L6060 Tractor and Post Driver?

[kevshell]

I've run a lot of orange machines over the years and I'm in process of buying a zero turn. But we have a bunch of projects planned for the 20 acres we have in Montana. One of which is fencing the entire 20 acres in with post and board horse fence. I'll be planting around 900 posts just to do the perimeter and perimeter around the house. Originally I was going to buy a smaller tractor in the LX series until I started looking at some of the capacities and have now arrived at the likelihood of a L6060 to end up with a big enough tractor with the lift capacity I'm looking for on the loader. That brings me to the next project which is the fencing. I've done a little searching and haven't found anything providing any detail for post drivers on these tractors. Funny enough the dealership has not yet provided much for guidance on this yet either. My question is whether anyone here has any experience they can share regarding putting a post driver on the three-point hitch or on the quick attach on the loader to drive 5 to 6 in wood posts? I believe the tractor has more than enough power but it may come down to a hydraulics issue. Not sure. Thanks in advance.

 

[rc51stierhoff]

Good day.

It’s hilly where I live, but most certainly not mountains….we also have some glacial deposits and rocks. That being said anyone around us that drives and serious amount of posts, uses a skid loader or track loader…and that’s whether drilling or driving. Not sure if it’s the soil or amount of hydraulic flow needed, but even the fence companies use CTL/CWL. I’d look to see what your neighbors use.

as far as the L, that’s a nice machine. It’s be hard to go wrong with that IMO to take care of the place.

Good luck.

 

[Russell King]

See this site for three point versions

Shaver | Standard Post Drivers

there are versions for skid steer equipment but I don’t know if they will work on a tractor front end loader. They seem to need some weight and higher hydraulic flow.

 

[NCL4701]

I don’t have one. My brother has one on a JD comparable size to a MX5400. Hydraulics raise the driver and springs bring it down. He’s driving in sandy soil and it performs very well (according to him) with 6x6’s. When he first got it I told him that was fine for his sand hills property but good luck with that in my clay. He said the mfg said it would do it but . No sharpening, just a square end post. I know it’s made by Shaver because that’s what’s in the boom in the pic. I have no use for it so don’t know technical details.

If you need more info let me know and I’ll ask him about it, but it will be a few days. Hopefully someone who has one themselves will weigh in.

 

[mcmxi]

Funny enough the dealership has not yet provided much for guidance on this yet either.

Which dealer are you talking with? Of the three models that @Russell King posted links to, the required flow rates are 4, 12 and 15 gpm. The L6060 has a rated pump capacity of 9.4 gpm and 4.7 gpm for power steering. Oil pressure is used to raise the ram, and flow rate would control how fast you can cycle the hammer, but a call to Shaver for real-world performance would be a good idea.

Shaver has a lot of interesting videos showing their products on the back of some tractors. I watch a farmer in Ireland on YouTube and he has a post driver that he runs on the back of his MF. It's a 100hp+ tractor so not an issue, but it works really well.

 

[mcmxi]

View attachment 132841
I don’t have one. My brother has one on a JD comparable size to a MX5400. Hydraulics raise the driver and springs bring it down. He’s driving in sandy soil and it performs very well (according to him) with 6x6’s. When he first got it I told him that was fine for his sand hills property but good luck with that in my clay. He said the mfg said it would do it but . No sharpening, just a square end post. I know it’s made by Shaver because that’s what’s in the boom in the pic. I have no use for it so don’t know technical details.

If you need more info let me know and I’ll ask him about it, but it will be a few days. Hopefully someone who has one themselves will weigh in.

Wow! That thing sure is tall when it's fully extended.

 

[JohnDB]

... planting around 900 posts just to do the perimeter.... My question is whether anyone here has any experience they can share regarding putting a post driver on the three-point hitch or on the quick attach on the loader to drive 5 to 6 in wood posts? ....

Yes I have some experience both as a operator and employer of farm fencing contractors. A key question in your search would be whether you need sideshift so you can drive forwards parallel to the line of the fence, with the post driver offset to one side. If you have enough space for the tractor to staddle the (yet to be erected) fence line you won't need sideshift.

Another question would be whether you are doing it alone or with help. Every contractor I've seen putting in serious numbers of post has 2-person team - mentioning this in case it relates to useability of controls, positioning etc.

Hydraulics... there are (or were at least at this end of the world) cheap and effective cable operated drivers, winch powered by the PTO and a simple clutch mechanism based on v-belt tension. Winch raised a 250kg monkey up a slider about 3 - 4 meters and gravity did the rest. Worked in hard clay soils, flat ended posts up to about 200mm diameter.

 

[kevshell]

Good morning. Thanks everyone for your ideas and thoughts on this. I'll definitely reach out to Shaver as a start. I'm sure they will be Real helpful on this.

MCMXI, I am talking to Floyd's in Belgrade. They have the zero turn I'm looking for and they are the one I've been talking to about the tractor. And they are the closest orange pusher to me.

 

[TheOldHokie]

Good morning. Thanks everyone for your ideas and thoughts on this. I'll definitely reach out to Shaver as a start. I'm sure they will be Real helpful on this.

I have had some limited experience with Shaver. I had a customer who bought one (HD10???) and wanted me to add AUX hydraulics to his Ford 9N to operate it and give hum live hydraulics on the 3pt.

The post drivers are simple machines and only use the hydraulics to "cock the spring loaded hammer" by compressing the spring(s). Then the hammer is released to drive the post. I put a 10 GPM pump on his tractor and used 3 GPM of that for the 3pt and the other 7 GPM for the driver. It worked quit well in the soil here which tends to be a bit rocky. It was fast and drove his 4"-5" round locust line posts like John Henry. His corner posts were larger but I mever saw it in action on them. your tractor hydraulics should run it and as long as your ground isnt solid rock it should do what you need.

Dan

 

[NCL4701]

Wow! That thing sure is tall when it's fully extended.

Yeah, it’s an impressive piece of equipment. He recently bought a scissor thing for the front so now he can pull posts with the loader, turn around, and drive a replacement. Pretty sweet setup for one guy that needs to maintain a bunch of fences for horses. If I had a use for them I’d definitely be jealous.

 

[mcmxi]

Yeah, it’s an impressive piece of equipment. He recently bought a scissor thing for the front so now he can pull posts with the loader, turn around, and drive a replacement. Pretty sweet setup for one guy that needs to maintain a bunch of fences for horses. If I had a use for them I’d definitely be jealous.

We need a thread called "Implements that you have no need for but would like to have". You could lead off with a post pounder and post puller. For some reason I'd like a wood chipper but it would be a very poor investment for me. I might still order one of those Balfor buzz saws eventually since that's something I could use.

If I ever decide to replace an ungodly amount of T-post fencing which is possible, I'll need to buy one of those tree/post pullers and maybe a post pounder. That would be a long way out though.

 

[NCL4701]

We need a thread called "Implements that you have no need for but would like to have". You could lead off with a post pounder and post puller. For some reason I'd like a wood chipper but it would be a very poor investment for me. I might still order one of those Balfor buzz saws eventually since that's something I could use.

If I ever decide to replace an ungodly amount of T-post fencing which is possible, I'll need to buy one of those tree/post pullers and maybe a post pounder. That would be a long way out though.

I actually did ask my brother if that Shaver pile driver of his would drive a T-post or just crush it like a beer can on a redneck’s forehead. Apparently there’s some sort of attachment that will allow it to drive T-posts and a depth setting to prevent over driving.

I had a potential to need to set a couple hundred T-posts. That need didn’t materialize but we’d already decided I’d buy the T-post attachment and he’d bring his rig up to drive the posts.

Probably same category as the chipper for you, I do really want a decent spray rig for either the tractor or Mule. I’d put probably an hour on it in a dry year and maybe four hours in a wet year. So I’ll keep walking with a 2 gallon bug sprayer. 🫤

 

[TheOldHokie]

I actually did ask my brother if that Shaver pile driver of his would drive a T-post or just crush it like a beer can on a redneck’s forehead.

That brings back a blast from the past - Dick the Bruiser showing off ringside...

Dan

 

[PoTreeBoy]

. . .drive a T-post or just crush it like a beer can on a redneck’s forehead.

I do really want a decent spray rig for either the tractor or Mule. I’d put probably an hour on it in a dry year and maybe four hours in a wet year. So I’ll keep walking with a 2 gallon bug sprayer. 🫤

Since the subjects redneck and sprayer came up in the same post, I'll mention my rig. I installed a cigarette lighter (power outlet) on the dash. Throw my 25 gal spot sprayer in the loader bucket, load 'er up, plug 'er in and spray sweetgums at will.

Actually, the last time I used it I set it on the grapple, since that's what was on the tractor. That didn't work as well as the bucket.

I could use a limb trimmer for the loader.
I want, but have no need for, a combo hydraulic auger/cement mixer for the loader.

 

[hedgerow]

Years ago {35} I had a Shaver post driver mounted on the front of a JD 3010. We set it up with a hyd side shift and a hyd tilt which in my area you need we have a lot of off chamber ground to put post in. It worked pretty well most of the time. Sold the tractor and driver after I got my first skid steer. The fencing guys in my area only run drivers and post hole diggers on skid steers. Lots faster and the newer drivers have a lot more force to them. Haven't seen a Shaver brand in these parts for years. With the hills we have around here a three point one wouldn't work real well.

 

[NCL4701]

Years ago {35} I had a Shaver post driver mounted on the front of a JD 3010. We set it up with a hyd side shift and a hyd tilt which in my area you need we have a lot of off chamber ground to put post in. It worked pretty well most of the time. Sold the tractor and driver after I got my first skid steer. The fencing guys in my area only run drivers and post hole diggers on skid steers. Lots faster and the newer drivers have a lot more force to them. Haven't seen a Shaver brand in these parts for years. With the hills we have around here a three point one wouldn't work real well.

I don’t know about all the current Shaver models. I know my brother’s has hydraulic tilt built in so you can get the post plumb without the tractor being level. That’s why it has three hydraulic valve levers to the right of the hammer; side tilt, fore/aft tilt, hammer. Requires just one continuous pressure input and a rather large return to tank. The rest of the hydraulic valving is on the driver.

I have no clue about older models or different models. I very much agree that it wouldn’t be much use if it didn’t have the hydraulics to set the hammer plumb while the tractor is on unlevel ground.

 

[kevshell]

Good morning. Just as a quick follow-up to this. I called and spoke to a guy at Shaver. Looks like they have several models that would work out with the 6060 tractor. The other thing he was able to confirm is that you could run their unit on the 3-point hitch or run it on the skid steer bucket quick attach if that's how the tractor came equipped. That would give you some better maneuverability both in lining up the tractor itself and also using the bucket tilt.

 

[mcmxi]

Good morning. Just as a quick follow-up to this. I called and spoke to a guy at Shaver. Looks like they have several models that would work out with the 6060 tractor. The other thing he was able to confirm is that you could run their unit on the 3-point hitch or run it on the skid steer bucket quick attach if that's how the tractor came equipped. That would give you some better maneuverability both in lining up the tractor itself and also using the bucket tilt.

I hope you post some photos if you end up with a Shaver or other brand of post driver. I would opt for a 3-point model myself with some form of hydraulic adjustment. The only experience I have with running hydraulic implements off the FEL with SSQA include a grapple, snow plow and post hole auger which work great, but is an FEL ideal for a post driver?

 

[kevshell]

Photos will be a while away. I am working on the what I want and buy right the first time. That said, here's a video I saw a while back that gave me the idea because I didn't know it was possible.

 

[mcmxi]

I was looking on Craigslist and there are two Shaver post pounders for sale near me. The FEL SSQA model is much more expensive. The 3-point model seems reasonable. I'm not in the market for either.

Shaver HD 10 Hydraulic Post pounder - farm & garden - by owner - sale - craigslist

This is the heavy Shaver post pounder. It is all hydraulic pounding and moves by hydraulics in all directions. It is set up with a skid steer mount. We have been using it on the front of our Kioti...

kalispell.craigslist.org

Shaver HD-10 post driver - farm & garden - by owner - sale - craigslist

Shaver HD-10 hydraulic post driver. Mounts on 3-point hitch. New & newer hydraulic hoses, new 3-point attatchment. Bought used to pound 1,000 ft of fence, all done and don't need it anymore.

kalispell.craigslist.org