Dalynn

I've just been offered a pair of sad looking 088's that start ok and seem to run fine, together with an alaskan Mill, there are two long bars I,m guesing at abot 5Ft one of wich is almost new and one almost new chain. There is also the oiler and other bits and pieces which will alow the mill to run with single power head. (If I buy a new Bar and chain to suit). The questions I have are is there anything in particular I should be checking out on the power heads. They've been run on veggie oil and everything is gummed up with it. I know its impossible to do without seeing the machines but, how much of my hard earned cash do you think I should be willing to part with for the package

Thanks everyone for taking time to comment. No one is owning upto it but I think we may have a tinkerer whos been trying to screw the last little bit out of them. Can anyone recomend a good technician in or around South Wales. and what sort of price you would expect to pay to get these two sorted.

Hi All I;ve got problems with two of my 346xps. One is about 3years old and about three months ago started to become difficult to start and started cutting out when idling. Took it to local dealer who said piston and barrel needed replacing Charged me £300 for doing it. The second one is just over a year old and within a week of the other one developed exactly the same fault. Another £300 and I had them both back in service That was back on November. Both have done less work than usual since then due to the bad weather. Last week one developed exactly the same symptoms as before and today the second one siezed solid. If freed off when it cooled but is now showing the same symptoms Ie hard to start and cutting out. We are always meticulous with oil mixes and have run them at 120ml of sthil oil per 5 litre rather than 100ml since the last problems. Filters are cleaned daily, Plugs changed about once a month. Is it just our bad luck or is there a problem with 346's. Should I be looking at bad techniques from the lads. Don't want to waste another £600 at the dealers so I'm looking at swapping to MS261's Any comments or suggestions would be welcome.

Hi Could you tell me who you managed to get the grant from? We run a comunity woodland in Cwmbran have managed to get Grants to set up a social enterprise to cover wages etc but are struggling to get capital grants for equipment.

Stephen Thanks for your well thought out response I run my own small fabrication and Engineering business so fully agree with how difficult todays climate is. We have already had talks with two local contractors who are keen to give up their own business and take the Managers role that we are hoping to create.

The £50 k is for equipment. wages to a maximum of £80k are a seperate issue. The whole idea of the grant is to create a business which eventually will create local employment in an area of high unemployment and at the same time financial independance to the charity . In the last four years we have spent over £12K on contractor felling and horse extraction. plus £30K on fencing and track maintainance.This has been funded by grants from various sources. We don't want to continue to rely on grants for future works. As for the derogatory comment about community woodlands try asking the 4000 vistors per month that we are now getting wether the work that has been done has been worthwhile. In four years We have taken what was 200 acres of unmanaged heavily vandalised woodland cleared and created tracks and footpaths securly fenced the entire woodland in order to keep out illegal motorcyclistsetc. whilst at the same time Planted over 6000 broadleafs. But enough of the politics of it Can I go back to the original question and ask for any suggetions of makes and models of equipmet?

Thanks to all those that have replied so quickly To answer some of the questions Yes we are fully aware of the H&s aspects of what we are undertaking and will be employing an experienced manager and have a series of training courses being organised to bring additionsl part time staff and volunteers to acceptable levels of proficiency. Our grant will cover his wages for first two years. The plans are to start off working in our own woodland but then to offer services to other community woodlands throughout South wales. Our own woodland has access problems and we are unable to sell timber in conventional loads. so we plan initially to start with firewood but as and when we get any suitable timber for milling we have a local contactractor who will come and mill on site.

Hi, new to this forum so please excuse any irregularities. We are in the process of setting up a charitable business enterprise based in our 200 acre community woodland. The initial phases of the business will involve the felling, extraction (from a steeply sloping site) and processing into firewood of 12-15" Larch thinnings and some 24-30" Beech. Can any of you far more experienced guys help uswith advise on best systems and to compile our wish list of Equipment? It looks like we will have up to £50k to spend over a two year period. We already have a 20hp compact tractor with loader, PTO but no rear hydraulics, 2 ton mini digger with thumb. Cushman turf truckster with PTO and Hydraulic take off. Initial thoughts are Alstor Mini forwarder, Circular saw firewood processor 12- 14"......which make and model? 15 ton splitter etc etc.