Hi again gents.
When it rains it pours. Had two different property managers call me last Friday asking me to fell more Casuarinas. Neither of them had any idea that the other had called.
One is at a new property where they want all of their older Casuarianas (around 40-50 years old) felled to once again stop root intrusion into the orchard. There are some big trees in this lot. I pruned out the bottoms of one run with the 200T again (I love this little saw!) and then started felling them. In all honesty it got hotter than I thought and cracked 40°C in the shade by the time I pulled the pin around lunchtime. I hadn't checked the weather for a few days and it became quite uncomfortable in the end as humidity was right up too. I knew it was hot when all my plastic jerry cans blew up and rolled over in the shade due to excess pressure.
I didn't fell any of the big ones just yet but will get into them over the coming weeks. I used the new 550XP with .325" semi chisel and an 8 pin rim. The bar was actually something I made up from a few different bars. I had nothing in stock in UHL mount over 18" in .325" with a removeable nose so welded together both a .050" GB Pro Top (17") in HV mount and an old UHL mount .050" GB Hard Top I had here. As others have said before on AS the new GB nose sprockets are all coming in orange like the Ti bars have.
The total bar length came to around 21" and the little saw pulled it fine with no problems at all.
The only problem I did have which I've read about on AS recently is the odd one can be a ##### to start when warm. Mine is no exception. With the starting switch always on (you push it down to stop the saw then it pops back into the start position) you then pull it out and up for choke. It also has a priming bulb and decomp. What I found was that it wouldn't start when hot so you'd have to choke it, prime it, give it a couple of pulls, then pull it's arse off until it eventually fired - then it would burble and fart around until it cleared it's throat then you'd have a little hotrod again. All in all a great little saw but an overcomplicated starting procedure - I may have got one of the saws with a dodgey fuel breather - not sure. The M-Tronics are far more user friendly in this case and will continue to idle on choke until you hit the throttle which disengages the choke and away you go.
I also had issues with the Jakmax alloy wedges. Yes I was hitting them hard as there were some heavy leaners that needed some input but luckily I had my face shield down when a few of these bits flew off. Easy way to lose an eye. As Neil (ausneil) has said the Stihl alloy wedges are the best, but at $45 each they can stay on the Stihl shelf thanks.
I also threw a chain on the 200T which well and truly hooked the chain catcher. Dammit. I've got Bennn*e here to order me some more...
Also as much as I love the 200T's they do have their limitations. This tree is a monster, has a heavy lean over the orchard, and will be getting jacked over. I really couldn't be arsed hammering wedges in for two hours to get it over. Will be fun though!!!
Didn't take any videos but will be sure to on my next outing...
I'll add some pictures later as either Photobucket or my internet connection playing up.
