Cylinder for post knocker

[Keif]

Glad you got it sorted- you’ll wonder how you managed without it. Are you making it so that you can press down on the post with the post cap like the vector one? I’ve been running knockers in different guises off diggers for 11 years and in my experimenting find the ones without the leg are the easiest to use as it works like the vector one so the digger boom doesn’t bounce every time the weight goes up.

Right now I've made it so the post cap slides but I could easily switch it at this point. Going to hammer some posts today will definitely try it with a fixed post plate also. Thanks for the advice. Do you use a dangling plumb chain?

 

[Storrsy]

Right now I've made it so the post cap slides but I could easily switch it at this point. Going to hammer some posts today will definitely try it with a fixed post plate also. Thanks for the advice. Do you use a dangling plumb chain?

Here’s a photo of mine on the 3 tonner, yeah I actually hang a plumb line on each post if working on my own. Can see it going in straight in both directions from the cab and pretty quick once you get in the rhythm of it.

 

[GazCro]

Here’s a photo of mine on the 3 tonner, yeah I actually hang a plumb line on each post if working on my own. Can see it going in straight in both directions from the cab and pretty quick once you get in the rhythm of it.

So you don't use the leg on the protech? Couldn't work out you're last post re the leg but imho other than the plate on the leg being too small (sinks into ground) its a lot kinder on the digger if you use the leg. Having said that for posts it's fine without but for strainers it's a lot better with leg.

 

[Mogman]

Right now I've made it so the post cap slides but I could easily switch it at this point. Going to hammer some posts today will definitely try it with a fixed post plate also. Thanks for the advice. Do you use a dangling plumb chain?

I’d have the cap that will slide down but will only come up so far like a stop on the main upright so the machine can push the post in a bit then bang in the rest of the way

 

[Storrsy]

So you don't use the leg on the protech? Couldn't work out you're last post re the leg but imho other than the plate on the leg being too small (sinks into ground) its a lot kinder on the digger if you use the leg. Having said that for posts it's fine without but for strainers it's a lot better with leg.

If you look at the photo of mine- I have chains that anchor the post cap so it only slides 6” up the mast then the chains tighten- and you can press down on the post- steadies the whole digger arm as the post effectively becomes the leg. Means you get full hammer stroke on each hit and I find it easy to make small adjustments whilst hammering. Also as your pressing down quite hard on the post, the post doesn’t drift so easily. The official leg I just couldn’t get on with, found it was more critical that the whole machine was levelled right at that the leg had to be parrarel with the post. I’d agree that even with the post steadying the boom there probably is more shock going through the digger than with the leg but tbh I’ve been doing it like this for 11 years and haven’t really found it’s caused any noticeable wear to the digger. I did worry it would but seems fine.

 

[GazCro]

If you look at the photo of mine- I have chains that anchor the post cap so it only slides 6” up the mast then the chains tighten- and you can press down on the post- steadies the whole digger arm as the post effectively becomes the leg. Means you get full hammer stroke on each hit and I find it easy to make small adjustments whilst hammering. Also as your pressing down quite hard on the post, the post doesn’t drift so easily. The official leg I just couldn’t get on with, found it was more critical that the whole machine was levelled right at that the leg had to be parrarel with the post. I’d agree that even with the post steadying the boom there probably is more shock going through the digger than with the leg but tbh I’ve been doing it like this for 11 years and haven’t really found it’s caused any noticeable wear to the digger. I did worry it would but seems fine.

Ah see the chains now not a bad idea tbh. Main thing with the leg is its actually too short (due to them making it fit in the mast) so ain't as steady as could be. Full hammer stroke isn't as critical with 300kg weight mind

 

[Storrsy]

Ah see the chains now not a bad idea tbh. Main thing with the leg is its actually too short (due to them making it fit in the mast) so ain't as steady as could be. Full hammer stroke isn't as critical with 300kg weight mind

Yeah I found the leg a funny size- holes in the wrong place but in one position you couldn’t fit 8ft posts under the hammer, but with leg extended further you couldnt knock the stakes down to standard stock fence height. Think if I was going down the leg route- I’d have a full length mast like the Wrag one. I nearly bought a wrag actually for my 5 tonner- with hydraulic rockspike and external controls. Might still do actually as thought it was quite reasonably priced

 

[Keif]

Wow! Went in pretty darn straight for first post ever knocked. I haven't even filled the steel rectangle with weight yet, it's hollow. Going to be a beast! Need to get some quick some release hose connectors.

 

[Keif]

Really knocks em in with this addedthacks for all the help

Post on the left is to show how much I drove into the ground.

 

[V8Druid]

Really knocks em in with this addedthacks for all the help
View attachment 22609
View attachment 22611
Post on the left is to show how much I drove into the ground.

I bet it does

 

[Keif]

 

[fred]

Really knocks em in with this addedthacks for all the help
View attachment 22609
View attachment 22611
Post on the left is to show how much I drove into the ground.

can you make me one and deliver !

 

[Keif]

can you make me one and deliver !

Thanks Fred I'll make you one but ya have to come pick it up...

It's not bad for something made with no design drawn and very few measurements made. once I find a small enough hydraulic cylinder I'm going to add a 12v valve and a pincher for grabbing the posts off the cart I made.

 

[Storrsy]

Looks good- surprised the TB216 can handle all that weight at the end with the thumb too etc. My one on my TB216 weighs around 250kg (130kg hammer) and it struggles to lift it at full reach, to get it on top of a 8ft post i have to lift up the boom first and then extend the arm up.

 

[Keif]

Looks good- surprised the TB216 can handle all that weight at the end with the thumb too etc. My one on my TB216 weighs around 250kg (130kg hammer) and it struggles to lift it at full reach, to get it on top of a 8ft post i have to lift up the boom first and then extend the arm up.

I've got the service manual pdf if you have a test kit for checking relief pressures it might be worth the trouble. Or do you mean the machine is too tippy? Things are going well. First post was slightly off plump in one direction, 2nd was not bad at all and 3rd and 4th kinda impressed me!

Taking it off today for some small changes and to get fitting to for ease of removal. Going to add a cup on the post plate and the chain @Storrsy mentioned, thanks man! Probably will shorten the top post to keep it out of tree limbs as much as possible.

The speed of install and the strength of the posts in the ground is amazing!!

 

[Keif]

These are not inexpensive.....

 

[V8Druid]

These are not inexpensive.....View attachment 22669

150 quid in the box, excluding the valve??? ..... (a lot) more if they're as stainless as they look

 

[Keif]

150 quid in the box, excluding the valve??? ..... (a lot) more if they're as stainless as they look

$330usd for everything.(excluding valve, took that to confirm thread) There is one more female QC not in the box. Buy once cry once it rhymes so it must be true.
Trying to decide if I want to replace the 90deg fitting in this pic with a 90def that has a leg run off to the right. Then I could add a second on/off valve mounted beside this one.

Or do I go ahead and plan for the future and run second and third auxillary lines all the way out there? QC bucket coupler is coming next

 

[T whiting]

A quick hitch will want its own dedicated lines so you wouldn't be gaining much from that point of view

 

[Keif]

A quick hitch will want its own dedicated lines so you wouldn't be gaining much from that point of view

Yeah, just figured if I'm snaking one pair out there might as well run a second at the same time.