compactor post driver

dirt clod · Feb 12, 2012

I have a lot of tee posts to drive. cross fencing 162 acres worth. The soil here is sandy with hard clay below and roots. I've noticed pushing down with front loader in places where they want to bend they will drive if beat in. I think vibration/ impacts are needed to drive. I have this compactor 6-1/2 HP Compact Vibrator Plate. I was thinking of making a adapter to fit bottom and lift over t post with FEL. I would think it would work like jack hammer to drive in posts and would be self contained. Not to mention it is a tool I have already. Anyone else tried? opinions on if would or wouldn't work?

The It · Feb 12, 2012

dirt clod said:
I have a lot of tee posts to drive. cross fencing 162 acres worth. The soil here is sandy with hard clay below and roots. I've noticed pushing down with front loader in places where they want to bend they will drive if beat in. I think vibration/ impacts are needed to drive. I have this compactor 6-1/2 HP Compact Vibrator Plate. I was thinking of making a adapter to fit bottom and lift over t post with FEL. I would think it would work like jack hammer to drive in posts and would be self contained. Not to mention it is a tool I have already. Anyone else tried? opinions on if would or wouldn't work?

I'm not sure I'd be up for lifting/controlling that baby. But if your looking for design ideas, you might check out some of these:

Farm & Ranch Fence Installation Supplies
Fence Post Driver | Fence Post Driver | Fence Post Pounder IN | T post Driver IN
Shaver Post Drivers

dirt clod · Feb 16, 2012

FEL would be used to lift compactor

Tractor Seabee · Feb 16, 2012

Go to: fencepostdriver.com they have a pneumatic driver for $450. I have one and it works great. Small air compressor and small gen set in trailer w/ supplies and a work platform. I have all those anyway. They are an inovative small manufacturer, they may have experminted with a hydraulic on the same design oir could adapt readily. Call them you never know, great people to talk too. They sell direct. Report back on this.

Ron

bcp · Feb 16, 2012

Have you tried a closed-end pipe or tube the post just fits into, the same length as the post height you want? This would guide the post and keep it from bending. It can be either loose or attached to the bucket. Kind of like a manual t-post driver, but longer, and pressed down by the loader.

Bruce

midsetberg · Feb 17, 2012

bcp said:
Have you tried a closed-end pipe or tube the post just fits into, the same length as the post height you want? This would guide the post and keep it from bending. It can be either loose or attached to the bucket. Kind of like a manual t-post driver, but longer, and pressed down by the loader.

Bruce

This is what I did but I took it further and added a hydraulic cylinder on top of it to push it straight down since the loader does not go straight down when it is lowered - see here - works like a charm