[23] Simplicity Broadmoor XC Build

#Buildoff2023

Here’s my Broadmoor entry. I won’t do a huge write up for this one if you are going to merge it with my old thread. But let me know if I have to do anything else. Basically I almost have a rolling chassis. Frame is mostly done but the suspension needs to be finished. Still needs brakes, engine built, clutch, steering installed, fuel tank, battery, pretty much everything. Thanks.


Approved - Jan 15, 2023 MightyRaze

Previous Entry "HERE" and then continued in Build-Off [22] "HERE"

[adm]Welcome to the 2023 Build-Off @mr.modified[/adm]

@mr.modified is taking advantage of re-entering using this years' 75% or less reentry rule!  Good luck,

@mr.modified just continue the build in this topic.  When this year's build-off is over, I can merge the previous 2 threads for this build together and this topic into one continious build topic.  To make sure everything stays chronological, the previous 2 topics are locked.

Alright thanks a lot. Hopefully I can get a bit of progress made.

mr.moo is back at it! Woohoo!

Well back at it for the time being. We'll see how things go.

I did get a couple minutes on it tonight. Next thing I needed to do with it was fabricate the panhard bar. I have the bolt welded on the axle and the extended piece on the frame for the other side.





Rather than buy new billets for the heim joints, I cut the old ones back out of the IFS setup that I had built a few years back.


Been quite awhile since I've been on this project. Maybe this year will finally be the year it gets done!

Awe Man! super excited to see you working on this!

Thanks. Hopefully I’ll stay motivated to keep on it. Panhard bar is done. It’s officially a roller now minus the steering. Probably going to work on mounting the seat next. Then I can see where the pedals and things need to end up.

Spent Friday afternoon and the weekend working on a light weight seat bracket. It uses two toro seat springs on a custom 3/4” square steel frame, 16 gauge. The springs have adjustment slots two change stiffness slightly. The seat is also adjustable via 3 different positions where it can bolt onto the frame. The springs could be slightly softer but I think it’ll be ok on actual bumps. It’s a little tough to tell just sitting on it in the garage. I’m thinking about starting on the running boards soon. Might do those next. The seat height is about 23” off the ground.

Been wondering what this thing will weigh, I know the 633a transaxle is about 70 and the opposed is about 100, so we’ll be over 200 i’m sure. But somewhere around 300 lbs shouldn’t be out of the question. That’s a pretty big deal considering the #64 Simplicity is around 500 lbs and with a lot less power. Time will tell if ground clearance is a big problem.

Super light weight battery tray. It’s the absolute bare minimum. Still needs a hold down on top.

Really excited to see this come together finally! I've been an anxious follower of this build since day one!

Thanks. I got off the project for quite awhile and I wasn't really into it. Kind of got annoyed with the problems of the first IFS design and the time spend building that front end that didn't work out. I think the design I have here is going to be a lot better suited to rough terrain. My IFS didn't have the ground clearance and was sort of a disaster. This setup has a lot less clearance than most machines, so we'll have to see how that goes, but I think it's high enough to not cause serious problems. Center of gravity is going to be much lower than the norm, so that will be a big plus on hills and side hills.

The running boards, pedals, and steering column are going to be the next things to go after. I've been playing with some ideas for mounting the pedals but nothing for sure yet. I don't want to add lots of weight making the running boards, but they also need to be strong enough for rub rails that won't crush in going past a tree. So trying to figure out what to do there.

Work on the steering column. Previously I was trying to decide between a ross steering box from a cub cadet or a sears suburban column. I was pretty sure the sears setup would fit best. Double checked and still decided to use the sears steering. The column needed a lot of trimming down for weight reduction, so I sliced off all the non essential edges. Then re-welded a few spots and added a gusset for strength. Just about ready to be welded into the frame. I need to track down a steering wheel and then I’ll be set.

I’m a bit worried about how low the steering rod is going to be under the machine, but we’ll see how that goes. I may have to do some hacking on that front wishbone if I wanna keep the ground clearance acceptable.

Bit tough to shuffle pics from my phone, but I installed the stripped down sears steering column, made brackets to hold the grill, started building the clutch, and started working on front bumper brackets. I wanted the front bumper removable in case I wanted to change it later or make one from aluminum. Making some progress. I’ll start figuring out the running boards soon and then I can mount the pedals.

Got a start on the front bumper. All 16g for light weight. Except the heavy brackets of course… They’re a bit thicker.

Looking good man

Thanks, front bumper finished, rear bumper and rear tow point completed. The rear bumper will hold the rear fender.

Looking great mr.moo! Any idea on what the weight is up to now?

Really cool to see it with the rear fenders on it, Grus a feel of what it’s gonna look like, should be really cool

Thanks everyone. I actually haven’t weighed it yet, but if I remember I will try to get an estimate. Finished the tubing for the running boards tonight. I didn’t go ultra heavy with them, but the also could be slightly lighter. I’d rather not run the ragged edge of reliability though, so I made them beefy enough to survive a couple hits. The front part where the pedals will mount are the same steel as the frame 1”. While the rest is 3/4” 16 gauge. At least now I’m beyond the point of major figuring with most of it. So the hardest part of the build is done. Still a whole lot of work left though.

Been working on this as much as possible. Tonight I got the upper frame bracing mostly sorted out. The steering column ended up being part of the main structure and so got some extra heavy bracing. I also modified one of my fan shrouds for extra leg clearance.



Still more to add but it’s coming along


Fan shroud modified