cjdg

OK, It was Christmas Eve and I just could not resist a bit of grafting to finish off a job of chipping and wanted to cut a bit of brash to fit in the chipper and my reliable old 550 XP 2 years old and probably with about 300 hours on it would not start. Its been good as gold for two years. It had not been used for about a month, had about 1/3 of the tank full was in the cold so not dried out and it "appears" that the pump is working (but no bubbles). Pulled my nuts off for up to twenty pulls - no joy. Took off the plug and it was bone dry - not a drop of fuel. Tried again with lots of pumping - no joy. I read on this forum that if it gets too hot the fuel vapourises an there is an air lock. This seems unlikely as it has worked fine for two years. OK suppose that is right, how do I get fuel to the carb? I was thinking of perhaps putting some in the cylinder and "hoping" that it might drag some liquid in but suspect that is a crazy hope. How can I tell if the pump bubble is working? There must be a way of disconnecting fuel line to carb and checking. Yours aye Chris

Thanks but am sorted and as I am effectively retired (what a joke) it is cheaper for me to roll up my sleeves and get on with it but thanks for the offer

Yes! am inundated with several hundred cubic m or brash and only one tenth through it in two days. To explain: the woodland has been stored (neglected!) for the best part of 90 years with sycamore and yew all gone wild

I ended up running a mile from the Isle of Man "offer" which had all the appearance of a scam and bought the 2006 one which was actual a 1998 one. It has been running well for the last two days so will spend a week clearing my brash and then play with servicing it. Thanks to all kind offers of help and advice. I am really impressed with this machine - old though it is as my previous one (a 4" Caravaggio) which I will now sell to a gardener or DIY person (it is completely useless for forestry) for leaves and branches to make compost!

Yes all buttons and other stuff was tested and working before I bought it. It is red.

Given the low price I got it for, I am happy to spend money on the basics as even with that money I am still quids in. As a biker who has built numerous bikes from parts (eg a Manx feather bed frame with a Villiers Starmaker 250 two stroke unique combo back in the sixties I know my basic engineering and the Kubota is fine, the wheel bearings are fine and the chassis is OK so am reasonably comfortable and, above all, the think works well - it just needs some TLC and tarting up. I am ever the optimist!

I bought it 3 days ago and it is pretty damn ropey as the guy that sold it to me was not very clued up - said it was a 2005 model but on checking it was May 1998! he had just looked at the 5 before the 98! and either lied or was stupid. It requires a lot of work. Talking about bearings, is this a reference to the chipper itself that drags in the timber ? I presume not the bearings of the Kubota! If so it does not seem to me too onerous to have to replace them from time to time along with changing the cutting blades every 25 hours as recommended. Anyway I am now stuck with it and the plan is to refurbish it - not sure if I need a new Anvil (how does one measure that? presumably with feeler gauges or the like?) - will need a new loom, starter switch, repair the holes in the sides, diesel cap, fan missing a blade, complete service and overhaul the hydraulics - looks like 2 to 3 days' work and several hundred quid. Flywheel seems ok but will check fins - good tip - thanks Chris

Dear All, Am responsible for bringing to heel about 80 acres of stored woodland of which I own about 20%. Complete newby and aim to get it managed within 5 years. Have some knowledge of timber in the lab and in buildings (www.atics.co.uk) but limited out in the woodland. Have an Avant 760i and most of the attachments needed but need a chipper that is a) suitable for the short term volume of work (I guess several hundred hours), easy to maintain, runs on diesel, has hydraulic input, can be towed or pushed to awkward locations, directional output for trailer as chips are due to be sold or used to make compost and wont break the bank. I have come to the conclusion that it is either a Timberwolf 150 HB towed to location via the Avant or a tractor OR one like this https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TH8-HYDRUALIC-DOUBLE-FEED-CHIPPER-FORESTRY-WOOD-PROCESSING/173020236598?hash=item2848cf4b36:g:tHUAAOSwySVaErtg from MDL https://www.mdlpowerup.com/product/th8-pto-driven-twin-roller-chipper/ The latter will of course need the tractor with the chipper and so collection of chippings would have to be by another machine. What chipper would the combined wisdom of the forum advice? More specifically, I have two TW 150s in mind - one is 2006 and going for under £3k but looks really tatty despite its low hours 600 odd The other is 2013 and has done 900 hours and looks pretty good despite its apparent suspect "provenance" from a "vendor" that does not live on the UK mainland and refuses to accept payment other than by Pay Pal (has turned down a BACS). Would you go for the older or younger one? After how many hours do these machines require serious maintenance eg major engine rebuild or chipper bearings etc ? ie say the equivalent for the average car was 100,000 miles when one should think of getting rid of it Yours Chris

Dear All, Newbie to Arbtalk but about 6 or so months ago I spotted a post where someone recommended a guy for doing tree surveys who used some whiz-kid super GPS or similar technical gear to put trees on an electronical topographical map so that it could be used for making a management plan for woodland. I have spend the best part of 5 hours trying to find this post. At the time, I rang up the bloke and spoke to him and foolishly cannot find my record of the conversation. So, my request is if you are the guy I rang up (my wood is near Oxford and is about 20 acres) or if you were the original adviser who posted a recommendation of him or know of the post.... Please advise! Any other recommendations welcome as I have now joined forces with my next door neighbours and the acreage is now near 100 with another neighbour "thinking" of joining us which would end up nearer 150 acres... Yours CJDG