Anyone built a Ground Hawg backhoe?

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I am considering buying the plans for the Ground Hawg backhoe - will be using it as an attachment for the skid steer.http://www.ubuilditplans.com/webpage4_page1.htmlHas anyone here done this?  I would like to hear whether folks would recommend the design and if they have built it recommend things that might have worked well (or not so well) - hoping to learn from other's pain Hobart LX235Victor 250 Oxy-Acetylene Rig (welding and cutting)Bobcat 773F-350, 1999, 4x4, 16' 10K# trailerOutdoor Wood Burner - 10 cords/year
Reply:if a picture is worth a thousand words.those "plans" must be worth 35 cents.what a POS.  I suppose it would save you $75 worth of time to not start from scratch, if say you have difficulty figuring out cylinders etc...for yourself.  That thing is so crude and simple I would personally lay it out by hand with a crayon before paying $75 for the "plans".you coud even cut up cardboard boxes into life size patterns.
Reply:I share the same sentiment as dsergison that this is a relatively simple project that you should be able to accomplish by looking at the picture and making some sketches.  Additionally, there are quite a few improvements that could be made both functionally and aesthetically with no additional effort.Notes:1.  They are providing plans for the bucket.  This seems to be a lot of work for little payout when "standard" buckets can be bought and swapped out as your needs evolve.  If you have a one off bucket, building a new one is your only option in the future.2.  The plates at the elbow which are square and have three holes in each plate; I would make these as a more rounded shape.  It would save on material by a little and look a lot more professional.  If you are already going to be cutting the plates, you may as well make it look good in the process.
Reply:Looks interesting.  I suppose you could build it by looking at the picture, but I would assume the plans outline the specifics for the hydraulics and such.  If you are good with hydraulics, then I would build it by looking at the picture.
Reply:I'll give you my plans for free, as long as you promise to follow through, build it and document it along the way. I've been looking at building a small backhoe for my tractor to replace the one I sold a couple years back. the only thing preventing me is the cost of parts and material versus buying a used one that needs minor repair.I had a 7 1/2 foot digger that I wasn't using anymore so I sold it but then got all "obsessed" with designing and building my own. Before I sold the it, I measured every part and piece of it. Then I went to my local Kubota dealer and measured every part of the newest designs (I know the owner). From all of that I designed a 9 foot digger which would use the two cylinder swing mechanism from a current model digger (just buy a replacement unit and bolt it into my design). This swing mechanism gives my design full 180 degree swing from left to right. I "built" the backhoe in sketchup and used the physics module to find any design flaws (and I found a few). My design is easy to build, it uses all standard sizes of tube, angle and channel. I feel it's well thought out and should last a lifetime with proper use and care. I just need someone to build it to prove my theory I can give an easy step by step build process from the sketchup model I have which includes all dimensions of lengths, widths, hole centers, etc. In the movie the "white box" I reach down to represents a "2 foot flat bottom" at a depth of "9 feet" which is how the digging depth of a backhoe is measured (yes, I did alot of research on this topic). Attached Images
Reply:WOW! Mark, that is some nice work there! Get on the stick and build this thing.
Reply:gwiley     about 15 years ago, I built a caddigger 508, for  a powerking tractor i had.I got the plans from cadplans, cost around 30.00 bucks & were pretty informative. I built it in my 1 car garage with a hobart betamig 160 & a small delta drillpress & various other hand tools, cost about 750.00 bucks & a few weeks of work a couple hrs a night. Now after installing it on the tractor & working out a couple bugs, I dragged that thing all over hells half acre & made all kinds of money with it.I made enough money to buy a kubota tractor, (4x4 diesel vs 2x4 gas) & mounted the primitive backhoe on it & continued to use & make money with it. the more work i did with it the more i wanted a real backhoe ( it was a 4 stick controled unit  & had no hydraulic downriggers which became a real pain after a while so i sold it for 1600.00 & bought a woods 650 for my kubota. What a difference. the only breakdown ever, on the 508  was a sheared off hydraulic fitting( operator error) other than that, albeit primitive, it did get the job donejust my 2 cents, it was a very good project, however i would suggest the design in markfugas post, due to the outrigger design.  Bob
Reply:Mark, what as the reason behind doing tabs on the outside here rather than boring the lower tube and having it between the plates? Attached ImagesMy name's not Jim....
Reply:Originally Posted by markfugaI'll give you my plans for free, as long as you promise to follow through, build it and document it along the way. I've been looking at building a small backhoe for my tractor to replace the one I sold a couple years back. the only thing preventing me is the cost of parts and material versus buying a used one that needs minor repair.
Reply:I don't know if this project would make sense anymore.Today there are so many factory built backhoe attachments around for so cheap that I don't think it's practical to scratch build one. A complete cut-off, or even an attachment type  hoe could  probably be bought for less than just a small pile of light-duty hydraulics and steel will cost. There will still be plenty of welding and hydraulics  adventures to be had while adapting the factory-built hoe.Good Luck
Reply:although i built something similar (years ago) I have to agree with denrep. used hoes in my area, are running from 2000 to 3000. I found an arps 70 backhoe 3 point hitch mount @ a john deere dealer nearby & picked it up for 2100.00 basically needed a seat. gave it to my dad for his jd 4210 & it works perfrctly. here it is mounted on my ford, checking it out before giving it to him                                    Bob Attached Images
Reply:Hi Boostin, I went back and fourth on that part of the design several times and settled on what I have because it's easier to use stock size tubing with a few 1/4" gusset plates. I know the "grond hawg" design does it without bends, but I'm using a wider tube for the lower boom which ensures the needed strengths when "sweeping left-right with the bucket". The alternate design is what rdionne just posted and is hard to achieve without putting bends in the top attachment plates. Here's a close up exploded view of that area. Notice the pin that holds the lower boom to the dipper arm requires pins on both sides, which helps tie the two sides of the open tube together. This is also a replicate of the newer Kubota backhoe designs. My goal was "no bending needed", can be built with average tools that most of us have.Denrep and rdionne both bring up the point I "alluded" to in my first post which is it's WAY cheaper to find an old one that needs minor repair. When I was designing this thing I priced out all the hydraulics (pump, cylinders, hoses, fittings, control valve, etc) and I was around $1,800  Of course I was pricing out all brand name quality parts. So... much cheaper to find something used, just not as fun as building your own. Attached Images
Reply:check out this one, a little small, but sure beats a shovel ^ an easy conversion to fit a skidloader. Might be worth picking up or have it picked uphttp://cgi.ebay.com/Kubota-BX-24-BX2.../280645653955?
Reply:The way I figured it was that I could get the steel and parts for something like $1500 versus $2000-$3000 for a used one.  If it takes me 50 hours to build then I am "making" around $25/hour best case or $10/hour worst case.  That's not too shabby!  Especially when I consider that I don't have to pay taxes on the money I save - then it turns into 10-20% more savings.Am I shooting too low on the parts cost?I think I am going to start looking hard for a "broken" one that I can get for dirt and fix, but if I don't find something within a few months I am still thinking that building one might make sense.Hobart LX235Victor 250 Oxy-Acetylene Rig (welding and cutting)Bobcat 773F-350, 1999, 4x4, 16' 10K# trailerOutdoor Wood Burner - 10 cords/year
Reply:I'd have to "dig out" (yes pun intended) my research notes. I'm certain I have the pricing for the hydraulic parts. As I recall, the swing mechanism (2 cylinder) was around $600, the next costly item was the "2 joy stick control valve" $300 seems to stick in my head. After that comes the pump, although you'll likely use the pump off your skid steer. Then all the cylinders, hoses, fittings brought it north of $1500 for sure. Again, I was getting quotes on the top brands names, there are cheaper options. The steel you can easily figure out, but I would expect $500+ depending on how much you can source from scrap/drop piles.That being said, I'm sure you can build a backhoe for the $1200 that the Ground Hawg site claims by using their design. But there design won't perform or last as long as a real production machine, which I designed mine around.Also note worthy, when I was designing mine I was after "speed" along with sturdyness. If you search on youtube for "homemade backhoes" you'll notice 2 things. First, almost all of them use a 4 joy stick design (which lowers cost), second all of them are slow moving... I mean really slow moving.I'm not trying to discourage you from building your own, in fact I'd enjoy having you build my design or a version of it. But the reality is, you'll find a used one for much less that just needs new bushings, pins and a crack or two repaired.
Reply:man! that kubota hoe went fast, & for 1500.00 I cant belive it. ther e is nothing like building something yourself, the problem is as i get older 50 hrs of shoptime for myself is hard to come by. A great wife also helps matters, this is what i"ll her when i am hunting for something, Quote ( what are you lookin at that piece of sh-t for, gotta fix this & weld that! just get one you can use!!!! it"ll be cheaper & less aggrivating  for the both of us)  Yes Dear ! LMAO!!!!!!! works every time!  & i agree with mark the 4 stick valve body takes some gettin used to                   Bob
Reply:markfuga, sent you an PMChris Originally Posted by markfugaI'll give you my plans for free, as long as you promise to follow through, build it and document it along the way. I've been looking at building a small backhoe for my tractor to replace the one I sold a couple years back. the only thing preventing me is the cost of parts and material versus buying a used one that needs minor repair.I had a 7 1/2 foot digger that I wasn't using anymore so I sold it but then got all "obsessed" with designing and building my own. Before I sold the it, I measured every part and piece of it. Then I went to my local Kubota dealer and measured every part of the newest designs (I know the owner). From all of that I designed a 9 foot digger which would use the two cylinder swing mechanism from a current model digger (just buy a replacement unit and bolt it into my design). This swing mechanism gives my design full 180 degree swing from left to right. I "built" the backhoe in sketchup and used the physics module to find any design flaws (and I found a few). My design is easy to build, it uses all standard sizes of tube, angle and channel. I feel it's well thought out and should last a lifetime with proper use and care. I just need someone to build it to prove my theory I can give an easy step by step build process from the sketchup model I have which includes all dimensions of lengths, widths, hole centers, etc. In the movie the "white box" I reach down to represents a "2 foot flat bottom" at a depth of "9 feet" which is how the digging depth of a backhoe is measured (yes, I did alot of research on this topic).
Reply:Gwiley-If I may add a little of my experience on this very situation that you are in, I have researched building homemade front end loaders and back hoes for quite awhile. I have 90% of the steel and parts sitting next to my shed and am waiting to get enough time and money set aside for the hydraulics side of the project.  Had I just bought a non working or basket case loader I would be running it now rather than waiting to get the rest of the parts needed. That being said, nothing is better than looking at something you built and watching it work great, I believe you are a little light on your time estimate I would guess it is going to be more like 75-100hrs.  again only my opinion.  Either way you go good luck and I look forward to the end result.  Walt
Reply:Originally Posted by gwileyI am considering buying the plans for the Ground Hawg backhoe - will be using it as an attachment for the skid steer.http://www.ubuilditplans.com/webpage4_page1.htmlHas anyone here done this?  I would like to hear whether folks would recommend the design and if they have built it recommend things that might have worked well (or not so well) - hoping to learn from other's pain
Reply:MarkFuga,Can I ask what program you used for the animation?  Looks Sketchup / Solidworks; but not sure.Thanks.
Reply:Originally Posted by markfuga I "built" the backhoe in sketchup and used the physics module to find any design flaws (and I found a few).
Reply:This is an old topic, is anyone still active in building their own backhoe?ThanksCraig
Reply:Originally Posted by cgarrThis is an old topic, is anyone still active in building their own backhoe?ThanksCraig
Reply:i built a cadplans about 17 years ago.  plans were great, help was great.  dug great.  sold ir and bought kubota 32 hp tractor and added bh77 backhoe.  works fantastic.   only change i would make from cadplans,  buy the kubota buckets.  in some instances like wet mud or clay, the kabuta bucket empties a lot easier.  it shape isn't conventional,lincoln 125spmonkey wards 250 ac/dcmiller 211 w/spool gunahp  200 sx tiglotos ltp5000dof course duramax diesel
Reply:Does anyone have plans for a 3 point attachment?  I’ve got an old MF50 tractor about 40hp I’d like to use.  The 3 point will lift about 2k Sent from my iPhone using TapatalkOriginally Posted by cgarrDoes anyone have plans for a 3 point attachment?  I’ve got an old MF50 tractor about 40hp I’d like to use.  The 3 point will lift about 2k Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Reply:100yr old thread......................BUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  !!!!!VERY COOLThis is something wonderful for a younger man with time to build it, and time to enjoy it.  Amazing what talent is out there.