Locust post into hole

[randy41]

I have an 18' locust post that I want to stick into a hole so it will be standing up like a utility pole, which it is destined to be. Its too heavy for me lift on the top end and walk it up (maybe after lunch I'll feel stronger). I have a tractor with a boom pole but no FEL.
Any ideas how I can do this?

 

[MMagis]

I don't have any specific ideas, other than suggesting you have some help no matter how you go about it.

 

[/pine]

maybe this will give you some ideas...

YouTube - Building Stonehenge - This Man can Move Anything

 

[VALENT]

that is well worth watching

 

[radioman]

i say that if the hole is elongated on one side for pole to slide down to bottom of hole and be already in at a angle, then you can pick up the end of tractor pulling. be there there is a static line in opposite side you pulling from to prevent falling over.

 

[randy41]

I like radioman's idea but maybe I'll wait until my sons are here tomorrow or thursday and we can muscle it up together. If that stonehenge guy wants to come by and help out he sure is welcome.

 

[turnkey4099]

Radioman's way is how I did it but I had the advantage of having a high bank above the hole to start wiht. It helped to put a 2x6 down the hole to let the butt of the pole slide down it vice digging into the side of the hold. The "elongation" was made only half the depth of the hole.

Harry K

 

[Lineman North Florida]

Back in the old days when we had to set a pole that was not truck accessible we would use what we called a dead man, which is a rough cut 2by6 with a u-shaped piece of metal on one end the 2by6 is about 4' long, 2 men pick up the top of the pole one man puts the dead man under the pole then the 2 men get off the pole, it is then resting on the dead man,this is repeated again and the dead man is slid further down the pole towards the hole after a couple of times of this the pole is almost ready to slide in the hole, we also used what we call a butt board which is a 2by6 about 8' long,set it in post hole before standing up pole and when pole butt hits board it will help it slide right into hole and not dig into dirt on side of hole. We have set up to 45' wood poles weighing up to 1500lbs this way, although the bigger the pole the more people we needed to pick it up the first time, setting an 18' pole is doable with 2 men using this method, I just hope I described it good enough for you to envision.

 

[randy41]

Yes. Good description. We will try this tomorrow.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

Did you get your pole set? If so how did it go?