lux

Let's hope it's more reliable than the rest of the junk they have made in recent years.

I remember using robin hedge cutters in the mid 90's. the two I used were very good. I just run stihl these days and I like them. I also heard good things about echo trimmers but couldn't help feel they were a little plasticy in comparison..... could be wrong as never used one. I wish more manufacturers would drop the cheap plastic builds. .....

Aspen is a great product but just way too expensive for everyday use. I reserve it for machines used infrequently. Waste of money for a machine used daily. One retailer near me sells it at £4 per litre ..............

Find yourself a 200t and have it rebuilt if necessary. You won't find a better top handle. That said I'm loving my echo 2511 for small work.

Freelanders are awful things. I had a commercial one many years ago. Total junk. Maybe have a look for an old landcruiser as well. ??

True about protocol. But on a practical perspective if it's a single insulated cable running through a tree it's not necessary to shut it down. The chap will be arranging shut downs every other week ... If it was an uninsulated distribution cable/s then yes it needs shutting down to work safely around it.

Insulated or uninsulated cables. ?

I def like the full skip chains. Now run them on all saws with 28" bar and over. Was ringing up large dead oaks recently. 660 on full skip was out cutting an 880 on a normal full comp chain. Both on 36" bar. Less to sharpen which is also a bonus on large bars.

I agree. Stay away from the 441. I do find it runs up to 25" bar fine but the electronic carb is tiresome and issues with not oiling. Get a 461 before they update them.

Exactly which is why we like a mixed fleet. But it's horses for courses and whatever best suits your own business requirements.

Trailers are great for added volume for sure. Trouble is maximum towing capactity is reduced by overall train weight of combined units so it's still easy to be overweight if you ram the truck and trailer both full. You also bring in nose weights to the equation .... Plated weights are a bit of minefield with uk legislation when you get into the depths of con and use regs. Most 3.5t are overweight most of the time in Arb work. Easy done.

No not yet. It would be interesting to see what she comes in at fully laden (although the answer may not be desirable)

Lol no sorry. Not trying to be awkward but if you are taking two trailers out surely at some point you'd want to be chipping into them ??

Agreed small short wheel base mogs aren't too bad. Take weight obviously but the chip bins don't have a huge volume. We run a 1750 long wheel base with large bin on it. Great machine but too big to get on site in a lot of instances and can be very tight to manoeuvre with the bandit on the back. Any excuse to get the mog out on a job is always encouraged though ......

So you need a 3rd vehicle to tow a chipper and can put nothing in the back of the tipper truck .....

What's the train weight of a transit ? Surely not 7t. I thought it was about 5.8 ish. So if you load it full and a full 3.5t trailer it will be overweight again on train weight. ............

Nice truck and chipper roseyweb We run a bandit 1090. Fabulous machine.

Vehicles subject of being involved in accidents involving life changing injuries or involving death are recovered for a vehicle exam which looks for defects not dissimilar to those looked at on an mot. Braking and road surface coefficient are tested against the unladen and mam of the vehicle concerned but this does not involve weighing it. I'm not condoning or encouraging over laden vehicles in anyway. Far from it. The issue with a 3.5t is by the time it has a chip box fitted has tools and 3 blokes in it there is very little payload left in the back. My observation on up rated springs is that you will be carrying the same weight as every other 3.5t Arb truck but will be less likely to be pulled the the ministry or police and directed to a weigh bridge. Every vehicle , mog, 7.5t and 3.5t has its place and use which is why a mixed fleet is advantageous. If allows for access on small driveways or limited parking. For bigger jobs with access take out the mog or lorry.

Every 3.5t van for arb work is usually overweight most days it goes out when loaded with chip and logs. The springs aren't used to carry extra weight over another 3.5t van they are used to carry the same weight better. Any 3.5t that you fill up a chip box on will be overweight. Even if it's not overweight in total it will be over on the rear axle which is exactly the same for penalty purposes. Who is more likely to get pulled... the van scraping the road or the one sat nicely on its springs. ?? Even if you were unfortunate and had a dink your vehicle will not be taken off and weighed ....

Mixed fleet. We use a couple of 3.5t and a long wheel base mog with a large chip box. The mog is great and swallows loads of chip but access / parking is an issue on a lot of domestic sites that would be prohibitive if a larger vehicle was your only option. Plus you can split crews with a few vehicles and cover for vehicle down time. Swap out the leaf springs on the 3.5t for beefier springs. Hides the weight well. It's so easy to be overweight on a 3.5 by the time staff and tools are in. The springs don't stop you being overweight but you won't attract attention with the belly of the van scraping the road.

Idiot. What a stupid and disrespectful comment.

The mortise holes are way to large. That will cause you issues using a standard 9'6" chestnut rail. Or any rail for that matter. Use a chain Mortiser. Hire one if you don't want to fork out on one straight away. Much better tool for the job.

It was a lovely tree but I have to say the church looks impressive now it can be seen more as well.

Interesting thread. I suspect most fireman dealing with any tree / branch on a car would be using hydraulic shears to cut with anyway, the same wide opening ones they will then use to open up a car like a tin of beans. I expect that they would only be looking to remove enough wood to administer first aid or extract a casualty. Lifting large trunks etc may possibly be done with large air bags to give just enough room to get to or remove a casualty as well as making a safe working environment for the firefighters. These are scenarios no doubt they are already well trained and versed in. I certainly can't recall any bad press because a firefighter didn't have a chainsaw or couldn't use one. If it's just a tree fallen on a road for example then there is no genuine urgency to it. It's an inconvenience and the fire brigade or other emergency service or local authority should close the road and call out the on call tree surgeon to deal as necessary. I suspect they are probably competent and equipped to deal as they are.

Ah , surely the best bit of this thread is the endless argument and jibes it instigates. Always a chuckle to read.....