I agree that this is the easiest option but my problem is that most of my field guys are on their own so I need something that can use without a second set of hands.
Slide sledge. Accept no substitute. While work provides ours, I am going to purchase one for home use when I find one for a good deal.
A must have in my book for a single mechanic in the field is a Slide Sledge. I'm a meager 140 lb fella, I don't have arms like Popeye, I wouldn't be without one. A man my size don't do so good by myself with a sledge and a drift. I have knocked out the bucket pins on a 400 size excavators several times by myself with a Slide Sledge. Also use it to change those stupid side pin teeth on Cat buckets. They're a bit expensive, but it's a must have on my truck. >
http://www.slidesledge.com/
You will not find a conventional sledge in our shop. Slide sledge use is mandated by the safety folks as we have had several people seriously injured by flying fragments from striking hardened metal with metal objects.
And personally, for me while the slide sledge will still wear your ass out it's a lot easier on the body to use a slide sledge vs. conventional sledge, especially when you start talking about overhead or sideways use. I can't swing worth a damn sideways. We do have a huge deadblow rubber sledge hammer, but I hate it.
We've got various style tips...offset pin ones for punching out the bucket teeth pins, flat face tips for pounding on stuff, and longer but large pin driving tips for bucket pins.