Thesnarlingbadger

Hi Khirss, That’s for the input. Yeah that’s what I was thinking. To be honest I don’t like the idea of things being online, I would rather just have an email sent as I feel most domestic customers would prefer this old fashion system as it’s more reliable. Maybe I’m just to long in the tooth for new tech but I’m just considering my time saving options as life’s to short and all that. Cheers

Not sure that’s why I’m asking? Think it might save me a lot of time but then I have to put the time in to get used to it and at the moment time is something I have little of.

Hi All, Hope everyone is keeping well. It's been a few months since I have been on here. The reason being I've been working 7 day weeks and 17 hour days. The joys of running a business aye. I'm not complaining as thats not my style and its better to be busy than not. From the sounds of it I'm not the only one, every other company I have spoke to seams to be in the same position. I'm running 2/3 teams and am booked up until Christmas with half our work being commercial and the other half being domestic. I have a week off at the end of November but need to keep a core team running to keep up with the work load. The reason I'm posting is I've been looking in to the ArbPro app and I'm just wondering what peoples thoughts are on it? It certainly seems like it will save a little time but at £60p/m it seems ridiculously expensive. I'm a little bit sceptical as I've got my own little system that works for me and I'm one of these people who thinks if it works why fix it however I do spend most evenings typing out and sending quotes and invoices, writing up RAMS and organising the day ahead. That on top of fixing tools and other crap (you all know the score). Do any of you use ArbPro? do you find it is worth the money? How long did it take to get used to it and how easy is it to personalise to your own company? Anything else I should know about the App? Pros/Cons. I just want some honest input as I know all I'll get a load of 'how bloody great it is from their staff. Anyway I hope everyone is keeping well and looking forward to a winter locked away from friends and family. Cheers Eric

Nice one Stubby, If you have decided you go for a deferent engine I'll trust your judgment. I was a little pissed off when it happened as honda pride themselves on being bulletproof and charge for that. If cheaper engines are doing a good enough or even better job it makes sense. I'll see if I can get one ordered tomorrow. Ta

Haha no unfortunately it had an oils change every 6 months give or take and I’ve looked after it fairly well but it started playing funny buggers about 2 months back and wouldn’t start from hot. Cleaned and reset the carb, new plug, oil change, removed the oil sensor just in case that was the issue but no. Then on Thursday the revs dropped reallly low when I touched a stump with it, I took my hand of the throttle (deadman’s handle) and put it back on, the revs went through the roof and then there was a bang and bits flag across the garden and about 20ft in the air. Smoked like mad and was a gonna. There was enough oil in it so something must have gotten stuck in the piston I’m guessing. I will look in to the Chinese knock offs but am happy to buy Honda again if it hold up for a few years. Plus I’ll have spares from the old engine for the future. Thanks for your help guys. Good to know I’m not the only one with a pain in the arse stump grinder. Effing things. [emoji106]

Hi people, Had a bit of bad luck earlier in the week when the connection between the piston and the con-rod snapped on my 360. Long story short the con-rod has smashed through the engine casing and a new engine is the only option. I’ve been trying to figure out if there is a specific GX390 engine that I need to get. The guys at Predator told me it is a 1” shaft and gave me the model number GCBCT2010522 but all I can find on the internet are GX390 engines that don’t have information about the specifics. If found this on L&S Honda GX390 QX Engine 1" Shaft Oil Alert | L&S Engineers WWW.LSENGINEERS.CO.UK GX390 QX Engine 1 But am unsure weather this will suit. I looks like a fairly straight forward replacement. Just old engine off mount the new engine and connect the throttle cables up and the fly wheel to the pulley on the belts but I don’t know if there are GX390’s out there that won’t fit the grinder. Any ideas or insights? Has anyone had to do this before? Pictures of the mess below

When I was looking for an ally back to be built on my tipper a couple of months back I was quoted between 7k+vat and 9k+Vat. So I’ve decided to become a coach builder myself. You’d be best off trying to find one ready made that fits your van. Make sure you get the right wheel base as I know someone who didn’t.

Thanks Mick, I figured it wasn’t good. I’ll take a look at the radiator cover today but it always seems alright.

So my ST6 has started playing up again. Luckily just got an ST8 so have a back up but I need both chippers out at the moment to keep up with the work load. The issue we are getting is it starts up runs for a bit and then cuts out completely whilst chipping. Seams to be alright for the first half of the day but then it’s almost like it’s over heating and is cutting out as soon as anything goes through the rollers. The oil is fine, coolant is full and the machine is greased up. It’s got plenty of other issues at the moment and need a proper service and going over which I plan to do as soon as I can get it away from work. Any ideas? Anyone else had over heating issues with there Forst? Thanks in advance.

Tell me about it. I’ve worked with people who have thought they were great and had to go an sort trees out they wouldn’t climb, puts more stress on me and means I have to work twice as hard. No time for it anymore. If people say ‘I’m alright but I can’t do huge trees’ I think great at least they are honest and you will get more respect from me that way. I know people have to learn and I’m happy to help people out but if someone tells me they have rigged down massive awkward poplars and then tell me that the tree I have given them is not safe to climb and I go up and do it they can get their coat.

Hi guys, We are slammed at the moment. Looking for people to fill in a few days here and there, climbers and grounds men on a freelance basis. Fair rates of pay and a good mix of work, mainly tree work but a few hedge trimming jobs here and there. The guys are a good bunch and are all hard working. I’ve just got to a point where I’m having to constantly move jobs around as I can’t get enough hands to cope with the work load. You will need the basic tickets for the job and be able to get to the yard by your own means other than that a good work attitude. sense of hummer will go a long way. Don’t lie about experience or skill set because you will get caught out, it’s a pet gripe of mine. If you are not capable of doing something just say I’d rather deal with honest people with a good attitude to work. Inbox me or drop me a line or text on 07725951006. Cheers Eric

Most privet hedges around this way are in and around old council houses. Likely good of getting £100 tip is slim to none. I would say we clear the worst of the crap out and blow the last bits under. As mick said I’ve been known to get a 66 out on a privet and run along the top of it, looks messy but neater than a flail and in 2 weeks time the new growth is back covering it all up. However if the client would like a neat tidy job done and is willing to pay. I’ll get the loppers out.

It’s in South Glos. Thanks for this. I’m not interlay sure what has killed the tree off but the dead crown resembled advanced stages of sudden Oak death. As I said once we got down to the main steam the wood seamed sound and there is no heart rot at all. On the arb report it literally said Oak in decline, dieback in crown and rot at base. No more in depth than that.

We have recently taken down a large dead Oak for a client which to put lightly was knackered. Snapping rigging points and only anchoring in to bits as thick as my thighs. Now the Tree has base rot and is covered in slime flux (the hornets bloody love it). We have taken it down to a monolith at 4m so it is clear of falling distance from the house and the main stem is perfect (no signs of rot just clean wood). My client is considering having the live steam carved as she was fairly upset it had to come down. I’m just wondering if it’s worth the hassle or if it’s just going to be money for old rope. We are going back to fell an Ash tree with secondary stage dieback at the end of July so I’ve said we will take the steam down then for her if she is not going to carve it. It would be a really shame as there is no way of getting the stem out in a length as it’s got to go round the side of the house and up a flight of steps so without a crane it has to be cut up and used for fire wood. Even milling on sight would be more than just a slog. Any ideas what life expectancy it may have? We have probably removed 2-3 tonne of weight and the remaining stem is probably about a tonne give or take. No pictures unfortunately as when we did The job is was belting it down with rain and I just wanted to get the bloody thing down. Thanks in advance people.

If a subbie took a client off of me whilst working for me I would tell him to find his own way home as he’s obviously capable of making it in the own world himself. It’s a bit different if the guys to a bit extra for a client on the day and then I split the cash between them but out right taking someone else’s work is not on. However I’d expect the client to say something if they were unhappy with my work.

Nice one thank you. Always learn something on here. I’ll be tearing all the leaves apart now. So are we thinking Wedding cake tree or some sort of dogwood?

Not sure, it didn’t seem like dogwood to me. Maybe a side rent virility?

Thought it was some kind of sub species of ash due to the buds and leaves but there is a lot that isn’t ash like. Anyway the trees are dying back and have to be removed but I can’t find anything in my head that matches these trees. Any ideas? Pictures below Cheers people

True. But I didn’t want to replant if it was going to be a total waste of money/time.

Thank you Mr Humphries that’s very much appreciated. I thought I may have got an answer from you. I have spoke to my client about the information passed on by yourself and I think they would like to replant something taken in the fact it may end up with issues later on if under stress. The tree coming down would leave a big gap in the garden and is (at the moment) the main focal point in the garden. Would be a shame not to at least try and replace it. Thanks again for your advice it’s greatly valued. Cheers Eric [emoji106]

I’d say gledisia as well. I can’t remember exactly but one will have thorns and one won’t and one is a false acacia and one is a normal acacia.

Hi Jan, Nice one I'll check it out. My general through was if it were to infect other trees in the area then replanting was a no go but it has only impacted the Eucalyptus. However I am no expert in the matters either so wanted a bit more advise. Cheers again

Hi All, I have been out to look at a Eucalyptus earlier today with a fairly sizeable Ganoderma bracket on the base of it. The tree really needs to come down as the trunk is moving significantly. My client would rather keep the tree but her kids play under the tree and her neighbour kids play under the tree in there garden. My question is would it be a good idea to replant another Eucalyptus in its place or avoid planting all together. The only research I can find on it is on palm trees over in Florida. My gut tells me not to replant but would like to try something to make life a little better for my clients loss. Cheers People

Did work for a firm back in October and finally received payment 3 weeks back after several emails. There excuse was always the person dealing with this has left the company and it must have been missed by mistake. Looked in to them a bit further on company house and found out they had been borrowing huge amounts of money just to keep projects going. It’s a pain in the backside but I’ve learnt to check how companies are standing before doing work for them now. If they aren’t looking great I add more on the job and hopefully they don’t take me up on the offer [emoji106]

That machine is absolutely beautiful. I always new it was great but didn't really think about the extra bonus of not having to climb up a scrappy conifer. Great stuff ?