Son of a Beech

[stevebullman]

lots of fun today.....felled 4 big beech trees alongside a road with TM, deadwooded 1.
3 of the trees had meripilus. 1 had meripilus, polyporous squamosis, and a 3rd fungus i couldnt id. possible coriolus.

 

[stevebullman]

We pulled the trees over with this mark2 matador...believed to be the only working one in this country....the only other one known is apparently is australia

 

[stevebullman]

this one probably could have stayed up a few more years

 

[stevebullman]

this one was long overdue

 

[stevebullman]

not much holding wood on these!

 

[stevebullman]

BigA felling with the 660

 

[stevebullman]

extensive decay in these

 

[stevebullman]

This is the a rare photo opportunity....the first fork broke off when the tree landed exposing an old pruning wound which had been covered by about 5inches of callous tissue

 

[stevebullman]

another angle

 

[Peter McS]

nice work Steve. I love matadors. Wish they had power stearing though

 

[stevebullman]

this pic shows how far beneath the surface the old cut surface was

 

[stevebullman]

one more of the matador in all its glory.
the winch is rated to 30ton, but the owner says it's actually nearer to 90

 

[stevebullman]

last but not least, the matador cab, with all the mod cons

 

[stevebullman]

thanks pete. not actually driven it myself, but i can imagine. the thing weighs 8ton i think he said

 

[Peter McS]

They are an interesting drive, no syncro on those box's. Gotta to remember not to hook your thumbs around the wheel as you will dislocate them if you hit a big bump or hole. Nice toy to have access too.

 

[Rupe]

Did it have ground anchors?

Did you stop the traffic or just wing it?

Did you only have one cone?!!

 

[stevebullman]

yep one cone...how many do you use?
haha
we had full traffic management with lights, set up by a TM company. we flicked the lights on red after the gob was in and ready for the back cut.
and yes it does have ground anchors.

 

[matty]

cool pics never had the privallage of working with a matador,and to think that no respectable felling outfit worked with out one in days gone by when there was still plenty of big timber about..reminds me of those men mud and machines books.

 

[moss]

Great series. Sorry to see those beauties go down. What's causing these beeches to be so vulnerable to fungus invasion? Is it inevitable or is it the location by the road?

Very interesting to see the one that was just starting to rot in the center. Was it obvious assessing that particular tree that something was going bad?

Thanks!
-moss

 

[jamie]

we have an old matador, i've seen it out once in 4 years. most trees will come over on a winch on a mog or the MBtrac 1500 if its out.

nice pics love the crash when a big un hits the ground

Jamie.