Post driver

[russalabama]

I have a HD8 that my late Dad bought in about '75 or so. Man, that's a great tool. We mounted it on the front of a trike front end 544 Farmall International. Left it on all the time versus how we should have taken it off when unused, and running the tractor for years raking and teddering hay allowed the bouncing to fatigue the metal around the to/fro and left/right adjustment head on the table. Finally it all just came apart last year. I'm about to start fencing again and am going to get it welded up again. I wouldn't mind getting it on a front end loader of one of the tractors. I have a lot of fencing to work on that I want to leave up, but add new wires to it (where its on tree and hedge lines). It makes me want to figure out how to get a skidsteer or pin-on mount for a loader set up so that I can tilt the driver out horizontal, drop it down on the other side of a fence, and have the open channel face the fence, so as to drive a post on the opposite side of an existing fence from the tractor. One guy on that side, the other guy on the tractor, and going down the fence line (with the posts already pitched over to be put in).

 

[msmith]

I would love to have the hydro tilt like you guys have, but the crank is working for now.

A lot of the old farmers around here used to put them on the front of a trike tractor. Worked really well. I am going to eventually have mine mounted to my fel.

 

[DT86]

The one I just bought has a ssqa plate added but it doesn't interfere with the 3 point hitch. Don't know if they meant for it to be that way or if it just worked out that way. All it would need is longer hoses to be used up front.

 

[russalabama]

I would love to have the hydro tilt like you guys have, but the crank is working for now.

A lot of the old farmers around here used to put them on the front of a trike tractor. Worked really well. I am going to eventually have mine mounted to my fel.

Yep, the hand cranks all kept working fine on ours... I'd rather have hydraulic tilts too tho... Especially on my very hilly ground areas. Neglect in leaving the cylinder extended and unused in an open shed (not rained on, but moisture prone) caused a lot of rust on the rod. We got a seal from an online dealer and a machinist friend ran the rod in a lathe and used emmery cloth on it. So I put a coat of grease and a rag around the seal and run some emmery cloth on the rod to take any rust high spots down when I use it. Should have changed the rod while I had it apart... Hundred or two bucks for it then, so Pop went thrift route on the seal. Great design on the driver. The trike front end is nice as you can change left to right so quick and dial in to the spot. Takes an hour or more to put on and take off, tho, and the weight rack has to come off or go on in the exchange. Btw, I checked on getting a whole new table and it was nearly half of what a new HD8 manual adjust model, with three point mounts, would cost. So... I guess it's either weld this one or cough up for a new one.

 

[russalabama]

The one I just bought has a ssqa plate added but it doesn't interfere with the 3 point hitch. Don't know if they meant for it to be that way or if it just worked out that way. All it would need is longer hoses to be used up front.


View attachment 424653

Man, I like that approach. Best of both worlds. I've wanted to get my L4400 hooked to mine, and on the front would be best... that little 4wd will go anywhere and would be ideal for a fencing tractor. It's loader came without quick attach, so I'd have to grind off the bucket stops to use the aftermarket kit to go quick attach. I keep thinking of selling that tractor, but it's the only 4wd I have and is handy in tight spots.

 

[DJ54]

I got replacement springs for my HD-8 through Kencove. Local dealer had to order them, and said 7-10 days. Called Kencove, and they had them here in 2 days, and for way less money.

Electric Fence, High Tensile Fencing Supplies

 

[russalabama]

kencove... That's who I got the seal from... Couldn't remember the name till you mentioned it.... but I didn't check on the table there. I will give them a call today. Thanks for the reminder.