Homemade Backhoe

[Ozarker]

<font color=blue>I think I'd want to get an old beater one for this! </font color=blue>

That accurately describes just about everything I own except my truck. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[mrcaptainbob]

You're right about an 'old beater'. If not before you use it for metal, it soon will be after! I had an interesting experience with mine. It suddenly popped the breaker. Checked the unit out and found that after cutting much stock at a 45, the sparks were raining on the plastic shield over the switch on the underside of the machine. It sort of 'remolded' it all! I now have a neat metal shield covering the revised switch area. Buy the way, don't mean to come off as someone talking down to people, but doing it this way really requires face shield, ear protection (from noise and grit) and a dust mask.....

 

[Anonymous Poster]

captainbob, thanks for the tips. I wonder how the internals of the motor hold up with the metal chips and fines. Many of the "contractor style" saws have an open frame motor, where the outside air flows through the internals of the motor for cooling. Jet is the only one in this price range that uses a TEFC (totally enclosed fan-cooled) motor. This motor has a CI housing with ribs, and an external fan that blows along them for cooling-seems like it would work better in both wood dust and metal. I need to get a drill press, I'm looking seriously at the Jet there as well, for the same reason. Too broke to buy anything right now.

Bri

 

[wroughtn_harv]

I assume when ya'll are talking about shearing you're referring to sheet metal. Because it's been my experience that sheared thicker stuff ends aren't near as nice as those cut with anything but a rookie with a torch.

In fact my Lehman punch press has some shearing functions. But when I priced the cost, two hundred and fifty dollars, for replacing the cutting dies I decided it wasn't worth it as I wouldn't be using it much.

 

[Ozarker]

You're absolutely correct. A company I worked for had two shears and could shear stock up to about 1/2" thick. But anything over about 1/8" and you could see the distortion in the edges and it gets more pronounced as you do thicker metal. A good flame cutter will do a much nicer job.

 

[Kodiak]

Your right most most plate shears do distort considerably on anythingh over 1/4". Some of the local boat building companies have really huge plate shears, that have replaceable cutting edges on a the work table as well as the shear. I saw them do some 10' cuts in 3/8" plate with it, for our boat, and it wasn't distorted badly.

 

[dbmsimp]

hi, I am looking to buy a set of the plans to build a backhoe 4 simplicity PowerMax tractor. Are they still available? Please contact me at protech resto@gmail.com or 847 888 3463. Thank you, Darren

 

[bob5363]

I built this backhoe for my Simplicity Powermax 4041. If anyone is interested I have CAD generated plans available. The prototype has undergone some changes since this pic, and could be modified for other tractors. Tractor should have a loader for front counter weight. Also, like the Simplicity Powermax series and AC equivalents, the tractor should be a minimum of 1400# dry weight.

i am wonting to by the cad plans if you still have them you can e maill me bob51463@yahoo.com i have tried on the sit but git nothing thank you for your time