O.C.G.D. Thread, part two

[flushcut]

Thanks for the link.

 

[Burnham]

Good post, Brian. High value input, sir.

 

[treebilly]

Pure sexiness. Love the weight and power. Throttle response is instant. Stig’s review was spot on. Stihl did good on this saw. Hoping to run it a bunch this week. I’ve been standing back and letting the boys do the felling for a while. I’m going to have to climb out of the cab and show them how it’s done now.

Also we are required high viz on most of our sites now. Really makes a difference. Class two I believe but most wear class three.
Thanks for the link Brian. I’ll be looking than up later. Need to get back to organizing my pickup. I’m getting paid to haul tools and guys to the job till my new work truck gets bought. My new role in the company is to be a bit more supervisory. Until the office can figure out what my new title will be, GF seems to work. Less physical work with more paperwork.

 

[squisher]

Don't get to fat.

 

[SkwerI]

A follow up on the springs. Here's a couple pics to hopefully give some perspective on the truck stance. I bought the HD springs which are rated for about 1400 lbs more than the original. Not sure if they are for a different version of the truck, possibly what evolved into the F550? They also have the HD springs for the front which have 3 leaves instead of 2 and are rated for 1125 lbs more. I may end up buying those as well depending on how it handles and if I feel like stiffer springs up front would be beneficial.

43-901HD rear
43-630HD front

 

[Merle Nelson]

Great to know that Stihl is in the US now.

And were those springs shipped to you free Brian? Good to know a reputable source.

 

[SkwerI]

No, shipping was by freight truck. Was $141 shipping for my order and they charge extra for residential delivery. I had it dropped at a shop up the road owned by a friend.

 

[Stumpshot]

Now to mull over the options for another aloft saw: used 200T, brand new 201 TC M, or Echo 2511T. Might go with the middle option for now, as a medium climbing saw under warranty would probably scratch the sweet spot (for reliability!).

So now a top handle Husqvarna T540XP showed up... 37.7cc of raging eagerness, ready to cut some wood. 16" bar with just a bit more power than an unmodified 200T -- going to put it through some paces tomorrow on some trimming jobs. Still would like the Echo, too though...

 

[Burnham]

My mind is made up, brothers and sisters. The day after my beloved 044 dies, I'll sell the hulk off for more money than it is worth and buy a brand spankin' new 462C.

I'll have a tear or two in my eye though. I still recall well the first 044 I ran, back in the mid 1980's. Fireline felling. My gods, that saw was a gift from heaven.

Of course, when my venerable 044 does finally die, that might be well after I can remember much of anything, let alone be able to run a chainsaw safely . Still...that's my plan .

And then there is the 064....

As my buddy Stig likes to remind me...antique saws. And as I like to remind him...I'm an antique, too...me and those old saws seem to mesh. At the least, I can wrench on them with confidence .

 

[Mick!]

The Husky topper is a powerful saw, no doubt, a little fragile, in mine and others experience.

Be careful lumping it around, ‘tis poky though!

 

[Stumpshot]

Three Bucketeers

Okay, just to prove that I'm not just talk -- here's some photos of the "new" bucket truck. Obviously you can guess from which company we obtained it...
Painting it is high on the list, probably white. GMC 7500 TopKick, all gas, including the Kubota pony motor. 60' boom w/elevator = 75' working height, forestry package.

 

[Mick!]

That is a good looking truck, well done

 

[Stumpshot]

Thanks! We were very hesitant at first, not wanting to look like we were reliant on Asplundh castaways, but it was a good price point even factoring in a paint job -- lower miles than many others, ready to work, no issues with the Altec boom. Got new mirrors on it ($600 for the set!), so it looks better now. Haven't chipped into it at all yet, been working in tandem with the chip truck the last 2 weeks. Strangely enough, haven't needed to climb in over 3 weeks now -- all bucket work, but then again, we've been out in a forest for about 9 days straight doing the thinning/cleanup job.

 

[MasterBlaster]

Heck yea, I love that truck! Hell, I'd just leave it orange and spend the paint money on something else..

 

[SkwerI]

Nice truck. I highly recommend painting it just for the image projected to customers and potential customers. Do you really want to be known as the 'used to be line clearance guys' tree company?

 

[SeanKroll]

I think that most people don't know any different, ex-line clearance or not.

As a starting point, (2) BIG SIGNS that cover the bulk of the dump bed, easy on-easy off (paint it, put it back on), would be money better spent. The first thing I noticed (after it looking like a used Asplundh rig with a lotta working height) is the bent headache rack.

I don't care if people have older stuff, that is taken care of, and clean, but to my very limited-perspective eyes, a bent rack makes me say, if they can't take care of their own expensive stuff, how will they treat mine?".


A paint job is great, unless in 3000 miles you realize, "Oh Shit!".

In 3000 miles you might say, "Well worth painting!". It will be a big improvement. Signs move very easily between trucks and make it easier to sell.

White seems to be the standard for paint now.



Looks like it will be a good producer in your market.



Showing up with that bad-ass grapple truck, and a tall bucket-truck and huge chipper is pretty solid, painted or not.

 

[Burnham]

I think about the same, re the bent rack and front bumper. I'd put money there first.

 

[SeanKroll]

Some kinda paint-restoring polishing compound and a power buffer to remove oxidized paint??

 

[MasterBlaster]

Asplundh orange RULES!!!

 

[Burnham]

Well, maybe ...I think after the headache rack and front bumper is corrected, the repaint would be soon to follow, if it was my truck.

 

[Stumpshot]

Asplundh orange RULES!!!

I would take an Asplundh orange bandit in a heartbeat. But the truck? Maybe it's just the UV fading and clear coat dulling that really does it in for me. It's crying out for a new coat of white!

 

[flushcut]

Congrats on the truck.

 

[MasterBlaster]

I always prefer red for a treeco paint choice.

Bright, shiny red - like a fire truck!!!

 

[flushcut]

Red is the color of a winner.

 

[MasterBlaster]

White is a city truck color... say NO to white!

I ran an army green bucket for a while - I bet it was an old military one. I always felt road-warriorish driving it...