was at APF? http://machines4u.cachefly.net/machinery/94/136694/Big-Red-RCA-600-JOY_1639568.l.jpg Eddie.

Very nice, but standard infeed and big tracks for me please! Something along the Farmi 380 hfc lines on 3 point linkage is what I need to jump up to if the Valtra comes through, but I just wondered what Bandit could put together with a similar brief? Eddie.

Couldn't really agree more, but absolute NO to any hand feeding! I don't do anything domestic so usually some other way of losing the last bit on site. My current Farmi 260 with conveyor is great, but hoping to finally have my own Valtra which could stand something larger, and I wondered what Bandit could put together of the same idea? 18" Drum would be lovely, but a big old donk like you say, and yes a compromise has to be sought until funds allow hopefully better solutions. Biomass SVC with Kesla crane on tracks for me please! Eddie.

Thanks, I think there's very limited choice 3 point linkage pto machines out there to suit the larger 'T' series Valtra's and roof mounts, especially with a feed setup ideal for the job. Eddie.

What would the feed size be for the 14", have they ever done a short conveyor on one? Eddie.

Got you now! Weights not much of an issue for me, and a good look around at the Confor show, had me pretty much convinced it would be first point of call when I was looking to upgrade, due to being almost a surplus of metal in them. Just out of interest what is the largest capacity 3 point linkage PTO machine you can assemble assuming 180hp+ available on the tractor, and plenty of linkage capacity? Eddie.

The remote transmitter weighs in less than 750kgs?? Sorry that bit lost me? A seriously nice bit of kit, what sort of £'s Eddie.

So what? In reality a 3cx or your average tractor wouldn't even bother with 3 tonne unbraked on the back? Just the usual box tickers and no sense to any of it! You're not even allowed to take an old moped in the front bucket to get home on! Eddie.

Yes a very good point, but I seem to remember this guy had got it all sorted, as it would really only be a case of JCB giving it the factory approval. Probably some under 20mph rule that gets you out of pretty much anything anyway? I know most used to make one to tow their vans on an A frame, so they had some means of getting home rather than having to tramp the machine back at night, but this got pretty frowned on by Vosa again! The stupid thing is it does absolutely nobody any harm, and actually reduces the number of peak time journeys made by such vehicles at low speed, causing tailbacks and frustration. I think it should be legal and encouraged? Eddie.