Gary Prentice

Assuming these are 2 strokes, drain them first - water will have filled the cylinders through the exhaust ports. Plugs might be okay once dry but I'd assume that the fuel is contaminated, water getting in through the breathers. Dropped a couple of saws in rivers and canals before and started them immediately after draining and refuelling without problems, but prolonged immersion might have other consequences.

No, it's not applicable to the application. I'm after some sort of specification along the lines of that for backfill in trenches - a soil type that isn't detrimental to the tree by reducing moisture percolation and gaseous exchange. The more I'm reading the more I'm seeing that everything is vague; "an inert material mixed with the soil gently tamped down" All I'm after is some sort of specification of soil that can be used to raise levels by a few inches without being detrimental but there doesn't appear to be much out there. Reluctantly I might have to result to specifying using the existing topsoil (from the site strip) mixed with a ratio of sharp sand to ensure permeability.

I've just got to ask. Why did you decide Antonio was a 'he' and not a 'she'?

I'm currently writing some method statements for a development site (one of those things that you do to tick the boxes for the planning department that then gets totally ignored once site activities start). Due to some changes in levels across the site it's looking likely that some within some RPAs some modifications will be necessary. Basically they might need to raise ground levels along the length of the garden (trees are at the bottom boundary), sloping up from the dwelling towards the trees at the higher levels. It's nothing significant that would require load-spreading or under-soil aeration - just a matter of inches. I can't find anything very specific to describe a soil type that wouldn't negatively impact on the trees. I've read a lot of Standards and other literature regarding back-fill for trenches within the RPA but they're a bit vague - soils that'll allow air and moisture to pass through and won't impede new root growth and that's about it. Can anyone point me towards anything that I can specify so that the builders don't just use whatevers to hand to sort out levels? Thanks in anticipation.

I can kinda imagine. I've spent time all over, from Edinburgh to Foula in the Shetlands, the inner and outer Hebrides etc, but Rannoch will always be my favourite area.

Hurley sticks?

You missed out. I did that twenty years ago, camping at Kinloch Rannoch and taking the train from Rannoch Station. My lad was only seven or eight and his question, after watching the train disappear into the distance, was pretty much the same as the film

I bet it has , but it's what was needed. Plenty of room now for the various layers to thrive.

Some of this mornings reports are quite illuminating, with the comments from people involved. In light of the individual involved and the reason he was in London, I wonder if some of the luvvies calling for prison reform are coming around to a new way of thinking?

It works thank you. The anorak in me enjoys stuff like this, appreciating the bigger picture - not just the trees.

Yes please

Getting audio but no video on my laptop. Works on i-phone though Chucking things at trees is a different approach, but if it works it works...

I can see what you're trying to establish but wouldn't rely on the results that you've got. I wouldn't guarantee that the cover box around the chipping chamber was ever parallel to the chassis to start with. And even then if it were, there's no corralation between that horizontal surface and the plane of the pulley. Can't you get a straight edge across the face of one pulley to line up against the other. The pulleys have to be in line, as PeteB said. If they're not at least parallel with one another I'd check the flywheel/cutting disc bearings as well as the engine positioning on the mounting plate. Something has to be out of whack somewhere.

A family member who who owns a small small boat/ship yard in Dumfries.

The resources of Arbtalk Thank for that Will Appreciate it.

Where are they based? A quick search brought up a number of hits.

It is. How long have you had that? Just a tip. Keep the feed hopper hinge well oiled, otherwise it tends to rust up.

Wait til your back's turned....

I've been asked to source a linear joystick swith for a RC stumpgrinder. One of these; Haven't tried Predator yet but wondered if anyone knows of a UK supplier, there's no UK distributer on Scanreco's website. The RC unit is quite common, seen all manner of Hiabs with them so there must be someone in this country. Scanreco linear joystick RC-400 mini 47600Remotecontrol Parts WWW.REMOTECONTROLPARTS.CO.UK Scanreco linear joystick RC-400 mini 47600, original spare part, suitable for: Scanreco RC-400 Mini

Lombardini engines and they're easy to get parts for. You can get a spanking new one from Italy in 2-3 days if needs must. Pretty easy to work on, once put a brand new engine into one in a clients back garden in an afternoon. I think the company to approach for chipper parts is called Gibsons, over near Nelson or Colne. They took them on after they stopped being 'Kwik-chip' from Fletcher Stewarts. I know of a 222 that was originally a trailed machine, that was then put onto tracks several years ago and is still in pretty regular use. Nothing wrong with them IMO EDIT; Hopefully someone will confirm that Gibsons are the go-to people. I can't find their details but on the couple of occasions that I've rung them they've been exceedingly helpful.

you might have to be a bit more specific. What do you need to know?

I'm not really following the 'bent bracket' bit, and only have experience of the 222 but... On the 222 the engine sits on a plate hinged on one side (parallel to the long axis of the chassis). To engage the cutting wheel you have to lower the plate, on a cam attached to the 'clutch lever' - which then tensions the belts between the cutting wheel and engine. Everything should be reasonably in line. If it's throwing belts it's either out of alignment or the belts are so worn that they have stretched. With the engine OFF you can get an idea of the belt tension - a rule of thumb on most belts is that you shouldn't be able to twist them much more than a half turn at the mid point between pulleys. If the belts are correctly tensioned, then look at alignment. It's a while since I worked on a 222 but IIRC there may be some adjustment between the engine and the hinged plate itself. I think that the plate hinges are fixed in position (non-adjustable) but the engine can be moved around a bit on the plate itself. I think that there may be some adjustment on the 'engagement cam' itself, but just can't remember at the moment. Let us know how you get on.

Oh it most certainly does. When you really start to read coroners reports and the legal cases that occur after a tree death there's always a conclusion of some sort. Luckily the law doesn't expect the average domestic tree owner to employ a qualified consultant to inspect their trees. But once the owners resources increase, then so do their legal obligations. I heard Tony Kirkams under-manager talk about the death at Kew a few years ago. Several hours of police interrogation about their tree inspection regimes, which he assured everyone wasn't a pleasant experience.

My understanding is that it will be looked at to identify the cause of failure. Where it goes from there depends on whether the failure was predictable and could have been prevented, if identified during some sort of regular inspection regime. Have a search for 'Common Sense Risk Management of Trees Guidance on Trees and Public Safety in the UK for Owners, Managers and Advisers', These publications provide a load of information and guidance aimed towards tree owners liabilities and responsibilities - all available as free PDFs.

You certainly can't guarantee how your day's going to end when you leave home in the morning, that's for sure. It is sad, and this family have been so unlucky (lottery odds numbers) The consequences of incidents like this is, once the media get on board portraying trees as 'killers in waiting,' the public respond with totally unwarranted tree removals because they are" too big" and therefore "dangerous". Using the HSEs 'Tolerability of risk triangle', trees are intrinsically safe and no more than is currently being done, countrywide' is necessary to reduce the 'risk of death they create' (landowner/highway inspections).