I try to forget holding the drive pin while the boss swung the BFH at it, got a little better when we welded a long handle to the drive pin and I could hold my hands and head a little further away, I used to dream about a way to hydraulically push those stubborn pins out.
Hi 69hayes: I guess you are trying to forget the heavy vibration holding the drive pin that would be created when the boss didn't get the hammer on perfectly. I had one helper who would start yelling before I finished the swing. I guess the suspense was too much. LOL
I made up a thing for getting the pins started. 3' of 3/4" round stock with a piece about a foot long welded crossways at one end. I called it 'the putter.' I'm sure you did the same. A soft sledge of about 5 pounds for a starter, then put the long end in and so on. If you can get a Railroad Hammer that has a mushroom head and a narrow opposite end, I found this to be great for starting. Could hold the railroad hammer easily on the end of the pin while the fat end was easy to hit. Could start most pins without a helper who had to hold the putter while I carefully aimed the sledge at the narrow 3/4" starter.
Was digging footings for Hydro over your way on the Cheekeye-Dunsmuir Loop with the 580 Case mounted on the FMC way back when the ice really got melting. I was hurriedly changing a track pin just before pickup with the chopper. Working alone. Holding a short piece of 3/4" round stock for a simple starter and swinging the hammer was working out okay until I turned my head when I heard my ride coming. Broke my hand. Had a few shots at the Wakefield. I learned to use the left one a lot more. No time off. No big deal. AAAAArrrrggghh! LOL