ddhlakebound
Addicted to ArboristSite
Woe is Tuesday...
So apparently if I don't tell the story of yesterday, I'll never hear the end of it....
Let me preface this by explaining that last summer I took over sole ownership of TS, but my former partner got the stumper in the buyout. So I've been renting a 252 from another tree service when I need. The price is right, the teeth are sharp, usually never a worry. I climb for them when they need, they bucket for me when I need, generally it works out pretty well.
Yesterday morning we go to pick up the grinder, and within 3 minutes of getting out of the truck, I split my pants. Thankfully, a spare pair in the truck saved a trip home, so just an annoyance.
Five stops lined up, pull up at the first one, and within a few minutes of grinding I'm hearing some noise from the cutting wheel. It's not bearings, the pocket bolts are slowly working themselves loose on 4 different pockets. Grinding stops....off to the hardware store for a 1/2" hex head and a breaker bar to tighten them down....hmmm.....WTH happened to the hardware store that used to be in this town? Grrrr...back to the site, fortunate enough to borrow tools from the public works barn (next to where we're grinding). Get it tightened up as much as possible without a breaker bar, and finish site one. As we're leaving I discover that Tree Target had set his drink, smokes, and phone in a great spot. Behind the trailer tire in the shade. Oops.
Off to site two, already down 1 pair of pants, 1 cell phone, 1 heirloom cig case, and a drink. Big silver maple stump that was live a week ago, but looks like it's been dead for years (except an inch of green wood around the outside edge) It's grinding quick and easy. Until the bolts start backing out again.
Heading in to springfield for the next job, so hoping I can finish this stump and get tools on the way to the next one. Yeah....right. Few minutes later it loses a bolt...Luckily, borrow tools from the guy across the street (who I gave a couple loads of wood last week), and finally get the other bolt out and pockets off. But not before Tree Target gets his revenge for me running over his stuff...he conveniently dropped the saftey bar on my head as we were battling the bolt. The lump is almost gone already.
Vermeer is about 15 miles away...get there, get a new pocket and yellow jacket, and two pocket bolts. But they're sold out of 1/2" hex heads. So we leave Vermeer and head for my house, to get the tools I should have had with me in the first place. Finally back to site 2, and get the grinding head back in shape. But not before losing one of the new bolts, and spending 15 minutes to find it. Duh. Playin catch up now.....gonna end up a loooooooong day.
Get to site 3...sweetgum stump with running roots covering an area comparable to a parking space. Got the 252 and my lil Praxis both going. Until the Praxis runs outa gas. Oh, and I forgot to put my backpack blower in the truck. So TT goes for gas and his electric blower. Finally finish that one, and get the site cleaned up.
So do I sound more retarded than a Monkey bangin a football yet?
Daylight is gettin short, and still 2 jobs to go. Get to #4, and knock out six stumps quick with both grinders. Pulling the 252 off the last stump and headed for the trailer. On a sidehill. With the grinding head on the downhill side. Double Duh. Have you seen how much smoke a stumper blows when it's laying on it's side? It's alot. Shut 'er down quick. Got it uprighted in about 3 minutes, and let it sit. Smoked a bit when I fired it back up, but cleared up quick as the oil burned out. Still not good.
Job #5? Na, screw that man.....I'm done. Those stumps will still be there when I get the urge to grind another stump. It might be a while, though.
Usually my workday goes smoothly, and is planned out pretty well, even if it's at a too slow pace until my equipment situation smooths out. Soon. Very soon I hope. Should have my new to me chip truck title tomorrow, and my chipper's been in the shop for too long already.
Hopefully I got out all the dumbassedness in one long, rough day.
So apparently if I don't tell the story of yesterday, I'll never hear the end of it....
Let me preface this by explaining that last summer I took over sole ownership of TS, but my former partner got the stumper in the buyout. So I've been renting a 252 from another tree service when I need. The price is right, the teeth are sharp, usually never a worry. I climb for them when they need, they bucket for me when I need, generally it works out pretty well.
Yesterday morning we go to pick up the grinder, and within 3 minutes of getting out of the truck, I split my pants. Thankfully, a spare pair in the truck saved a trip home, so just an annoyance.
Five stops lined up, pull up at the first one, and within a few minutes of grinding I'm hearing some noise from the cutting wheel. It's not bearings, the pocket bolts are slowly working themselves loose on 4 different pockets. Grinding stops....off to the hardware store for a 1/2" hex head and a breaker bar to tighten them down....hmmm.....WTH happened to the hardware store that used to be in this town? Grrrr...back to the site, fortunate enough to borrow tools from the public works barn (next to where we're grinding). Get it tightened up as much as possible without a breaker bar, and finish site one. As we're leaving I discover that Tree Target had set his drink, smokes, and phone in a great spot. Behind the trailer tire in the shade. Oops.
Off to site two, already down 1 pair of pants, 1 cell phone, 1 heirloom cig case, and a drink. Big silver maple stump that was live a week ago, but looks like it's been dead for years (except an inch of green wood around the outside edge) It's grinding quick and easy. Until the bolts start backing out again.
Heading in to springfield for the next job, so hoping I can finish this stump and get tools on the way to the next one. Yeah....right. Few minutes later it loses a bolt...Luckily, borrow tools from the guy across the street (who I gave a couple loads of wood last week), and finally get the other bolt out and pockets off. But not before Tree Target gets his revenge for me running over his stuff...he conveniently dropped the saftey bar on my head as we were battling the bolt. The lump is almost gone already.
Vermeer is about 15 miles away...get there, get a new pocket and yellow jacket, and two pocket bolts. But they're sold out of 1/2" hex heads. So we leave Vermeer and head for my house, to get the tools I should have had with me in the first place. Finally back to site 2, and get the grinding head back in shape. But not before losing one of the new bolts, and spending 15 minutes to find it. Duh. Playin catch up now.....gonna end up a loooooooong day.
Get to site 3...sweetgum stump with running roots covering an area comparable to a parking space. Got the 252 and my lil Praxis both going. Until the Praxis runs outa gas. Oh, and I forgot to put my backpack blower in the truck. So TT goes for gas and his electric blower. Finally finish that one, and get the site cleaned up.
So do I sound more retarded than a Monkey bangin a football yet?
Daylight is gettin short, and still 2 jobs to go. Get to #4, and knock out six stumps quick with both grinders. Pulling the 252 off the last stump and headed for the trailer. On a sidehill. With the grinding head on the downhill side. Double Duh. Have you seen how much smoke a stumper blows when it's laying on it's side? It's alot. Shut 'er down quick. Got it uprighted in about 3 minutes, and let it sit. Smoked a bit when I fired it back up, but cleared up quick as the oil burned out. Still not good.
Job #5? Na, screw that man.....I'm done. Those stumps will still be there when I get the urge to grind another stump. It might be a while, though.
Usually my workday goes smoothly, and is planned out pretty well, even if it's at a too slow pace until my equipment situation smooths out. Soon. Very soon I hope. Should have my new to me chip truck title tomorrow, and my chipper's been in the shop for too long already.
Hopefully I got out all the dumbassedness in one long, rough day.