Ratman

“If” lube was used, i.e a heavy grease or copper application, then “potentially” it could have led to the bolts becoming not fully tight, which in turn could of allowed movement in the blades mountings, altering their chipping angle, that in turn could of made the blade want to bite off more than it could chew, resulting in the stress/impact/vibration/point of digging in, causing the blade to shear. “If” this was the case then the likeliest place of fracture/breakage in my mind would be from around the counter sunk bolt holes, the thinnest and weakest area of the blades. Thats a theory but not defo the cause, as others have stated, it could just have been a simple flaw in the making or tempering of the blades? I just posted the torque scenario including lubes cos it was a real jaw dropper for me when i attended the course and its always stuck in my mind when doing things.

Cant comment on the look/blend towards the rest of the house cos not seen rest of it, it may well blend spot on with the rest of its surroundings, like with the windows in the pic etc. Defo agree with others though, wouldnt be able to design/manufacture/build/install/buy that staircase for £2k with all processes and man hours required to achieve. Sorry Les your on a loser with that one.

Nice! I’d of incorporated some oak spindles, possibly all or one every other with a basket in them. That would of looked ace [emoji108]

Sorry.... couldn’t resist! [emoji4]

They look good but might not be good for the OP as it would mean the spark plug wouldn’t seat as far down as required and would pull the spark away from the cylinder if ya get me, the plug would seat on the flange of the insert and not the face of the cylinder. Would be good in other applications though, such as a sump plug repair etc.

Suzuki man myself! Hondas were always too predictable and reliable in my eyes (not saying its a bad thing) just my personal thoughts. They make cracking little mower/generator engines though, have to give em that, hence my comment! [emoji16][emoji23]

Tbh i dont really care for cost a lot of the time, if its a oneway lifetime fix then its do it once do it right i say. Those would be a good investment though i think. Only really question suff or go tightarse on something if the books aint gona balance or the guy says, “i dont really wana spend owt” [emoji849][emoji849] but we all know that scenario!

Honda make lawnmowers!!! [emoji4][emoji16]

Once went on a torque course at work about 15 yrs ago at a place called “christie” and think it was Leeds way, they showed us all sorts of variations in torque complications when using added “lubes” they suggested using no lubes in most applications or if you “had” to, then only a very light oil. A big no no in their opinion, and they proved it, was to never use copper applications or grease. With these added to threads you have to increase the torque given to reach the recommended required torque needed for said fastening to do what it is required to do. For example, they had two large 10mm thick pieces of steel about 2 foot by 1 foot square with holes all the way around the outside. To demonstrate they firstly started with fresh dry un-oiled/greased bolts, and just torqued them one by one in a clockwise rotation to the same torque on each. (We all know they should of torqued opposites or to a set sequence but they did it this way to highlight what actually goes on in the day to day out there in the real world with us human beings) Typical example being to compare what happens when you remove and refit a wheel. Once the plate was torqued they offered up a debate on what would happen next when we went back to the first bolt? This passed about 5 mins of time. He went back to the first bolt and it clicked off at the same torque as initially tightened too. Next trial was role repeat but with grease added to the threads, “cos we dont like seizure in our world do we” he said. Torque sequence repeated, all the way round one by one in a clockwise direction, then again next up was the debate...... what happens when we go back to number one?! I was gobsmacked at the outcome!!! Every bolt moved, and not just a little, but a lot!!! The grease disperses under pressure slightly and so the bolt becomes no longer fully tight. They also said this is a major issue when using dedicated stretch fasters (stretch bolts, one time application bolts) this being because, when you tighten the stretch bolt to say 100NM or whatever, to achieve 100NM a the mating surfaces of your bolt and work piece you actually need to apply more than 100NM of force, otherwise the bolts will not be fully tight due to the grease as stated above, so to make it achievable because you are having to force the grease out of the way on all your threads, using more than 100NM recommended force, this in turn takes the bolt past its “elastic limit” therefore becomes..... stretched and unable to achieve its goal. They recommend using the lightest oil possible in all applications to reduce the amount of friction that is produced on the threads that could end up giving the over torquing scenario. I still personally use oil/grease/copper etc myself because i work in the real world as you guys do, and we like things to come off/undone again but it was a real eye opener for me, and so every time i do a torque on anything i ensure i go opposite every time and if i use anything above an oil, grease/copper etc i try to use least amount possible and torque up with a little extra nudge [emoji6] (rightly or wrongly) and for one time applications they get a dusting of tipping oil from my squirty can, nothing more. Only cos i dont like things dry of course! [emoji4]

That flex hone looks a neat bit of kit, never tried one, only ever used stones. Some good info relating to em on Pacehigh website. Shall try one in the future, good shout [emoji106]

We use Völkel HeliCoil repair kits at work, just order them through our local engineering supplier. Comes with drill bit, helicoil and key for fitting them, i some times use a heat resistant threadlock liquid on them also. Just dont blather it and get excess running all over place, just a smidges! Then run a plug tap through it once its cured [emoji106] Volkel V-Coil Metric Thread Repair kit - Metal Work Supplies Ltd METALWORKSUPPLIES.CO.UK Volkel V-Coil Metric thread repair kit contains all the parts to drill and re tap old threads. Useful in 100s of applications from DIY to engineering Link above shows/explains your kit. This isn’t who supplies to us but you get the jist of it. Amazon would probably be an easy source, might pay a little more. Just pick your required size [emoji106]

Thats about as industrial as ya can make it, i think it suits it [emoji106]

Care to mention the dealers name [emoji6][emoji16]

Just spoke to them and they are receiving a fresh batch of MS880’s end of the month. £1635 inc vat with a 48” bar, so £250 cheaper than the ebay advert with a bigger bar. Obviously if you spec the smaller bar then its cheaper again!

These guys are showing stock on their site, and free delivery. £1565 inc vat with a 36” bar and chain Stihl MS880 Professional Chainsaw | Robert Kee Power Equipment ROBERTKEE.IE For the most demanding challenges and extreme conditions when harvesting big timber, the STIHL MS 880 meets the demands

Eww! [emoji37] the smell of old ladies!!! [emoji40]

Alright mucker! Where you buy from?

Put a window box on ya van, get some strawberries going!

I bet i’ll go through in a week or so! I still aint got my log book through yet from when i bought my van from back beginning of march!

Mines on her last legs ☹️ lump in her abdomen, probably cancer they rekon! Gutted i am, be a big hole when i lose her thats for sure! Looking like any day soon now too, shes getting more and more tired each day, eating less as well. Tails still wagging though at min so cant deprive her of any extra days if she seems happy under circumstances.

That your latest one Mark? Smart little thing [emoji106]

Coincidence in time? ?‍♂️ touched at same point then grew through/around each other? Would of expected seedling to grow at a faster rate of time to bracket? How fast do brackets grow Steve?