Post drivers
In this section we compare the different types of post drivers available, to understand their various uses, such as driving tubes, wooden and steel posts and piles, and sheet piles for road barriers or road signs, fences, anchoring or riverbank protection.
Below is the complete range of post drivers, which can be powered by a compressor, a hydraulic power pack, an existing hydraulic source (tractor or excavator) or run independently (combustion engine).
Post drivers fall into three main groups:
1- Manual post driver
1A- Pneumatic post driver
Pneumatic post drivers are the easiest to use. They have a long service life and are easy to maintain.
They fit all types of square or round sections up to 160 mm. Running on compressed air, they need an air flow of 800 to 1500 l/min. They weigh 25 to 65 kg (with guide).
1B- Engine-powered post driver
They run independently, with an engine built into the post driver.
They are used to drive road sign posts (traffic signs, crash barriers), as well as wooden posts and stakes.
These post drivers provide stable, powerful and fast driving for square or round sections up to 120 mm in diameter. They can also be used for soil sampling / soil coring.
Advantages
- Portable – you need neither hoses nor generators.
- Lightweight, only 15 - 20 kg
- Ideal for sloping ground and hard-to-reach places
- Far less physically demanding than traditional methods (sledgehammer and digging bar)
- Can be used all day without tiring the user too much
- Up to 500 stakes driven per litre of fuel
2- Tractor and mini-excavator post drivers
2A- Hydraulic post drivers
2A1- HYDROCHOC RE800G HYDRAULIC POST DRIVER
The Hydrochoc hydraulic percussion post driver from Yanigav means:
- 50% time saved,
- 50% more power,
- One worker fewer thanks to the radio remote control
- Maximum safety for the operator on the ground
- And stake heads left perfectly intact
General features of the HYDROCHOC livestock rotary RE 800G
+ Reinforced livestock-specific frame, hedge-cutter type
+ One-piece hydraulic percussion hammer
+ Extra-powerful hammer; European AEM standards (277 joules under the driving cap)
+ Variable blow frequency (670 to 1470 blows/min)
+ Stake heads perfectly preserved thanks to the flat-bottomed driving cap machined from solid (Yanigav exclusive)
+ Reliable, smooth 180° rotation
+ Hydraulic side shift: 0.8 m (2.05 m from the tractor centre line)
+ Telescopic mast: for stakes from 0.5 to 3.0 m
+ Hydraulic mast tilt (inward 18°, outward 15°)
+ Safety: two-hand control
Technical specifications of the HYDROCHOC livestock rotary
Operating pressure
- Machine: 200 bar,
- Hammer: 140 bar, flow 50 l/min
Transport dimensions:
- Length 2.2 x width 1.2 x height 2.6 m
Weight: 1060 kg
Options for the HYDROCHOC livestock rotary
- 5- or 6-function electro-hydraulic joystick
- Or wireless radio remote control (new from YANIGAV)
- Hydraulic top link
- Automatic stay coupling (new from YANIGAV)
2A2- HYDROCHOC EMPEI HYDRAULIC POST DRIVER
General features of the carrier-mounted hydraulic post driver
+ Mast with HYDROCHOC percussion hammer
+ Maximum stake height depending on the carrier
+ Hammer lift cylinder 0.8 m
+ Variable blow frequency from 560 to 1700 blows/min
+ One-piece hammer based on technology from ATLAS COPCO, the world leader in percussion
+ Effective impact energy under the driving cap: 277 joules (AEM standard)
+ Hammer with 3-year manufacturer's warranty (subject to conditions of use)
+ Flat-bottomed driving cap machined from solid, Ø150 mm (YANIGAV exclusive)
+ Protected, anti-whip hoses
+ Weight: 440 kg without hitch
+ Excavator or mini-excavator attachment (over 4.0 tonnes) to be adapted on the mast bracket (option, on quotation)
Hydraulics required
+ Double-acting pressure line (flow 50 l/min, pressure 140 bar).
Provide a direct return line if needed, in case of back pressure on the carrier's hydraulic circuit.
Requires an excavator carrier with at least 450 kg lifting capacity at the boom tip
Factory options for the post driver
- Tilt corrector
- Function selector (lift cylinder + hammer, or tilt corrector) with electric control from the cab. (About 6 m of cable)
- Specific hitch (Manitou, approved by the manufacturer; Euro hitch for front loader, etc.)
Technical specifications of the post driver
Width 1.40 m, depth 0.90 m, height 1.90 m.
2A3- HYDROCHOC MPEV 500 HYDRAULIC POST DRIVER
General features of the post driver
+ Sliding mast with hydraulic percussion hammer
+ "Tie-rod-free" one-piece hammer based on technology from "Atlas Copco", the world leader in percussion
+ Hammer guaranteed for 2 years (subject to the rules of use and maintenance),
+ Maximum stake height depending on the carrier
+ Single-acting hammer lift cylinder, 50 cm
+ Effective impact energy under the driving cap: 150 joules (AEM standard)
+ Variable blow frequency from 560 to 1700 blows per minute
+ (YANIGAV exclusive): flat-bottomed driving cap machined from solid, which leaves stake heads perfectly intact
For all metal or wooden stakes up to 120 mm
+ Driving cap mounted on the hammer's original tool bit, fitted with a Morse taper
Driving cap diameter: 120 mm
+ Mini-excavator attachment to be adapted on the mast bracket
Hydraulics required for the post driver
+ Double-acting high-pressure line (flow 30 l/min, pressure 110 bar).
Provide a direct return line if needed, in case of back pressure on the mini-excavator's hydraulic circuit
2 hydraulic hoses of 1.5 m without couplers
+ Supplied with a stand for storage
MPEV 500/2 version
Without lift cylinder
Hydraulics required: single-acting line
Technical specifications of the post driver
Dimensions:
Width: 1.00 m, Depth: 0.60 m, Height: 1.30 m
Weight: 180 kg without hitch
Tips for using the Hydrochoc post driver
+ Do not strike with the mast resting on the ground
+ Grease the hammer once a day with the driving cap pushed in. Caution! Heavy greasing with the driving cap not pushed in can damage the hammer at start-up
- Nitrogen pressure check: once a year.
2A4- HYVER 180 HYDRAULIC VINEYARD POST DRIVER
Features of the Hydrochoc HYVER 180 post driver
+ Mast with HYDROCHOC percussion hammer
+ Maximum height 2.40 m
+ Hammer lift cylinder 1 m
+ Maximum stake height depending on the three-point linkage: 2500 mm
+ Adjustable 180° mechanical rotation
+ Frequency of 2,400 blows/min
+ One-piece hammer based on technology from ATLAS COPCO, the world leader in percussion
+ Driving head sliding on rollers
+ Flat-bottomed driving cap machined from solid, Ø80 mm (YANIGAV exclusive)
+ Total travel of 2300 mm
Hydraulics required (IMPORTANT)
- Hydraulic drive from the tractor via 2 lines (1 single-acting and 1 return)
- Flow: 18 to 22 l/min
- Operating pressure: 90 bar
2B- Drop-weight post drivers
2B1- HT5, HTG5 ROTARY PENDULUM POST DRIVER
General features of the rotary pendulum post driver
+ Oversized tubular frame with inspected welds
+ Maximum driving power thanks to:
- the long 140 kg drop weight, guaranteed for 5 years
- 2/3 of the drop weight sliding inside the mast
+ Unbreakable welded steel drop weight, YANIGAV exclusive
+ Very strong profiled mast, 180 mm wide
+ Steel notched-roller clamp
+ Dual control (mandatory)
+ Fully protected 1 m hydraulic side shift (2.40 m from the centre line)
+ Automatic hitch with adjustable screw stabilisers
+ Mast support leg for transport
+ Parking stands carried on the machine
+ More than 20 grease points
+ Reliable, smooth 180° rotation: YANIGAV exclusive
+ YANIGAV patent with two double-acting cylinders
Allows work to the left, to the right and in line with the tractor
Drives stakes up to 2.50 m (3.40 m with extension)
+ Maximum stability in storage thanks to:
a low centre of gravity below the third hitch point
wide triangular parking stands
+ Ultra-strong YANIGAV-specific lifting rope
Options for the hydraulic rotary post driver
- Independent pump, flow 25 l/min (HTG5)
- Hydraulic steel notched-roller clamp with valve section
- Pilot-hole spike
- Independent hydraulic extractor; allows hydraulic extraction of the pilot-hole spikes
- Transport dimensions H x L x W: 3.25 x 2.20 x 1.00
- Mast extensions (30, 60 or 90 cm)
- Electro-hydraulic hour meter
Technical specifications of the HTG5 pendulum post driver
- Weight: 690 kg (HT5) or 740 kg (HTG5)
- Transport dimensions (H x L x W) m: 3.25 x 2.20 x 1.00
2B2- HS3, HSG3 PENDULUM POST DRIVER
General features of the pendulum post driver
+ Heavy-gauge welded tubular frame
+ Maximum driving power thanks to:
the long 105 kg drop weight, guaranteed for 5 years
50% of the drop weight sliding inside the mast
+ Unbreakable welded steel drop weight, YANIGAV exclusive
+ Very strong profiled mast, 180 mm wide
+ Steel notched-roller clamp
+ Fully protected 1 m hydraulic side shift (2.40 m from the centre line)
+ Automatic hitch with adjustable screw stabilisers
+ Mast support leg for transport
+ Parking stands carried on the machine
+ More than 10 grease points
Drives stakes up to 2.50 m (3.40 m with extension)
+ Maximum stability in storage thanks to:
a low centre of gravity below the third hitch point
wide triangular parking stands
+ Ultra-strong YANIGAV-specific lifting rope
Options for the pendulum post driver
- Independent pump, flow 25 l/min (HSG3)
- Hydraulic steel notched-roller clamp with valve section
- Pilot-hole spike
- Independent hydraulic extractor; allows hydraulic extraction of the pilot-hole spikes
- Mast extensions (30, 60 cm or 90 cm)
- Electro-hydraulic hour meter
Technical specifications of the post driver
- Weight: 510 kg (HS3) or 575 kg (HSG3)
- Transport dimensions H x L x W: 3.25 x 2.20 x 1.00
2B3- HV3, HVG3 PENDULUM POST DRIVER
General features of the post driver
+ Ideal for use in vineyards thanks to its narrow build.
+ Leaves the stake head intact thanks to its concave drop weight
+ The efficiency of a balanced drop weight, as 50% of its weight slides inside the mast
+ Fully protected side-shift slide
+ High stability in storage thanks to a wide support stand.
+ Easy mast locking for transport thanks to the mast guide on the chassis.
- Automatic hitch as standard
Two versions of the post driver
- Running on the tractor's hydraulic pump: HV3
- With independent pump: HVG3 (supplied with oil and PTO shaft)
Options for the post driver
- Orchard extension: 30 cm
- Hydraulic clamp
- Hour meter
Technical specifications and dimensions of the post driver
- Chassis width: 1.05 m, Overall width: 1.46 m
- Minimum row spacing: 1.80 m
- Weight with pump unit: 470 kg
- Hydraulic side shift: 0.50 m
- Height: 3.20 m
- Pump flow: 21 l/min, Tank capacity: 45 litres
- Pressure: 170 bar
2B4- HRD, HRDE STANDARD POST DRIVER
Options for the standard post driver, HRD for livestock farming or HRDE for vineyards
+ Pilot-hole spike for rocky ground
+ Complete independent pump
+ Hydraulic clamp
+ Hydraulic hour meter
3 - Crawler- or truck-mounted post drivers
Self-propelled crawler-mounted hydraulic driving masts, and those mounted on trucks or on crane / excavator arms, are designed for driving sections (wooden / steel / cast-iron piles) to install crash barriers, foundations for solar farms or timber landscaping, fences (riding arenas, paddocks…), and to maintain and lay out vineyards (trellising, anchoring…)
This all-terrain solution delivers high output with a single operator.
3A- ORTECO crawler-mounted piling rigs
ORTECO crawler rigs drive all types of posts with precision thanks to their stability and manoeuvrability, and with great power thanks to their 600 to 1000 joule hammers. They are fitted with a soundproofed combustion engine and a hydraulic system, making them fully self-sufficient.
As standard, these carriers are fitted with rubber tracks, allowing not only all-terrain work but also use on roads without damaging the surface (steel tracks available as an option).
The mast of these rigs can be adjusted in every direction. It also has a side-shift function for working beyond obstacles (e.g. ditch, pavement…).
Once folded, ORTECO driving masts can easily be loaded onto a truck bed using ramps or a crane (lifting point).
Accessories and options available for ORTECO crawler-mounted piling rigs
- AUTOMATIC MAST VERTICALITY via electronic spirit level
- EXTRACTION KIT to pull out piles that need replacing or were badly installed
- AUTOMATIC GPS POSITIONING for precise placement of sections according to a pre-established plan
- DOWN-THE-HOLE HAMMER, 90 to 254 mm in diameter, for compact rock, unreinforced concrete and very hard composites
- DRILL, 100 to 400 mm in diameter, for compact ground
- CORE DRILL (1, 2 or 4 rods), 10 to 301 mm in diameter, for reinforced or unreinforced concrete, asphalt, stone
- LASER HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT: laser receiver to stop driving the pile at a set level
3B- Truck-mounted ORTECO driving masts
Truck-mounted masts allow faster intervention than the crawler version and provide good stability while the section is being driven.
Ideal for repair work or driving over short lengths. They offer the same hammers and options as the crawler versions.
They can be powered by the truck's existing hydraulic source or by an ORTECO hydraulic power pack.
3C- ORTECO driving masts mounted on crane / excavator arms
The crane-arm-mounted mast is the ideal solution for repair work, as it is very quick and easy to deploy.
The excavator-arm-mounted mast is the ideal and most economical solution for those who already own an excavator.
They offer the same hammers and options as the crawler versions.
They can be powered by the existing hydraulic source of the excavator / crane or by an ORTECO hydraulic power pack.