Robinson

10 minutes ago, GA Groundcare said:

It depends on what engine stock chipper manufactures are / were carrying. If you had physical engine stock you could continue to build up until mid this year. But now with the virus that has been extended for 12 more months. But the extension is only any good if you already have engines sat in the factory. GreenMech have plenty of 45hp turbo diesel lumps left (they bought a lot of engines) so you can buy the Evo 165 with the bigger 45hp lump or the Arborist 200 with the same engine.

 

Forst do not buy their engines directly from Kubota whereas GreenMech and TimberWolf do. Forst buy from Mitchell, an engine dealer,  calling on engines when they need them. They are unable to buy in any more tier 3a engine stock to continue building chippers with "old school" engines. So their options are now all tier5. 25hp diesel, petrol or over 25hp with clean burn treatment.

 

From what I have read recently Forst are looking to go to Doosan engines? 

 

TimberWolf are out of diesel engine stock I understand, Ben Burgess put a massive order into TimberWolf and bought all their TW230 34hp machines!! Other TW dealers are now trying to buy from them...

 

Tonnage per hour is nothing to get hung up on. It is unregulated testing and obviously massively depends on wetness of material. 

OK makes sense thanks - when i called into Forst to pick up some bits a few months back they had a huge stack of engines there- apparently they were mostly 45hp, but i guess they must have run out now. they do seem to shift a lot of machines so it wouldn't be surprising. 

Doosan sounds interesting - not heard of it in a chipper before but there is a lot of it in construction machinery so can't be too bad. think i would rather that than an 8" petrol. i'll try and get a demo of one and let you all know what i think.

just can't see a 24hp Timber wolf being much cop when i'm used to 45hp in my st8's

10 hours ago, Essex said:

 

I’ve used forst chippers in the passed but never owned one. They sound like a nightmare from what everyone on here has said.
I’ve got a Jensen myself. It’s been faultless apart from when it ate a pair of fencing pliers. Changed the blades and anvil and carried on using it. I find them well built. I’d buy another one when the time comes

 

I've got 3 Forst ST8's already and they are best 8" in my opinion hands down. had Jensen previously and must say i had more problems with jensen than i have Forst. Jensen and Forst both came through Redwoods which are pretty good tbf with parts and aftercare. Just wish i had bought another of the older ST8's with the old 45hp. good chippers

I'm struggling to get my head around this - Forst say they are going DPF diesel so i look at Timberwolf and they don't even sell a diesel 8" any more! Their 6" which is the 230 has gone from 35hp to 24hp but their marketing says 'more power'! The stats on their website says that the 24hp produces 4 tonne per hour when the 35hp did 5 tonnes per hour so it must be a lot slower!

wish i'd got another of the 45hp a few months back now

1 hour ago, Mick Dempsey said:

That’s true Pete, every make does have its detractors, just by sheer volume of units it’s inevitable.

 

I think the difference is the amount of complaints and importantly the people that are making them. Not just inexperienced young peeps new in the industry for whom it’s “branch goes in, chip comes out and what happens between is a mystery” but more experienced guys like me who have used many different brands are seeing the failures again and again.

 

I wish them well (Forst) on a personal level they’ve been top notch, and I hope they iron it all out, but my ST8 has been a nightmare that endures to this day (4 years later) the worst machine I have ever owned including chippers, tractors, diggers, grinders...

 

I’m lucky in that I could afford to buy another machine and keep working, but if I was 25 with a couple of sprogs and a new mortgage a machine like mine could finish the business.
 

Got to say i've got 3 ST8's and they have been nothing short of excellent for me, they are however all 2017/2018 machines and i know the early ones had some issues so if yours is 4 year old it's probably not the best comparison for machines being built today. Best 8" chipper on the market IMO, ok i've had a couple of little niggles but nothing which wasn't sorted quickly. Forst customer service is spot on. I've also noticed some people seem to talk Forst down but with the amount you see on the road i think they must be doing something right!

Many Canadian Arbs on here? i'm planning a trip across Canada and would be good to meet up with some guys in the arb game

Cheers

that track machine is some awesome bit of kit! how about something a bit smaller on that system, like a 75xp?

Anyone know where i can hire a Bandit chipper? either 6" or 8"?

Thanks

Tim

there is only one sensible option here if you stop and think about it properly.. if you vote labour you basically vote for a labour & snp coalition cos they won't get a majority, with Milliband as a prime minister and with the threat of breaking up the UK... i'd rather let a primary child run the country..

you might be tempted by some of ukips polices but they are never going to get a majority so you are basically helping the labour cause if you vote ukip by taking votes from the Tories...

be sensible... Tories are the only party who will be ANY good for getting this country we love out of the s*#t labour put us in, and although not perfect by a long way they have done this country good.

don't waste your vote by voting for anyone else... we need a strong country and if we stick at it we'll get there...

Translation anyone?!

Jon ran after the boss of a man driving a green van and asked him what he was doing. the boss said thanks Jon

As PeteB said... don't do anything until you have checked the serial number, could be stolen...

Great - thanks for the responses, i'll give them a go!

Hello all - i'm new to this forum and relatively new to the industry.

what are the recommendations from you guys with experience for the best gear to wear for keeping warm in the winter yet still being able to move and access your harness etc?

I'm thinking of trying base layers but don't really have any experience if they are effective or not. any recommendations?

Thanks