Old Case Combine Makes Great Post Driver

Old Case Combine Makes Great Post Driver COMBINES Conversions 21-5-25 "I wanted a way to put up fence fast. I got the idea of building a self-propelled post driver and post hole auger out of an old Case 1010 combine," says Mike Lieshmann, Forest Grove, Mont. Lieshmann stripped the combine down to the frame, discarding all grain cleaning components and moving the 160 hp, 6-cyl. gas engine down onto the frame. He used 10-in. wide, 3/8-in. thick steel plate to build a "quick tach" post driver which attaches to the feederhouse mounting brackets. The driver is equipped with a 780-lb. hammer. He had a local machine shop build a 2 1/2-in. dia., 60-in. long hydraulic cylinder that drives the hammer up or down. The post hole auger mounts on the other side of the driver and is operated by a hydraulic motor controlled by valves from the driver's seat. The auger is attached to one end of a steel pipe that's raised or lowered by the same cylinders that raised or lowered the feederhouse. Lieshmann remounted the cylinders on the combine frame so that one cylinder raises the pipe and the other one lowers it. The cylinders are powered by a 21 gpm hydraulic pump that's belt-driven off the engine crankshaft. "It's built tough and is easy to maneuver which allows me to work fast," says Lieshmann. "I use it on my ranch and also to do some custom fencing. It takes less than two seconds to drive a steel post into the ground. One time I put in five miles of 4-barbed wire fence in only twelve days and that was in rough country. One advantage is that I have a great view of the post driver and auger in front of me. Also, I can maneuver in or out of corners with ease. Turning the steering axle 2 ft. in one direction moves the front end the opposite way only about five or six inches so I can easily place the auger or driver exactly where I need them. "If I want I can remove the auger and re-place it with a hydraulic-operated jack hammer that drives steel posts even faster than the driver. One problem is that the jack hammer bit keeps breaking and I can't find a bit that will stay in the hammer. "The post driver is built tough and has so much power I can drive a railroad tie into the ground without even sharpening the bottom end. The post driver cylinder is designed to handle up to 1,400 lbs so I can add 400 lbs. of additional weight to the hammer and the cylinder will still handle it. Even the biggest commercial post drivers have only 700 lbs. of driving power. Valves on the driver let me operate it from the ground. "I already had the combine. I bought the post hole auger new and also bought a new hydraulic pump, the post driver cylinder, and valves. Not counting the cost of the auger, I spent less than $1,800 for the entire machine. Shaver makes a loader-mounted post driver that sells for about $3,000 and isn't nearly as versatile as my rig." Lieshmann uses a dolly trailer to haul the rig on the highway. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Mike Lieshmann, HCR 488, Forest Grove, Mont. 59441 (ph 406 538-4088).

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.