As soon as winter begins in our country, given the climate, two-wheeled vehicles are removed to the garage until spring. It is sometimes impossible to use the car for movement due to heavy snow. And here to the aid of all motorists who want to move on a snow-covered road comes a snowmobile on tracks, which can be made from a walk-behind tractor with your own hands.

Not everyone has the opportunity to buy an additional vehicle, but everyone can independently design a homemade tracked snowmobile from a walk-behind tractor.

Advantages and features of a homemade snowmobile

• The vehicle has a mechanical drive and a tracked walk-behind tractor, when driving on which, you will not get stuck in snowdrifts.
• The steering comes from the skis, and the steering system is in front, so you can easily control it.
• The price when buying a particular vehicle is important. Therefore, if you count, the cost of making a snowmobile yourself will be five times lower than buying it from the manufacturer. And it will come out even cheaper due to the available walk-behind tractor and other parts.
• Reliability - where a person does not pass and a car does not pass, the snowmobile will overcome all obstacles with ease.
• If the snowmobile is made by hand, then the designer approaches the choice of parts very carefully. By doing everything yourself, you are responsible for the quality of your design. In addition, by paying great attention to the components of the mechanism, you make the snowmobile all-round.

The device of a homemade motoblock snowmobile

This is a sought-after invention that you can make yourself if you have quality parts. The walk-behind tractor is taken partially (separate parts) or used completely. If you decide to use it not fully loaded, you need to weld on it a base frame with a rear axle, steering fork and wheels. The most difficult stage in this case is the transformation of the working shaft of the walk-behind tractor into a drive gear.

The most practical and versatile solution in the manufacture of self-propelled vehicles will be the use of parts from the walk-behind tractor. You only need to remove the steering fork and the engine from the finished walk-behind tractor.

The motor can be positioned at the rear of the structure.

Before starting the independent manufacture of the structure, draw a drawing, collect all the necessary material, prepare the tool, and you can start. The design is quite simple and any person can handle it; technical education and any skills are not required for this.

If you did not graduate from the Faculty of Engineering and it is difficult for you to draw up a drawing, use ours.

Drawing of a simple frame for a homemade snowmobile

The drawing shows the frame that you will need when making the snowmobile.

A walk-behind tractor in a homemade tracked snowmobile is the main part due to which your vehicle will move.

If everything is done correctly according to the drawing, you will have a goose-based snowmobile.

Snowmobile frame drawing on tracks

DIY crawler snowmobile making

Before starting work, decide on the tool. We can say with 100% certainty what you need: various screwdrivers, a hammer, welding, a pipe bender (if there is no ready-made frame).

Before preparing a blueprint for making your own snowmobile, familiarize yourself with the standard configuration.

1. Frame. Every snowmobile has a frame: the more complex the structure, the more reliable and sturdy the frame must be. The best option is to take from an ATV, scooter or motorcycle. If there is no such part, you can weld it yourself from pipes with a diameter of at least 40 mm.
2. Seat. The riding position on the snowmobile must be firm, as the structure itself is quite low.

Prerequisite: the seat must be made of waterproof material.

1. Engine. When choosing an engine, pay attention to its power. If you want a powerful sled, then the engine must be that.
2. Tank. A container with a volume of 10-15 liters, made of metal, is perfect for a fuel tank.
3. Skis. If you do not have ready-made skis that can be adapted for a snowmobile, you can make them yourself from wood. It is better if it is at least nine-layer plywood.
4. Steering wheel. When choosing a steering wheel, consider your convenience. It is best if it is borrowed from a two-wheeled unit.
5. Caterpillars. Making tracks is perhaps the most difficult part of the entire self-propelled vehicle.
6. Drive unit. For the tracks to spin, you need a drive - the best way to do this is to use a chain from a motorcycle.

Frame

If a ready-made frame is not available, then it is easy to weld it from a profile pipe, and to shape it using a pipe bender.

If you cannot independently make calculations and draw up a drawing, then for example, use the drawing from our website.

Once the frame is assembled, treat it with an anti-corrosion agent and paint it with quality paint that will withstand both moisture and frost.

Caterpillars

Everyone who previously independently designed a tracked walk-behind tractor notes: making tracks is the most difficult process in a homemade product.

The easiest way to construct them is from car tires. This option is the most advantageous - high-quality and low-budget. The part is manufactured in a closed circle, so a tire rupture cannot occur.

Tracks for a snowmobile from a tire (tires)

Caterpillar manufacturing instructions:

• From a car tire: we take the tire and cut off the sides (it is better to do this with a sharp knife). You need to cut so that the flexible part with the protector remains.

The best vehicle for driving on snowy roads or fields is a snowmobile. But many of these structures have a high cost, so you can often see a snowmobile that is created from a walk-behind tractor. It is worth remembering that such a design can be made only with certain skills.

How a walk-behind tractor is converted into a snowmobile

It is the walk-behind tractor that is taken as the basis of the snowmobile, since many site owners have this unit. At the same time, they are usually not used in winter. Having built a simple snowmobile, you can install an engine from a walk-behind tractor on it, which can be returned back after the end of winter.

Created snowmobiles usually have a power of about 7 hp, which allows transporting two people with a small load.

In order to assemble an all-terrain vehicle from a walk-behind tractor with your own hands, you must have the following main parts and tools:

• welding machine;
• engine;
• pipe bender.

You will also need additional details, which you can learn about in more detail on the design of the snowmobile. Before making a snowmobile, it is worth drawing up a detailed drawing.

Snowmobile design

To correctly assemble an all-terrain vehicle from a walk-behind tractor, you first need to depict it on the diagram. Typically, a structure consists of two parts: driven and driven. The first named part consists of the following elements:

• shock absorbers
• steering column;
• runners.

The leading part consists of a power unit, drive and frame. After creating the drawing, you can start welding the frame. For greater strength, it is worth using pipes that are used to create frames for motorcycles. But you can also use products that are used for the construction of a water supply system. You can give the pipes the desired shape using a pipe bender.

To avoid mistakes when creating a frame, you should first fix the system elements by spot welding. Only then can the joints be welded with a continuous seam.

After creating the frame, brackets are welded to it, which are necessary to secure the engine, runners and seat.

Skids and engine

Wide skis are used as runners, which are attached to the steering column using a pivot joint. For the front suspension, use motorcycle shock absorbers.

The engine is mounted on the drive end of a homemade snowmobile. In this case, before installing the engine, you must decide what exactly to use - wheels or tracks. Each of these options has advantages and disadvantages.

If wheels are installed, the all-terrain vehicle from the walk-behind tractor will be more maneuverable. If you make tracks, the cross-country ability of the snowmobile increases, but at the same time it becomes heavier.

Caterpillars

Snowmobile tracks can be made with your own hands using the following materials:

• conveyor belts;
• motorcycle chains;
• water pipes.

The speed of a homemade snowmobile can be about 60 km / h, so safety precautions must be observed while driving.

For light snowmobiles, tracks from a conveyor belt and roller chain are usually created from a walk-behind tractor. To create such tracks, you do not need to have any skills or have specialized equipment.

To extend the life of the tape, its edges are stitched with fishing line. In this case, the step between the stitches should be equal to 1 cm. This will prevent the tape from loosening. To form a ring, the tape is sewn from the ends.

The choice of the thickness of the tape used depends on the power of the unit being created. The higher it is, the thicker the tape should be.

What powertrain is required to create a snowmobile

Most often, craftsmen use a unit that is installed on. It is a four-stroke gasoline engine with one cylinder. This device has air cooling. Such a motor is lightweight and has a manual start system. Repair of such a device can be carried out even by a person who has minimal knowledge of engine operation.

Using the described motor, you can make a good working snowmobile that can be used for driving on snowy ground. If you decide to purchase a walk-behind tractor, including for creating an all-terrain vehicle, you should think about the type of engine. Gasoline and diesel units have their own advantages and disadvantages.

For all-terrain vehicles, motors from Chinese motoblocks are usually used, since they have a low cost and are easy to maintain. Before starting to create an all-terrain vehicle, it is worth remembering that the chassis is best done with independent wheel suspension. This will provide a comfortable ride.

If a tracked all-terrain vehicle is being created, the frame must be solid, and when designing a wheeled version, it is necessary to create an articulated structure.

Stages of assembling a snowmobile from a walk-behind tractor

The most common option is light "karakats", which are characterized by good cross-country ability, provided by large cameras. Such machines are created in several stages:

1. The choice of the basis for the all-terrain vehicle. Usually, a frame from a Ural or Izh motorcycle is chosen as the basis. It is worth noting that the cars created on the basis of the Izh motorcycle are more maneuverable. The machines created using such frames are distinguished by good cross-country ability on various types of soil, as well as on deep snow.
2. Creating the suspension and rear axle of the snowmobile... In order to make an independent front and rear suspension, it is necessary to connect the side members with a strut and a steering sleeve. This suspension ensures a smooth ride.
3. Installation of wheels. ATVs usually use cameras from a truck. They are attached to the suspension through the hub. Such wheels provide ease of control of the all-terrain vehicle and the safety of its use.
4. Installing the engine. After the suspension with wheels is installed, you can start securing the engine. After complete assembly, the car should be tested at low speed.

During cold weather, transport on two wheels becomes irrelevant, and sometimes it is impossible to drive on the snowy expanses even by car. What to do in a situation if there is no money to buy transport more adapted to the harsh winter?

In this case, you can make a homemade snowmobile. Winter vehicles are most often equipped with a caterpillar drive, steering skis are installed in front. The snowmobile has a high cross-country ability, light weight (70-80 kg), which allows it to ride both on valuable snow and on packed snow-covered roads. This vehicle is easy to operate and the speed is low. So riding a snowmobile in the countryside in winter is not only convenient, but also safe.

Features of homemade snowmobiles

A huge number of companies are engaged in the sale of snowmobiles in the CIS. But their prices are high, even for families with decent incomes. If you don't want to pay extra money for advertising and are a hardworking and creative person, then try making a homemade snowmobile.

Self-made self-propelled guns cost 7-10 times cheaper than the cheapest factory-made models.

The success of making your own snowmobile depends on several factors:

• your personal skill;
• your engineering thinking;
• the presence of parts and assemblies from other snowmobiles, motorcycles and others.

It should be borne in mind that riding a snowmobile, as with any vehicle, is associated with increased danger. Despite the fact that home-made devices, as a rule, are not able to reach speeds of more than 15 km / h, the quality of parts, welding, and bolting of elements should be taken seriously. The issue of operational safety and reliability of the final unit should be the main one for anyone intending to make a snowmobile with their own hands.

Training

Before you start making a snowmobile, you need to calculate the basic parameters of the device. If you are a bit of a design engineer, then it is appropriate to make a drawing of the assembly. In principle, all snowmobiles are designed in the same and simple way. Your task is to make a reliable device based on the model and likeness of all other variants of this vehicle class.

What is required for manufacturing:

1. Tube for the frame, for hangers and other frame elements.

It was experimentally found that the optimal pipe diameter is 40 mm. If you are using a profile, 25 x 25 mm will suffice. Wall thickness - 2 mm. With smaller parameters, the resistance of the device to deformations will be reduced. At large - the weight of the car will occur, which, accordingly, will affect the already not brilliant driving characteristics.

1. Wheels with rubber on the axle.

Wheels from ATVs (small models with a wheel diameter of 30-40 cm), some carts, etc. will do. In total, you need 2 axles with 2 wheels each.

1. V-belts or conveyor belt.

The main element of the "caterpillars". The optimum thickness is 3 mm. This is sufficient for stability and durability.

1. PVC pipes.

From them lugs are made - the second element of "caterpillars". The optimum diameter is 40 mm with a wall thickness of 5 mm.

1. Propulsion system.

Typically, they use an engine, carburetor, motorcycle fuel tank.

1. Transfer mechanism.

As a rule, they use stars and chains from a motorcycle, stars from snowmobiles. The drive shaft from any unit, suitable in size.

1. Guide skis.

It is optimal to take skis from another snowmobile. Since this element must be as reliable as possible, designed for the load of the unit itself, plus - the driver and possible passengers.

1. Steering wheel.

As a rule, they use a handlebar from a motorcycle, respectively, with a throttle stick and a cable.

1. Platform, seat, body.

In principle, you can do without a platform by fixing the seat (s) and body (optional) directly to the frame. But sometimes an additional platform is constructed on the frame, for example, from wooden boards, which provide little shock absorption, allow you to place several seats, and at the same time slightly make the structure heavier.

1. Shock absorbers.

This element introduces additional complexity to the design. Therefore, they often do without it, especially if it is supposed to ride on uncompressed snow. The damping is installed on the front suspension and driver's seat. Can be taken from an old snowmobile or motorcycle.

1. Small parts.

In addition to those listed above, other standard parts will be required to make a snowmobile: bolts, studs, nuts, hinges.

How to do it: instructions

First, the frame is cooked - the frame. Obviously, the larger the frame, the heavier the machine will be and the slower it will move. The optimal frame length is 2 m plus / minus.

On the frame are sequentially fixed:

• drive shaft with a receiving sprocket;
• power plant with a transmission star and a gas tank;
• front wheel axle (fixed to the frame by welding or bolting);
• rear wheel axle (fixed with a movable guide element);
• front suspension with steering structure and guide ski (s);
• seat (s) and body.

Tracks are made from V-belts or conveyor belts. The optimum track width is between 40 and 50 cm. A smaller width (40) will make the sled more maneuverable and better controllable. With a greater (50+) - the throughput of the device improves.

The function of the lugs is performed by pvc pipes of the above diameter cut in half lengthwise. They are attached to the rubber base with bolts and nuts. V-belts of insufficient width can be fastened together with metal lugs.

In order to be able to adjust the tension of the caterpillar track, the rear wheel axle is secured with a movable guide element, which allows the axle to be fixed in a certain position.

Additional notes:

1. The center of gravity should be approximately at the center of the structure. Since the power plant is mounted in front, the driver's seat should be offset to the center above the front axle or slightly offset to the rear.
2. The distance between the drive shaft and the power unit should be kept to a minimum to minimize the loss of energy transmitted to the shaft.
3. If you install the shock absorber under the seat, the front seat support is rigidly attached to the profile arch, and the rear seat rests on the shock absorber.
4. If you are making a snowmobile with the expectation of a large load, then to remove some of the weight from the tracks, it is advisable to install an additional ski in the middle of the base (between the two tracks). This ski is 50-70 cm long and attaches directly to the frame. However, this design assumes a more accurate preliminary calculation with the subsequent leveling of the height of the "leg", which complicates the manufacture of the snowmobile.
5. It is advisable to maintain a low pressure in the tires of the snowmobile in order to avoid rapid wear of parts and high fuel consumption.

The considered version of the snowmobile is the simplest in design. If you have tools, a welding machine, it can be assembled in the garage without any problems.

A walk-behind tractor is a universal unit that helps to facilitate work on a personal plot. Nowadays, a lot of equipment is made from a walk-behind tractor with your own hands: a mini-tractor, an all-terrain vehicle, a snowmobile.

The snowmobile appeared in the 60s as one of the categories of homemade all-terrain vehicle. Initially, these devices were configured as a tricycle, with the replacement of the front wheel with a ski. This scheme for snowmobiles is still popular today. But the most popular is a snowmobile based on a walk-behind tractor, with wheels used from three to six.

What you need to know when making a snowmobile based on a walk-behind tractor

Before creating such a snowmobile, you need to solve the following problem: what is the purpose of the future car? For this, the weight of the maximum baggage, the desired number of seats, and in what conditions the device will be used are specified. After finally finding out all of the above, when they have determined the future concept of the snowmobile, they begin to consider the options for creating a machine. Then proceed to the selection of components and assemblies of the snowmobile. To do this, determine which type and model of the engine is best suited.

Select the transmission, frame type and design, and other elements. Particular attention should be paid to the choice of the shape of the chassis. The design parameters are also carefully calculated: tire size, engine power and weight of the snowmobile.

After analyzing and comparing the possibilities with desires, the scheme of the all-terrain vehicle is finally selected. A prerequisite for completing this stage of the activity is a diagram and drawing of a homemade snowmobile.

For a snowmobile on pneumatic wheels, an engine from a walk-behind tractor is perfect. For this, a motor is selected that is most suitable for the conditions of use and power. Another plus of using engines from a walk-behind tractor is the presence of air or water forced cooling, since the snowmobile does not have the conditions necessary for free cooling.

Four-stroke engines have a number of advantages over their two-stroke counterparts. When choosing the type of engine: carburetor or diesel, you also need to weigh all the pros and cons. After all, both systems contain advantages and disadvantages. Compared to a gasoline engine, a diesel one is more economical. But in severe frosts, it starts up hard and works unstably, without a pre-heater. Gasoline engines are less susceptible to this.

What wheels to put on a snowmobile with an engine from a walk-behind tractor

When making a snowmobile with an engine from a walk-behind tractor, in most cases, low pressure wheels made by hand are used. What makes snowmobile tires so special? They have a relatively low weight, high elasticity, and the pressure on the ground falls within small limits. The large rolling radius and good characteristics make the snowmobile economical and excellent flotation.

The large volume of chambers gives the structure a high permeability. And by filling the space inside the discs with foam, the adhesion of dirt and snow will be noticeably reduced on the snowmobile. The simplicity of the chassis design and the availability of materials avoid the hassle of building a snowmobile.

Four principles for making an ATV tire yourself

• 1. Two discs made of sheet metal are bridged with each other. Then they are attached to the sleeve and the camera is put on them. It is fixed with sections of the conveyor belt. For greater protection of the camera, a protector from another camera is sometimes used.
• 2. Attach one disc to the bushing. After that, jumpers are attached to it, to which the side rings are riveted or welded.

• 3. The construction is similar to the previous construction principle. In this case, when installing the center disc, a spoke made of pipe or sheet metal is required.
• 4. The fourth principle is to mount two discs on the hub, like a wheel disc from a scooter.

This concludes. Of all the options, you can use the one you like best. You just need to decide what the purpose of the machine is and get down to business!

Snowmobile from a walk-behind tractor photo selection

I made this snowmobile in just a couple of weekends in the garage in the country. Although its design at first glance looks very simple, nevertheless, in terms of cross-country ability in deep loose or wet snow, it is not inferior to most industrial snowmobiles.

A few years ago, I made a snowmobile for my nine-year-old daughter with a homemade track made of conveyor belts and plastic water pipes as lugs. At first, I had doubts about the reliability of such a caterpillar and how the plastic parts would behave in the cold. But during the two-year winter operation, no breakdowns or severe wear of the pipes occurred. This inspired me to create a lightweight snowmobile for myself with the same homemade track.

Realizing perfectly well that the less the snowmobile mass and the larger the support area of ​​the track, the better its passability on loose and deep snow will be, I tried to make the structure as light as possible.
The principle of operation of the snowmobile is very simple (fig. 1). Four wheels are installed inside the track, which, when moving, roll along the conveyor belt, on which the lugs are fixed. And the drive of the caterpillar from the motor is carried out by a chain through the driven shaft with special drive sprockets. I took them from the Buran snowmobile. "

With an engine from a conventional walk-behind tractor with an automatic clutch with a capacity of only 6 hp. you will not accelerate quickly. I was going to ride a snowmobile not on rolled tracks, but on loose snow, so I abandoned the soft suspension of the track and skis to reduce the weight of the snowmobile and simplify the entire structure.

First I made a caterpillar. I cut a plastic water pipe with a diameter of 40 mm into blanks for lugs with a length of 470 mm. Then each workpiece was sawn with a circular saw lengthwise into two equal parts.
Using the tool shown in fig. 2, with a circular saw for wood, I cut along plastic pipes for lugs.

The lugs were attached to the conveyor belt with two 6 mm furniture bolts with a large semicircular head. When making a caterpillar it is very important to maintain the same distance between the lugs, otherwise they will run into the teeth of the drive sprockets and the caterpillar will begin to slip and slide off the rollers.

To drill holes in the conveyor belt for fastening bolts with a diameter of 6 mm, I made a jig. He drilled the holes in the tape with a wood drill with a special sharpening.

Using such a jig, 6 holes can be drilled in the conveyor belt at once for attaching three track lugs.

In the store I bought four inflatable rubber wheels from a garden cart, two drive sprockets from a Buran snowmobile and two closed bearings No. 205 for the drive shaft of the caterpillar.

I asked a turner to make the drive shaft of the track and bearings for the bearings. The frame of the snowmobile was made by myself from square tubes of 25x25 mm.

Since the ski and rudder pivot pivots are on the same line and in the same plane, you can use a continuous steering rod without ball ends.

Ski sleeves are easy to make. I welded 3/4 ”female water pipe fittings to the front cross member. In them he screwed in branch pipes with an external thread, to which he welded the bipod of the steering rack of skis.

I recommend using skis from the Argomak children's snow-scooter. They are lighter and more elastic, but they need to be fitted with corners for attaching to the pivot stand of the snowmobile and a metal undercut at the bottom - for better control of the snowmobile when driving on crust or packed snow.

The chain tension is adjusted by shifting the motor.

The snowmobile is very easy to operate. When the engine speed is increased with the throttle grip located on the handlebars, the automatic centrifugal clutch engages and the snowmobile starts moving. Since the estimated speed of the snowmobile is not high (only about 10-15 km / h) and depends on the density of the snow, the snowmobile is not equipped with brakes. It is enough to reduce the engine speed and the snowmobile stops.

I’ll share a few tips that you may find useful when repeating this construction.

1. I cut the pipe for the tracks along the wood with a circular saw, first on one side, then on the other. So it turns out smoother than cutting both walls at once. It is more convenient to handle small workpieces. If you immediately cut a long pipe along, then in this case the plastic will melt and the saw blade will clamp.

2. Tracks can be made of any width. And each designer has the right to choose what is more convenient for him: to make a wide but short track or a narrow and long one. Just remember that with a large track, the snowmobile will not handle well and the engine is loaded more, but with a small track in loose deep snow, it can fall through.

3. Some of my photos show that there are plastic "barrels" installed inside the caterpillar. These are the guide stops for the skid, which should prevent the track from sliding off the rollers. But during the operation of the snowmobile, the caterpillar did not slide off the rollers even without a slip, so the "barrels" can not be installed, which will reduce the weight of the snowmobile.

4. At the end of winter, I completely disassembled the snowmobile to determine its weight. The weight of its individual units turned out to be as follows: caterpillar - 9 kg;
drive shaft assembly - 7 kg; two pairs of wheels with axles - 9 kg; engine and steering wheel - 25 kg;
a pair of skis - 5 kg;
frame - 15 kg;
double seat with uprights - 6 kg.
In total, everything together weighs 76 kg.
The weight of some parts can be reduced even further. Still, the weight for a sled with a track of this size is quite satisfactory.

The geometric dimensions of my snowmobile are as follows: the length of the snowmobile frame is 2 m; the distance between the axles of the support wheels (rollers) - 107 cm; track width - 47 cm. Track lug spacing depends on the thickness of the conveyor belt and it must be selected empirically (I got 93 mm).
I do not give the exact dimensions and drawings of the snowmobile parts, since everyone who is going to repeat the design will focus on those parts and components that they can purchase or make on their own.