Help hooking up post driver

[wayupnth]

I am looking for some tips/ideas to hook up a post driver. The unit requires a hydraulic feed into a single action piston. The return goes directly into the reservoir. The return of fluid needs a very low resistance path or the fluid gets too hot. I am using a JD 4520 which has a direct connection to the hydraulic reservoir for the backhoe so I am all set there.

For an infeed, I have a power beyond and a 3rd SCV piped to the rear of my tractor. I have a hydraulic top tilt hooked to the 3rd SCV so I can adjust the post driver's angle on slopes. If I unplug the power beyond for an infeed to the post driver, since the return is into the reservoir, the 3pt hitch doesn't work so I can't use lift the driver to move it to the next post.

JD makes an electronic diverter to use the loader joystick as a 4th and 5th SCV but I didn't really want to spend the $1200 plus installation for an intermittent use. I wasn't sure if I could use a mechanical selector valve to divert flow from either the power beyond (not sure if this is a good idea) or the 3rd SCV into the post driver. I think that would work although it still would require some work. I don't think there is an easy answer but I am open to suggestions.

Gary

 

[RickB]

I would use either a manual or electric diverter to select either the top tilt or driver lift circuit. You have no need to use both simultaneously. $1200 for an electric diverter is absurd, they are available for about a third of that; or less. I would not use the power beyond circuit, as the hitch is disabled whan the PB is in use.