Ryan

Using an MS240 on saturday, I had set saw down to move some brash when I heard a rattle from engine just for a second then the saw stopped. I tried to pull the started cord gently but saw would not turn over. On inspection the top section of the piston was broken along with the top ring just opposite the exhaust port. Looking closely at the piston after removal, the top compression ring has turned past the retaining post in the groove right round so that the gap in the ring was opposite the exhaust port, where it obviously has caught the port and as a result broke the piston and ring. I believe the pin which prevents the ring from turning in the groove has worked loose and worn both pin and the hole it locates in enough to let the ring turn. This saw was rebuilt 3 months ago including bearings seals gaskets and a GOLF piston kit. Was this a faulty piston or did I do something wrong. Locating pins were at the intake side and rings were gapped in the bore before fitting. It was in the original cylinder which was sanded clean to remove previous alloy transfer marks. Cylinder looks fine still apart from a small burr on the exhaust port obviously damaged when the ring broke. Photos

A white haired, elderly friend who was tired at the end of a hard day gathering spuds. "When there's snow on the roof there's no heat in the house."

I like it! Im in 12000 Norway spruce at the minute and not a ticket in sight. A bit different though as Im not working for anybody.

I can only imagine how light and handy that rod would be to fish with. It would be no good on my local river though as we catch a lot of salmon when trout fishing even with dry flies. Looks great though!

Just a couple of pics of my logging help, an 1984 885xl International. Pictured with Quicke 560 loader with my homemade log grab and skidding arm on the rear.

My 048 wasnt oiling recently and after stripping oil pump and cleaning I discovered it was a crack in the pipe whis was drawing air and letting the oil fall back into the tank. Although I see you already had the pipe out. Mine had been hardened by the exhaust and cracked where it bends to the pump.

Further to my post a couple of weeks ago regarding your pressure/vacuum testing equipment I recently bought a kit similar to the ones suggested. A cheaper version by Neilsen. This is it HAND HELD VACUUM / PRESSURE TEST PUMP & BRAKE / DIESEL BLEEDER KIT | eBay. Anyway it, came in the post yesterday and I hooked it up to the MS200 I recently bought. I made a blanking plate for the exhaust and bunged the inlet manifold. I started to apply pressure but couldnt get the gauge past .5 bar and as soon as I stopped pumping it dropped instantly. A few more pumps and some soapy water an the leak was revealed where the impulse hose plugs onto the crankcase nipple. I fitted a new hose and pressurized the engine up to 1.5 bar. I left it for 20 mins and it on my return it was still over 1.3. Better still I forgot to take the gauage off and when it noticed it on the bench today it still has .5 bar in it. Hopefully thats that sorted. Just waiting on some av mounts.

Boat is free. A good friend of mine has a couple of boats he hires out but he never charges me. I think its about £40 a day to hire a boat and engine. A ghillie I have no idea about but probably £60-80 a day. I havnt missed a year fishing the mayfly on Lough Erne in my 25 years of angling. I always kept my own boat up until recently but as I really only used it once a year for the 7-10 days I sold it. Its a great holiday if the weather plays ball but dont expect a lot of fish. 10 for the week would be average but they usually range from 2-4lb.

Im off at the end of next week for my annual week mayfly fishing on Lough Erne in County Fermanagh. I always camp on an island for the duration of my stay. Its nice and peaceful and nobody to touch your gear when your out in the boat. Nearly all dryfly fishing for wild trout. Heres a couple of pics from last year. Thes two caught in almost complete darkness on the dry fly. Exciting!! A two and a five pounder

Read a little of this description, google translate didnt do a great job. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Husqvarna-Chainsaw-365-66-cc-3000-W-8000-rpm-Gasoline-Engine-Chain-saw-/261210884319?pt=UK_Diagnostic_Tools_Equipment&hash=item3cd161c8df

Is this it or another one?Forestry Timber Winch Logging Tractor Tree Surgery Skidder Chainsaw | eBay

If you look at the first photo you will see a couple of the clips on the hooks have been broken allready, though they work fine without the clips. Find the ropes handy to work with and would like to carry on using them if I got better fittings and got the ends crimped as opposed to grips.

Cheers guys. I agree chains would probably be much better, but I got the rope for free and half a dozen hooks and some rope grips were only a few quid so I thought I give it a go. The rope is 8mm so should be capable in theory of lifting a fair weight and none of my trees are too big. I thought the pressure on the top link might be too much but after some inspection noticed the pressure is taken of the top link by a heavy cast block on the back end and provided it is not shock loaded should be ok. Anyway I tried it out today for a few hours. Skidded about 90 trees into the field, then cut a 16ft length from the butt of each. I then transported these using the grab and loader to the roadside for collection. Most are 18 to 25ft long of usable firewood so I'll take the short top sections home in a trailer behind the landrover. The 16ft lenghts I will get collected by artic lorry. Heres a couple of photos of the skidding. (I'll get some of the grab working next day) Chokers set Butts lifted And the view from the cab. Small load this time. Chokers wouldn't reach any more

Very nice, make my spruce trees look like tooth picks.

Im heading off tomorrow with my new attachments to start skidding out the 200 or so trees I have felled and stripped in the last couple of weekends. I made an attachment for the 3 point linkage to lift the butts clear of the ground for skidding and then a grab for the front loader of the tractor to aid with stacking the logs at the roadside for collection. Heres what I came up with This is the skidding arm lowered for connecting logs. And lifted up the butts will clear the ground This is the grab. The rams a little short reducing the travel but im on the look out for a longer one or two. And closed Another view

http://www.keepandshare.com/doc/2061857/026-pl-pdf-july-12-2010-12-25-pm-555k?da=y This should be the IPL, I have no manuals though.

Yes thats the type of thing, still chinese and still poor quality but will be repaired/replaced for free for the first year and then replaced anytime after that for £20 for up to 3 years. I had one years ago got 2 replacements in the 3 years and just before the warranty ran out I allowed I would get a new one but when I went in they had none so gave me a full refund of the original purchase price. Unbelievable.

I take it the zama carbs on these ms200's give plenty of trouble. I cannot find a crankcase leak on mine but it did seem like it was running lean. High idle then dying out.

If you are really tight for cash and want some peace of mind go to your local Argos store and buy one of their petrol saws usually under £100, then take out their 3 year warranty. Use it till it breaks down (which it will) then go back and get another for free under the warranty take out the insurance again and off you go. On the other hand if you have a little more cash buy a quality used stihl or husqvarna and never look back.

Thanks for the pressure test kit info. I'll get myself one of those.

Anybody wish to show the kit they use for crankcase leak testing. Is it homemade or bought? I bought an ms200 this morning and I know its drawing in air but just not sure where. Will probably replace all obvious bits anyway but would just like to know for again.

Thanks guys thats a start anyhow. I dont really have the need of a harvester and I am happy enough working at it myself but I may not be able to get it out fast enough for the landowners plans. If it was taking £7 per cubic meter to harvest alone plus £5 to buy the standing timber plus the cost of skidding its going to cost the guts of £700 a load. I would just add another couple of hundred and buy a few loads of the forestry and no hassle at all.

Anyone any recommendations for a harvesting company in NI. I dont know any. What could I expect to pay per day for a harvesting only, just a rough estimate?

Im not disputing the environmental or health negatives as thats pretty obvious. But the fact that someone says it bad for your guidebar??

Does anyone know if its possible to hire a harvesting head suitable for a 6ton track digger here in NI. If thats not suitable/possible is there anyone that hires timber harvesters ie a track digger with head. I have a machine operator available to drive it. Its not a big job, about 10000 norway spruce only 18-20 years old. They range from 6-12" and most contain 20-25ft of firewood. Two of us felled and stripped 100 of them today but were wondering would a harvester be cost effective. I dont have much money!!