FencePro Blog | How to Maintain a Hydraulic Post Driver

Putting your post driver to work regularly? Make sure it’s up to the task. In short, frequent check-ups, save you time, money and ensure your post-driver is running efficiently and safely. 

Daily Maintenance Checks |  Follow this daily maintenance routine to ensure your hydraulic post driver remains in peak condition. Check that:

• All greaseable parts are greased, including the post rammer mast – even if your post knocker is fitted with plastic slides,  it’s always good to have the mast lubricated. Chain bar lube works best. *See below for more information on greasing.
• Pins are locked by lynch pins or similar locking devices.
• There is no sign of corrosion impacting on moving parts such as rams on pins, knuckles etc.
• The post cap isn’t cracked or broken. If it is, get in touch with our team for a replacement.
• All hydraulic fittings and hoses are properly connected. Ensure that there are no leaks and that all hydraulics are in good condition.
• The wire rope is well lubricated and isn’t fraying.
• The pulleys aren’t stiff or rough-running, if the bearing inside the pulley isn’t running smoothly, it will significantly increase the wear on the wire rope, reducing its lifespan.
• The connection of the wire rope to the block, and that the wire clamps are tight.
• The rope thimble has not worn an excessive groove in the block pin.
• There are no damaged, worn, or missing parts and replace if necessary - you can find genuine FencePro parts from our dealers nationwide. See below for estimated delivery times.
• The attachment of the postdriver to the tractor (and side-mount where fitted).
• All mounting points, the 3-point linkage (top-link and lower carrier arms) and side-mounted attachments, are secure.
• The hydraulic fluid level in the machine that the post driver is attached to is at the required level.

Additionally, whether at the end of the day or season, store your post-driver correctly in a shed or under cover, with the ram and rods retracted to prevent rust and corrosion.

The wire rope and pulley system is a very effective method of lifting a post driver block, but it must be maintained, as it can be very dangerous. A key part of this is ensuring the post rammer wire rope is in good condition.

Monthly Maintenance Checks | Alongside your daily checks, we advise the following inspection be carried out monthly:

• Check the pulleys (particularly at the top and bottom of the lift ram). Ensure they spin freely on the bearings and that the edges are not damaged or chipped.
• Check the mast shift base (where fitted). Thoroughly grease the base box section to allow the mast shift to move with ease (see grease points below).
• Check the two side adjustment bolts and two bottom adjustment bolts on the mast shift base. Ensure they provide the correct pressure on the cross member.

Check the Side-Mount (where fitted)

• Thoroughly grease the sidemount sliding member to allow the inner channel to slide smoothly.
• There are adjustable wear plates positioned in the base of the slide channel. Check that the wear plates are still in position and not worn through. This can be a visual check (the edge of the wear plates are visible above the adjustable nut locations) alternatively extend the side mount and feel along the bottom of the sliding member. If you can feel a groove then it is likely that one or more of your wear plates need replacement.

Seasonal Maintenance Checks | Carry out a full inspection of your hydraulic postdriver every three months:

• Check the safety stickers are in place on the block, mast and side-mount and that they are clean and legible. Replace if missing or illegible.

• If you have nylon slides fitted to the block, check that they do not display excessive wear.

• Check that the machine that your post driver is mounted to, e.g., tractor or bulldozer etc., manufacturer’s service guidance has been adhered to. Pay particular attention to:  The integrity of the machine, the brakes, the 3-point linkage system, the manufacturer's schedule for filtration and/or replacement of the hydraulic oil to avoid and any damage to the post rammer arising due to water and/or dirt in the hydraulic oil.

The Importance of Greasing | Remember, never grease or perform other servicing tasks while the machine is operating. Postdrivers can be dangerous and can cause injury or death if not operated with caution.

 

Why you need to grease post drivers: If you want your post driver to perform at its best for years, then don’t skimp on the greasing: It minimises heat, friction, and the wear from metal-on-metal contact.

 

How often should you grease a postdriver? Establish a regular greasing schedule. If using daily then ensure that all greasable parts are greased before the unit is stored and again before it is next used.

 

What grease should you use? It pays to use high-quality grease. During our assembly process we use Amtex Python EP2 grease, an extreme pressure lithium complex grease, designed for a wide-range of heavy-duty applications.

One of the grease points on a FencePro post driver. Every grease point on a FencePro post driver is sent from the factory with a sticker identifying it, making for easy maintenance.

Common Hydraulic Post Driver Problems and How to Fix Them 

Problem 2: Creeping - the post driver mast can creep down or the side tilt ram can slowly lean over. 

Issue: As well as being a safety risk, creeping makes it nearly impossible to get consistent, accurate results and depth.

Cause: It could be that the internal seal kit within the ram has worn out and is leaking or, if your mast is creeping and your machine has a diverter kit, it could be due to a configuration. 

Fix: Check for oil coming out of the ram seas, if there is more than usual either replace it or give us a call. If your mast is creeping and you have a diverter kit (or you aren’t sure if you have one or not) send us a photo of your machine and we can help. If your side tilt ram is creeping but the seal kit isn’t leaking you can purchase a lock valve kit, (Code: FHRLVK) which will prevent the ram from ‘creeping’ and your
machine from leaning over.

Problem 3: The lift ram won’t lift the block.

Issue:  If the post driver block is not lifting, this renders your machine useless and means you can't use it for what it is designed to do. 

Cause: This could be due to several reasons:
- The wrist guard is bent and blocking the control lever's travel.
- The tractor's hydraulic output may be insufficient or faulty.
- A specific part of the postdriver mechanism may be damaged or seized. (for example relief valve issue)

Fix: Try straightening the wrist guard to allow for full level travel. Try the postdriver on another tractor (if possible) as this will confirm if it is a tractor issue or a postdriver issue. Give us a call with a photo of your machine and a serial number for further instructions.

FAQ

How often should I be carrying out maintenance on my hydraulic post driver?

To ensure that your post driver operates as it should and maintains its lifespan, you should be making checks daily, monthly and seasonally. Take a look at our lists above to see what you should be doing, or get in touch with the crew at FencePro for more advice.

Where can I find spare parts for my hydraulic post driver?

Need to replace parts? Our dealers sell genuine FencePro parts. You can find your nearest stockist by checking out our interactive map or give us a call 067775363 and chat with our team.

How long will it take for the spare parts to arrive?
For FencePro, orders made before 3pm will be shipped the same day for items in stock. Orders made after 3pm will be shipped the next day. Most parts will be shipped overnight to your nearest dealer, however for rural delivery it may take an extra 2-3 days, and for items over 24kg it will take approximately 3-7 days to arrive at your local dealer. This does depend on the age of your machine, as parts for older / obsolete machines can take longer than the specified dates.

Should you grease the post driver mast?

It is recommended to put some lubrication on the post driver mast to ensure the post rammer block slides smoothly up and down the mast. Chainsaw bar lubrication is a good option for this.

How many litres per minute does it take to run a postdriver?

FencePro post drivers are fitted with valve banks that are optimised to operate at 40 L/min oil flow.

Can I add an accessory when I don’t have any spare valves/valve slices?

Yes, if you wish to add an accessory like a Rockspike extractor kit or auger but you don’t have a spare valve slice to run this, we can supply retrofit valve banks that bolt on above your current valve.