help with large posts with bucket

[platinumaa]

I have an ls r4041 does anyone have any suggestions on how to secure an 8x8x18 long wood post to the bucket, or grapples? I am building an entry gate and the tractor would be a huge help to raise and lower the post in vertical position. These are decorative posts so I cant bang them up

Thanks for the help!

 

[ovrszd]

Lay the pole on the ground in front of the tractor in the same direction as the tractor. Roll the bucket completely forward and set it on the pole, leaving enough pole under the tractor or below the cutting edge of the bucket to allow the pole to be set in the bottom of the hole before the bucket edge hits the ground. A chain holding the top of the pole and a chain holding the bottom. Just don't leave too much pole under the bucket or you'll have trouble getting it picked up.

 

[Underdog57]

Nice!!!!!!! Thanks for the technique, very cool. I just had some more projects pop into my head!

 

[ovrszd]

That's what's great about this place. If you can't dream up a new project or modification to your equipment just browse around in here and something will pop up!!!

 

[MESSMAKER]

Never ceases to amaze me what can be done with a tractor, loader, chain and a little imagination.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I have various jibs that I use to extend the reach of a loader. Even then, some of my projects have been kind of scary, like those pictures in this thread!

Sometimes I read through accident/fatality reports. Amazing how many of them all centre around a farmer and a chain!

 

[ovrszd]

Scary to me that viewers would know more about what was going on than the operator.

 

[platinumaa]

OVR.. that is a fine idea.. thanks!

this is an entry gate, posts cant get banged up.. i guess i can put another piece of wood between cutting edge of buck and post, same on back side of post where chain goes around.

thanks again!

 

[texasjohn]

Been there, done that...that way...1 success, 2 failures

I had 3 wood poles to stick into the ground, holes dug...just needed to get them vertical and drop into the hole. I gotta warn you that there is a lot of things that can go wrong doing this. In my case, two of the 3 poles were too heavy for me to do it...it's amazing how many ways that a pole can slide sideways, cause hydraulics to reach their limit, etc....

Be sure to chain somehow so pole does not overbalance and come back on the tractor hood. Plenty of rear weight.

Be careful out there doing this...lots of leverage there.

 

[CurlyDave]

I set a 6"x6"x25' post about 3 years ago.

First I put an eye bolt, the cast one with a complete circle about 6" from the top of the post. At least 1/2" in diameter, I used 5/8". Tied two 35' ropes to it so we could keep the post vertical during the backfill part.

Dug the hole about 12-14" diameter and 5' deep. You will need a larger one probably 15-16" diameter, 5' deep minimum.

We dropped a 2'x8' about 7' long into the back of the hole to guide the post down. You will need a 2'x10" or 2"x12". Put a short 2"x12" on the ground in front of the post.

Put the post on the ground, on the short board in front of the hole with the base just over the front edge of the hole.

Now get your pickup truck and back it to the top of the post with 2 strong men in the bed. lift up the post and have the 2 guys in the truck bed pick it up as you back up the truck, straight at the hole. As you get closer and closer to the hole, these guys will lift the post more & more vertical. Two more guys pulling on the ropes on the other side of the hole helps. When we got it just past 45 degrees, the post will suddenly fall into the hole.

Now take out the guide board in the back. The post is almost vertical with the two ropes hanging down to the ground. Next I used one of the Pony brand wood clamps that you put on a piece of 3/4" pipe. I use a piece of pipe about 5' long, clamped this to the post and had a 4'+ piece of pipe that I could use to "clock" the post into the correct rotation. Now throw in a little dirt, clock the post where you want it, and then get 2 guys on the ropes so you can keep the post vertical while you fill the hole and tamp the fill.

No tractor, one end of the post is always on the ground, and very little danger.