Loader Using FEL to set fencing T post

[Freds]

I came up with a thingamajig a few years ago for setting T posts with my FEL. I could have sworn I posted the pics here, but I can't find it now.
But yeah, I used to do it every winter for my snow fence. No problem using the FEL.

 

[Runner]

I start them with the manual post driver then, finish up with the pallet forks.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I guess it depends on the size of your tractor whether or not to put weight in the bucket. With my tractor, it isnt needed and only one time did I actually put more than the weight of the bucket itself on the post to push it in the ground. If you have problem with lifting the front end when pushing the post in, then definitely load in some dirt or other ballast. Remember that unless you use a stiffener pipe those T post will bend quite easily if the soil is really hard. I did have to pound a couple of them in because they started to bow when I pushed them. A dozen or so taps with the bucket and I got them to go on down. It was likely a small rock that I pulverized with the tapping.

 

[texasjohn]

I built 3 metal pipe sleeves of different lengths for different length T posts.
welded a cap on one end of each.
Put post on ground where it is needed, slip sleeve over post, hold assembly, have buddy drive tractor FEL over end of sleeve and press gently on sleeve, back off for safety, slowly lower FEL to drive post into ground. Arc of FEL requires repositioning a time or two. Select sleeve for post to be driven, drive until bottom of sleeve is at ground level to achieve equal height posts.

works like a charm... if a rock is hit, sometimes tapping the top of the sleeve with FEL can beak thru... if not, then the post is truly solidly in the ground...which was the objective anyway, wasn't it.