comprises a chain 40 having a projecting lug 42 adapted to engage the sliding hammer 24 so that when the chain 40 is driven so that the sliding hammer 24 is first lifted and then dropped the chain 40 extends between two sprockets 46 so that it has an upright lifting side most preferably an upright back plate 49 is positioned behind the lifting side of the chain 40 to ensure that the lug 42 linearly tracks alongside the hammer 24 for lifting without premature disengagement additionally the lift means 38 preferably comprises a hydraulic motor 48 the hydraulic motor 48 may be driven by the hydraulic system on any mobile equipment used to transport the post pounder 20 including a truck a trailer a bobcat a front end loader and a 3 point hitch none shown the post pounder 20 may replace the shovel on a bobcat or front end loader none shown by attachment to an outside portion of lower frame back member 29 with a single hydraulic control not shown an operator may start stop and optimally select the hammering rate on a driven post 22 the sliding hammer 24 is fabricated from a square channel having a cavity which may be filled with varying amounts of ballast usually chain so that an optimum hammer weight may be selected for an application fig3 is an enlarged perspective view of a floating anvil 26 which is adopted to seat on a post 22 the anvil 26 comprises an upper portion 34 made of a hardened steel to withstand the impact of the hammer 24 a central portion 34 made of a soft steel bolted to the upper.