LGP Eddie

Words fail me and what's more I even watched it all! Vodka??? [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dttSPCnfRG8&feature=BFp&list=WLFDA566524C475DE8]MOV00925.mp4 - YouTube[/ame]

I have a nightmare getting all the stuff off my machines at the end of the season, plus if we've been doing a lot of loading fires the machines get coated in a horrid black stuff on the dipper arms and attachments. I've tried pretty much everything until I stole the wife's 'bug and tar' wipes from turtle wax. These aren't cheap, but absolutely effortlessly shift all the residue from the paintwork with minimal effort. I tried some other brands and even some solution that I could spray on that was supposed to be 'bug and tar' but nothing comes close to these wipes. Well worth a go for some of your gear and shouldn't harm anything? Eddie.

This is an excellent question to which I only have an answer of 3 years use and approx 2200hrs heavy use at present to go on. However my 8 tonne unit shows no signs of ill effects from having the Engcon fitted, and I'd actually say the undercarriage is considerably better that it would have been if I was constantly repositioning the machine. I did a lot of homework before deciding on the Kubota as the base unit, and I was mainly looking for a large slew ring to carry the continuously added weight better. I did enquire with Kubota about having the additional 300kg counterweight added just to give better balance across the slew ring but they said everything was running well within limits. Kubota have been most helpful from the start and very receptive to talking about modifying their base units. They were perfectly happy to warranty every component I didn't have altered and no problems with running attachments. They were happy their product was up to the job and it proved them right for the 3 years they covered it for, not having any issue whatsoever with the base machine. The 5 tonne machine has been faultless so far, so must speak something of their products. TomTom, I'm absolutely with you on that Jake mounting, their gear does look quality and it must be the way to improve stability plus distribute the forces better. We need some more Jake or Roofmount pics! Eddie.

Sorry for my Ignorance who's 'our lot' and I assume the meeting would be towards supplying their products? I really have fallen for Vatra's now and I really like the look of those Jake products, but has anyone actually combined them with a Botex crane for lifting power or is there stronger than Botex for similar money? I'm still not convinced about a roof/jake mount for loading conventional chippers but with a side infeed like the Heizohack then I'm certain they would be brilliant plus all the added applications they bring. Too many kind words about the Ditching! Many Thanks I do like my jobs tidy! I've added a little mod to one of my Engcon grabs this week to help with some clearing up. Basically I was looking at a landscape rake but didn't want to lose the ability to grab material or be able to pull out roots etc. The solution I hope was to put a rake into one side of my grab so I can clear up, but still have the ability to grab material. The existing side of the grab can be utilised for the more stubborn stuff instead of over stressing the rake. I had it made by Abiljo and I was delighted how it came together, almost like a factory fit plus it doesn't take too long to swap back. Can't wait to try it. Plus a few more pics of the Engcon's in use. Eddie.

Yes the Engcon and all the Low Ground Pressure mods were supplied by John Craig. He's the UK's top Tiltrotator guy and really knows his stuff. Very kind words Rod and the purpose was to clear a wetland on a National Nature Reserve in preparation for some habitat creation works. They wanted all roots removed as they will maintain the area with a 'Softrak' which runs on some pretty easily damaged rubber tracks. I was fortunate enough to excavate the large ditch on a second phase of the project to create the required feature, and again the Engcon system allowed me to form the required shape with minimal machine movements on what was very soft ground. The reserves manager took a great shot with a fancy camera that joins the pics up? Eddie.

James and Josy, many thanks for your kind comments and the Kubota's are very high spec machines. James your own is a very tidy setup and in reality you chose wisely with the 6 tonner, which are packing some serious punch these days whilst being really easy to transport plus very frugal to run. The Grab is part of the Engcon Tiltrotator systems that both machines are equipped with, and these really do take things to another level. Having the grab solid mounted and being able to both Tilt and Rotate allows for angles never previously possible and fantastic control. We do a lot of wetland clearance, and the system can take really high sustained loadings whist removing roots etc with no issues. The wide pads are obviously for our intended applications, but they never really cause hassles in any applications always minimising surface damage plus giving brilliant stability. There's an early video of the 8 tonner with the Engcon and Grab in action here, it's only done by a cable tie and the Blackberry but you'll get the idea of the control available. It makes chipper loading easy for me and I like to see what's going into the chipper. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxJ-OLUOrGQ]'Swamp Logging' by Moorlands Specialist Excavations Ltd - YouTube[/ame] I've got to say I'm really getting into this roof mount idea and the 'Jake' mounting system. I've not yet seen a Botex mounted on a Jake? Can it be done or has it been done? Those Heizohack certainly look the way forward for me, but the Kesla that was pictured on another thread has a lovely twin axle setup on the rear that looked big enough to carry a 3 tonne machine along to site in one go? Eddie.

I'm very lucky in having a couple of Engcon equipped excavators to load my Farmi Chipper. The ability to see exactly what's happening plus the ability to tilt and rotate a grab that is fixed and not free swinging gives so much more control of the operation. We differ slightly in mainly doing wetland work and usually trying to get willow through the chipper in some dodgy places, so not really a production chipping operation. My point however is that in many applications I'm certain that an excavator could be a much safer and productive way of loading a chipper than some currently utilised. However it's all about cost and what works for your own system, plus a bit of use what you've got already? Eddie.

It depends on what basis you were having the work done surely? There's basically two ways to go about it, Firstly simply charging by the hour or day to be 'On Hire' to the client and act under their own directions. This is where you would produce your term/conditions and have them signed so they agree that they are responsible for damage you caused whilst acting under their direction including underground services. Obviously you can then charge accordingly as the responsibility has been removed and simply work to their directions. Most of the Man and Mini Digger guys run on this basis hence so cheap to hire for the day. Second case is where you will have given a price to undertake the works (hopefully a written quote) and this is where you then simply turn up and get the whole job done to their satisfaction with all damage being your responsibility. This is where you need to be factoring in the chance that damage may be done and ensuring all steps are taken to minimise the risk. Keep all records of contact with utilities before you commence (dial before you dig etc) and photo's of trial holes to uncover services as the Insurance company may ask for evidence of any steps taken to minimise risk. I used to do loads of driveway dig outs only (no paving) on a price and the procedure was the same on each one. We would take the usual collection of narrow grafting spades/manhole keys when viewing to quote for the work and uncover everything relevant that we knew was running to/from the property then photograph the trial holes. If BT and Electric is overhead you're onto a winner straight away, so doesn't usually take long and you get a sixth sense for where they are after a while. Prospective clients would be slightly shocked, but you could see what they were thinking, these guys know their stuff and care to look before we've even given them the job. On the actual dig out day we would always go back to any trial holes and uncover the services, then usually trace along them by removing some cover by machine and finishing off by hand. Yes it takes a bit longer, but even a basic water service repair will take the edge of a job so worth it in the long run. I just wanted to point out the other big trap that's out there for the unwary and that's 'Hired Plant Insurance'. Not everyone is aware that when that 15k of Mini Digger lands on your driveway for the day for you to play on at £50 per day and £30 transport, then your are totally responsible for that machine. If you see the term CPA model conditions and the company is a member then they are really stacking things against you. The CPA is a great organisation that will back it's members fully on the legal side, and it's Model Conditions are in reality the industry standard. I've seen it so many times where people have damaged machines and then got landed with large repair bills that come as a complete shock. The worst case scenario is if it's stolen as you then not only have to fund it's total replacement at usually new for old, but also 2/3rds of the hire rate for all the time the machine is not available to the hirer! It's genuinely scary stuff and I've seen both sides with people landed with huge bills for mini digger panels and the like plus actual plant hirers smiling because that machine they've had 10 months work out of already is going to be replaced by new and someone is also paying the hire all the time he's waiting. Sometimes is just better to get an Owner Operator in to do the job, but if you need to Self Drive Hire check your insurance or take out a short term policy from the hire company or someone like JCB Insurance who do them online even for a day. Eddie.

I fully agree, if you're on domestic work then try to stick to being 'on hire' leaving responsibility with them but get your terms/conditions signed before you start. Nothing at all wrong with this and people leave themselves wide open taking the complete job on a price. The Sumo survey is obviously for slightly larger projects that would be undertaken on a price and the point at which it could be argued worth doing is something that only the individual responsible for the work could decide. However a little at the start of a reasonable size project could save plenty of heartache later.

The biggest myth ever in striking services is 'Minimum Depth'? I put Don Burr HGV trailer factory off just before Xmas about 10 years ago to the tune of 47k!! (Luckily just Operating a Rubber Duck on hire) The HV cable was only 6" below the surface and completely unmarked, but their first argument is always the ground has been reduced after their installation? Since the advent of moles it really is a lottery regarding both the depth and line of any service installed this way. I've not seen a plastic pipe yet traced with a CAT, but it can be done with a piece of equipment that introduces a sound wave into the pipe that is traced with specialist equipment. I strongly suggest anyone undertaking even a modest size project look into having something like a 'Sumo Survey' done. These are brilliant and will use whatever means possible including ground penetrating radar to trace all cables/pipes etc on a site plus clearly mark them in differing markers etc. This may cost a little, but when the worst happens the Insurance company will want to know what measures you took to avoid services and this will be proof that you took reasonable precautions in the first instance. Underground, Utility Mapping, Ground Penetrating Radar, Detection As for anyone deciding to play around near Oil/Gas pipelines, don't be surprised when the Helicopter touches down in the field and promptly ceases all operations. You wouldn't even want the bill for putting a scratch on the outer wrap of one of these!

A bit of real bad luck there, looks like the classic shoddy installation with the mole and absolutely no chance unless you had dug trial holes around the stump first. For a gas service it should in theory be 450mm of cover with sand and marker tape, but unless it's open cut trench installation there's no way that can happen. You have done the correct thing by gaining as much evidence as you can, and in reality you should get away at around the £250 mark I'd expect after appealing. I have usually got away without any charge by doing a little legwork on site for them and actually digging in a new service to the correct depth after digging a few more trial holes to show how poor the installation currently is. Obviously easy with a mini digger on site to get a trench out to the correct depth and install the service properly, which can end up as a result all round. Most Gangs are usually decent lads who'll help you out if you're decent enough with them. I strongly suggest you consider getting some terms/conditions for customers to sign as this can easily be passed on to their Insurance if you are just hired to provide the service at an hour/day rate. Hard to argue if you gave an all inclusive price for the work, as it then in reality becomes your job and risk. You'll not find plastic pipes with a CAT, but in some instances the marker tape (if installed) has a piece of wire running along it that a signal generator can be attached to. This signal can then be traced by to CAT tool allowing the pipe route to be traced. A lot of people panic when they hit one, but just do the same as you would for a water service and kink it back on itself (sometimes a couple of kinks is required) before taping it up which usually stops the flow. Never be tempted by any bodge repairs and trust me I've seen plenty from water fittings to compressor hose with jubilee clips!

A Daewoo should be ideal and I do know the latest Doosan offerings can be tricked up to provide some serious power/flow to heads. They would be the first I looked into if I were ever to move up the weight range. Eddie.

You don't actually need any tickets to operate machinery on site, regardless of all this 'got to have a CPCS' that is banded about? The basic fact is you will need to be able to prove competence should any incident occur, and a very simple way of doing this is producing your CPCS card to show evidence of training/competence. However you can have evidence of training provided by any suitable organisation, as it will be them called to provide their credentials again should the worst happen. So a 'Mickey Mouse Training Ticket' would be perfectly adequate provided the said 'Mickey Mouse' is a genuine training provider who can prove their own competence to train. Many construction/plant hire companies go this cheaper route, using 'In House' training provided by a suitable training provider (most are usually CPCS trainers anyway) without all the hoops required for a full CPCS. However here's the big catch, many big companies pay levy to the CSCS scheme and insist on any operatives on their sites having the cards, as this is the scheme they recognise and no others. This can be given extra weight by their own Insurance companies insisting plant operators must carry a CPCS card before operating any plant on site. Hence it almost becoming the 'Law'? My advice would be to gain a basic CSCS card to prove evidence of basic safety training and keep well away from the CPCS scheme. Gain yourself the FMOC units and any site agent worthy of the name will see you have more than enough evidence to prove your competence should the need arise in a much better way than CPCS Tractor and Lorry Loader Crane units lumped together. CPCS scheme is a straightforward rip off scheme that moves the goalposts every couple of years to send everyone back around the system while they collect the money and keep themselves in jobs. Until someone comes up with a card that proves experience or actual ability, you never know if the plant operator you just hired is top of his game or just passed a couple of months ago after digging a few holes in a training ground. Eddie.

A lot depends on what you're looking to spend on a Mulching Head, and what type you're actually looking for? Fixed Tooth or Swinging Hammers? Having now had an FAE I'll not be looking elsewhere, I did look into the Dennis Cimaf heads but there's just no way the cost could be justified for my applications. If I was out to build a purpose made Excavator based Mulching Unit then I'd certainly have to look into the Cimaf head more, but for a cost/performance balance plus great service/backup then look at the FAE. You need to speak to Gregor McArthur at McArthur Forest Services, as he's the importer plus has great knowledge of what setups work best according to the carrier machine. If you're just dipping a toe in the water, Andrew at Excac One will supply you with an Osma unit and I've been delighted how my own has performed for the price. What base machine are you looking to fit a head to? Eddie.

We do a fair amount of this sort of work and have completely ditched burning now for various reasons unless very small scale. We have achieved great results with a Zago Ecogreen shredder, which is able to self load and also traverse a reasonable amount off road to access sites. Something to factor is the large twin axle units are approx 12 tonne and a fair lump which obviously can't be expected to be dragged off reasonably firm going. With a good operator the output is very impressive, plus they actually like a bit of soil contamination to help things through. The supplier we used has moved his on and I would probably go to the importer King Feeders direct if I needed to source one now. Perhaps worth a call to see if there is one running in your area as most will have been supplied by them even secondhand. As for Brambles, they are a Flails best friend and simply hoover up and dissolve? It never ceases to amaze me how little evidence is left of vast crops of Brambles after a pass with a flail head. I wish I was closer as I'd have been happy to assist, the new FAE head on my 8 tonne LGP Kubota is performing brilliantly so far. It would have coped pretty well in many of the conditions you describe. Eddie.

It looked a real tidy setup when we were down there Joy, and I'm pleased you made all the improvements as we were delighted to take your old towed site cabin off your hands. It's had a bit of a check over and getting new lights on tomorrow ready for it's first site outing, should be really welcome if this cold spell comes in. Eddie.

Woodmad is there any chance of a few more pics of the lovely Valtra/Kronos/Heizohack setup? An idea of cost for the crane would be very useful. I would love to upgrade to a Heizohack, but I did think that Kesla from Robert McTurk looks absolutely awesome. It did cross my mind that a reasonable size excavator could be carried over them rear axles with a few mods as they seem to sit well out back, and do away with the need for the crane for my applications. Lots of great kit coming out on this thread. Eddie.

Ramps! Sorry couldn't resist! It's part of the side mount Flail setup I use, which is still work in progress but coming together now. The same guy who made the 3 point linkage mast for the tracked dumper is doing the mods as we go along, and he made a lovely job of the chute which only had a splash of primer as we wanted it badly. Another bit of his work was some winch anchors for a 110 Defender?

N121 looks great and I really need to have one for a little while to compare? However the N111e has arrived and what a head scratcher this thing is? I've driven some things in my time but how on earth they get so much torque from this engine at so little revs is ridiculous? I took it for a blast around the Staffordshire Moorlands with low loader in tow and it simply astounded me at how it pulls on the hills at such low revs. I'd honestly have changed down ages before, but the Hi Shift on Auto will let it go down to 1500rpm before making a change. It indicates 43k on the flat at 2000rpm and as soon as you hit a decent hill you get this strange feeling? The revs don't go up but the power does? It's a bit like someone has just attached a winch rope to the front and it just keeps pulling. It's night and day over the N101, with the Hi Shift plus Cab Suspension really making a difference. The lighting package is worthy of much praise, with extra work lights and even lights on the steps and hitch! The cab is littered with the usual array of bewildering switches for all those Farming functions, but I seemed to manage to find what I needed easy enough. The Handbrake on the Shuttle lever seems to me a brilliant idea, and the tick over reduces to almost nothing when applied. For my applications being on 5" wider tyres all round with no real extra weight will be handy, and I've been told a Front Linkage is available. Still looking to hire for a few months yet and hoping to be able to have an N121 to compare in the near future, but I'm pretty certain I'll switch the N101 for this to be going on with. Eddie.

Let's just say that Wetlands don't come with charts and no depth finders on Tracked Dumpers! Hoping to have the N111e in the next couple of days to try out, so looking forward to it as it appears to have the Hi shift and cab suspension which will be nicer than the absolute base spec. I'd think the N121 is the way forward though and hopefully one will come in shortly for me to have for a while just to see the difference.

Well it's been a bit of a trying week and lets just say we've had a few incidents. However I was very kindly helped out by Mark Eaton with a low loader at absolutely no notice to get the 5 tonne machine off site and also ended up with a couple of hours in this beauty! It's an N142 Versu and what I can tell you it was simply awesome! A real pocket rocket and so quick/comfortable on the road, but a bit over the top for my needs! Nice to try though and if I were driving it day in day out it would certainly be the way I'd go. Hoping to get an N111 for a few days as one has just come in, and this may help decide if that's enough HP or I need to go to the N121. No comment on the other picture!

The nearest dealer is David Eaton Tractors and I did a deal with Mark Eaton having expressed an interest earlier in the year in a new N111 and then going into his yard to view an older unit just to get some projects completed. I decided the way forward was to hire this N101 as it's only got 1300 hrs on it and it's completely basic spec which is ideal for different drivers. The idea being to learn what works and what doesn't for me, plus will it find enough for itself to pay it's way. It's doing brilliantly so far and to be quite honest my wish list isn't that long of things I'd like on a prospective purchase. Hoping to keep it on for a few more months and then decide if to buy or not. If you've not tried one then I'd say there's certainly nothing to be lost in having a demo, and probably plenty of fuel to be saved! Eddie.

Just thought I'd post a pic of the Vatra N101 that I currently have on an extended hire to test the water a bit with them. I've been delighted with how it's been performing on a range of duties and it's proving to be very economical on fuel. I really need something with a few more HP, possibly a 121 as I can't really go bigger or heavier? But this hire period has been a great learning curve and I'm slowly forming a wish list for any prospective purchase. It's pictured today second time out with the Farmi 260hfc which it run's/handles with ease, and as we're clearing willow off a wetland it's got the duals all round. I've always been a true blue man, 10 series or TW but this Valtra has really got under my skin and I'd be sad to see it go back now. Eddie

No I still haven't managed to locate a fresh Zago source, but I'm certain for a decent size project King Feeders could be persuaded to hire a unit out if they have one in stock back to Nigel as obviously they know him and Matt who operates it? Since the purchase of my Farmi 260 chipper, we find most stuff goes through this now loaded by my 5 tonner with Engcon system and Selector Grab. I have a Valtra N101 on hire at present just to dip a toe in and the Valtra runs it very nicely with good economy. They can get through a fair bit of stuff and get places others can't with minimal impact. However for certain projects you can't beat the Zago and they thrive on having a bit of soil contamination in the material, as it seems to help things along nicely. If time allows you can keep it in and make some lovely material. Regarding the Hammel it was really an experiment as we could get the unit at a rate that was a fair bit cheaper than the Zago and they do have a brilliant reputation. It was Hooklift mounted and an immensely powerful bit of kit, however as you say the material size was an issue and it just continually blocked unless you could find a grab full of pallets that cleaned it out in an instant. I'm not a fan of anything High Speed Shredder wise, and the Zago has always been good to us. Eddie.

I corresponded with Denis Cimaf with regard to the unit they produce that would match to my Kubota 8 tonner. They claim fantastic performance and certainly know their stuff, but simple fact for me the price was nearly double the competition at the time. If it had been realistically close to the competition on price I would have been prepared to go over and try a unit to see if it lived up to the hype? It would have been the first into the UK at the time, but I assume some have landed here now? I'm having an FAE unit on demo in the next couple of weeks and hope to see a fair gain over my present Osma unit that does tend to get pushed beyond it's limits. Interesting Seppi comments and I wonder if you have any thoughts on the pro's/con's of auxiliary engine setups for such applications? Eddie.