Anyone drive T-posts with FEL?

[rmk700]

This looks like it would work good.

Striker TS Air Operated Post Driver - YouTube

 

[two_bit_score]

If you have an air compressor and generator you can use a man saver. Post Driver, T Post Puller, Post Pounder - Rohrer Manufacturing

 

[300UGUY]

I've used it quite a bit. I mark the depth I want to go to with a crayon, measured from the top. I bent a couple starting out, but if I go slow, it works well.

 

[94BULLITT]

I know a guy that bent the bucket on his tractor pushing in a post.

Sent from my GT-P3113 using TractorByNet

 

[Gary Fowler]

I know a guy that bent the bucket on his tractor pushing in a post.

Sent from my GT-P3113 using TractorByNet

That must have been a very thin bucket as my experience with T post is they will bend before a lot of pressure is on them when just pushing. Maybe he was trying to pound them in which likely would bend the bucket over time. There are wear plates under the bucket that would work well for pounding to prevent bucket damage.
I think a length of pipe over the Tee Post that is the same length as the installed post would help in preventing post bending when pushing them in. Stop pushing when the tee post is flush with the top of the pipe. I put in a couple hundred feet of T-post using the FEl and only bent one when it hit a large rock. I was able to straighten it with the tractor wheel to get the bow out and use it afterward. Soil was a bit wet and this might not work well in dry / hard conditions. I sure beat the heck of of a manual post driver which is what we started out with.

 

[stuckmotor]

For enough posts to hang no more than 200 yards of barbed wire, a $29.99 manual post driver might be less hassle. In my case, it'd be cheaper than having my wife line them up to use the bucket.
Stuck

 

[Ken45101]

I've tried the "push it with a bucket". It worked once or twice but is prone to failure with our ground.

I bought the Rohrer pneumatic driver. I haven't put in too many posts since I got it, but it seems to work well although I don't know about how well it goes through rock

Ken

 

[texasjohn]

Yes, do it all the time.
Solution to all problems noted so far is:
Get metal pipe just large enough to slip over post.
Cut pipe length so that when bottom end hits ground T post is driven to exact depth you want.
Pipe length prevents catastrophic bends in post.
Cap end of pipe so it is now a post driver. Weld or screw cap end on pipe.

Use flat of bucket, centered, to pressure post+pipe into ground.
Go slow, raise FEL every few inches to reposition pressure point and keep post reasonably straight. Keep FEL bottom almost flat.
Need ground person to position post+pipe. Have them hold just to get it started then back off.
Watch carefully. When a rock is hit, front wheels WILL start to come off ground. STOP immediately.

Drive post until pipe end touches ground. Move to next post.
Sometimes hard ground/small rocks can be penetrated by briefly tapping top of driver with FEL. Try it. if it works, continue, else live with it or move post.

Good luck...this is absolutely easiest/cheapest way to drive posts. Small investment, big returns.

 

[bcp]

As above, but you can fasten the pipe to the bucket with some kind of swinging joint. A second person on the ground swings the pipe aside, sticks a post inside, then sets the post bottom down on the ground. It is then pushed down until the bottom of the pipe touches the ground.

Hydraulic assisted:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEsksHbpGJo

Loader only, with short push tube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bNd5VMcql0

Bruce

 

[Kenneth in Texas]

and doing this doesnt dent the FEL?