mounting post pounder on front end loader

fuzzytomcat · Jun 29, 2011

Hi to all... currently mounting a 3 point hitch post pounder on my front end loader bale forks. has anybody else done this? and is there something I should be aware of? I have some pictures and i'm going to attempt to upload.

Mike

allenr · Jun 30, 2011

I reckon it should work fine.

It may be wise to weld an end into each end or the transverse RHS (square tube) as these like to tear out especially as there will be strain and jarring.

I didn't check - how will you keep the unit from sliding on or off the forks?

fuzzytomcat · Jun 30, 2011

allenr good questions....if I start having problems with tearing I may have to upgrade the tubing size. as far as the sliding off the forks, I was going to bolt to the forks but since I need structural support on the back end of the pounder Ill bolt there instead or pin, trying to make it easy to attach.

BeezFun · Jun 30, 2011

My pounder sits on it's own feet once I have it in position. If I forget to lower it and take the weight off the 3pt hitch it shakes the tractor all over the place and puts quite a load on the back of the tractor. I'd suggest trying to duplicate that functionality by putting some kind of legs on the pounder, then you could lower it onto those legs and take the load off your forks and the weldments that are supporting the pounder. The legs are very simple, they're just square tubes with plates welded on the bottom that slide up or down inside another square tube. There's a bolt that you tighten when they drop on the ground to make them rigid. If you're on level ground you can usually set them once and they pretty much work all the time.

I also assume you have some way to adjust the post to plumb independent of the terrain. If the tractor is on crooked ground, you need to be able to move the post in two directions to plumb it. Can't tell from pictures how you would do that.

fuzzytomcat · Jun 30, 2011

Beezfun thanks for the info... I like the feet idea I'm certain there will be some bouncing around and using feed is a great idea :thumbsup:I do have two way adjustment...tilt forwards or back and side ways so all good there.

fuzzytomcat · Jul 7, 2011

finished and everything seems to be working OK the whole install was kind of a rush job as I need to get some fencing done ASAP.
two more pictures one of the sump and one with the ram in the air.

BeezFun · Jul 7, 2011

Interested to see a video if you ever get the chance. I think you've approached this differently than my pounder's operation. Mine uses hydraulics to raise the ram against force of a huge spring. Then return hydraulics from cylinder gets dumped directly into tank to allow spring contraction and gravity to pull down the ram head. This requires large return line plumbed directly into tank, can't be any resistance or it diminshes downward force of ram, PITA. Yours looks like hydraulics power both the downstroke and upstroke, seems like much better approach. But you still must have to get that return flow discharged really quickly, or you'll limit the speed of downward motion. Or do you have some kind of secondary reservoir that captures the discharge?

fuzzytomcat · Jul 8, 2011

Hi Beezfun
I can shoot a short vid as I do have a good video camera? The hyd cylinder is only single acting and the weight of the hammer is the only thing bringing the hammer down. It comes down really fast! I was surprised as it caught me off guard, I had the hammer up in the air and dropped it and before I could catch her it I rocked my whole tractor? yikes.
I used a 1 inch return line which dumps into a sump at the back of the tractor.. I was concerned that the sump might be too far from the pounder to work properly, regardless it doesnç¨š seem to be a problem; The hyd cylinder is not very big in diameter so I believe the 1 inch lines are acting as a sump to some extent. Raining cats and dogs today but going to be pounding some posts next week will try and make a small vid. I still need to add some feet as I like that idea of yours, not only will it stabilize the pounder while in operation they will support the pounder when its off the tractor.

BeezFun · Jul 8, 2011

Rain is good for fence pounding. They go into damp soil like butter. One thing I discovered was making a very shallow point on the posts helped a lot in areas with really tough soil or lots of rocks. They say not to do that because supposedly it causes the post to head off crooked, but that was not my experience. Of course it's a PITA to make the point so I wouldn't do too many that way.