How to make a snowmobile from a walk-behind tractor?

Interestingly, until the eighties, the walk-behind tractor was called a pedestrian or small-sized tractor. It is an irreplaceable universal remedy that facilitates the work of the gardener and the gardener. So universal that craftsmen have come up with many ways to use the "iron horse", in addition to cultivating the land. For example, as a snowmobile in the winter. It is quite possible to make such a snowmobile based on a walk-behind tractor on your own in a few days in the garage or in the country. The technical capabilities of a homemade snowmobile are not inferior to analogs purchased in stores. The financial savings are obvious.

A snowmobile is a power-driven vehicle. The most famous are small-sized models equipped with track skis and controlled by the principle of motorcycle. However, in fact, there are many varieties of all-terrain vehicles on low-pressure pneumatics and caterpillar tracks, snowmobiles. Motoblocks are also divided into wheeled and tracked. You can make a snowmobile from a walk-behind tractor with your own hands with any chassis, only in this case, different methods and materials are used.

Let's consider step by step how to make different types of snowmobiles with your own hands.

To turn a walk-behind tractor on wheels into a snowmobile you will need to take:

• an iron connecting structure-trailer;
• wheels for winter use, able to overcome snow obstacles.

A strict condition for the whole idea is that the trailer must be rigidly coupled to the snowmobile frame. A metal channel about half a meter long must be welded parallel to the axis of the snowmobile. To do this, two holes are drilled at the edges of the channel. Hole clamps on the edges provide additional fastening and structural rigidity. They are attached to the axle of the snowmobile by bolts with a lock nut, using a cross welded to the structure.

This mount will act as a stopper that secures the trailer without allowing it to move at an angle. Such an element, although it reduces the ability to maneuver on the snowmobile, makes it more stable. Thus, a two-wheeled mechanism on one axle can be easily converted into a stable four-wheeled vehicle. In this case, you will not need any diagrams and drawings, or additional costs.

A snow scooter with a motor will also require the correct selection of wheels. The easiest option is to purchase them in a retail network for a winter purpose, but it is not always advisable to look for easy ways. A more economical solution would be to make the wheels yourself. The budget option is to equip the snowmobile module with cameras designed for trucks. Deflated cameras are put on each wheel and fixed over the chain for driving on snow and ice. One is not enough, you need about five. An inflated chamber in a chained wafer would be an ellipse with a surface divided into segments like a daisy.

Another option for using ingenuity and saving the family budget is to use metal hoops over the cameras. They should be wide enough, twice as wide as the snowmobile wheels. The diameter of the hoop must match the inflated wheels of the walk-behind tractor and trailer. Several metal plates are welded on the inside of each hoop. The thickness of the plates must be made about 2-3 cm.After lowering the cameras, hoop the hoops on the wheels of the snowmobile and pump them up again. The inflated chambers will squeeze as much as possible against the metal circles. Plates like dirt lugs will help increase traction on snowy roads.

Converting a tracked tiller into a snowmobile is a little more difficult, but possible. Using the motor-block motor, you can make a structure with great stability and maneuverability. For this, the frame and transmission are mounted. Make sure that the engine has enough power, you need a walk-behind tractor of at least 6 horsepower. To make a snow motonart with an engine, you need to use:

• reducer;
• fuel tank;
• steering;
• centrifugal clutch.

It is good if you have tracks from other snowmobile machines in your household stock. If not, then do not give up. It is quite possible to assemble the tracks on your own, using the tools and materials at hand.

Next, you need to decide on the location of the engine: front or rear. Try to keep the structure as light as possible and the ski suspension to be soft. All this will make it possible to achieve high cross-country ability in deep snow. The principle is as follows: inside the caterpillar, when driving, 4 wheels roll along the conveyor belt. Special soil hooks are attached to the tracks to enhance traction. Caterpillars can be made at your discretion, but you should carefully consider the size.

Wide or too long tracks will unnecessarily stress the engine. This, in turn, will complicate the handling of the snowmobile on tracks in the snow. A track that is too small will not be able to support the weight of the entire structure with the driver. It will become unstable and sink into loose and deep snow. For the manufacture of tracks, the simplest materials are used: plastic or plastic pipes of a small diameter, wheels, bearings.

Workpieces with a length of 0.5 cm are made from the pipe, from which ground hooks are obtained. They are attached to the tape at the same distance from each other. Then they are bolted into the holes on the conveyor belt. The frame is made using square pipes or a channel. Use a tie rod without ball ends as the handlebar and ski axles are in the same plane.

On the front of the frame, bushings are attached to allow the skis to turn. They can be made from steel couplings with small diameter nipples and threads. Ski racks and tie rods are welded to the pipes. To control the snowmobile, corners with a metal undercut are attached to the skis, which will allow you to move on ice or snow crust.

The weight of such a snowmobile is no more than 100 kg, and it is very simple to operate the vehicle. Since the power of the motor is low, the speed does not exceed 10-15 km / h, therefore no brakes are provided. The end of the movement occurs due to the reduction of engine speed or the so-called engine braking.

Another economical option for making a diesel snowmobile from a walk-behind tractor and tracks. Motonart on tires from the MTZ-80 or Belarus tractor can easily move on the snow. This design is equipped with two additional wheels and pieces of metal pipe. Consider the benefits of such a snowmobile:

• efficiency - cheap or used materials are used here: wheels from a VAZ car, a square tube, used tractor tires;
• the ability to make a car at home using a welding machine, grinder, drill, knife;
• high maneuverability of the resulting snowmobile, which has the ability to turn like a tank in one place;
• good cross-country ability in deep and viscous snow;
• active brake right or left track.

In order to make tracks, you need two tires from a tractor, used ones are quite suitable.Side parts are cut from each tire with an electric jigsaw or just a sharpened knife. The structure is made of a square tube and two additional wheels. It is required to securely fix the walk-behind tractor and the structure with wheels. Then the caterpillar obtained from the tire is sequentially pulled onto the front wheels, then onto the rear wheels. It turns out a diesel snowmobile on a caterpillar track, that is, on tires. In order to make it more comfortable, you can fit a small seat, which will not weigh down the structure. Otherwise, you will have to stand up to overcome the snowy expanses.

Fans of outdoor activities, hunting and fishing will appreciate the homemade snowmobile. The advantage of this incredible device is high traffic at a low cost.

Do not forget that any vehicle, even one made by yourself, requires attention and care. You cannot overestimate your capabilities and move in the dark or in bad weather conditions. If visibility is poor, you may not notice changes in the topography of the ground, holes, ditches covered with snow. The low stability of the snowmobile when hitting any obstacle (stones, stumps, metal objects) can lead to overturning, throw off the rider and / or press down with its mass, cause injury, or even death.

Care is required when overcoming slopes and when driving the snowmobile under any overhanging obstacles: sagging wires, guy wires, fallen trees. The blow will hit the rider's chest, so if there is a backrest, injury is inevitable. It is necessary to remember about possible obstacles on the road and take safety measures seriously.

How to make a snowmobile from a walk-behind tractor with your own hands, see the next video.