Field Fence Installation Tool

[Pks]

This is the tool I made when I installed a field fence in my yard. The fence is general purpose field fence from Tractor Supply. The fence is 330 ft long and 4 ft high. The spool was about 100 pounds.

I used the tool to hold the spool of fence while I pounded the T-posts into the ground. Two motorcycle tie-downs were used to hold the fence straight and very tight while I fastened the T-posts to the fence. The tie-downs looped around the ROPS support on the tractor's right side and then back to 2- 1x3s that sandwiched the wire fence.

 

[Joesgoats]

Peter, an interesting solution. A couple of questions: the diagonal piece that the tie downs hold on to--is it just resting on the PTO or some other part or is it attached? Couldn't tell from the pic. Also, the bottom piece that keeps the roll on the vertical spindle, how is that attached?

I'm looking to install fencing for our goats and sheep and don't want to spend huge amounts on the tools. Your solution looks perfect.

 

[Pks]

The single blue tiedown seen in the first photo (near the top), is wrapped around the top of the ROPS bar and around the top section of the wood diagonal member-which is a 2x4. This tiedown holds the weight of the spool and diagonal 2x4.

The diagonal 2x4 is pined into the same location as the top link for the mower and rear blade. It must be pinned otherwise it'll move around.

The other 2 tiedowns (red) are seen in the second photo.

The bottom piece that keeps the roll on the vertical spindle is a 2x4 that spins with the roll. It sits upon a 26 inch drawbar. This type of drawbar has about a dozen holes along its length. I put a 5/8x6 inch lag bolt through the center hole, through a 1/2 inch hole in the "bottom piece" and into a 1/2 inch hole in the center of the spindle (which is a 4x4). The lagbolt was tight in the 4x4 and 2x4 "bottom piece" so it would force the wooden components to spin together ontop of the drawbar. I used two washers on each side of the drawbar and placed a dab of grease between them.

The top pivot was the hardest to make. It's a 2x8x12 with a 9/16 hole through the center of its 2 inch dimension.

I'll get the measurements of all the pieces tonight and post them.

This system allowed me to install more than 350 feet of field fence all by myself.

I paid $80 for the fence, $1.80 for each metal post (spaced 10 feet apart). The T-post pounder ranges in price from $15 to $45 depending on who is selling it. I borrowed my neighbor's pounder.

For each corner, I installed a 5" cedar post and a diagonal braces. I used a 2 handled post hole digger. I got lucky-my yard is all sand.

A word of caution about the sheep...my sister lost one when it hung itself on a portable sheep pen. Make certain that the smallest head won't go through the open squares in the fence. My puppy was able to fit through for a while. But we kept an eye on her back then.

Peter

 

[MarkV]

Peter,
Well done! I love it when they don't make an attachment for the tractor to do what we want, we still find a way to spend time on the tractor. Or as I tell my wife, "Honey, I am not having fun, I am working."/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

MarkV

 

[jdkid]

Hi ya
sure beats kickin it out along the ground. we used to roll out the netting in Oz by hand then we had a block 2 2x4 hard wood that had been routed(?) with a grove in the middle (to grip the wires better like T&G ) a heap of bolts say 1 each 8 inchs with a lever welded on each nut (1 inch bolts) to make it faster doing up then 3 chains to make a "Y" 2 short ones top and bottom long one back to drawbar one watched the fence one on tractor driveing keep pulling till kinks were almost out of wire (little kinks in wire when made )then staple to end post (tight ,v tight) back tractor back, take off blocks tie off fence ,have beer ,job done
catch ya
JD Kid

 

[Pks]

At last I was able to measure the components of the fencing tool.

Attached, is a file that has a schematic and general dimensions. Please note that all joints are able to pivot. The 4x4 spool axle has a 6" lag bolt in each end so it and the 2x4 support can pivot. These tend to unscrew after a while so keep a socket wrench nearby.

There are 3 files that hold the schematics.

 

[Pks]

This is one of the two details.

 

[Pks]

This is the second detail.