$150.00 post driver.

[Shield Arc]

Went to California to help my brother-n-law build a hydraulic post driver. We incorporated the back of the fork lift attachment I built for him.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/welding/347241-fork-attachment-build.html?highlight= The weight is just under 300-pounds.
He has 20-acres of shale rock. So we took an old truck axle he had, and ground a point on it. When he hits some shale, he will just drive the axle in the hole to break up the shale rock. Then drive the T-post.
I didn't get a lot of detail pictures. We built a follower that slides under the striker plate for T-posts, and for wood posts. It works great!:cool2:

 

[OkieDave]

Is it an impact driver, or does it use hydraulic downforce?

 

[Shield Arc]

We plumbed into to the hose used for his grapple. The hydraulic cylinder picks up the weight, then he pushes the other button, and the weight free falls. The hydraulic cylinder is single acting.

 

[BHD]

with 300 pounds one drop would all most drive a t post, 4 feet in the ground, around here, (unless the ground was froze or extremely dry)

my wood post driver (think the weight is in the 300 pound range) and this spring will drive a 6" wood post in just a few drops,

but when the ground is dry I would drive a 3" steel pipe with a taper point to break rocks and make a pilot hole.

that must be some hard ground for that much of a driver for a tee post,

 

[Mysfyt]

Awesome build, SA! That's a very clever set up!

Needs a loggers eye on the cable, though.:laughing:

 

[Shield Arc]

I just rolled a farmer's eye on the dead end.

 

[imabass]

I built one for the bed of my truck. I think the weight is about 330#. I drive square and round corner post 4' in the ground with ease.

For T posts I have a hydraulic jackhammer and pipe t post adapter for using the jackhammer.

 

[EddieWalker]

I'm confused on how the cylinder pics up the weight and then releases it. Any chance of a video of it in operation?

 

[dickfoster]

Went to California to help my brother-n-law build a hydraulic post driver. We incorporated the back of the fork lift attachment I built for him.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/welding/347241-fork-attachment-build.html?highlight= The weight is just under 300-pounds.
He has 20-acres of shale rock. So we took an old truck axle he had, and ground a point on it. When he hits some shale, he will just drive the axle in the hole to break up the shale rock. Then drive the T-post.
I didn't get a lot of detail pictures. We built a follower that slides under the striker plate for T-posts, and for wood posts. It works great!:cool2:

Let me know the next time you're out this way. You can swing by and build something for me anytime. Wanna try your hand at a stump grinder? I could also use from forks and I'm sure I can think up some other stuff too.

 

[Shield Arc]

I'm confused on how the cylinder pics up the weight and then releases it. Any chance of a video of it in operation?

My brother-n-law has a grandson who could take a video of it working. And post it. I was concerned that the 3/8-inch opening in the cylinder, and 3/8-inch hose would not be able to drain the hydraulic oil back fast enough. Boy was I wrong! The weight falls very fast.

Let me know the next time you're out this way. You can swing by and build something for me anytime. Wanna try your hand at a stump grinder? I could also use from forks and I'm sure I can think up some other stuff too.

Good deal!:thumbsup: I'm always looking for projects to build. But I'm terrible at designing things. You draw it up, chances are I can build it.

 

[imabass]

I'm confused on how the cylinder pics up the weight and then releases it. Any chance of a video of it in operation?

The hydraulic ram will move the lever arm away from the mast. As this happens it will pull the cable and lift the weight. This is built almost exactly like mine but I would say better.

 

[Shield Arc]

Incase anybody is wondering how I built the swivel so the mask will be plumb to the earth when the tractor is setting on uneven ground. The loader will take care of everything in line with the tractor. The gimbal will rotate left or right with the use of the top link.

 

[bcp]

A similar swing arm weight dropper is the Mini-Ram

and there is a log splitter conversion.

Mini-ram log splitter

Bruce

 

[stuckmotor]

Looks great Shield Arc. I'm with Eddie on the video and like you, every time I've thought about building one I wondered whether the cylinder would empty fast enough for a good drop.

 

[quicksandfarmer]

A similar swing arm weight dropper is the Mini-Ram


Bruce

I can't believe he puts his hand under the weight to hold the post. Seems like a lot of ways that could end badly. I'd have a pair of tongs or something to hold the post up while the pounding starts. Or a piece of coat-hanger wire or something.

 

[Shield Arc]

I can't believe he puts his hand under the weight to hold the post. Seems like a lot of ways that could end badly. I'd have a pair of tongs or something to hold the post up while the pounding starts. Or a piece of coat-hanger wire or something.

Try standing under this when the pile hits a void, and free falls 30 to 40-feet. 30-tons of pile, and 10-tons of hammer.
Concrete Technology Corporation - Piling Properties

 

[CDN Farm Boy]

Never seen one of these before. Thanks for posting SA. Now I have another item to add to the build list.

 

[kevin37b]

Try standing under this when the pile hits a void, and free falls 30 to 40-feet. 30-tons of pile, and 10-tons of hammer.
Concrete Technology Corporation - Piling Properties

Does it separate the boom from the crane ?

 

[CDN Farm Boy]

Looking at your design a little closer and comparing it to the video Bruce linked, It would appear that you don't have a "follower plate" that rests on the top of the post and slides on the mast and instead the foot is welded solid to the mast? While yours is a more simple build, is there any worry about beating the foot off the bottom of the mast? Do you just set the whole thing on top of the post, put FEL in float and drop the weight while compensating for the arc of the FEL as it lowers?

While yours would have a consistent stroke length which would result in equal force hits, you would be limited in how long of a post you could drive by how high your FEL lifts.

 

[Shield Arc]

Does it separate the boom from the crane ?

The crane operator just releases the brakes on the hammer, and pile line. But when the pile stops, or slows down he hits the brakes.

Looking at your design a little closer and comparing it to the video Bruce linked, It would appear that you don't have a "follower plate" that rests on the top of the post and slides on the mast and instead the foot is welded solid to the mast?

The follower slides up and down the C-channel. There is a bolt with a double nut at the bottom of the C-channel so the follower doesn't fall off.