Shane

Eloquently put, Stubby, but spot on.

That's such a result. Once in every lifetime we get something like this. Enjoy the moment and offset it against some of those aggro days we all get. Brilliant!

Cheek - that's my advert! No - only kidding. If you ring him whats the betting he offers to meet in a layby on the A27 ?

If it can't be identified it can't be worth it. Imagine ordering spares for a 'dunnowotmake'. The covers and overall shapes make it look like a painted husky BUT never seen one with that little window bit on the side.

If you live nearby and can try it out. maybe its worth it. They are very good saws and £250 isn't a lot if its a good un (IF) If its been used for milling I would wonder about that. Try it out. Never buy off ebay without trying (always use distance - nearest first in search criteria)

This is fascinating stuff - seems like trees are to some degree cognitive - unlike the operative who carried on chipping while the boss took the truck to empty it (can't recall who's story it was but some things can never be forgotten)

I have a sprinkling of the usual gizmos - though couldn't compete with some of you kleptomaniacs or thunderbird owners. Wierdest acquisition... but highly recommended- I recently bought a new-ish peugeot expert (oh yes I did!) with a wheelchair ramp in the back. It's perfect for transporting the stump grinder - and my dad at weekends. It's even got a winch to pull the grindy in for me!!! They are cheaper than the standard vans - so I thought why not??? 03 reg, 25,000 miles, full MOT + tax, really clean (when I bought it) - £2K Not very macho but does the job perfectly.

I bet shes got included bark!

Youre right - I've worked for e few in the past that I don't ever want to meet again. I drove past a gap in Bognor where a big pine once stood - Nice removal! Near Silverstone Rd - was that the one you were telling me about. I remember it was a big old fella. PS that avatar cracks me up you must find those wolly undies quite itchy.

Pat, That stump grinder is nothing but trouble - ever thought about selling it!!!!! But seriously - this whole business is a nightmare, front gardens and streetwork are potential expense pits. Why do we do it?

Contact a rayco dealer and get the bearings from them. They come complete with the 'pillows' so you just replace the two blocks. Beware buying bespoke ones (they are a bit cheaper) but the offset can be a few mm different and result in massive loading on the bearings - or they wont even line up with the bolt holes. How do I know this - take a guess...

Be careful! From my experience you must seek professional legal advice. If you incur any costs, you can then take legal action to recover those costs. The problem is, even if the court find in your favour - if he (as a private individual) does not pay what the court orders it is very very difficult to get the money out of him, unless you can find out who employs him and have it deducted at source. It's a minefield. If he's as much of an ar$ehole as first impressions suggest he probably knows this. Must see legal whizz kid first.

I have a mixture of both. We all like all of them for various work. I'd buy either brand on recommendation of my local - and highly tusted - dealer. For the record we have Stihl MS200 (x2), 017, 260, 044, 076 Husky 353, 262, 365, 3120 (x2) They can all (even the 017) take abuse all day long and we can get any spares we need. If they are well maintained they never fail on the job. Never tried other brands - would take some persuading. Reliability and quality come at a price that I am willing to pay.

I dont think the farmers/wilderness dwellers need worry too much about marauding zombie gangs of townies and chavs attacking their livestock. Most of the morons have never been beyond the DSS building, the pub or the shop where they buy scratchcards. They would never find your place. I think it could be a good thing. Anyone with a really cunning survival plan would be wise to keep it to themselves.

Apart from species the stuff at the bottom of the truck gets compressed so will be more dense. Maybe someone with a bit of spare time could weigh out a chipped litre of each species. Multiply by 1000 and thats our weight per c/m (not compressed). As said above the moisture content will have an impact. If the problem is overloading you could measure the gap between rear tyres and body at different load levels, getting it weighed at each one then you will have a comprehensive way to monitor the loading.

From my experience of transits and what of heard from owners of newer Landies, dual mass flywheels were introduced because the technology is there rather than the need for them. When my transit DM flywheel blew up after 55k miles I was advised by all Ford experts to fit a single mass flywheel. I did and it is just as good (just my opinion). If dual mass is so good why do so many people offer single mass upgrades? They are th McCulloch of the transmission world

It looks like those hoses would benefit from being replaced sooner rather than later. Maybe while you've got it apart get a local hydro specialist to make up new ones.

Sorry, I don't see a difference between working for free and volunteering, unless you are referring to slavery - In which case I will not post again on this thread.

I suspect many have seen, or made, these. I used one yesterday while fixing my landrover out in the cold. Really good sourche of localised heat. Maybe make and sell a few of these for patio party heaters. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLhVW9eBYJw]DIY Swedish Torch - YouTube[/ame]

Its one of those disguised transmission masts.

Doesn't free enterprise allow people to charge what they want (or try to anyway) and that includes some who are willing to work for free. I don't think it can get more democratic/free/non-communist/non fascist than that. Still don't see a problem.

Tsuge canadensis pendula (Weeping Canadian Hemlock) May have been guessed before and I haven't noticed - apologies if so.

I don't see a problem. The local Authorities have limited budgets. As an ex employee I'd say they waste bugger all money on saff and pensions. In 1978 we had to pay 10p for coffee at the civic centre (god knows what it costs now). Fringe benefits did not exist then and and all the staff I keep in touch with say its even worse now. The budgets available depend on Govenrnment funding (from our taxes) and community charges (which everyone seems to hate paying). If my local authority wants to, and can get, volunteers to do stuff which keeps the cost down - Fine with me. The day they try to force me to do major tree work for free - on a day when I could be earning money elsewhere then I will complain! Till then, if people are willing to give up their time to make the environment just a bit better (with or without tripping hazards) good luck to them. This, to me, is a sign of civilisation rather than the 'grab it all for me' which seems to have evolved from the Thatcher years. Get out of your porsche and do a bit of voluntary work!

Thats really straight, it almost looks photoshopped! Don't take it personally I think you just got a fussy customer, maybe trying to get a bit of discount? Sometimes they move the goalposts, sometimes they put them into a van and drive off with them! Just keep doing work to that standard and it'll be fine. Let them call in the ACAS hedge patrol and see what they say - I recon its a good advert for your skills. I did one a few years back where the hedge went further from the house at one end. When it was finished it looked a bit higher at the 'closer' end and he said he wanted it to look straight from the house allowing for the distorted perspective!

Still got the extras attached - as they were when It was grabbed off the back of the truck at the traffic lights?????? NO not really, just joking.