Way off topic, but got a tractor question...

[txfireguy2003]

Okay guys, I've got a rather detailed question here. Dad just bought a new to him, 1985 John Deere tractor, 85 horse, pretty big, in great shape. We're working on rebuilding about 3000 feet of ranch fence around his property right now, and we're about to start pushing in T-posts. In the past, with his old tractor, we would use the boom from the post hole auger (mounts to the 3 point hitch and drill bit hangs down from it, driven by PTO shaft) to push the posts down. The old tractor was a 1956 Farmall with hydraulic cyliders to lift and lower the 3 point. The were dual acting cylinders, so they powered up and down. The new tractor seems to only power the arms up, and lets them coast down under the weight of the impliment that's attached to them. Once they are down, I can lift the boom up by hand. This tractor has what John Deere calls a "rock bar" lift attachment, where the lower arms of the 3 point are free floating, and attached to a pair of shorter arms that are controlled by a lever in the cab. When the lever is pulled back, the short arms rotate upwards, pulling on a pair of adjustable links, which in turn pull on the lower arms of the 3-point, lifting whatever empliment is attached. We cannot seem to get them to push down, only lift up. The empliment will drop under its own weight, but there is no downward force from the tractor. Is this a setting that we just don't have set right, or do John Deere tractors with the rock bar lift system not provide down force? I'm NOT looking forward to driving in a bunch of T-posts with the manual post driver! I can get the the auger to drill a hole, but we're worried that some of this hard ground will make even that impossible in some places. Need help and or suggestions soon, or I'm going to end up killing myself driving T-posts by hand.

[TMC50]

Man dont know what to tell you.. we had a similar thing at work where the lift in the back only went down with weight on it.... could never use it to drive post.... wish I had the answer..

[ratterrier]

There is no down pressure on new tractors, but the good news is there is an attachement that clamps to your post hole digger that lets you attach a extra remote hyda cyclinder to force the drill down thru hard digging, there are places that rent t post drivers that use a similar system. Get a copy of fast line magazine or just go to d and d in sequin texas and ask them about renting or buying a driver, they will prob know who rents if they dont themsleves. I would search for bobcats with a t post driver for rent and forget the tractor, prob save by renting vs buying the driver. Google t post drivers and look on ebay too good luck

[Randy]

If you have a front end loader on it, use the bucket to press them into the ground.

[quarterback]

Can you not push them in with the front end loader?



Edit: Sorry Randy, you beat me to it.

[Jaspro]

Nope no downward force from the 3-point. They make a t-pot driver though that mounts to the 3-point and has a ram that drives the post into the ground. My grandparents had on that would drive a 2" piece of tubing into solid rock.

[MQ32Shooter]

Got a 2004 JD 5303. Three point only moves down with the weight of the implement.

[CLR]

The gravity down and power up 3 point systems are the norm. There are not many tractors that were built with the power down system. You will have to drive your t posts by one of the methods mentioned above by other members.

[txfireguy2003]

Thanks for the info guys, I really appreciate it. Unfortunately, there is no front end loader on this machine (I told him to pick the one with the FEL, but he liked this one better for some reason) and the attachments for the 3 point that do drive posts are REALLY expensive. We found a hand held machine, like a mini jack hammer, that runs on the hydraulic remotes from the tractor and pounds the post in. It looked really cool and very efficient, but it was $1800! What we ended up settling on was a pneumatic one, that runs off a standard air compressor, the video showed them using it off of a contractor type portable compressor even, like a 3 gallon tank compressor. It uses 2.5 CFM at 70-80 psi. It's similar to the old manual drivers made from pipe and steel bars for handles, but this thing slides down over the post and the air pressure forces it up and drops the 30 pound hammer back onto the post 85 times a minute. Videos showed it driving a post 24" into the ground in about 30 seconds while the operator stood there and held it with one hand. Also saw an attachment for a hammer drill that supposedly would do it, but we felt that a heavier hammer would work better, so we ordered it. Should be here in a week or so and I'll update as soon as I get to use it. As far as the auger goes, it's working now, hopefully we don't hit any really hard ground. With all the rain we've had this year, it shouldn't be a big worry.

[Randy]

You think that post driver is expensive. Try pricing a new front end loader for a tractor like that.

[Tbar]

Google rental places in your area and start calling for a 3 pt fence post driver.............expand your search out 50-100 miles. It won't be easy to find but someone will have one.

They are worth every penny of the rental fee.




Tbar

[BTLowry]

If you have a front end loader on it, use the bucket to press them into the ground.

This ^^^^^^^

Had to replace some fence and my neighbor saw me driving the tposts with a manual driver. He brought his tractor over and we went to town and had about 300' of tposts in quick

[Breezy]

here's the one we use....works like a champ. Will drive a t-post in 3 seconds.

[M16]

here's the one we use....works like a champ. Will drive a t-post in 3 seconds.

That's nice. Who makes it and where can I get one?

[F250DSLPWR]

If your on the east side of I35 you probably won't have to much trouble using the tractor and your post hole digger for your holes and driving the T posts with a air powered driver. If your on the west side of I35 go get a belltec 3 point hydraulic drill - in Belton, Tx. It is expensive (about 6k), but you can drill a hole in solid limestone rock 3' deep in 10 minutes or less. (Ask me how I know). For the Tposts in solid rock / rocky hard ground, get the T post drill bit for the Belltec or get an electric SDS Max (you want the SDS Max) rotary hammer drill with a 30" long x 1.5" carbide bit. You can drill a hole for T posts in about 1-2 minutes. You might also search Craigs list, there is a guy who has the belltec and tractor who can drill your holes for you.