Skid Steer Post Driver Works Like A Jackhammer

2016 - Volume #BFS, Issue #16, Page #07

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Montana fencing contractor Floyd Yoder looked for a simple and hardworking fence post driver to mount on his skid steer for several years but could never find one he liked. One day he was driving posts into the ground so hard he thought he’d need a jackhammer to get the job done. That spurred him to start building his own driver.
  Yoder’s first machine was twice as large as the one he had been using. Still, it didn’t have the power he needed, so he refined and rebuilt it during the next 4 years. When neighbors saw how well his machine worked they wanted one. Now Yoder’s company manufactures 4 drivers with 500, 750, 1,000, and 1,500 ft. lbs. of energy. All of them use a hydraulic concrete breaker to jackhammer posts in at the rate of 800 blows a minute. The 500-lb. model is made with a 5/8-in. plate steel frame and the 2 larger models have 3/4-in. frames. Oil flow of 8 to 16 gpm is needed for the model 500, 12 to 21 gpm for the 750, 14 to 26 gpm for the 1000, and 18 to 29 gpm for the 1500.
  Yoder’s Montana Post Driver handles wood, steel, pipe and T-posts equally well. His largest model, which weighs 2,000 lbs., mounts on skid steers 75 hp or larger. Mounts are also available to mount the drivers on excavators. All 4 models are made of heavy-duty steel and have only 2 moving parts and a single grease fitting. The 8-in. domed cup holds a post securely while the operator views the plumb chain to center, level and align the post before its driven. The plumb chain also serves as depth gauge.
  In addition to its ruggedness and simplicity, other important aspects of the driver is its ability to set and drive posts on either side of strung wire. All parts of the driver are above the post and won’t interefere with the wire as posts are set. When the driver is mounted on a skid steer, the steel frame doubles as a rack to carry several posts to a job site.
  Yoder says his driver has a low center of gravity, so it rests on the ground when it’s removed from a skid steer. He says some conventional models are top heavy and need to set against a building or frame, so they remain upright when disconnected.
  Yoder is proud of the fact that he sources the hydraulic breakers for his machines from the U.S. The hydraulic drive unit, for example, comes from Arrow Head Rockdrill in California. Suggested prices are $11,000 for the model 500, $13,000 for the model 750, $15,000 for the model 1000, and $18,500 for the model 1500.
  After requests for a lower-price model, Yoder recently introduced a new E-Series that has an imported hammer. Model 750E sells for $8,000. Model 1000E sells for $9000. He is working on a 1500E model.
  To get more information and see a video of the post driver in action, go to www.montanapostdriver.com. Yoder is currently looking for dealers.
   Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Montana Post Driver, 2514 Gold Creek Road, Gold Creek, Mont. 59733 (ph 800 330-1937; www.montanapostdriver.com).

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Skid Steer Post Driver Works Like A Jackhammer FENCING Miscellaneous Montana fencing contractor Floyd Yoder looked for a simple and hardworking fence post driver to mount on his skid steer for several years but could never find one he liked One day he was driving posts into the ground so hard he thought he’d need a jackhammer to get the job done That spurred him to start building his own driver Yoder’s first machine was twice as large as the one he had been using Still it didn’t have the power he needed so he refined and rebuilt it during the next 4 years When neighbors saw how well his machine worked they wanted one Now Yoder’s company manufactures 4 drivers with 500 750 1 000 and 1 500 ft lbs of energy All of them use a hydraulic concrete breaker to jackhammer posts in at the rate of 800 blows a minute The 500-lb model is made with a 5/8-in plate steel frame and the 2 larger models have 3/4-in frames Oil flow of 8 to 16 gpm is needed for the model 500 12 to 21 gpm for the 750 14 to 26 gpm for the 1000 and 18 to 29 gpm for the 1500 Yoder’s Montana Post Driver handles wood steel pipe and T-posts equally well His largest model which weighs 2 000 lbs mounts on skid steers 75 hp or larger Mounts are also available to mount the drivers on excavators All 4 models are made of heavy-duty steel and have only 2 moving parts and a single grease fitting The 8-in domed cup holds a post securely while the operator views the plumb chain to center level and align the post before its driven The plumb chain also serves as depth gauge In addition to its ruggedness and simplicity other important aspects of the driver is its ability to set and drive posts on either side of strung wire All parts of the driver are above the post and won’t interefere with the wire as posts are set When the driver is mounted on a skid steer the steel frame doubles as a rack to carry several posts to a job site Yoder says his driver has a low center of gravity so it rests on the ground when it’s removed from a skid steer He says some conventional models are top heavy and need to set against a building or frame so they remain upright when disconnected Yoder is proud of the fact that he sources the hydraulic breakers for his machines from the U S The hydraulic drive unit for example comes from Arrow Head Rockdrill in California Suggested prices are $11 000 for the model 500 $13 000 for the model 750 $15 000 for the model 1000 and $18 500 for the model 1500 After requests for a lower-price model Yoder recently introduced a new E-Series that has an imported hammer Model 750E sells for $8 000 Model 1000E sells for $9000 He is working on a 1500E model To get more information and see a video of the post driver in action go to www montanapostdriver com Yoder is currently looking for dealers Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Montana Post Driver 2514 Gold Creek Road Gold Creek Mont 59733 ph 800 330-1937; www montanapostdriver com

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