Post knockers, hit me

[hiluxman]

Having never had anything to do with post knockers and a job come in that's for more fencing than I care to manually....what's the ins and outs of them?

I'd be looking for it to go on a kubota kx91.

There's alot to do on a hill side steep enough but not crazily steep and plenty of room to work.

Are breakers with post cups worth bothering with instead?

 

[DaveDCB]

@Giles

 

[doobin]

Having never had anything to do with post knockers and a job come in that's for more fencing than I care to manually....what's the ins and outs of them?

I'd be looking for it to go on a kubota kx91.

There's alot to do on a hill side steep enough but not crazily steep and plenty of room to work.

Are breakers with post cups worth bothering with instead?

Breakers with post cups on those size machines aren’t any use for more than just smashing in marquee pegs.

 

[hiluxman]

Breakers with post cups on those size machines aren’t any use for more than just smashing in marquee pegs.

That's the answer I was expecting for breakers lol.

I've plenty to do so if knockers are any good for my size machine then it's something I'd buy for the job

 

[Monkeybusiness]

I’ve just ordered a Protech P220+ with a 300kg weight to use on my 6 tonner.
The seller pulled a bit of a face on it going on this size machine but I reckon it’ll be stable enough for it with the wide steel tracks.

 

[doobin]

I’ve just ordered a Protech P220+ with a 300kg weight to use on my 6 tonner.
The seller pulled a bit of a face on it going on this size machine but I reckon it’ll be stable enough for it with the wide steel tracks.

You’ll be fine. A three tonner plays with 150kg weight.

 

[Storrsy]

I’ve just ordered a Protech P220+ with a 300kg weight to use on my 6 tonner.
The seller pulled a bit of a face on it going on this size machine but I reckon it’ll be stable enough for it with the wide steel tracks.

It'll be fine! I had one on my Kubota kx161-2 and that had the thumb on at the same time!! I have a Protech p18 with the 180kg weight on my 2.8t and it handles it well- got to have a decent operator to have it on hillsides and do a good job with it.

Best thing I would say for @hiluxman is buy a Protech p18 with the hitch mounted at the bottom of the mast, take the leg off and instead chain the post cap to the bottom of the mast. This means when you put it on the post the chains go tight and effectively the post becomes the leg and stops the bouncing. A 180kg hammer weight will be comfortable on a kx91. It would handle a 210kg weight too which will be a bit better for gate posts but mine knocks them in ok if ground is decentish, if not I auger out first with a 6" auger.

 

[Storrsy]

Most people seem to mount the Protech p18/p220 with it at the mid point hitch This means especially on small machine you have to use the knocker out at further reach to gain enough height to get it on a 8ft strainer etc- I can never fathom why people think this makes sense! Either that or they use the supplied leg which is a tedious clumsy business. Getting both the knocker leg and the post straight. The way I use it as described with the postcap chains means it's like a breaker cup one and you just follow the post down as you knock it in. Simple and effective as can always get full hammer drop height which you'll want on big strainer posts!

 

[Fms1]

I have a Protech 180 for my 3 tonner, but also an auto guide midi….. it blows away everything, grabs and vibrates them in, I have metal spikes that pilots anthing and will do up to 200mm stakes aswell as you can take posts back out with it.
had one for 10yrs and worked with rob to get them right way back when. Weighs about 30kg and 2’x2’x2’ so goes straight in the truck/van for security or hire a machine to site for the further away jobs.
they are game changers

 

[doobin]

I have a Protech 180 for my 3 tonner, but also an auto guide midi….. it blows away everything, grabs and vibrates them in, I have metal spikes that pilots anthing and will do up to 200mm stakes aswell as you can take posts back out with it.
had one for 10yrs and worked with rob to get them right way back when. Weighs about 30kg and 2’x2’x2’ so goes straight in the truck/van for security or hire a machine to site for the further away jobs.
they are game changers

Weighs 30kg but will put an 8” strainer in??

Did you miss a zero?

 

[Storrsy]

I have a Protech 180 for my 3 tonner, but also an auto guide midi….. it blows away everything, grabs and vibrates them in, I have metal spikes that pilots anthing and will do up to 200mm stakes aswell as you can take posts back out with it.
had one for 10yrs and worked with rob to get them right way back when. Weighs about 30kg and 2’x2’x2’ so goes straight in the truck/van for security or hire a machine to site for the further away jobs.
they are game changers

Weighs 30kg?!

I looked into them years ago when they came out and never actually tried them. They look good in good going ground but the videos I saw as soon as the posts got bigger and the ground harder it looked like they were struggling

 

[hiluxman]

That's great advice.

Can you buy direct off them or is it like a dealer for them?

 

[Fms1]

Weighs 30kg but will put an 8” strainer in??

Did you miss a zero?

A jaw opening doesn’t make it heavier does it???
it uses vibration and the weight of the machine to get them in, could be 50kg but I can lift it in my 4x4 by myself

 

[Giles]

P18 on 3 and 5.5 much better on the 5.5 on the wide steels 200kg weight? No leg chained leg storey said works well

Clumsy on 3 on steep ground and hard to use as leg to steer or push yourself

Breaker cap ok for guard rail or knee rail not for post and rail or agricultural fencing

Sold my protect p30 contractor which was ace with 4 way adjustment but just didn’t have enough fencing to justify it. One thing the rangers love doing and they have own bcs and p30 contractor so didn’t get much of a c look in other than on the holiday let jobs etc.

Could you sub it to a lad with solo track or protect evo tracked machine the lads doing it every day so quick at it. Couple rd Sheffield make your 20% without the learning curve?

 

[Fms1]

That's great advice.

Can you buy direct off them or is it like a dealer for them?

When I got mine I met them at plantworx when it was at the airfield many years ago, they had it and I had a go, rob told me I would do 300-400 posts a day in sensible ground (I was otterfencing at the time so going in 1.1m) I laughed at him and he told me he would come to my site and show me, rent it for a week and get the full hire cost off of the machine if I purchased.
true to his word he did, then went to an old quarry with ground so hard (gravel haul road) it was snapping the bottoms off of auger flights and he came out with the rock spike and again proved how good it was.
when kit is good it needs to be said as we always quick to say why stuff is s**t.
also had a tracked protech and an awesome machine it was but so much easier set up with the auto guide.

 

[Storrsy]

A jaw opening doesn’t make it heavier does it???
it uses vibration and the weight of the machine to get them in, could be 50kg but I can lift it in my 4x4 by myself

This is the smallest one they do and it's 180kg! Doing well to get that in the truck by yourself 🫣

 

[hiluxman]

---

P18 on 3 and 5.5 much better on the 5.5 on the wide steels 200kg weight? No leg chained leg storey said works well

Clumsy on 3 on steep ground and hard to use as leg to steer or push yourself

Breaker cap ok for guard rail or knee rail not for post and rail or agricultural fencing

Sold my protect p30 contractor which was ace with 4 way adjustment but just didn’t have enough fencing to justify it. One thing the rangers love doing and they have own bcs and p30 contractor so didn’t get much of a c look in other than on the holiday let jobs etc.

Could you sub it to a lad with solo track or protect evo tracked machine the lads doing it every day so quick at it. Couple rd Sheffield make your 20% without the learning curve?

It's a day rated job and lots of other things to do, it's also fencing here and there as needed rather than one huge clear run of it all.

Previously we've just augered a tight hole and bashed them in which has worked fine for the very small runs I've done previously.

 

[Storrsy]

When I got mine I met them at plantworx when it was at the airfield many years ago, they had it and I had a go, rob told me I would do 300-400 posts a day in sensible ground (I was otterfencing at the time so going in 1.1m) I laughed at him and he told me he would come to my site and show me, rent it for a week and get the full hire cost off of the machine if I purchased.
true to his word he did, then went to an old quarry with ground so hard (gravel haul road) it was snapping the bottoms off of auger flights and he came out with the rock spike and again proved how good it was.
when kit is good it needs to be said as we always quick to say why stuff is s**t.
also had a tracked protech and an awesome machine it was but so much easier set up with the auto guide.

What sort of cost was it?

 

[Fms1]

What sort of cost was it?

I think was £5500 (was 2017) just looked and added pics.
BUT I still have and use it now 9yrs later without any maintainance (just a couple of hoses from my s**t operating!

 

[Fms1]

This is the smallest one they do and it's 180kg! Doing well to get that in the truck by yourself 🫣

I will video me doing it for you on Tuesday