Stereo

Went to Mole Valley the other day and they had this machine on the rack. End of line and a good price, all built up. We've got a big Stihl brushcutter which can take a trimmer head but it's a pain to have to keep changing when I want to just do a bit of the lawn or a chicken pen. So I had it. Nice light machine. Ideal. Was looking at cheapo ones but thought a Husky would at least avoid issues with exploding trimmer spools etc. which I've had with Draper and the like. Anyway, get it home and it runs like a pig. 50:1 as specified and not the fuel as I've run it through saws and the other cutter recently. Won't idle and seems to be straining to rev all the time. I did a session with it and it did seem to get a little faster to rev near the end but as soon as I released the throttle, it died. My immediate thought was that the guy who built it for display had missed something but in the manual it just says to whack on the head and the handle. The engine is fully built. Any ideas before I take it back? The tank was empty so I don't think it's been run before and surely it should come out of the factory ready to go? It's almost like it's running too rich or something. I know it's a bottom of the range machine but that's kind of what I wanted. Just a cheapo do whack the nettles around the edge of the lawn that was light and quiet but of decent quality.

I'll keep to my modern Husky thanks. Fuel line failed the other day so borrowed an 062 for a day of coppicing. Couldn't feel my hands by the end of it. It did the job but I wouldn't want to be using that every day. Maybe it was badly set up.

Thanks, most has been stacked since Oct. I've read somewhere that fresh chip is not good for chickens, especially some species, can't recall which now. I guess leaving in brash form and chipping to demand might be a better idea. Although then you are into disturbing hibernating beasties etc. Maybe need to knock up a simple plywood shelter with a dry floor.

Keep chickens and have a good few acres of woodland / coppice, mostly hardwoods like hazel, ash, alder etc. we've done a lot of coppicing this year and have heaps of brash everywhere. I'm looking at hiring a chipper for a weekend and drying it over summer for my winter chicken pens. What's the best way to do this? Just stack it in a field or does it need to be under cover? A bit short on buildings at the mo but could knock something basic up or tarps etc. Any thoughts or experience to pass on?

Alder as well in it? Something to do with the bleeding when you fell it. Can't quite recall the legend. I think with Elder you. Just have to apologise to the witch before you cut. I cleared half an acre last year in order to drag out some dead standing Elm. I apologised to every one (hopefully nobody was close by). Now I've got half an acre of elder coppice. Wondering what sort of crop of flowers and berries might be possible.

Thanks Teepeeat. That's kind of what I do as well. I suspect that will a full charge, the machine can't get all the heat into the boiler and the burn is certainly not twice as long as a half load. I think the main thing is to get a good hot burn going rather than a heap of smoldering damp logs just to make you feel better. I know when my Esse is working right as I open the door and the whole charge is glowing almost white hot, like the fires of hades. Then you know you are getting good combustion.

OK, lets not say embers, lets say a few 80% burnt logs to the point where new fuel will immediately catch without the need to open vents etc.

Not sure where to put this really so I put it here. It's something I have wondered about for years. Say I have a wood stove with a back boiler. We know that wood has stored energy which is released when burnt. Hopefully the stove sends as much as possible to the room / boiler and as little as possible up the chimney. So, I have 20kg of dry ash. Is it better to get a nice fire going in the base of the stove and chuck a log on every now and again? Or is it better to fully load the thing and burn down to embers and then start again? Which method gets more heat to the water / air? The time seems to be the same. If I half load my Esse it takes more or less the same time to combust all the fuel as if I fully load it. If I do 2 half loads, will I send more or less heat to the water than 1 full load? I understand that there are many variables but generally, anyone clued up on this stuff?

15 for me. Good intentions...........

If you know anyone who keeps hens on a small scale they might be glad of it for litter in the houses.

Make sure they don't use shitty link.

Unbelievable. Bless all those families. I hope no kids.

Yeah, I drool over the XP saws. One day. 560 looks like what I need but money.... If I can't get the 345e to go I might nip up to Mole Valley and pick up a 171 12" as I have a stack of hazel coppice to do in Jan / Feb. Then eBay it in march. Decent little saw for that sort of work except fuel tank is too small.

I won't tell them you said that, they've only just started laying again. They're already asking when their brothers are coming back from their 'holiday'. Anyone in Totnes area with some well seasoned chip they need rid of? Devoid of oak or aromatics such as walnut / cedar too? For various reasons I can't take any until new year and maybe not then if things don't pan out as planned. Access is down a narrow lane (OK for 7.5 ton truck / tractor).

It's a 345e which does have a primer. Lovely mid range saw and I missed it today. Borrowed an 062 to log up some lengths of DED elm and it was OK but not a patch on my 345 with a 13" Pro Lite bar. Probably can't get near Exeter until the new year so will have to try and figure it out myself.

Haven't got time to have a serious look over the weekend but just had a quick look this morning and noticed that the thumb primer is doing nothing. There is no fuel coming through to the clear hose on top of the carb when you pump it. I took the tank filter off and tried it with just the end of the pipe dunked in clean fuel and nothing is being pulled up. I can't see where the primer fits into the system at the mo but does that indicate anything? It was working OK before. I might have to resort to a tech (south Devon) but I'm pretty familiar with working on 4 stoke motors so would like to get an understanding of how these things work.

Cheers, I'll put it on the bench and have a go.

Hi Spud, I changed the tank filter and cleaned the air filter to no avail. Still ran like a dog but now won't start at all. Maybe flooded. Could you tell me how I get to the carb filter? Do I need to take it out as the manual seems to suggest it's underneath? Thanks.

Never heard that about oak leaves. We've got chickens running under oak trees and never had an issue. I suspect it's when you pen them in tight. Mine have big pens to run in so there is always 10m2 per bird but it's just around the house they turn to mud.

Yeah, scanning around the hire prices and second hand values, it seems that is the way. Or am I better or burning the tops and finding a local tree firm who want to dump a few tons in our field for free?

A bit of advice please. I have a 5 acre wood as well as hedges so plenty of firewood. I also keep a lot of chickens and this time of year they up paddling in mud which is not ideal. We also burn up a lot of brash every year from coppicing / hedging / logging etc. So I'm thinking why not chip the tops and put them in the chicken pens. Questions are 1. What's the best way to store lots of chip? A pile outside or does it need to be in a barn / poly tunnel? Would I be better chipping nearer to the time I want it? Secondly, given the amount of use, am I better to hire in a chipper for a weekend every year or can you get something decent for a grand or so that will cope with this sort of work load without too many problems?

I think the main thing is not to put in a stinky old damp log and close it down just so you have embers in the morning. I don't worry about it so much now. Just load it up with ash or elm and leave it on the standard setting. Plenty of embers after 12 hours if you have a sensible bed of ash in there.

That's probably it mate. I just need to get used to dealing with real dreams again. I know I used to dream years ago but can't really recall the feeling. With the booze you just climb into bed and then wake up feeling a bit rough and negative.

Thanks all again. Dreams are a little better these days although had an awful night last night. Up late tonight but not wasted so here goes ......

Hobby is tree stuff to be honest. I'm a farmer of sorts by trade. I like being in the woods though, coppicing hazel and stuff. It. Does help to let it out and here is a good place. You wouldn't get the same self awareness on a farming forum. But I guess you guys have to be right in body and mind or you can pay a big price. All that said I watched our war about the lads in afghan last night and wondered what the hell I am bitching about.