Gas Powered Post Drivers

[Haoleguy]

I like how you have it all set up. Did you compare it to the Man Saver? My thinking is that if I was to spend $2,000 or more, I could get the Man Saver, an air compressor and a generator to run it for less and have an air compressor and generator for other things. I actually already have several air compressors and a small generator, but for welding up my corner braces, I need a bigger generator for my arc welder. I'm also wondering about using my tractor for something like this. Do you do a lot of mowing with your tractor and do you have to remove your mower when you pound posts? I hate removing my mower and was hoping to install my posts from the back of my pickup truck or Kawasaki Mule. Then the tractor isn't even used.

I like the ideas on how to improve my set up. For the galvanized line posts we used the lift of the 3 point hitch and a rope to raise and swing the pounder into place. The lift and swing needs a better solution but after 1440 posts it worked but I can say that it was tiring. For the black locust end posts(10ft) we used a heavy duty trailer pounder but the trick was getting my JD 5325 to lift the posts into place as those posts were super heavy. Took us a little more than a week to do 72 end posts.

 

[EddieWalker]

Hi Eddie - Yes I did compare with units like the Man Saver. There are 2 things about it that made me go a different route. First our posts start at 8ft and I couldn't figure out a way to hang onto something way over my head. The second is that I decided to go with a pounder that does rapid explosive short hits as opposed to long strokes and less frequent blows. That way it's hard to bend the post top and you can more easily keep the posts plumb and in line with the other posts. It also seems to vibrate rocks out of the way better. In fact my hydraulic pounder is based on Atlas Copco's jack hammers. We did use a large long stroke post pounder to drive in the black locust end posts....seen here .... EnoViti: Days of Pounding End Post .

I can see the benefits to the hydraulic pounder over the man saver in your description. I guess I'm just stuck on spending the extra money for something so fancy.

 

[TheMan419]

I have used the wedge lok's for some dog fencing. Makes for some pretty quick and quite strong corners.

I think Electrobraid was one of the first if not the first type of wire rope on the market? I have some poly/stainless in place nine years now that I got a good deal on that still looks good other than having some moss growing on it. When I went back to get more, it was not available and the rope I bought instead must have had a lesser grade of stainless wire because it has surface rust on it. Still carries a charge though. If memory serves, Electrobrade uses copper wire?

Don't know if they were the first, but yes copper wire. They also have the longest warranty on the market so I think that will be good.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

Eddie, did you ever get anything?

 

[EddieWalker]

No, I'm not even close to being ready for fencing yet. I'm still trying to clear my fence line. After the trees come out, the weeds take over faster then I can maintain them. My current plan is to just keep spraying round up there until I have to time to get the dirt smoothed out.

 

[C4Ranch]

Reviving this thread....

I see some gas powered ones on eBay for <$300... anyone have experience with one?

 

[MNBobcat]

I'll sell you mine. :thumbsup:

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

I'm looking to buy a t-post driver now if anyone's selling...
I'll probably end up with a Rohrer Mansaver if I have to buy new. Any current reviews/opinions would be appreciated.

 

[plowhog]

I'm looking to buy a t-post driver now if anyone's selling... I'll probably end up with a Rohrer Mansaver

I'm looking at this exact same unit. Would appreciate any reviews ....

 

[gsganzer]

I'm looking at them to. I keep going back and forth between the gas powered models or the pneumatic Rohrer. I'd really like to hear from some folks that have used the gas powered models. I know there're some cheap off-brands on Ebay with knockoff Honda engines, but I surmise they're junk and the cheap engines will just cause frustration, not to mention that repair parts are probably non-existant. So the Titan or Skidril are probably the models to have, but pricey. I've used the Rohrer before and it worked well, albeit a little clunky. Plus, I'd need to have my welder/generator to run my air compressor to run the Rohrer.

You could just bite the bullet and get one of these Propane Hammer Portability and simplicity

 

[ericm979]

Some of the Chinese Honda knockoffs like the Lifans are not all that bad. Parts are available. I don't know if the ones on the ebay post drivers are good.

 

[gsganzer]

I'm looking at this exact same unit. Would appreciate any reviews ....

I've used the Rohrer Mansaver, but I think it was an earlier model, because I don't remember all the shielding on the one I used. In fact, the one I used looked like a hand injury waiting to happen. But it worked well, not overly fast, but definitely quicker and easier than a hand pounder and it was relatively light, so it didn't require too people. It was a simple device that you could probably troubleshoot and repair yourself if it had any problems. It pounded the post in a clap.clap.clap fashion. The soil I was on was relatively stone free, so the posts went in without much trouble.

I would like to hear from folks that have used the gas models. Their faster beats per minute seem like they might work better with stony soil by vibrating through/past the rocks. Maybe I'm wrong.

 

[TheMan419]

Are you guys pushing in T-Posts or wood? For t-posts I have just used the tractor bucket with no issues. We have clay soil so all bets are off if it is dry out as then it is concrete and even using a manual post pounding tool is not going to work easily.

 

[two_bit_score]

I'm looking at them to. I keep going back and forth between the gas powered models or the pneumatic Rohrer. I'd really like to hear from some folks that have used the gas powered models. I know there're some cheap off-brands on Ebay with knockoff Honda engines, but I surmise they're junk and the cheap engines will just cause frustration, not to mention that repair parts are probably non-existant. So the Titan or Skidril are probably the models to have, but pricey. I've used the Rohrer before and it worked well, albeit a little clunky. Plus, I'd need to have my welder/generator to run my air compressor to run the Rohrer.

You could just bite the bullet and get one of these Propane Hammer Portability and simplicity

Might be a great tool but it's about $2,000 more than the ManSaver.

I already have a small compressor and a generator. But I'd like to set up a gas powered compressor and have everything on a small trailer.


.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

Whelp, I ordered a Mansaver 98E today. Need to get some more pasture fenced.

 

[oosik]

Hmmm........until today I've never even heard of a powered post driver of any kind. What MNBobcat has pictured has the same drawbacks as a PTO powered auger. Will only go where the tractor will go. In my situation that would eliminate, at least, one third of my fence line. Then you have all the fiddle/farting around - getting the tractor and pounder in the correct place. By the time you get everything positioned - I will have three T-133 already installed and be over the hill and out of sight.

When we came here in '82 I had to install one and a half miles of five strand barbed wire fence line around the 80 acres( 1320 x 2640 ). 670 - T-133 posts driven all with my 60 pound homemade manual pounder. With routine maintenance the fence is as good today as it ever was. Thank God that was 36+ years ago.............

 

[plowhog]

I bought the smallest Mansaver. Pounded a bunch of 6' T posts through rocky soil. Comments:

- Not perfect but WAY WAY WAY better than pounding by hand.
- Had trouble at first, a lot of trouble in hard rocky soil. Some posts would not start at all as the soil condition was really hard.
- Found that putting your foot on the "wing" of the T post to apply down pressure to start makes a huge difference. (that is in the instructions.)
- Operation was sometimes reliable and smooth, sometimes erratic. I was using a very small compressor and I think that is a compressor issue, not the mansaver.
- Marked the holes and soaked them a bit. Would run the hose over the "next" hole locations as I was installing a post. That worked much better.
- The comment about watching your hands and a potential hand injury is very relevant. Things are moving in a few directions at once and you need to be careful.
- In the end I had a nice looking fence installed.

I am going to put another fence up at another property. That property has really nice soil. I am guessing it will drive posts through that soil like going through butter. I would buy this again.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

I bought the smallest Mansaver. Pounded a bunch of 6' T posts through rocky soil. Comments:

- Not perfect but WAY WAY WAY better than pounding by hand.
- Had trouble at first, a lot of trouble in hard rocky soil. Some posts would not start at all as the soil condition was really hard.
- Found that putting your foot on the "wing" of the T post to apply down pressure to start makes a huge difference. (that is in the instructions.)
- Operation was sometimes reliable and smooth, sometimes erratic. I was using a very small compressor and I think that is a compressor issue, not the mansaver.
- Marked the holes and soaked them a bit. Would run the hose over the "next" hole locations as I was installing a post. That worked much better.
- The comment about watching your hands and a potential hand injury is very relevant. Things are moving in a few directions at once and you need to be careful.
- In the end I had a nice looking fence installed.

I am going to put another fence up at another property. That property has really nice soil. I am guessing it will drive posts through that soil like going through butter. I would buy this again.

Very much appreciate those tips! :drink:

 

[kenmac]

Interesting thread. I have a few T post I couldn't get installed. I'm going to have to rent a large hammer drill with a 1.5'' bit to drill through rock.
The rock covers a large area. It's sand stone so I shouldn't have a problem drilling it enough to install T post

Good luck with your drivers. I installed mine by manual hand driver

 

[two_bit_score]

Very much appreciate those tips! :drink:

I am looking forward to your pictures and evaluation. :shocked: