Front-end loader mounted t-post installer

 Since we started fencing the perimeter of our ranch in 2014, I've strove to increase the rate at which I am able to fence an area.  Among the most recent improvements has been a t-post pusher which is mounted to our tractor's front-end loader bucket.  This device is very simple, but has already saved us countless hours of work.

The following photographs illustrate how I use the post pusher. 

Aiming: The loader is first positioned with the end of the pusher is close to the ground.  I then maneuver the tractor until the end of the pusher is in alignment with the marked post location. 
This is how the lined up pusher looks from the driver's seat of the tractor.  Yes, I know the loader has an issue with the hydraulics cover.
Loading:  Once the pusher is aligned, I place the tractor in park, raise the loader arm and insert a t-post into the open end of the pusher. 
Tilting:  Correct placement of the t-post is dependent aligning the post along three axises, which I will call lateral, longitudinal, and vertical.  Relative to the tractor, the lateral axis would run left-right, the longitudinal axis would run forward-backward, and vertical would run up-down. You may have noticed in the previous photographs that the pusher is attached to the front-end loader on a hinged mount that allows the pusher to rotate along the lateral axis.   By positioning the tractor with the pusher in alignment with the post marker, I've already made sure the post will be correctly positioned along the longitudinal axis.  After I've placed the t-post pusher in the pusher, I can then rotate the device with the t-post along the lateral axis and allow the post to slide downward out of the pusher until the end of the post is resting on the ground next to the post hole maker. 

Once the end of the t-post is touching the ground, I climb back up in the tractor and slowly lower the loader.  The pusher slides down around the post and then begins pushing the t-post into the ground.  This is the stage at which having a flared end on the pusher is important.  If the end of the pusher wasn't flared, it could catch on the sides of the post. 
After the post has sunk a few inches into the ground, I stop lowering the loader and slowly drive the tractor forward until the pusher is verticle and then continue slowly lowering the loader.  While lowering the loader it is important to watch for resistance in the t-post movements.  If the post hits a rock, a large root, or hardpan, and continues to recieve downward pressure it will eventually either bend or crack off. 
Once the post is pushed to the desired depth, simply raise the loader arm until the pusher swings back.  When constructing the pusher I placed the hinge so the pusher would be top-heavy and automatically fall back when it wasn't loaded.  In this photograph the t-post was not pushed to the full depth because it hit a rock while being pushed.  This situation occurs ocasionally and, based on my experience, the best thing to do is finish with a traditional long-handled post pounder.  While using the front-end loader like a giant hammer may seem like a good idea, it will most likely destroy the t-post and possible injure you. 

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