How to make a snowmobile from a walk-behind tractor with your own hands. Snowmobile from a walk-behind tractor: how to do it yourself Homemade snowmobile on wheels with your own hands

Every agricultural owner knows what a walk-behind tractor is. This machine is traditionally used in vegetable gardens, although it is often used in the work of utilities. When this device fails or the "season" ends, many hide it, but you can make an all-terrain vehicle or a snowmobile with your own hands from a walk-behind tractor.

What can be done

Most often, in winter, walk-behind tractors are hidden in the garage, because it is not suitable for use in the snow. But since any technique needs a periodic run, you can make an all-terrain vehicle or a snowmobile out of a walk-behind tractor to use it at any time. The device is easily recyclable due to its design.

Overcome impassable areas

The all-terrain vehicle has many advantages, because it does. Since a full-fledged asphalt surface is rarely found in rural areas, this device will be able to ride on any surface, even snow. To create it, you will need a walk-behind tractor with a two- or four-stroke engine. It is important that it has air cooling.

The walk-behind tractor will serve in the future design. To do this, you need to remove the bridges and the steering wheel from the walk-behind tractor. Next, you need to insert the frame so that the gimbals play the role of bridges. It is important not to carry out a complete alteration of the walk-behind tractor, so that the original device can be returned at any time.

Put together

There are many design assembly options. It all depends on the type of the future apparatus and its capacity. The undercarriage of the all-terrain vehicle must have independent suspension. It is better to complement it with low pressure pneumatic wheels. The frame can be either articulated or solid - it depends on the type.

To provide the machine with independent support, it is necessary to connect the side members with a brace, a strut and a special steering sleeve. To attach the wheels, you need to install a tube from the truck to the suspension (preferably a low pressure tube). After installing the suspension, the motor is installed from the walk-behind tractor. At this stage, the brake, clutch and exhaust are activated. Such a device shows excellent cross-country ability at a speed of 75 km / h.

Driving over massive snow

In order to make a snowmobile from a walk-behind tractor, you will need a power unit, a welding machine, tracks (it is best to construct from a transport tape), although wheels can also be used. All parts are assembled on the basis of a drawing, the drawing of which is carried out only after they have already decided on the type of the future apparatus. Difficult enough to move, the snowmobile can overcome almost any blockage of snow.

Getting started, you need to decide on the purpose of the device. Its carrying capacity and power depend on this. It is best to start with a cardboard mockup to help you move in the right direction. Many parts are possible, you don't have to buy them. It is best to choose tracks over wheels, which will make it easier to get around in the snow.

Stages of work

Initially, you need to create a frame for which you need pipes from a motorcycle. They are given the required shape thanks to the pipe bender, after which point adhesion is carried out by welding. All parts are connected with a continuous seam so that there are no open joints. After that, the bracket is welded to the frame element and the seat is attached. The future purpose of the device depends on the selected power and the reliability of the components.

To install the steering wheel and seats in a homemade snowmobile from a walk-behind tractor, you can use any surface, whether it be an old chair or the steering wheel of a bicycle. The number of seats for passengers also depends on this. It is important to skillfully approach the performance of work, because all elements of the device must be securely fastened and work harmoniously. This will allow you to convert the walk-behind tractor into a snowmobile that will be able to drive through large areas even in a strong blizzard.

Many craftsmen know how to make a snowmobile or an all-terrain vehicle out of a walk-behind tractor. This is a rational use of the device, which under normal conditions is not suitable for use in winter. The main advantage of such manipulations is that after a cold pore, the structure can be returned to the type of a walk-behind tractor.

So that the walk-behind tractor is not kept idle in the garage, it is much better to convert it into a snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle. But such manipulations must be performed very carefully in order to avoid mistakes and to prevent accidents. Also not recommended

A snowmobile from a store is not available to everyone, and if there is a need to overcome a difficult snow-covered area, you can make a snowball from improvised means.

The most convenient option is a walk-behind tractor. This is an almost ready-made structure for assembling a snowmobile. True, it is worth noting that a motorized cultivator will rather be a motorized towing vehicle, also called a motorized dog, than a full-fledged snowmobile. First of all, due to the low power of cultivators and low speed. But for transporting goods and yourself, a good option.

Since there are many models of walk-behind tractors, a single universal scheme for building a snowmobile does not exist in principle. As a rule, everything is "collective farm" from available materials with a minimum investment.

And so, consider several models of homemade snowballs collected by the craftsmen of our vast homeland.

Snowmobile attachment to the walk-behind tractor

Various snowmobile solutions for motoblocks are sold in a limited edition. Main advantages over a factory snowmobile

• Low cost
• Compact size for transport and storage
• Fast assembly and disassembly of the structure
• No modifications to the walk-behind tractor are required
• maintainability

Here is one of the options for such a ready-made set-top box:

Such an all-terrain vehicle will help when transporting goods both on snow and on mud.

But a similar option is an attachment to the walk-behind tractor. The manufacturer produces devices both for specific models and for self-adaptation to any brand and model of the cultivator.

All such a unit is about 40 kg. The maximum speed is up to 20 km / h. The time required for installation is 10-15 minutes.

Video of work as a snowmobile:

A funny roller of a crawler snowmobile based on a walk-behind tractor:

Snowmobile from a walk-behind tractor without a caterpillar

This option will require minimal design changes, which will be very pleasing when spring comes and the need for sowing.

As a rule, for driving on snow, other wheels of a larger diameter are installed on the cultivator, like those used on caracats. Such wheels do not have a hard tire, because with a large diameter, this greatly increases weight, and as such there is no need, since when moving on snow, wheel wear is minimal. Therefore, they leave the tire and tighten it with bundles to maintain its shape and improve grip on the snow.

An example of such a snowmobile:

Second video:

In this homemade product, the wheels are tied with chains for greater reliability.

And here is an option with a higher carrying capacity.

Rear platform on skis, large diameter wheels are also installed, the outer part of the wheels is additionally protected:

Snowmobile on tracks

A crawler snowmobile from a walk-behind tractor is perfect for moving through a snow-covered forest, overgrown bumps, frozen swamps. The machine is manufactured over the summer, using simple tools: metal jigsaw, electric drill, chisel and hammer, welding, etc. You will also need electric welding. Bearings can be purchased from a car dealer and shaft ends can be ordered from a workshop.

DIY tracked snowmobile from a walk-behind tractor

To make a tracked snowmobile from a walk-behind tractor, simple materials are used with your own hands. The frame is made of stamped channels and square tubes. Round water and gas pipes were used for the manufacture of shafts. The engine was used from the Neva walk-behind tractor.

The snowmobile looked a little rough. But after carrying out winter tests, good driving characteristics were revealed: speed, cross-country ability. It is also lightweight and compact, and quite economical in terms of fuel consumption. The original design assumed an asymmetrical engine layout. This gave a number of advantages: during service - good access to the engine; convenient starting and gear shifting; redirecting the chain drive directly to the drive shaft of the track.

But during tests, when moving on loose snow, when a turn was made, the snowmobile often fell over. Because of this circumstance, it was decided to place the engine in the center of the front of the snowmobile. The design has been improved, and primarily the front end of the frame. An intermediate shaft was also installed, which transmitted torque from the engine to the track. In addition, a modernization was carried out that improved the ride quality, comfort and reliability of the snowmobile.

How to make a snowmobile out of a walk-behind tractor

Diagram of the drive units and frame of a homemade snowmobile from a walk-behind tractor:

• homemade frame (1);
• second countershaft sprocket with 17 teeth (2);
• intermediate shaft (3);
• first countershaft sprocket, 21 teeth (4);
• driven track shaft sprocket, 37 teeth (5);
• Track drive sprocket, 8 teeth (6); the drive shaft of the caterpillar (7);
• two racks of the support ski, made of steel pipe 32x4 (8);
• two track idlers (9);
• the axle of the idler rollers made of steel pipe (10);
• hitch (11); tensioner (12);
• four drum flanges made of sheet steel (13);
• four flanges of the track sprocket made of sheet steel (14);
• steering puff (15).

To place the engine with a subframe in the center of the front of the frame, a platform was welded there, in which holes were prepared for the “legs” of the subframe. Similar holes are made in the traverse. The holes in the "legs" of the subframe have been redesigned into longitudinal slots in order to tighten the drive chain when the engine is moved.

The saddle frame has also been redesigned and moved back a little. Thanks to this, the engine is started at the handle. A big plus was the presence of forced cooling on the engine of the walk-behind tractor. I used this to direct the air heated to cool the engine to the carburetor. The gas tank was also moved to the back. It is installed there on racks in the corner, for supplying gasoline to the carburetor by gravity along a long hose.

By moving the engine to the center of the car, it improved stability. Thanks to this, the track of the steering skis was reduced to 950 mm, which led to improved maneuverability of the snowmobile.

After the countershaft was installed, the angular velocity was reduced due to the increased torque. The speed of the snowmobile was slightly reduced, but the traction characteristics were significantly increased. The snowmobile is now able to carry two riders with a load and pull a light sled with a load. Also, the drive sprockets of the caterpillar propeller were replaced with the same smaller diameter.

Diagram of the steering rack of a snowmobile from a walk-behind tractor

• Steering rack diagram:
• front frame traverse (1);
• a rack made of steel pipe (2);
• made of a corner 25x25 steering wheel support (3);
• steering shaft made of steel tube (4);
• crossbar made of steel pipe 28x28 (5);
• bipod (6); bronze washer (7);
• support sleeve with angle (8);
• nut, type M10 (9).

It was this slight improvement that led to the improved flotation of the snowmobile. The sprocket has risen above the support ski. As a result, the caterpillar reaches the upper layers of snow much more easily, and bumps, struga, etc. can be overcome more confidently.

Diagram of the intermediate shaft assembly of a snowmobile from a walk-behind tractor

Intermediate shaft assembly diagram:

• steel seat support (1);
• frame cross member made of steel tube 28x28 (2);
• a rack made of steel pipe 18x18 (3);
• traverse made of 45x25 corner (4);
• jib made of steel plate 40x5 (5);
• two bearings 204 in the housing (6);
• steel intermediate shaft made from pipe 27x3 (7);
• first sprocket with 21 teeth (8);
• frame spar (9);
• second sprocket with 17 teeth (10);
• rubber cover (11).

Inspection of the snowmobile prior to the upgrade revealed frequent bouncing of the sprocket teeth onto the wooden track. Therefore, it was decided to cut all the teeth, making them rollers. After modernization, the track transitions from ski to rollers smoothly, quietly and without cracking. The tensioning mechanism has also been improved: now it has become a screw.

Diagram of the tracked unit of a homemade snowmobile

Track block diagram:

• made of steel bar, two ties with M8 nut (1);
• the drive sprocket of the tracked block (2);
• track drive shaft (3);
• tensioner and roller (4 and 5);
• track, piece-piece made of rail (6);
• homemade frame spar (7);
• the driven sprocket of the caterpillar shaft (8);
• support ski (9);
• a support ski suspension bracket made of a channel (10);
• bolts: M8 and M6 (11 and 12.13);
• brass guide (14);
• screw (15);
• the sole of the support ski (16);
• bearing housing fastening (17);
• idler roller axle (18).

Didn't forget about remaking the caterpillar. The number of tracks was increased to 33 units, respectively, the distance between them was reduced to 38 mm. The dimensions of the tracks are 500x38x18 mm. To ensure the accuracy of the track links mounting, a slipway template was assembled. This made it possible to avoid distortions.

The front steering skis have also been redesigned. From above, they were reinforced with spars. Springs have been introduced into the ski suspension, which allows the snowmobile to go smoothly over the snow crust. This increased the lifespan of the skis and frame. A handle was attached to the body pillar for ease of pulling out a stuck snowmobile. For the same purpose, a similar handle was attached to the wads.

The best winter vehicle for our country is a snowmobile. Its distinctive feature is its high cross-country ability and increased maneuverability. In addition, it is economical in fuel consumption. The modern market is filled with expensive brands of snowmobiles, so not everyone can buy it. If you have a walk-behind tractor, free time, the necessary tool and a little ingenuity, you can build a snowmobile yourself, below we describe how to convert a walk-behind tractor into a snowmobile.

How to convert a walk-behind tractor into a snowmobile

Why a walk-behind tractor? This is the most used unit, which is available from almost every owner of a personal plot. In winter, there is no need to use it for cultivating the land and caring for plants. Therefore, in winter, the engine from the walk-behind tractor can be installed on a snowmobile, and in the spring it can be returned to the walk-behind tractor.

In the manufacture of a snowmobile, engines from middle-class motoblocks are usually used, with a rear drawbar and manual control. As an option, you can use the Neva walk-behind tractor for making a snowmobile. The cost of such a unit is average, and the installed engines are assembled in Japan.

Also, forced air cooling is installed on such engines, which is a plus for the manufacture of a snowmobile. The result of all this work is an excellent snowmobile with a power of 6-7 hp. This will allow you to transport one or two people and a small load, below we describe how to convert a walk-behind tractor into a snowmobile in more detail.

To independently assemble a snowmobile, you need the following parts: an engine, a welding machine, a pipe bender and some purchased spare parts. Several stages of making a snowmobile from a walk-behind tractor.

The design of converting a walk-behind tractor into a snowmobile

First, you need to depict the design of the future car in the form of a drawing. For this, an analysis of made homemade snowmobiles will help. The structure itself will consist of two parts: driven and leading. The driven part consists of shock absorbers, runners, and a steering column. For the manufacture of the leading part, you will need a frame, a drive and a power unit.

When a home-made project is being developed, you should determine in advance the parts of the structure that are made independently, and highlight those parts that need to be purchased.

After creating the drawing, we proceed to making the frame. For this, it is advisable to use pipes. Sometimes ordinary plumbing is used, but for greater strength, you need to use pipes from motorcycle frames. To give the frame the desired shape, you need to bend the pipes using a pipe bender. They are fixed by welding.

To avoid gross mistakes when assembling the snowmobile, the frame parts must first be spot welded. After checking the correctness of the design, the joints are welded with a single continuous seam. After that, brackets for installing the engine, runners, seat, steering column and other parts are welded to the finished frame.

Snowmobile Runners and Engine

Skids are one or two wide skis pivotally attached to the steering column. Shock absorbers are the best solution for the front suspension. Lever shocks, which have been used on motorcycles, are best suited for this purpose.

The engine and gearbox are mounted on the drive end of the assembled snowmobile. Here you need to decide in advance whether to use tracks or wheel drive for movement. Both types of actuators contain both advantages and disadvantages.

The rear drive wheels installed on the snowmobile allow it to be more maneuverable due to its light weight. But in order to avoid wheel slip on loose snow, they must be equipped with chains. When using a caterpillar track, the cross-country ability of the snowmobile increases, but its weight increases significantly, which reduces maneuverability.

Snowmobile tracks

You can also make tracks for the snowmobile yourself. At the same time, you can use various materials: conveyor belts, motorcycle chains, water pipes, etc. The main thing is to make them reliable, lightweight and of high quality, so that there is a good grip of the tracks with the surface.

The developed speed of the snowmobile is 60-70 km / h. But even at this speed, the snowmobile remains a rather dangerous form of transport. Since the movement takes place on the snow, the movement surface will change repeatedly, even during a short trip. A particular danger appears when driving thoughtlessly in the forest at high speeds. You should also carefully move in open unknown spaces, after a fresh "light snow" has fallen out.

So that when driving there are fewer problems, you need to wear special clothing. The higher the speed of the snowmobile, the more demanding you need to be on your clothing. In our time, felt boots and quilted jackets are no longer suitable. Clothing must be specifically designed for snowmobiling. You also need to use a specialized helmet.

How to make a snowmobile from a walk-behind tractor with your own hands video