Big Ben
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Everything posted by Big Ben
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They did a good job of fixing me up, hats off to the French health care system. Have been reliably informed that had I been in the UK, then it would be very likely I wouldn't have made it. Still life in me yet, can pull myself up onto the tractor and digger, so there's always plenty to do.
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Looks like I haven't posted on here since 2014! Keep getting emails from topics that I had followed and thought I would just pop in and say Hi. Quite a bit has happened in the last seven years. Had my Aorta replaced during emergency surgery, eight months in Hospital and left in a wheelchair. Still in it now! But on the plus side they kept me alive for a bit longer, so I can still annoy the Mrs. For some strange and bizarre reason we sold our old Charentaise long house, with a stair lift and downstairs bathroom (ideal for the disabled) and moved out into the countryside a bit more with about five acres and some woodland. Closed the business down after coming out of Hospital and sold off most of the gear we had. Truck, trailer, john deere tractor, chipper and some other tools all gone. Now concentrating on becoming more self sufficient, using our land to the best. Kept my chainsaws and still use them from time to time. It is a bit tricky when your sat down.
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This should be them.
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I'll put them on again when I can get back on the computer, having a big old storm at the moment and power is on and off.
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Not been on for a while, usual excuse of too busy. Getting home eight or nine at night. Just thought I'd pop these photos on, taken in May just up the road from me. Looks like there were three rows at one point but the third row has been cut down. You see trees like this all over France, this lot go past the cemetry and lead up to the old Abbey.
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Just to throw another make in, I bought one of these BC 430 T (Euro 2) - Oleo-Mac - catalogue de produits Fantastic bit of kit and I get great service from my local dealer. Never really heard of Oleo mac before but out here they are quite popular. Think it cost about €560 so about €300 cheaper than the stihl or Husky equivalent.
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The guy I use for climbing is on €300 a day. He brings his own gear and his own lunch.
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Love the way that a lot of ex pats want something for nothing. I always get the "we are on a tight budget". Prefer working for the French.
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I now drive to work in a bit of comfort and can for once get the chipper to the job. Maybe not the best arb truck but it'll do for me. Always heard of horror stories with the P38's but now I have one they are pretty simple to sort out. Its now off the road as I have pulled off the front hub and now waiting for a new bearing.
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I'm expecting some flack from what I am about to write. I have just bought a P38 Range Rover and I'm going to use it for work! Got it cheap with two years CT(french mot which lasts for two years) all known P38 faults have been factory fixed and I think its the only one I have been in where everything works. All my tools fit in the back and it doesn't get stuck on grass like the transit did. Its a little bit juicy even though its diesel but think I got spoilt with the transit which seemed to run on fresh air.
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will look at a clean first then. thanks.
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Good thread, can see me coming here often. I picked up a husqvarna M53s pro for £80. Gave it a little clean up, sharpened the blade and it does a good job. Front wheel drive felt weird for a start. Its got the Honda GCV engine and also suffers from hunting. If I push the throttle lever all the way forward to the choke position it runs fine but pull it back to where it should be fast and it is all up and down. Is it likely to be the carb?
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Nothing don't have a telly.
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Is there any reason single cylinder engines arnt fitted on chippers?
Big Ben replied to Big T's topic in Large equipment
That might be a vertical shaft motor if its off a mower. I'm guessing but he might need a horizontal shaft. -
Is there any reason single cylinder engines arnt fitted on chippers?
Big Ben replied to Big T's topic in Large equipment
Supposed to take 4inches, I have tried it and to be fair it did chip it. But I wouldn't want to feed 4inch stuff in it all day. Its perfect for me, and to be honest most of my customers want to keep any burning sized wood for their log burners. There are a couple of engine options for my chipper going by the website, mine being the smallest. -
Is there any reason single cylinder engines arnt fitted on chippers?
Big Ben replied to Big T's topic in Large equipment
Certainly does, and it flys out pretty well too. -
Is there any reason single cylinder engines arnt fitted on chippers?
Big Ben replied to Big T's topic in Large equipment
My Wallenstein chipper only has one cylinder. Honda 13hp. Does the job, if I get carried away and put some big stuff in it slows up a bit but not had any problems with it yet. -
Certainly is France, they were pruning the vines when I took that shot. Noticed they weren't doing it today though. And its still raining out there.
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Photo was on the way to work yesterday, a good few hours of lovely sunshine. However today it has been pouring with rain all day, in the end gave up as even dragging brash to the chipper was hard work in the wet mud.
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Theres lots of em about.
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Can't work without a siret, you'll get thrown in the Bastille.
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Know just what you mean, but for free advertising its ok, and I did pick up my van off there for €300.
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You could try the Expat forum Anglo info they normally have a pretty good directory of everything. Just pop in the area you are looking for and then use the business directory. The one for my area has loads listed(even a banned member)
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I am going to give this a go. Bread, cheese and potatoes are my biggest downfall and will be hard to give up. But the Christmas break has done me no favours at all and I felt like crap the other day after I had no more Christmas sweets left. Must have been the three weeks of eating rubbish and then coming off it. Going to changeover to this way of eating and see what happens, need to shift some weight but more so the bloated feeling and lack of energy.
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Yes I love it in the Limousin, where the old dears are is pretty remote with no neighbours and a 25km drive to any decent shops. So you have to plan a bit more. I lived up there for two years and although I enjoyed the peace and quiet for a while it did get pretty lonely up there. Where I am now we can walk into town visit the bars and then walk home. I think people soon realise when they move here that you do have to travel longer distances than what you would normally be used to. Quality of life is what its all about though, and the people are very friendly if you try a bit with the lingo. I have got used to saying morning to everyone I see and shaking hands, something which I think has been lost in the UK. And plenty of expats out here means more work for me, as they all seem to buy lots of land and can't cope with it.
