Driving T-posts

[bja105]

Bought a tractor with a loader this winter, a Ford 4610, 52 PTO horsepower. It has already been handy, I am happy. I was told that I can use the loader to push steel T-posts into the ground. I tried yesterday, with mixed success. It is a two person operation, one to run the loader, one to hold the post. I got the post in so far, then the front end comes up and the post flexes. I have a little divot in the bottom of the bucket from where the pallet forks attach, that held the top of the post from sliding. I just couldn't get the posts in deep enough for what I needed yesterday.

There is a chance that the ground is still frozen down there, I didn't dig it. I also have some sandstone around.

Any tips for installing posts with a tractor? I had hoped that I could even push sharpened wooden posts with the loader, but that seems unlikely in my soil.

I am thinking about this now, since my elbows and shoulders are sore from using my post pounder.

 

[DutchHenryBrown]

I use a Rohrermfg.com t-post driver for my fence line work and have been happy with it one person operation and in my rocky soil works ok.

 

[Oiltech]

Subscribed

 

[Bird]

I've seen posts driven with front end loaders on larger TLBs and I found I could do it with my 27 hp Kubota . . . but only if the ground was very wet and soft. In other words it wouldn't work 99 and 44/100% of the time with smaller tractors.

 

[SSdoxie]

The ability to push post in with loader depends on firmness of soil and weight of loader/front end of the tractor. It doesn't always work. I have done this by myself, starting the posts by hand just enough to keep them standing straight then drive along push them in. It works best with 2 people. When I have a helper I slip a piece of pipe/light tubing over the post (tubing is cut to length I want the post out of the ground) then start pushing it in. The bucket moves in an arc going up and down, so push it part way then raise bucket enough for post to spring back vertical to different contact spot on bucket then push again. Depending on length of post and depth you may have to repeat this last step a couple times to keep post straight or from bending.

Another tip: Cut a length of tubing the height you want the posts to be and slip in over the post, when bucket touches tubing post is at desired depth.

 

[teg]

Soil moisture helps so does a bucket with rocks or soil. A little extra weight in the bucket...

 

[Notforhire]

I have driven many T posts with my FEL. I have bent a few, but most of the time they go in no problem. I have done this using a S130 Bobcat, and a Kubota L3240, as well as my 5055E.

My wife holds the post, and I'll slowly lower the bucket until it starts into the ground and will support itself. After my wife moves to a safe distance I continue to let the bucket push it in.
Putting a big rock in the bucket helps, and making sure the top of the T post is against a reinforced area keeps from denting the bucket bottom.
I have struck the post by raising the bucket about a foot and dropping it quickly, but most of the time it isn't necessary.

As far as sharpened wood posts go, I have pushed them in with my neighbors crawler loader, with a rock in the bucket. I wouldn't even attempt it with my tractor.

Best, Bill

 

[MikePA]

I tried yesterday, with mixed success. It is a two person operation, one to run the loader, one to hold the post. I got the post in so far, then the front end comes up and the post flexes. I have a little divot in the bottom of the bucket from where the pallet forks attach, that held the top of the post from sliding. I just couldn't get the posts in deep enough for what I needed yesterday.

There is a chance that the ground is still frozen down there, I didn't dig it. I also have some sandstone around.

Any tips for installing posts with a tractor? I had hoped that I could even push sharpened wooden posts with the loader, but that seems unlikely in my soil.

T-posts - Mixed success is standard with t-posts. It's a function of the soil, how wet the soil is and the weight of the front end of your tractor. I've slipped a hand post driver over the T post to increase the contact area with the FEL It made it a little easier to line up, but nothing worked well. Hit a rock that you can't push through, or displace (not likely) and you wont go any deeper. Plus, it can be dangerous, to the helper and the tractor, if the T post springs out from under the FEL.

Wooden posts - Sharpened or not, forget about it. You're trying to displace a lot more soil than a T post.

I ended up buying a hydraulic, 3ph post driver that drove wooden posts (4" x 4", unsharpened) and, with an adapter, T posts.

 

[wolc123]

I find driving "T" posts by hand, with a good pile-driver, to be a relatively easy, one-man operation. I am a big, strong guy, and that helps me stay that way. I can not imagine a tractor/loader being very effective, compared to the pile-driver. Besides keeping you in shape, it uses no fuel. I often have some difficulty lining up a helper, and it seems that they would be at considerable risk of hand injury. I sure would not want to squish my wife or kids hands (my usual helpers). Also, tractor access, in some of my fenced areas, would be a problem. By the way, I find pulling them by hand even easier, with one of them cheap, Northern Inc, post pullers. Not a real smart use of a tractor/loader in my book.

 

[TerryR]

I'm an old, wimpy, 72-year old and I also find them easy to drive with a hand-held pile driver, even in our rocky soil. I can't imagine how trying to maneuver a FEL in place would be easier.

Terry