How to Build a Backhoe for a Simplicity 7100

Measure out 14 pieces of sheet metal, 2 inches wide and 6 inches long from the 1/2-inch sheet metal. Cut each piece with the band saw to make brackets. Smooth off the sharp edges of each bracket with the hand grinder. Drill 2-inch holes on one end of each bracket with the drill press.

Weld two brackets on either side of each piece of the 4-by-4-inch steel box tubing on one end perpendicular to the box tubing. Weld two brackets on either side of the other end of each piece of the 4-by-4-inch box tubing, parallel to the box tubing. Make sure the bolt holes stick out from the ends so the pivot bolts will slide through each bracket. Measure 1 foot from the end of the box tubing at the parallel bracket end. Mark and weld two more brackets to either side perpendicular to the box tubing.

Cut four 12-by-12-inch square pieces from the 1/2-inch sheet metal. Weld each piece together, making an open-ended box. Cut eight 2-by-4-inch brackets with the band saw. Drill 2-inch holes in each new bracket on one end of each piece. Measure the outside distance of the perpendicular brackets on one of the 4-by-4-inch box tubing pieces. Measure 4 inches up on the open-ended box and make a horizontal line across the entire 12 inches. Mark a perpendicular center line on this horizontal line. Weld two of the new brackets at equal distances from the perpendicular line but wide enough for the perpendicular end of the box tubing to slide between.

Measure 4 inches down on the same side the new brackets were installed but from the top of the open-ended box. Weld two more brackets at equal distances from the perpendicular center line for the hydraulic cylinder to connect to the open-ended box. Measure the distance of the mounting points on the back of the Simplicity 7100 Series garden tractor and weld the other four brackets on the opposite side of the open-ended box so you can attach the backhoe to the tractor.

Cut five 12-by-12-inches pieces of 1/2-inch sheet metal and weld a closed-end bucket. Weld two of the 2-by-6-inch brackets to one side of the bucket on the open end so you can attach it to the boom. Weld two other brackets on the same side so the hydraulic cylinder end will connect to the bucket.

Assemble the boom at the pivot by sliding a 6-inch pivot bolt through the parallel end of one 4-by-4-inch box tubing and the perpendicular end of the other box tubing. Slide another pivot bolt through the bucket and bucket end of the boom. Attach the open-ended box to the boom by sliding another pivot bolt. Connect one hydraulic cylinder to one box tubing and bucket. Bolt the other hydraulic cylinder to the open-ended box and crowd side of the boom.

Cut four more 2-by-6-inch brackets and weld them to either side of the open-ended box. Center these brackets on the bottom side of the open-ended box and weld in place for the legs of the backhoe. Drill 2-inch holes through one end of the 2-by-2-inch box tubing. Cut the opposite end of the 2-by-2-inch box tubing at a 45-degree angle with the band saw. Cut two 6-by-6-inch sheet metal plates and weld them onto the 45-degree angle end of the box tubing. Mount the legs to the open-ended box by sliding the 4-inch pivot bolts in place.

Weld the backhoe hydraulic controls onto the open-ended box along with the hydraulic tank and pump. Connect the hydraulic hoses from the hydraulic box to the pump and then to the controls. Run more hydraulic hoses from the controls to each one of the hydraulic cylinders. Fill the hydraulic box with fluid and prime the hydraulic pump, running fluid throughout the backhoe controls and cylinders.