alexm

Was this aimed at me or the original poster? I usually just use charcoal in a Webber BBQ, but occasionally use my chiminea with wood to cook on... it doesn't matter how big it is, the main concern is delivering heat to the food without tainting it (depending on fuel could be anything from horrible tasting smoke/soot/tar to poisonous dioxins/cyanides etc!) Generally speaking, by the time any wood has burned down to the glowing coals stage much of the nasty stuff is gone....

This ^^ So long as it's glowing coals with no billowing smoke you should be good.

On the subject of excess hi-vis and OTT health and safety at work we were discussing this yesterday (construction company) and the general consensus is that it is getting to the point where people are becoming blind to it for two reasons.... a) There is only so much blaze orange, dayglo yellow, beeping reversing alarms etc that the human brain can take and once it becomes the norm it gets tuned out and you don't see it or hear it. They are even fitting operatives with transponders now so it sounds an alarm or disables a machine if they get too near. b) If you have to fight health and safety measures in order to accomplish a job or you are working in discomfort then shortcuts get taken. A 100% safe guard on a machine is one which prevents you from getting anywhere near, let alone using the machine... More personal responsibility/common sense is the only cure, but how does one legislate for that?....

Like a box blade? Bit extreme for gravel?

Pic required. There is 'infested' - gravel with thinner long grass stems growing through (roundup, dies, withers and disappears in 2 months) and there is 'infested' - 50% soil 50% gravel, and turf encompassing all the gravel in which case above answers plus more gravel probably (hours spraying and spreading gravel )

Big fat disclaimer... a) I don't do this as a pro, just fell and process small amounts for my own consumption so a lot of this is generic and applies to all professions b) I only suggest some of these things because I probably didn't at some stage so that makes me a muppet not a hypocrite DO: Quite surprised that only one post so far mentions the word customer. They are the reason you are there... so meet or surpass their expectations, or if you can't then manage their expectations... or don't take the job. I nearly screeched to a halt in Wiltshire last year when I saw a quad following a tractor cutting hedges. He had a long reach hedge trimmer and was going around the tufty bits round the lamp posts the flail couldn't reach. I almost died. If it had been safe to stop I'd have shaken his hand! Work safe, then safe and efficient, then safe and efficient and faster in that order. Look after your tools. Clean them, sharpen them, kiss them, suck up the ridicule and then laugh when everyone else's blows up Be humble. People who consider themselves 'all learnt up' are dangerous. DON'T: Close your mind. No one knows everything. Take your people for granted - you sweated and ummed and aahhed before selecting them and employing them so trust your own judgement and let them contribute. Put off the inevitable - change the oil, sharpen the blades, do all your chains, fix the things in the maintenance book... keep a maintenance book!.... even if it costs half a day... it will pay back Take shortcuts, they never work out in the long run... if not on that occasion then on the next when you think you're good.

Wonder if the same thing happened on the way back up the step?

Thanks, having spoken to a few more people it seems that is exactly what this (official Stihl) part is meant to avoid. You are meant to file away the remains of the mangled plastic (if/when that happens) and attach the ali chain catcher to avoid having to buy a whole new cover Makes sense on a budget saw I suppose but considering the catchers are only like 4 quid it makes you wonder if it was worth it! Anyway... he has collected his saw (plus spare chain catcher ) and it's running nice and tight and sweet again so it's all good. cheers, Alex

Thanks that would certainly explain it I guess I assumed there should be something more substantial than that bit of plastic with an additional dedicated metal catcher like on my Husky. So presumably the metal catcher spare part is just for when your chain has come off and hacked apart the plastic? Oh well... Guess he's got a spare now.... Cheers Alex

For future reference I've just done one of these... the old pipe felt slightly tacky to the touch so had obviously degraded somewhat. The new pipe was a noticeably tighter fit and now the saw is completely leak free. Part no. is 1139 647 4000 and is only 4 quid. You can replace it by removing the 3 screws which hold the handle on the saw which lets it shift to one side just enough to get to the pipe so no need to strip the whole thing down.

I'm doing bit of an overhaul on a MS211 for a friend and as well as fixing a host of issues (burnt bar, leaking oil pipe, knackered sprocket, broken HT lead to name a few) I noticed it had no chain catcher. I ordered a chain catcher (genuine Stihl) for this saw, the part number appears to be correct and it fits perfectly (holes line up etc) but when it's attached the cover won't go on as it interferes with the chain catcher. Anyone have any ideas? Could there different variations of this saw which come with no chain catcher? Or are there different catchers available? Here's a picture which demonstrates the problem... thanks for any assistance in advance! Alex

How is your towing line configured? Is it possible to arrange it so the line passes over a hardwood block before passing through the fairlead so you've got something to chop against? Then a sharp hand axe would do the job.

Thanks, it's a 1955 Ferguson TEF20

Doing a bit a log splitting with her (yes I know, I've converted it to one hand only... they're my fingers, so sue me ) [ame] [/ame]

Cheers guys I'm not really planning to but you know how it is... most of the fun is in the tinkering and when it's finished, you start thinking 'now what?... something bigger?'

Spent hours reading this thread so I felt I ought to tack my little grey one onto the end. It's more of a play thing to be honest, but it does get used for the odd thing. I've rebuilt the back half entirely, new seals, bearings, brakes, reconditioned all the hydraulics etc. Engine rebuild is next, it runs fine but does blow a bit.