marne

I've had a two cylinder diesel killing several batteries due to vibrations within one year. Switched to a marine style battery which was labeled as vibration resistant, problem solved. To answer the initial question: Yes vibrations can kill a battery.

When doing arb stuff, you very likely will have more filters and oils to change than just a truck offers. So at least fuel, oil and air filtration should be on your agenda. I'm doing this since 2 decades and never heard a quote for basic stuff since then. To be honest, I'm shocked about these prices. The world went crazy meanwhile. The main reason I started doing it my own was the hassle around it, not the money which was reasonable at this time, like 40 for an oil service. I hated making an appointment which fits both partys, bringing the car to them, asking someone to pick me up and bring me home, having that vehicle not for one or two days and finally finding someone, who was able to bring me back to the garage during their opening hours. In the end, 2 hours where gone easily, no car, someone you due a beer for driving (ok, beer with friends is good) and yes, for that trouble you have to pay in addition. Even if they sometimes had a spare car for me, I couldn't use it like my own fully equipped vehicle, or it just was not able to tow. Hassle. So make up your workshop, visit youtube and save all the trouble. 🍻

If they where available new today, I think you would face something like 30k. Ask your Ditch Witch dealer for the current price of a new R300, then you'll understand. DW, I think make the most rugged minis out there and you got a serious steal Sir. The five litres per hour appear when running something like a tiller wot, regular loader work is more like 2-3. Congrats!

I use a drillcone from time to time but always feel, that the few logs are not worth the expensive machine hours of the mini. This is the only reasonable use I see if you have a yard you can mess up: https://youtu.be/KVffHmpSPOs?t=395

If the blec stone rake is what other know as power box rake or harley rake you will do fine. Make sure it's halfway dry. You will get a fabulous seedbed, they shine on mini loaders. Done it countless times with excellent results. They are outstanding at levelling but half an acre will take 1-2 days on a mini. If you only want to loosen 1 inch in 1 pass you're gonna be fast. A walk behind may work for loosening the soil but bad for levelling an area that size. Only use a stone burier if there a lot of stones and debris on top, other wise, like dumper stated, avoid it. Levelling afterwards is plain pain. Anyway, they have their place. Don't go too deep with a harley rake in your case, the first inch is good to go.

Honest and professional, thank you very much. The only way to defuse risks. And as you described the situation, it very likely could have happen to me and many others I guess, especially the added up stress and unexpected topics on jobsite. I know this very well, especially the blown over stein guards, which I still rate high, heavy and solid. Anyway, your baby has a Dad, the only thing that counts. Have you any kind of accident insurance jumping in?

It takes my breath read this horrific story and glad to hear you survived and they where able to tinker your leg in some way, at least you can keep it and maybe some hope: Many year ago, my leg was smashed and the doctors told me I could be happy I can keep it but it will be disfunctional my whole life. The good news, they where wrong and it recovered in over 10 years to about 90% of it's previous state. I hope the same for you, give it time and courage. But like in aviatics, talking about possible problems and errors is the safest way to handle danger. For sure shutting off the wheel is most important and honestly so many thanks for bringing it back on top, like you, I'm guilty a thousand times but never again. Even shutting off may not be enough, as there for example was a case in which the switch from an electric clutch went (wet) bad and in idle cough the operator, who was walking backwards in the wheel, that was intended to be off. Another grinder once said: On velociraptors and stump grinders, never turn your back. As English is not my native language, I hope you don't get me wrong, I ask in full respect. But can you guess or reconstruct what actually happened in the seconds before you got in touch with the wheel? I hope your recovery will go on fast and you can slide back to everyday life soon. Enjoy the time with your baby you have now even with pain, but not daily chasing money. Your still here and those days and years with your child are unique in life, you have them exactly once and they never come back.

I couldn't agree more with the previous posts and would like to add: It's so damn satisfying do something in the real world and to finally be free. Don't do it for money. Do it for your soul. It's possible to have a killer income but more likely you'll just survive on a solid base. I don't regret my choice over 10 year ago. No way I ever want to push mice again across the board all day.

I'll take my honda anytime over the km130. 35ccm is the one to go. Love it.

I use their (Dolmar) backback blower since 2017 and it's been excellent. The fuel lines broke both but otherwise no complaints. Super easy to start, gobs of power, sips fuel, literally no smelly fumes. The engine sound is much more pleasent, not screaming. No oil consumption between annual changes. If it breaks down today I would buy another in a heartbeat. Oh one downside: left it 2 weeks lying on the wrong side. Oil flooded the air filter, that was a mess. Could imagine that smaller units may suffer from this if not used weekly and just been thrown around.

Stephen, could you please name the attachment on the third pic? Never seen it before. Many thanks Marne

How many hours has this engine on the clock?

22mpg, around 11L/100km. When cruising in summer maybe 26mpg around 9L/100km. Heavy towing with tarp on huge trailer like 17L/100km. Tipping trailer with mesh guards and some Chips are like 13L/100km.

Shoguns are reliable highmilers. The only thing you got to get used to is their never ending drinking problem. In the end it's just 1 or 2 litres more than the competition, for that you trade a low entry price and in general very little repairs, which save on the other hand. It took me 3 years to finally fall in love with mine, wanted to sell it several times. But once I finally realized how poor the alternatives are, even when buying new, I knew it's a keeper. Fabulous towing and family car. 60 second shogun vid, worth to watch: https://youtu.be/lwec1YcqmSo

200 for a throttle cable, their customer service definetly wants to be avoided! Holy moly. States, that machines with proprietary parts have to be avoided as well.

All the rave about a little more grunt and a saved pint. Probably nice but remember that the rest of the vehicle, especially the gearbox and axles must be ready to take the additional load. In some shoguns for example, the engine torque is exactly set to the maximum the gearbox is able to transfer. Those engines run approx a quarter below their torque capabililties. The exceeded wear for sure won't pop up within the first years of use, but if aiming for the long run, I would steer away from preparing machinery beeing posted in the "Things broke WOT" thread.

Congrats to the Multicar as well, they run forever and cost is next to nothing to keep them doing so. Multione and Multicar, a perfect marriage.

Hated the km130 as well, noisy, hard to start and vibrates the Fingers numb. Just take a Honda umk435, remove the drive shaft and put in the drive shaft from your km130 on it, plug and play, it's really simple. Than you have a true 4 stroke with literally no vibrations, low noise, gobs of torque and a super easy starting procedure. Just a little heavier. All your stihl attachments, which are superior to others, can stay with you.

I like greens on my high HP grinders, but can't imagine using them on those lower HPs. Too much drag in the dirt. Multis are super light in the mulch. In general I like the idea of the alpine teeth but I see a big surface as well. Sure, probably more durable but when dulling, you get more pounding on the machine, like with greens. What's your thought on the P28? On monday I gonna inspect one, already have 6 grinders but am so tired of the walk behind or using the Magnum if it's not absolutely necessary. So it would be just for the smallest gates and it'll see maybe 30 hours a year. I know you're rumoring for quite a while about getting another grinder, so what's your thought on this one? Many thanks, marne Btw, did you catch that manual, orange one?

Actually that stupid invention warms an engine little faster after reaching a minimum temp, but the combustion process runs cooler.

If money isn't an issue, go with a self propellered unit.

Btw if I would not own 6 grinders yet, for domestic jobs, I would buy a predator 38 or fsi 30 tracked and replace the tracks with turf friendly ones.

Maybe I'm wrong but my guess after doing a 5 digit amount of stumps is, that the tracked Jo beau is made to be flipped on it's side. It's way too slim to stand stable on it's own pile of chips not mention driving accros a small incline. Looks as if it will tip even when approaching a curb wrong or driving across the hole it ground out. The grinding depth and weight seems to be the only strengths of this unit. A variable undercarriage would make it lightweight killer. From what I remember, you face 20k or even more. To get back to the original question. I guess expensive grinders only have a reasonable roi if you push to do more stumps than the ones you created with your saw. If you regard it as a long time investment you definetly want something that is repairable in 20 years which means a minimum of electronics. Always selling and upgrading is plain loss with these beaten up machines and will supply you with more modern and unreliable crap imho.

I see🙂

You sell a truck because it is so solid built, that it never breaks and it was cheap as chips... Please help me understandig this.