lux
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Posts posted by lux
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can you not go to an arb shop and try some on??? what suits one may not another.
At honey brothers you can try them out from a climbing line so you get a decent idea. Other shops may well do this. Essential I’d say. Climbing in a harness you don’t like will be a miserable waste of money.
Fit is crucial. I can’t get on with tree motion, just doesn’t suit
Skylotech for me.
Both great harnesses just one fits the other doesn’t.
Not sure if Covid is affecting the ability to test in store so call ahead. I’m sure shops will do what they can to assist given the circumstances -
If you are set on trying another get a contract written up that if it goes wrong , anything , you get your dosh back quick smart .
Yes stubby. I’ve been musing to myself how I might set my complaint out. These things have to be done giving them adequate opportunity to resolve the issue and progressively escalate etc. That way if forst fail to deliver I should be fairly water tight if things get messy ( which I don’t want but am prepared ) I def need to ensure I don’t end up out of pocket -
That stem should be a cracker if you can get it down
Job spec was fell to 5/6 metres.
Not cutting anything I don’t have to. [emoji23]-
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No not rocket science at all. Pleased to see everyone is confirming they would be asking for a replacement or refund in my position.
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Off the small photo it looked small but on the trailer you can see its size
The bit on the trailer is the bit on the deck in this pic. I left the rest standing.
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Off the small photo it looked small but on the trailer you can see its size
Not even the base of the tree. Still about 6 metres of it standing. I’ve been taking out some fair old lumps from that site-
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A 54" bar is a fair length but with a good solid support bar i see no reason why it would not work. Log size is the main thing your up against then. A ton log is a fair lump and the one in the photo would not be that heavy looking at the length of it.
That log weighs about 1.5t ish. The norcar is rated to lift 1.2t and couldn’t pick it up to put it on his trailer. I’m looking forward to seeing it milled.-
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The other issue is resale value on these - other than Först nobody else seems willing to offer a decent part-ex price which potentially locks you into their brand.
Good luck however you move forwards - if possible I’d consider getting your money back and chucking a bit more in to get a 1928 Safetrak. Anyone who has had bad experience of these tends to have only used badly maintained examples (every mong and his dog has had a miserable stint on the side of a railway feeding thorn into one that has been ‘serviced’ by a plant-fitter who know nothing about sharp blades/anvils/feed rollers etc - obviously they subsequently compare them to a super-sharp Först they used on another job...)
The smaller Bandits are well built but I don’t think they perform as well as the GM/TW/Forst/Jensen equivalents sadly. They are the benchmark from 12 inch upwards though!
Yeah I was aware of getting ‘tied in ‘ to forst in that but was willing to try.
I’m reassured others seem to see it the same as I do so I’ll have a conversation with them next week and see where we get to.
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I think the whole shit show has become totally unacceptable now . I would have no confidence in it and would always be worrying when the the next thing was going to happen . I would be looking at another manufacturer .
That’s pretty much where I’m at stubby. But I’d take a brand new machine for mine and give it a second chance. I’m trying to be reasonable but it’s wearing thin I must say-
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The electrical issues are 100% not ok.
the cracked paint/weld is worrying
the loose bolts are annoying niggles. Shouldn’t need to be regularly be retightening them though.
Was going to say the paint isn’t worth worrying about but looking again, it’s not ok
I’d have been at my wits end if I was you, downtime can really hurt small businesses
out of interest, how much was it?
£28.5 k plus vat -
@lux hard to swallow I know . Make em a list of yr worries n get Tech guy over . A week after, if you get bother , get yr Solicitor in . Even if its compensation. Only 50 hrs is barely run in . Last big one a company I worked for, bought from Global ( 12" rebuilt Bandit on tracks ) got a good year out of it before little things started failing ( electrics ) so dont have yrself lumbered . K
Tracked bandit would be my prime choice of chipper. Significantly more expensive but I do agree probably one of the best machines out there but obviously even they have the odd glitch.-
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Ours had a load of bother - but then it did get used hard ( steep banks , couple of track clips through it etc [emoji20] ) fitter didnt like it . BUT I see a lot around Town , so dunno [emoji32] K
They are very good at media , PR , advertising etc etc. They make buying a machine very easy and attractive. As a company their service and business model seems excellent. Unfortunately the machines are letting them down.
Yes they are flooding the market down my way too. They offered me almost double the value in part exchange on my outgoing Timberwolf which was a considerable factor in my decision to buy forst.
As I said to someone else it certainly takes the jam out of your sarnie when your shiny new machine isn’t as reliable as promised ..
I asked a lot of questions when purchasing the new machine to see what they had done to iron out the issues of the early machines. I got the right answers. Sadly the new machine is coming with new problems of its own.-
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Got an ST8, been a bit of a witch’s curse if I’m honest.
Actually been running consistently well for a while now, which is tempting fate.
As for your situation, if they keep fixing it there’s not much you can do unless you break out the big guns ie. demanding a replacement or reimbursement.
As you have stated they’re very good at after sales stuff and generally helpful.
If you’re going to get serious then the sooner you do it the better.
I think I’ve reached that point Mick.
I can’t fault their after sales and warranty thus far but at 50 hrs old it’s a pretty long list of faults that are generating down time and costing money in lost productivity that the warranty obviously doesn’t cover.
I’m heading towards a replacement machine but really wanted constructive comments if others feel that is reasonable and warranted based on the faults thus far.
Perhaps others have compatible experience with large equipment purchases not being as they hoped??
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In general, dont like powder coating fr ag- plant, nice coat of Mebon or other 2 pack primer, then yr top. What they use on salt gritters chassis. K
Me either , when damaged and water gets under it it comes off in sheets but it is what it is. -
Picture third from bottom looks like the steel has cracked along the weld.Might just be the paint cracking,but I would have a closer look at it.
What would your reaction be if Forst replaced your chipper with a new one,and the new one did the same thing?
To be honest I’d take it. If a replacement machine suffered the same fails then I’d be looking for an exit from forst and some money back. I’m not looking to be unreasonable or unrealistic.
I get what your saying in that the replacement could do exactly the same but I will give benefit of the doubt-
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Do you think you should have bought a TW280?
Not the sort of comment I was looking for.
But to answer it. No. They don’t make a tracked 280 currently and the outgoing engine wasn’t tier 5. Hence its forced out of production.-
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( have you changed blades yet ? I would !)
I change them frequently khriss. The blades are good quality to be fair. I recon I do them every 10 to 12 hours use
Greased every Monday-
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Dear All,
I’m looking for your constructive inputs and advice on my new chipper. I’m not looking for a stihl v husqvarna style debate of slating each other’s brands on this thread please.
I purchased a new TR8 with the new 55hp Doosan engine and took deliver in September.
It’s done circa 50 hours work now.
In that time I’ve had what I consider an u acceptable amount of breakdowns. I can’t fault Forst for their attentiveness and speed in resolving faults but quite honestly I should of had so many if any at all on a new machine. I basically have their technical assist on speed dial
I’m looking to escalate this to a complaint , I’ve been inconvenienced enough. Good service goes so far but it doesn’t stop me losing money in down time on site due to breakdowns.
I’ll give some chronological history of faults. I have photographed all but the latest ones ( of which it still has but they are closed for Christmas so haven’t sent any yet )
September 24th
I took a belated delivery at the end of September. Not a big deal as they gave me a loan chipper until mine was ready.
Arrived and went through the delivery inspection. Found vulnerable electric wires left unsheathed rubbing on sharp edges.
Bonnet had damaged powder coat and poor fitting of the new style exhaust for the Doosan engine.
Machine declined and sent back to be sorted.
6th October.
Machine cuts out on site.
2/3 hours of downtime on site to establish the relays have been housed under the anvil and continuously come out making the machine cut out. Relays beginning to rub through on casing.
We padded out the relay box with a sponge to keep them in place.
The permanent fix from first is to send out their own sponge with sticky tape to fix it in place ....
6th November.
Bolts fall out of the linkage bar connecting the emergency stop bar
Thread (very short ) inside the link bar has been stripped by the bolt vibrating before coming out.
They send out a new link bar and new bolts with a longer shoulder .... the bolts are identical.
Parts swapped over, loctite on thread.
6 days later it’s unwinding again. Tightening these is now a maintenance thing every 2 to 3 days. These should never need tightening !
At same time I notice the powder coat is failing on the lugs that retain the hopper in its transport position. I assume these lugs that are welded on were not adequately descaled from welder meaning the powder coat has adhered properly.
Forst put me on a waiting list for a new mid section of the hopper.
17th December
Machine cuts out on site. Overheated.
Fault codes identify the radiator.
Examine carefully and find its leaking at the bottom of the rad. Manufacturing fault. The rad is well encased so cant really be damaged.
Engineer sent out who fits new rad on site.
24th. December
A shears bolt head is found by the chipper when clearing up. Couldn’t identify it at the time.
30th December I notice the top feed roller has moved off centre and is just ( only just ) starting to touch the weld on the Infeed opening.
Open the bonnet to investigate, this reveals the source of the sheared bolt head.
From the bonnet hinge
Bolt is sheared off and left in the chassis. Hing now moves as the bonnet opens and bonnet fowls on the chassis causing some damage to the powder coat.
In order to realign the bonnet to close I’m correct position we had to loosen both hinges , pop a ratchet strap from the spout to the handles on top of the bonnet and ratchet it into place and re tighten the hinges. More time wasted and another issue to sort but they aren’t open until next week.
I love the chipper when it’s working. The 55hp is fantastic and it flies through timber, but I’m reaching or have reached the end of my patience with these faults at 50 hours.
I’m aware some forst employees use this forum so I imagine this will work its way to first before they receive my official communication. I’m not fussed about that.
What are your constructive thoughts and views on a realistic resolution. Now the powder coat on the chassis has taken a dink from a fail I’m minded to say either replace my machine with another or take mine away and strip / repaint what needs doing and provide a loan machine for the duration.
Thanks in advance.
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If you build a log table inside your Logosol frame, you can mill much bigger logs.
I’ve put a 36” bar on, but you have to hold the end up with a stick to start.
Bar sag is an issue.
So much easier to use an Alaskan style mill over about 20”.
Generally I use a 20” bar.
Cuts smaller oak yew larch etc.
But it’s great for square edged.
I’ll be cutting oak and yew mantles and beams soon, as well as boards for construction.
Waiting fir the larger Logosol bolts to arrive from Sweden for the 881 [emoji106]
I see that when running a chainsaw there is an orange pole that goes over the bar I assume to prevent sag and increase accuracy of the cut.
Does it limit the bar size you can use ? Presumably it does.-
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Is that an imperial fat bloke or a metric fat bloke though?
In this circumstance we will have to go metric as Dempsey’s fat bloke was probably french [emoji23]-
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I think those saying anywhere around the 1100 ish + vat if applicable are about right in my view.
I agree on circa 300 + vat to do the stump properly.
It’s always tricky gauging volumes from the picture but I could see that job being 2 1/2 -3 loads ( transit sized in waste ).
It’s an easy looking tree and easily achievable in good time in a day.
I can’t agree with factoring in breakdowns and attributing it to the quote of that particular job.
Tree work is some of the hardest going on kit , I look after my kit pretty well but I probably don’t go more than a week without something needing a fix
That’s arb work. I generally see breakdowns as spread out across the life of a machine ( stupidity accidents aside )
This goes back to the point of pricing. These jobs should be priced so you are covering everything and the business is left with a clear profit after. If you cry about a chainsaw blowing up on a job I suspect you definitely aren’t pricing right on most of your jobs.
I’m glad to see people in this thread putting a sensible price on the tree and I suspect their businesses are doing well
The tree is easy for a reason- you know what your doing. Don’t undervalue that point.
Put a fair price on it and bank the profit
Far too many people undervaluing their work. It will always happen. Just try not to let it be one of you ....-
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It’s pretty niche, but I get asked regularly enough.
Probably I’ll do a few 4.5” and 6.5” oak at some point. (After I’ve moved yard)
[emoji106]
You’ve only just moved yard ! [emoji23] -
If the universe is kind enough...
(If I can sell enough wood)
I’m hoping to buy a small tractor in the future,
For moving thicker slabs.
There’s actually a market for 4,6,8” thick slabs.
But they are Extremely heavy!!!
Otherwise it’s 55mm until then.
[emoji106]
What’s the market use for those thick boards Hewn ? 8” slab is pretty unusual
I usually mill quite a bit thicker than intended final size. Usually I slab in 2.5 and 3.5 inch
Never ceases to amaze how much some wood moves when drying.-
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TR8 woes.
in Forst Woodchippers
Posted
Sadly the processes don’t allow or compensate for my lost time at work. I have to suck that bit up.