|
|
|
 |
Revolution Testimonials |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Simon Fuller - Pirongia
“When I first saw the Telescopic 180 I really liked the idea of the telescopic mast but I thought the design too big and bulky. I was also concerned with there being no counterbalance to compensate for the weight of the mast from the point of traction. From experience if the tractor takes off on greasy country the weight of the monkey and mast pulls the tractor sideways. At the time I was operating a rearmount on a sidemount attachment so I thought I had the best of both worlds and a pretty versatile postdriver.
As time went on I kept looking and asking more questions, finally I went up and visited Tony operating his 180 on a job. It just so happened to be the middle of winter and it was a tricky wet clay fence line with a road above it going up a steep hill. I was sold after seeing it in action especially on that job as there was no other postdriver on the market that could have got those posts on that line.
We have had the 180 for about six months now and have “enjoyed” the versatility it offers. Our business covers a wide range of fencing situations from steep coastal hill country, broken country along the slopes of Mt Pirongia, to the flats of lifestyle blocks of the Waikato, right into construction sites in town.
The first day we had the 180 we put in twelve posts that in the past we would have had to of dug in. There isn’t a day go by that we appreciate the versatility of the 180, from the telescopic mast pulling strainers out or being able to get more movement to put that post in or getting those posts in that tight spot between buildings or over that bank.
Comparing the 180 with what I had there is no comparison, the 180 is better balanced, has more ready available options at the touch of a lever, there’s no connecting and reconnecting to try to maximize base movement. With the telescopic mast the machine travels so much better across the paddock and down the road, there is no whipping with the mast and everything feels tight & secure
On hills, I’d say it’s better balanced, the weights closer to the tractor, with the mast more compact and being able to transfer the weight to the topside when moving around sidings is a noticeable reassuring advantage. Basically I’ve found you can move the 180 postdriver around to where you need it rather than having to move the tractor around. My original perception of no counterbalance affecting traction hasn’t proved to be correct largely because of the factors I’ve just mentioned.
If you are an operator of machinery, not just a leaver puller; are open to change and can appreciate the benefits labour wise with regards to the possibilities that a 180 offers, then a 180 is the way to go”. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Graham Blackhall
Graham Blackhall of Aberdeen, Scotland emigrated to Winton, Southland with his New Zealand born wife, Julie, & 2 boys at the end of 2005.
Graham had run a fencing business in Aberdeen for 14 years, using a John Deere 6610 tractor, Series III Kinghitter postdriver & then a Bryce Suma postdriver. Much of the fencing was netting, particularly rabbit netting with 6 inches dug in or pinned at the bottom. Forestry plantation fencing was another mainstay. The ground conditions varied, mainly hard pan & very rocky.
Having worked in some pretty harsh conditions in Scotland Graham was looking for a postdriver that could offer resilience & functionality that a good fencing contractor requires to run an efficient business. “I wanted a postdriver with good side & back shift but importantly has a rock spike or Auger kit facility. While still in Scotland I discovered Revolution Postdrivers via their website & was interested in what they had on offer. Soon after I arrived in New Zealand I flew up to Auckland & visited Tony & Debbie White to see the Postdriver working. I first saw the Revolution Telescopic SS & was pretty sure that this was the model I was going to buy. I was very impressed with the reach of the sideshift and the backshift, also that the sideshift was supported by the legs under the base when side shifting outwards. The SS was also smooth to operate, including the telescopic mast. That the mast extends so far up hydraulically was also of interest. I was then taken to see a Revolution Telescopic 180 at work & although I had been impressed by the SS the 180 model could do so much more & I could see it was the complete driver. I wanted to buy the best driver I could get & that’s why I brought the 180 with the auger kit. I have found the 180 to be an excellent machine, some of the benefits include
- I was able to drive 4 posts without moving the tractor, such a time saver when working alone.
- Being able to drive long deer strainers with ease yet lower the mast as I was driving them down & swing behind for safe transport.
- Being able to drive the post on both sides, great for gateways & double sided shelter belts ( less tractor moving & jumping in & out of the tractor).
- Very easy to align posts & control while driving.
- Very solid driving with hydraulic leg under mast & subframe.
- Great not having to grease slides , sliders and bushes are much tighter than steel.
- The Auger has been very good, I had to drill holes in a hard yard in Invercargill & thought a spike might be better but the auger worked very well & I felt it was easier to keep straighter than a spike, the auger itself is lighter & easier to handle than a spike.
The 180 is by far the best postdriver that I have had in both features & in build quality.”
Update – January 2007
Graham & his family have returned to Aberdeen, taking the Revolution Telescopic 180 & Auger Kit with him.
Graham has returned to Fencing Contracting & has also set up a fencing supply company named Fencewrite.
Graham as commented “Recently I have been working in really harsh forestry ground doing deer fencing in amongst tree stumps, wet ground & tight working areas. I have found the Telescopic 180 to be a brilliant machine in these conditions. Driving posts in places that any of my previous postdrivers could not have possibly done.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Andrew Cave
Revolution Telescopic 180 in Action
Tararua Contract Fencing is based in Pahiatua in the Northern Wairarapa. The business is owned and operated by Andrew and Janene Cave.
Tararua Contract Fencing is a one stop-fencing contractor offering a full service to its clients, including
removing, bulldoze, supply & erecting all types of fencing. Tararua Contract Fencing is striving to be a leader in the fencing business by being NZQA approved and regularly audited buy golden pliers fencers.
Due to expansion in the Business and wanting to keep the machinery updated, Andrew set about looking for another post rammer for a second team of fencers. The Revolution Postdriver range stood out as they appeared to be going ahead in the design of rammers and had appeared to have stepped up to the mark.
In Andrews opinion “No other rammer manufacturer has come up with great innovations as the Revolutions Telescopic 180 and in particular the telescopic masts. Revolution seems to have the same goal as ourselves, to be the best in their industry in design and service.”
The Revolution 180 was the obvious choice as the first rammer in the business was a rear mount, the second was side mount and the advantages of the 180 just seemed so great.
As the soil conditions in the area can very considerable in a days ramming, a Rock Spike and Auger kit were also in the order.
The large investment for the step up to this model was a concern, but within days Andrew & the team could see the benefits to this great design.
Andrew states “I have found the 180 a much safer machine to operate then my previous ones, as the tractor doesn’t need to be put in to such a precarious position to be able to ram in the post.
I have had people tell me that it looks heavy and unbalanced. Trust me this is not true, the 180 can get further, easier and safer, than my past rammers and when on hills you just rotate the mast to the top side and off you go. With some of our fence lines being on narrow ridges, it is great to be able to ram mid mount and out to the left or right hand sides just by pulling a lever.
Just last week we did a set of sheep yards buy an old woolshed that had two lots of power lines running over them, there is no way that we could have rammed these posts with the old rammer, the telescopic mast was great. In the same set of yards I rammed six posts without moving the tractor. This coming week we are going to be ramming some post through a concrete floor in a set of covered yards, bets a sledgehammer. When we have the 180 on the back of the Komatsu D31 trucking it from site to site is hassle free with no worries they’re about being over height.”
“As far as service goes, the back up from Revolution is top notch. They really stand behind their machines. We had some small problems with the auger assembly and with one phone call the problem was sorted out and we were mobile again. Due to operator error we bent a pin, the new pin was on the workshop floor inside of 24 hours I certainly never had this quick a service from my previous rammer manufacturer.”
Andrew Cave
Managing director
Tararua Contract Fencing
Update
My Telescopic 180 is now 2 1/2 years old. My comments about it is that it's the most awesome postdriver ever made. The Telescopic mast is heaps stronger and more beneficial than I ever imagined, my first impression was that it might be weak but I'm happy to report that I was quite wrong about that. This postdriver is also more stable on hill work that I thought and leaves other postdrivers in it's wake. Revolution continue to be good to deal with and as a Buyer I've never felt abandoned by them, infact I feel a strong loyalty as the product is even better than what they claimed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Darryl Robb
" I have found the Revolution Telescopic 180 to be an extremely versatile postdriver. It has so many different uses in different situations that you don't really have any real idea of what it's capable of until you start using one. The telescopic jib is excellent, you can do anything with it. I use mine regularly to lift poles & big strainers into place. I have found that being able to work out any side or round the back invaluable for not having to get on & off the tractor & I have cut the tractor movements in half from when I had a rear mounted postdriver. The Auger is very effective in the hard pan & pipe clay that I have to regularly work in. With the combination of the telescopic jib and base movement I find I can keep the Auger plumb without having to realign it by getting back on the tractor. With security fencing I find that I can get the telescopic jib & Auger plumb & therefore create a nice plumb hole which saves on time & added expense. With the Auger on the other unit I used to have we would often have to get a drill in after I'd augered the holes to get them plumb for the steel posts. I do a lot of work through car parks & asphalt & have found the Rock spike ideal for
these conditions."
Darryl Robb, Pahia.
Update
February 2008 - I brought the 180 in Feb 2004. After around 2000 hours the postdriver was becoming a bit sloppy & after an onsite visit by Tony it was decided to replace some of the plastics including the bush around the main hinge pin. It took less than half a day and now the rammer is as good as new again which really pleases me as other postdrivers I've had that have steel wearing on steel it's alot more complicated, time consuming and costly to try & fix.
This 180 is majestic, I can't say enough as to how good it is to use and how much easier it makes my job. I've even got a saying "where would you be without your 180"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John Millar Masterton.
" I have owned a Revolution telescopic 180 for some 20 months and have been extremely impressed by it and the Revolution Company. I have found the telescopic mast great around trees, under covered
yards, around overhead wires, pulling out posts and for ease of transportation. The 180 degree rotation on the base is excellent on hill country and allows the operator to work above the tractor in most situations. The
rotation makes it ideal for building stock yards as it is extremely adjustable & manoeuvrable for accuracy. The hydraulic legs makes the postdriver very stable while working. They take most of the weight off the side shift beam while extending out to the post position. No greasing means that I have found this a relief from this task & it has stopped the dirt & grit adhering to the telescopic parts. The industrial Teflon type material is working extremely well.
This is a serious postdriver for Contractors"
John Millar Masterton.
Update
The 180 was brought in December 2003 and I've had it mounted on a bulldozer during this time. I've never had to do any repairs except when it blew over when I disconnected it & left it on a ridge to blade a line, some of you may know about the wind that gets up in the Wairarapa. I was abit disappointed that a lever brought on the valve bank when this happened as I didn't want any damage at all, but Revolution where good enough to send down another one so the problem was soon fixed. I get this postdriver places and people are continually amazed were it works. A recent job driving in posts & 2.1 m strainers under a covered woolshed brought about some admirers. I do alot of yards and wouldn't be without this 180. Soon after I got this postdriver I was doing underground cattle crossings & that's when I begin to realise what a good thing I'd gotten onto by purchasing this 180. I travel and look forward to going each year to Mystery Creek Fieldays to help Revolution on their stand such is my belief in this postdriver and what Revolution are doing. I stand by my original comment that this is a serious postdriver for contractors.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mark Little
Mark Little, a fencing contractor from Hawke’s Bay purchased a Revolution Telescopic SS after considerable research into the makes available & much pondering. “I first approached Debbie at Revolution Postdrivers about one year ago, so one couldn’t say we rushed our decision! After looking at three brands of drivers we settled on the Revolution Telescopic SS with forward and aft shift with a full auger kit, plus 300kg monkey and hydraulic leg. Tony and Debbie delivered and fitted it to the tractor and ran through all the things it could do. Now I can honestly say I regret taking so long to make the decision & frankly the brochures don’t do the postdriver justice, you need to see one working or work one to see how good the postdriver really is”.
On looking at the brochures Mark’s initial thoughts were the concept is very different & He was worried the design build wasn’t heavy enough. He has found out the opposite, indeed the concept allows for excellent base movement & a strong telescopic jib that Mark describes now as “everything & more”
Mark does all the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council fencing and Hastings District Council road fencing. He also has quite a large farmer clientele base, so all in all, no shortage of work. All their fencing is rammer work.
The Regional Council work can vary from soft silt soil to hard packed river shingle. Hastings District Council work is all very hard fencing with all sorts of rubbish in the fill and all extremely well compacted. The work they carry out for farmers is generally rolling country, but with very hard pan or limestone and a bit of red metal shingle. All posts need to have a pilot hole drilled to get them in. There is a lot of work under trees and overhead electric fence wires and Mark describes the telescopic mast as “unreal”. Mark have a lot of thought to whether He really needed the 900 mm forward and aft shift and couldn’t be happier that He included it in the order. “We have already put in strainers that would otherwise be hand dug & working under trees & power lines, well the telescopic jib gives a real sense of security. We have begun using the telescopic jib to pull out posts & find that the direct pull results in no stresses on the jib & it’s much faster than using the front end loader. The machine is very well balanced. I am running it on a Ford 6600 four wheel drive with loader and it handles the rammer with ease. All in all we find it to be a very well designed machine that I am sure will no doubt hack the pace.”
Mark Little
Taradale
Hawkes Bay
Update
February 2008 - I've owned this postdriver for coming up 2 years. It's already done more work than the postdriver that I had before this one when I got rid of it. When we had it in the yard the other week and water blasted it I couldn't find any fractures or any signs of wear and tear, which given our ground conditions and that I have to Auger every hole it's so dry it's amazing. As far as being able to use this postdriver and how good it is on the job I can't fault it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Owen Orr
"It is very hard to fault the Revolution Telescopic SS. The reason we bought this postdriver was because of the telescopic jib. Everything after that was a bonus and there are quite a number of them - the forward & aft shift, the jib being able to able to lift 2 1/2 ton, positive controls, the ability to get under trees, the manoeuvrability of the jib & the follow up service.
" PS You'll have to shoot me to take this postdriver off me (figuratively speaking of course) and if it gets worn out I'm retiring.
Owen Orr - Tirau.
Update
March 2008 Update - I've had this postdriver nearly 4 years, can't fault it.It works fantastically well and the guy who works full time for me & has worked with other contractors is continually amazed by it. There's no wear, it jut keeps keeping on going. I wouldn't trade it for anything.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Graeme Ross
" I find the Revolution Telescopic SS extremely good to use. It's good features include, how manoeuvrable it is, it's so much more manoeuvrable than other postdrivers, the forward and aft movement is great and has
definitely made my job so much easier, it's able to get under trees to ram 3.6 metre strainers without any problems. I have found that it helps to save time and labour"
Graeme Ross - Matamata.
Update
March 2008 - I brought this postdriver about 3 1/2 years ago. I figure in about a year and a half I'll replace some of the UHMWPHE in the mast area. Nothings broken on this postdriver, at the moment the ground is as hard as rock with the dry and we are hitting big poles on for culverts, it's working well on this job despite the ground.
I wouldn't go back to anything else, on a couple of small jobs I've used the sidemounted postdriver that the cockie owns and it's like going back in time.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Murray McWilliams
Central Fencing
Pukekawa
“Best postdriver you can buy, its low maintenance, doesn’t need it, unbelievable, brought this postdriver in 2005 after the Fieldays and now in April 2008 it’s still as tight as when I first brought it.
The Telescopic mast, I use it all the time. The versatility of this mast means using it’s not an issue, there’s no mucking around. It’s even given me more work on some jobs.
The transporter guy loves the telescopic mast, it’s easier to transport by a long shot.
The base movement means you only have to get near, once again no fuss, move the mast & you’re on the post, no need to get back on the tractor.
The hydraulic leg I thought long & hard about, not sure whether I needed it, but the hydraulic leg lets the mast sit still & keeps the rammer on the ground, it takes the movement off the 3 point linkage. It also means less broken posts in the hard ground as I can keep the force of the monkey directly on the post”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Craig & Brad Walker, Te Kuiti
Craig and Brad purchased a Revolution Xtenda SM to further progress their Fencing Contracting business. With youth on their side they were looking for a cost effective option, mindful of the significant difference between cost effective & cheap, with regards to maintenance, longevity coupled with cost to own.
We caught up with Craig and Brad recently in the hills of Te Kuiti working on an 800 acre dairy conversion. Craig commented “the rammer is simple and easy to use. Balance is a big thing, there’s no whip when the mast is down and you’re moving around, you hardly notice it’s there on the back when we push tracks in. The Xtenda mast is heaps better than a hinged mast, it’s easier on the rammer, and you can leave it compact for posting. The forward/aft means you don’t even have to get up and down off the tractor and you can chase strainers around. It’s great on retaining walls & getting into awkward spots.
” Noticing a repair on the base we were scratching our heads and asked with some concern how that happened. One or two sheepish looks later it came out the postdriver had hit a notoriously low bridge while on the transporter (not them driving), the result was the base had pulled away from the top link mounting. But the Xtenda mast had no damage. So that’s a true story worth telling. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Greg Burton - Greg Burton Fencing, Matamata.
Revolution Xtenda SM
" I purchased this postdriver after having a good look around at what was available at the National Fieldays in 2007.
The Xtenda mast is a saviour, it's incredible. I'm not travelling around with a honkin big thing up in the air. The Xtenda mast being able to compact down destresses the main pin area.
I'm finding the Xtenda mast exceptional under trees, I've just done a line of deer fencing under pines & being able to get between posts with the mast compact and then work the mast at any height made the job alot easier and quicker to move along.
The forward/aft on the base takes out the frustration of getting onto a post, it makes the whole process real simple. Plus the forward/aft allows you to tuck the weight right in behind the wheel when you want to climb, which helps greatly.
I've been working on a deer fencing job, it started out for a week & I've now been here 4 months. For deer strainers I've always piloted a hole first & then stood the strainer up in it, it saves trying to control the strainer while it's up there. I've enjoyed the postdriver on this job.
At the end of the day my hands are clean from not having to grease and also from having rope on the post cap instead of chain.
I'm really pleased I purchased it & made this choice". |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
