it's 6ft long, 500lbs, and i can't erect it.

[luvit]

i got this post driver which included 4 legs as a stand. -- it's 6ft long, 500lbs, and i can't erect it onto it's legs.
i'm also afraid of asking for help and that person suddenly ends-up under it.

I fabbed a beam that was 28" tall so i could scoot the driver out of my blazer.
28" is not tall enough for the driver's feet to plant and for me to safely "push" it upright onto it's feet.

i have some exposed 2x4 rafters to lightly-assist and 2x4 studs.

i think i'll need to anchor a length of 2x4 into the concrete behind the feet to prevent them from scooting-out, but then i'll need safely erect the 500lbs thing without error..

help.

 

[srmofo]

cribbing and a floor jack.....or come along anchored to the foundation to pull it upright.

personally I would just call over a buddy or 2 and push it up. looks like the hard part it over.

 

[luvit]

actually, it was a breeze to load from pickup to blazer to my beam and floor.

i just bought this from Craigslist...
i don't know how wirey the legs actually are for flopping the 500# thing upwards..
they are made to gently be lowered from a 3point hitch.
Plus the driver weight is presently at the top.. i cannot determine if the weight will suddenly drop into rest position once it's upright.

i have total visibility of this machine and mechanics, but cannot determine the leg strength, top heaviness, weight drop thing, yet..

i think the leverage still isn't quite there for me and a buddy to safely push-it up.
.

 

[DirtyWhiteBoy]

I would throw a 2 x 6 or 2 x 8 over several rafters and use a come a long or even a pulley to raise it up, then lower it onto the feet.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Post driver ? Like for driving posts into the ground ?

Even if you do get it stood up, how do you move it to where you want to drive a post ?

 

[mitusa]

It's a three point attachment to a tractor.

I believe the "legs" are only there to hold it up while not on the tractor....makes it easier to hook up to the three point arms on the tractor.

 

[Steevo]

It's a three point attachment to a tractor.

I believe the "legs" are only there to hold it up while not on the tractor....makes it easier to hook up to the three point arms on the tractor.

Bingo ^^

 

[Murphy4570]

Tell me you have a tractor that can use this thing. LOL

 

[luvit]

I would throw a 2 x 6 or 2 x 8 over several rafters and use a come a long or even a pulley to raise it up, then lower it onto the feet.

ok, between your idea and SrMofo, i'll get it.. i don't own my own comealong, yet.

Tell me you have a tractor that can use this thing. LOL

i have access to various tractors, ...someday i may have access to one with a cab and A/C.
.

 

[Brian_B_]

Engine hoist? Lift it with that. I use mine for all sorts of heavy lifting.

 

[luvit]

^^^ hmm.. there is a nice-looking used $150 cherry picker down the road..
i'll have to compare new prices and capacity to this used hoist..

 

[Brian_B_]

People use them for everything you can imagine. Lifting rear ends, cabs, beds, steel, equipment, transmissions, farm stuff..etc. Oh..and engines. LOL

Mine folds up and rolls into a corner out of the way. I love it! It is an old Sam's club brand..but so far I have not had any issues. It is a lot bigger than my brothers. Well worth the price.

 

[mitusa]

I have the same cherry picker....mine came with some jack stands. Bought it at sam's...iirc for less than $200. They are really nice to have....

 

[Brian_B_]

It was around $160 (I think), but no jack stands. I have damaged one of the rubber handle covers on the back (think bicycle handlebars) in all these years.

The floor jack I bought at the same time. They both work great. One pump and the jack is against the frame...second pump the vehicle is going up. It lifts plenty high enough for all the trucks\suvs I deal with.

I have no clue if either of them would stand up to a shop environment..but for me at home and friends who borrow them both...they are great.

 

[DekeT]

Wrap up the legs so they don't bend under. Place a sawhorse just past the tailgate. Wrap a chain on the machine and pull with your tractor and let the back end lay on the sawhorse. Drive the car forward a couple feet, stop, and place another sawhorse past the tailgate. Drive car forward or pull the machine out with your tractor. Now you can jack or brace it up. Or use a 3pt lift boom.

 

[tjsr19]

That's what she said

 

[rustyjeeps]

I have the same t-post driver. The rubber drive wheel and the brakes get slicked over and slip until you work it long enough to get "tacky" again so be very mindful that yours may do the same when first working it (the hammer can slip down and harm you). I built a sleeve with a handle that slides over the t-post which reduces the number of bent post and gives me a grab handle which allows me to keep my hands away from the moving parts while driving. I remove the legs while the unit is attached to the tractor so that they do not get torn off and make sure that your driveshaft does not bottom or top out throughout the range of lift and tilt adjustment before use. Mine is a Danuser MD-6.

 

[rustyjeeps]

Your unit appears to have the weight close to the bottom position and should have a safety pin to lock the weight (hammer) to the housing. With the safety lock pin in place I attach the chain around the base of the weight which is on the top of the unit and lift it with a front end loader, the two legs always want to slide just before the tipping point so be very careful and block the legs and stay clear.

 

[machine_punk]

+1 for the engine hoist. It won't even break a sweat with just 500 pounds. Even if the legs slide out, the hoist can support the whole weight. I got a used HF 2-ton hoist for $130 on CL.

Just make sure you use a chain, or an actual lifting sling, to attach the hoist to the load...ratchet straps (which many folks use as a substitute) have a nasty habit of failing at just the wrong moment in a lift. HF, or Enco, or Northern Tool all have proper lifting slings for relatively low prices.

View media item 19702

 

[Brian_B_]

Agree with the slings. There was a thread about someone dropping their new air compressor last week. A very expensive lesson!!!

 

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

If your playing with tractors, then get a 3-point boom pole:

http://www.tractorsupply.com/countyline-reg-boom-pole-2128147

Make sure your tractor of choice is heavy enough for the work - be wary of lifting the front wheels of the tractor off the ground, though. Then, not only can you lift, but you can move the item anywhere you can drive the tractor rather than being limited to rolling an engine hoist on a hard surface.

 

[luvit]

I have the same.. ..rubber drive wheel ..slip until you work it .. to get "tacky" .. I built a sleeve with a handle that slides over the t-post which reduces the number of bent post and gives me a grab handle which allows me to keep my hands away from the moving parts while driving. I remove the legs while the unit is attached to the tractor..

yeah, man! you listed the same model.. and the legs are ment to be removed during use.
-- Can you send a pic of your sleeve? I'll be driving wooden posts, but i am also interested in the option of driving t-posts, like you.
-- thanks for the note on the hammer position.. it was my concern in another post.. how do i tell if it's all the way down?

+1.. engine hoist..won't even break a sweat..500 pounds...used HF 2-ton hoist for $130 on CL.
..chain, or an actual lifting sling..

yeah, i'll use a chain.
i told my wife of all the facets of danger of this akward foreign device for me and/or a friend to get harmed -- so it looks like she agrees that a hoist is one tool she won't roll her eyes at when i bring it home.

If your playing with tractors, then get a 3-point boom pole:

i don't actually own a tractor, so i only rent or borrow as a last resort, or for production use.
i don't want to nag the owners here-and-there.
.

 

[Brian_B_]

.........i told my wife of all the facets of danger of this akward foreign device for me and/or a friend to get harmed -- so it looks like she agrees that a hoist is one tool she won't roll her eyes at when i bring it home. ........

Great excuse for a new garage toy!

 

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

i don't actually own a tractor, so i only rent or borrow as a last resort, or for production use.
i don't want to nag the owners here-and-there.
.

I understand.....and I do understand grabbing a tool like this because it's free / super good deal....so I'd probably do the same thing if the situation presented itself.......but I have to admit, in my mind, a person owning the post driver before the tractor is like a guy owning a torque wrench before buying any other ratchets / wrenches / sockets

 

[MoonRise]

yeah, i'll use a chain.
i told my wife of all the facets of danger of this akward foreign device for me and/or a friend to get harmed -- so it looks like she agrees that a hoist is one tool she won't roll her eyes at when i bring it home.

Check the HF coupon thread here. HF fold-up 1-ton shop crane #93840(engine hoist). Coupon is for $99.99 (the 'regular' price is $199.99, so that's 50% or $100 off), valid till 6/28 (so you have today and tomorrow to buy it).

 

[luvit]

I understand.....and I do understand grabbing a tool like this because it's free / super good deal....so I'd probably do the same thing if the situation presented itself.......but I have to admit, in my mind, a person owning the post driver before the tractor is like a guy owning a torque wrench before buying any other ratchets / wrenches / sockets

yeah, i understand each perspective.. my dad owns a farm.. so when things get sold-off some day in the [distant] future, i'm hanging-in there for one of the tractors i used in childhood.

Check the HF coupon thread here. HF fold-up 1-ton shop crane #93840(engine hoist). Coupon is for $99.99 (the 'regular' price is $199.99, so that's 50% or $100 off), valid till 6/28 (so you have today and tomorrow to buy it).

thanks! i don't live anywhere near a HF.. i had the impression these are not usable for online purchases, but i'll doublecheck.
.

 

[MoonRise]

OK, I checked the 'fine print' on that coupon.

Valid for in-store, online, and 800 number orders.

Don't know if the $6.99 flat-rate shipping offer will 'work' on that 151 lb chunk of metal. If so, that's pretty much a 'deal' in my book.

 

[EOC_Jason]

*sigh* tie down straps are NOT LIFTING SLINGS!!! Yeah I read too about that guy that broke his air compressor. I mean, jeeze you can get some 6400lb slings from Northern Tool for like $25 (or if you get the mailer that has the coupons you can get $5 off!)

Lucky for me I have a forklift (and lots of slings & chains). Even something that I *might* be able to remotely pick up or drag around by hand I still use the forklift.

 

[gte718p]

HF has slings for $8. I have a bunch of them. I use the for rigging, towing, and winching. In short I've abused them more then they ever should have been and they are still going strong.

 

[luvit]

.
just so this thread doesn't derail.
i'm not using the ratchet straps in the pic for any load, it's just stability while i was wiggling the machine on the wood beam or to insure the feet wouldn't scoot-out until i was confident it it's stability on leaning on the beam.
I feel for the air compressor situation..
i'm also hesitent to hang much/all the weight from multiple rafters i'll be standing under.
I missed the cherry picker sale today due to workload, so i'll try to get it again tomorrow.
.

 

[luvit]

Your unit appears to have the weight close to the bottom position and should have a safety pin to lock the weight (hammer) to the housing. With the safety lock pin in place I attach the chain around the base of the weight which is on the top of the unit and lift it with a front end loader, the two legs always want to slide just before the tipping point so be very careful and block the legs and stay clear.

shoot.. my pictures may be misleading to you.
i checked the driver tonight and the hammer is up (i called it the driver weight).
i'm going to use an engine hoist so my lifting chain can go on the hammer too and hopefully prevent it from suddenly slamming-downward.
.

 

[rustyjeeps]

Make sure that you have a safety "thru pin" stuck thru the yellow outer housing and the inner rusty hammer/driver weight before lifting with your hoist. That rusty inner section will extend way out the top of the yellow body section when it is at the top of it's travel so it to me still appears to be near the bottom travel. I will try to post up a few pictures this week.

 

[buening]

Another thought, check your local Autozone as they have free rentals. I believe they have cherry pickers as part of their rental fleet. Obviously have to pay the deposit but you get it back upon return. Depends on if you want one for one-time use or if you want to buy one for possible future uses.

 

[luvit]

^^great idea^^

mm k.
Cherry Picker Solution
HF and CL as a source is not an option due to driving distance (HF wants to charge $90 shipping on oversized items).
The local sale I mentioned is less tangable since I learned foldable hoists are so popular.
-- The local sale Hoist is not foldable and it's 3 Ton, much larger than I need.
My Autozones do not have hoists for rent.

So, this made me think of the local rental place:
$20/day towable Cherry Picker, requires a 2" ball, no trailer lights -- can't wait to see this.
But I get to keep my floor less cluttered, when compared to that local sale 3Ton non-foldable Hoist.
.

Edit: It may look like one of these pics.

 

[BD1]

Looking at the single garage door building, why not get a I beam that will
span the narrow way wall to wall. Add a couple columns or 4x4's and life will be easier. Then you just gotta get a trolley, chainfall, and slings. Just trying to help you spend more money.
The foldable engine is a excellent investment with many uses.

 

[luvit]

mm k.. i'm a cheap skate.. and man it's 100deg F, i'm my arms are covered in sweat just to run a screw gun in the shade.
Cheap side: as i said, i now prefer a foldable hoist, but the $99 ones are 1.5hrs. away or too pricey to ship. ..if i can't get the one i want at the best price, i resist purchases.
lazy side: too lazy to drive-out & rent a hoist for $20 plus $7 in fuel.]

i bought my first 6' 2 Ton come-along for $25 (made in china, just couldn't tell until i remove the product from the box..)

i used what i had with where i was at.
that 28" high beam i made of two 2x6s just doesn't budge under the driver's 500lbs.. so i mad another one and mounted it above and it rested on top of the wall studs.. I also screwed it to the existing rafter.

While it was accepting the weight of the driver, it hardly creaked or moved.

I also confirmed a suspicion I had.. one of the 4 legs is bent from the previous owner.. so I cannot allow this thing to stand on it;s own.
I'll just have to leave the chain to ensure the thing doesn't fall-over until i mount it on a tractor and get that leg re-shaped.

So now this thing is erect and ready to be mounted.

 

[machine_punk]

Hurray! Good job!

 

[BD1]

PERFECT ! You gotta be THRIFTY these days for sure. The additional lumber
worked well. You could always place a 4x4 from floor to bottom of rafter if you are afraid of deflection.
The bent leg looks like it maybe 3/4'' that fits into a stub of pipe
welded to frame. That shouldn't be to hard of a repair if you have the right equipment. It looks like there is a bolt and nut securing each leg.
you may even consider making up a 4 wheel dolly for it. You can make some tall uprights to secure it to. Nothing better on concrete with wheels.
Where you located ? Just curious. Good job !