A DIY caterpillar can be made by any craftsman. If you have been thinking about how to make a caterpillar for a long time, then you should read the recommendations presented. To carry out the work you can use the most different instruments and materials. It is, of course, permissible, if necessary, to use a caterpillar that was produced in a factory. But it will cost much more than if you do the manufacturing yourself. The article will present several options for making tracks, one of which you can choose for yourself.
A simple option for making a caterpillar
A do-it-yourself caterpillar can be made using the simplest technology. This will take you a minimum amount of time. The caterpillar mover can be made on the basis of a bushing-roller chain, as well as a conveyor belt. To carry out the work you need to prepare a certain set of special tools or equipment. In order to extend the life of the tape, it is recommended to sew its edges with a fishing line, strengthening it at a distance of 1 cm. It is necessary to use the principle that seamstresses use to overcast the edges of fabric, which will protect the tape from damage.
A do-it-yourself caterpillar can be made by connecting elements into a single ring; this can be done in several ways. So, it is permissible to use a hinge like a piano hinge, but you can use less reliable way, which involves sewing on the ends of the tape. It is important to note that the thickness of the tape must be selected, which corresponds to the power of the motor. If you intend to use a motorcycle engine domestic production, then you can use a tape whose thickness is 10 mm, similar to that used on agricultural conveyors.
If you make your own caterpillar using this technology, you won’t have to spend a lot of effort. Despite the fact that this caterpillar model is quite simple to make, it has a long service life and a long service life.
Making caterpillars from car tires
You can make a caterpillar yourself using car tires. To carry out the work, you need to select tires borrowed from trucks; it is recommended to use a suitable tread pattern, and you will spend less effort when working with the tire. The manufacture of such a caterpillar must be done by cutting out the sides from the tire, while leaving space for a treadmill. It is worth considering that this work is quite labor-intensive and requires the application of a lot of patience and effort; you must use only a well-sharpened shoe knife.
In order to spend less effort when making a caterpillar for a car with your own hands, you can wet the blade from time to time using a soap solution. As an alternative solution, you can use a device designed for cutting; it is also possible to use an electric jigsaw. On the latter, you first need to attach a file with small teeth, the file must also be pre-moistened with water, during the work such manipulations must be done periodically.
Work technology
Do-it-yourself tracks for a car must be made using a technology that involves the initial removal of the tire beads, then, if necessary, you need to remove the excess layers that are located on the wrong side of the formed ring; this is necessary if the track has increased hardness. If the tread pattern is not suitable, then you need to cut a new structure, which will be necessary so that the structure can cling to the soil.
A snowmobile track made with your own hands according to the scheme described above will have many advantages, even if compared with the option described above. This is due to the fact that it has a closed loop, which indicates reliability. But there are also disadvantages, one of which is expressed in the limited width of the track, but if there is a need, then a double width can be used.
Making a caterpillar from belts
The next version of the caterpillar is especially attractive because you don’t have to waste extra effort during the work. Before you begin, you need to prepare belts that have a wedge-shaped profile. They have to be connected into one whole using soil hooks that are fixed with screws; rivets can be used as an alternative solution. The result is a snowmobile track, created with your own hands, which has holes intended for the drive sprocket. In order to create the holes, you will need to leave some space between the straps.
Another option for making a caterpillar
Before you make a caterpillar with your own hands, you need to choose a technology for carrying out the work. It is also possible to use the method presented below. The propulsion frame can be welded using pipes that have rectangular section. It is recommended to connect them using a frame, this will make the structure collapsible. The splined part can be borrowed from the Buran, this will make it possible to make drive shafts; the splined part of the shafts, which are borrowed from the Oka, must be welded to them. It will be necessary to use brake discs. When working on the front shafts, you need to install brake mechanisms on them. Some part of the gearbox housing needs to be cut off. Making a caterpillar with your own hands will allow you not only to save money, but also to move through snowy areas without any problems. This design can be used for a long time without the need for repairs.
A DIY caterpillar can be made by any craftsman. If you have been thinking about how to make a caterpillar for a long time, then you should read the recommendations presented. To carry out the work, you can use a variety of tools and materials. It is, of course, permissible, if necessary, to use a caterpillar that was produced in a factory. But it will cost much more than if you do the manufacturing yourself. The article will present several options for making tracks, one of which you can choose for yourself.
A simple option for making a caterpillar
A do-it-yourself caterpillar can be made using the simplest technology. This will take you a minimum amount of time. The caterpillar mover can be made on the basis of a bushing-roller chain, as well as a conveyor belt. To carry out the work you need to prepare a certain set of special tools or equipment. In order to extend the life of the tape, it is recommended to sew its edges with a fishing line, strengthening it at a distance of 1 cm. It is necessary to use the principle that seamstresses use to overcast the edges of fabric, which will protect the tape from damage.
A do-it-yourself caterpillar can be made by connecting elements into a single ring; this can be done in several ways. So, it is permissible to use a hinge like a piano hinge; you can also use a less reliable method, which involves sewing on the ends of the tape. It is important to note that the thickness of the tape must be selected, which corresponds to the power of the motor. If you intend to use an engine from a domestically produced motorcycle, then you can use a tape whose thickness is 10 mm, similar to that used on agricultural conveyors.
If you make your own caterpillar using this technology, you won’t have to spend a lot of effort. Despite the fact that this caterpillar model is quite simple to make, it has a long service life and a long service life.
Making caterpillars from car tires
You can make your own caterpillar using car tires. To carry out the work, you need to select tires borrowed from trucks; it is recommended to use a suitable tread pattern, and you will spend less effort when working with the tire. The manufacture of such a caterpillar must be done by cutting out the sides from the tire, while leaving space for a treadmill. It is worth considering that this work is quite labor-intensive and requires the application of a lot of patience and effort; you must use only a well-sharpened shoe knife.
In order to spend less effort when making a caterpillar for a car with your own hands, you can wet the blade from time to time using a soap solution. As an alternative solution, you can use a device designed for cutting; it is also possible to use an electric jigsaw. On the latter, you first need to attach a file with small teeth, the file must also be pre-moistened with water, during the work such manipulations must be done periodically.
Work technology
Do-it-yourself tracks for a car must be made using a technology that involves the initial removal of the tire beads, then, if necessary, you need to remove the excess layers that are located on the wrong side of the formed ring; this is necessary if the track has increased hardness. If the tread pattern is not suitable, then you need to cut a new structure, which will be necessary so that the structure can cling to the soil.
A snowmobile track made with your own hands according to the scheme described above will have many advantages, even if compared with the option described above. This is due to the fact that it has a closed loop, which indicates reliability. But there are also disadvantages, one of which is expressed in the limited width of the track, but if there is a need, then a double width can be used.
Making a caterpillar from belts
The next version of the caterpillar is especially attractive because you don’t have to waste extra effort during the work. Before you begin, you need to prepare belts that have a wedge-shaped profile. They have to be connected into one whole using soil hooks that are fixed with screws; rivets can be used as an alternative solution. The result is a snowmobile track, created with your own hands, which has holes intended for the drive sprocket. In order to create the holes, you will need to leave some space between the straps.
Another option for making a caterpillar
Before you make a caterpillar with your own hands, you need to choose a technology for carrying out the work. It is also possible to use the method presented below. The propulsion frame can be welded using pipes that have a rectangular cross-section. It is recommended to connect them using a frame, this will make the structure collapsible. The splined part can be borrowed from the Buran, this will make it possible to make drive shafts; the splined part of the shafts, which are borrowed from the Oka, must be welded to them. It will also be necessary to use brake discs. When working on the front shafts, you need to install brake mechanisms on them. Some part of the gearbox housing needs to be cut off. Making a caterpillar with your own hands will allow you not only to save money, but also to move through snowy areas without any problems. This design can be used for a long time without the need for repairs.
Those who like to go fishing often in winter very often encounter the problem of cross-country ability. After all, it is not always possible, even in an SUV, to drive directly to the bank of the river, and even more so to the fishing spot itself. The way out of this situation is a tracked snowmobile. However, the price of such equipment in stores is sometimes not affordable, and therefore there is a need to manufacture similar device with your own hands. In today's article we will look at how to do it on tracks and what you need to have for this.
Caterpillar
First of all, you should start with the most complex element of the snowmobile design - the caterpillar. Along with the motor, it is the main propulsion element of all equipment. In order to make it, you first need to draw up drawings of homemade snowmobiles on tracks (approximately like in our second photo).
This way you will know the exact sequence of work being performed and will not forget about any small detail. And now about how to make a caterpillar in practice. To do this, we need to take a plastic pipe (approximately 40 millimeters in diameter) and 2 strips. The number of pieces of strips depends on how long your caterpillar will be. Working with these parts, or rather, processing them, is easily done on a circular or (grinder). In this case, you need to cut through the part one wall at a time. This is necessary to ensure the accuracy of the work performed. How to connect the transport tape with the halves of the cut pipe? To do this, we need two, and the diameter of their thread should be about 6 millimeters. If you combine given value elements with a manufactured structure, the pitch between the lugs at the output will be 93 millimeters.
When “baiting” parts of pipes with their cut side facing out, be sure to maintain a pitch distance between them. If the displacement is 3 millimeters or more, this will lead to inconsistent operation of the drive gear teeth and the belt itself, which will cause slippage in the snowmobile. And this already leads to loss of controllability. This discrepancy can lead to the fact that the belt can simply slide off the rollers.
It is important to observe the size of the caterpillar. How long it will be directly depends on the power of the engine that will power the homemade snowmobile. On tracks you need to make a calculation nominal pressure of all equipment on its plane. Thus, the curb weight of the snowmobile relative to the road surface should be no more than 0.4 kg/cm 2 .
How to drill the tape?
Homemade tracked snowmobiles work quite well on belts drilled a regular drill. However, in order for the device to work as long as possible, you need to resharpen the drill in advance for working with rubber. You must first purchase a tool designed for processing wooden surfaces. Never use metal drills.
Other chassis parts
The rest of the units will be easier. For example, components such as axles and rubber wheels, Buranovsky drive sprockets and protected bearings can be purchased at any specialized store. By the way, it is better to buy inflatable wheels. This technique will be softer on the go. The axle can be taken from a simple garden cart (two-axle). If necessary, you can trim it or, conversely, expand it to suitable technology values. If you do not have the opportunity to purchase a drive shaft in a store, you can try making one lathe. When making your own shaft, make sure that it is sized to accommodate the bearings well.
Homemade snowmobile on tracks: frame
For us, it will perform the main load-bearing function and hold all the parts, including the engine, in one whole. By the way, you can use the power plant from a motorcycle together with a gearbox as a motor. But let's get back to the frame. We will make it from steel section with a diameter of 25x25 millimeters. In this case, you need to weld it in such a way that there are two longitudinal and three cross beams. The presence of these parts on the frame will significantly strengthen its structure.
Finishing the job
Finally, how to install it on a homemade snowmobile on tracks. In the process of assembling a snowmobile, it is necessary to make two rotary bushings. This will be your steering mechanism. How is this done? A water coupling with internal thread 1/3 inch and screw male threaded pipes into them. The pipes already have ski struts and welded bipods for the steering rod. By the way, you can use skis from an ordinary children's car "Argamak". But before that, first prepare them for installation: attach the corners of the rotary stand and trim the metal. This will significantly improve the maneuverability and control quality of the snowmobile at high speed.
To increase the throughput capacity of a walk-behind tractor and use it as an all-terrain vehicle or snowmobile, you can equip it with tracks. They can be purchased ready-made, but they are expensive, and it is not always possible to choose the right option for your walk-behind tractor. There are several ways to make a caterpillar for a walk-behind tractor with your own hands.
How to make a caterpillar on a walk-behind tractor with your own hands
If you wish, you can independently modify your walk-behind tractor, turning it into a tracked all-terrain vehicle or snowmobile. The main rule is that you should consider what work the tracks are intended for in order to choose the right material, because they must be not only durable, but also extremely light.
Having available materials and correctly calculating the length of the caterpillar, you can make it yourself using simple improvised means.
First of all, you need to equip your walk-behind tractor with an additional pair of wheels. A caterpillar track will be put on each side pair.
The length of each of the two goosenecks will be equal to the circumference of one wheel and the distance between the axles of each pair of wheels, multiplied by two.
Important: the wheels on the walk-behind tractor must be the same diameter.
Materials for homemade products can include:
- conventional conveyor belt and bush-roller chain;
- car tires;
- belts and chains.
So, let's look at several options self-made goose, depending on the material used.
From a conveyor belt
This method is the simplest because it does not require a large number of special tools and auxiliary materials.
- When choosing a tape for a caterpillar, give preference to a strip whose thickness will be at least 7 mm - after all, it bears a fairly large load. The coupling with moving parts will be provided by a bushing-roller chain.
- To give the tape strength and increase its service life, it is recommended to stitch it along the edges with fishing line using frequent stitches in increments of about 10 mm.
- It is also necessary to sew the tape along the ends in order to connect it into a ring of the required diameter, or use hinges reminiscent of a piano canopy for greater reliability.
- Make sure that the additional wheelset that you install on the walk-behind tractor frame is the same diameter as the main wheels on the walk-behind tractor.
From a tire
It’s enough to simply make a durable, reliable gooseneck for a walk-behind tractor from a tire. The manufacturing process from a car tire will not take too much time, since it does not need to be stitched and lugs built up - the tire itself is a closed structure with a tread for traction.
Tires from truck or tractor wheels that have a pronounced tread pattern are best suited for caterpillar tracks.
The manufacturing process is divided into several stages:
- Very sharp knife, soaked in a soap solution to enhance the cutting ability on rubber, cut the tape for the gooseneck of the required width.
- The sidewalls of the tire are cut off with a jigsaw using a fine-tooth file.
- Hard parts on inside tires are also cut using a knife or jigsaw.
However, here there are several points that you should pay attention to:
- The tread pattern must be clearly defined, since its reliefs are a kind of lugs that increase the adhesion of the moving mechanism to the surface.
- The length of such a caterpillar is limited by the diameter of the tire, so before attaching an additional pair of wheels, you should take this into account.
From belts and chains
In order to make a tracked all-terrain vehicle from a walk-behind tractor, you can use ordinary belts with a V-shaped profile. The belts are connected to each other by lugs attached to them with rivets or screws. Thus we get a belt track.
To make a track from chains (chain tracks), you need to take two pieces of the same chain of the required length.
- The end links of both segments are unclenched in order to connect them into two closed rings.
- The loosened links are clamped again and then welded to secure the fastening.
- Made of steel required thickness cut out sections that will serve as lugs.
- The lugs are bolted at both ends to the links of both closed chains, thus forming a raised track on the walk-behind tractor.
Homemade tracks for caterpillars
Tracks for a homemade goose can also be made independently from any suitable material. The main thing to consider is what load you are going to give to your walk-behind tractor.
From plastic pipes
You can use pieces of plastic pipe as tracks for a snowmobile gooseneck. For this purpose, plastic water pipe Cut No. 40 into pieces equal to the width of the caterpillar. By using circular saw saw each section lengthwise into two equal halves, or use circular saw on wood.
The resulting tracks must be attached at regular intervals to the conveyor belt with No. 6 furniture bolts with large hemispherical heads.
From wooden blocks
Sometimes, if the load on the goose is not very large, you can use birch blocks as tracks. They are not particularly strong for heavy loads, but they are lightweight, affordable, and a track with such tracks can be repaired in any convenient location.
Iron tracks
The most reliable are metal tracks made of high-quality iron. Metal pipes or profiles cut into pieces of the required length are suitable for this purpose. profile metal pipe cut according to the same principle as plastic, and attached to the conveyor belt with bolts.
However, metal tracks, despite their noticeable strength, also have their drawbacks: they are heavy compared to plastic and wood, and can bend during use. To straighten the track, you will need to remove it from the gooseneck, and this is a labor-intensive operation.
When choosing the material from which the track tracks for your mini-all-terrain vehicle will be made, you should evaluate the degree of load and operating conditions. Light polyethylene or wooden tracks are perfect for overcoming snowy expanses, but to use a walk-behind tractor as a mini-tractor, it is still better to make a caterpillar with metal lugs.
Buy a hitch and a trailed one for a walk-behind tractor in online stores
Do-it-yourself caterpillar for a motorized towing vehicle
A motorized towing vehicle, popularly called a “motorized dog,” is ideally suited for use in northern latitudes with good snow cover. Using a walk-behind tractor, you can independently make an alternative to a dog sled, a high-speed tracked vehicle that can tow a sled with a person or a small load in the snow.
Making a caterpillar for a motorized dog with your own hands is not at all difficult.
You can use an old gooseneck from a Buran snowmobile. To increase chassis, you should cut it in half and build it up using inserts. The tracks can be carriages from the old Buran. Three carriages with rollers are enough. They also need to be sawn and extended with inserts.
In the absence of old spare parts, a caterpillar for a motorized towing vehicle can be made from improvised materials using one of the methods described above. For example, from a conveyor belt.
For production you will need:
- conveyor belt with a width of 22 cm;
- metal bars for reinforcement;
- hardwood timber blocks for track tracks.
We bring to your attention a video that shows the process of making a caterpillar.
Making tracks for a walk-behind tractor is a simple process, although it requires a sufficient amount of time. It is also necessary to make every effort and skill to ensure that all links of the goose are located at an equal distance from each other. This will help to avoid distortions and sliding of the caterpillar track from the load-bearing surfaces.
Many residents of northern latitudes and places with poor traffic are engaged in the development and assembly of various equipment with increased cross-country ability. Tracked all-terrain vehicles are no exception. Exists large number various options creating such technology. But the most problematic issue for all-terrain vehicle designers is the manufacture of tracks.
You can, of course, use factory-made ones, but having completely assembled an all-terrain vehicle with your own hands, you want to have tracks too own production. Today, there are several options for creating such propulsors, which practically do not differ in their technical characteristics from factory ones.
A simple version of caterpillars
The simplest option for snowmobiles is made from a conventional roller-bushing chain and conveyor belt. Moreover, its production does not require any special equipment and tools. In this case, the work can be done almost in the middle of the living room.
In order for the conveyor belt to serve for a long time, it is necessary to sheathe its edges with fishing line with a distance between stitches of about one centimeter. This activity is very similar to seamstress stitching fabric. In any case, such firmware will prevent the tape from unraveling while driving. You can fasten the ends together in any suitable way. A swivel like a piano hinge might work for this, or just stitch it together, but it's unlikely to last very long.
The thickness of the conveyor belt depends on the power of the power unit. If the all-terrain vehicle has an engine from a Soviet-made motorcycle, then a tape 0.8 - 1 cm thick, used on conveyors in agriculture. To give the track rigidity, it is necessary to attach a bushing-roller chain to its inner part. This can be done using bolts or rigid steel wire. The main thing is that the chain fits tightly into the surface of the conveyor belt.
Caterpillars made in this way are distinguished by their long-term operation, although simple to produce. In addition, if necessary, you can easily carry out repairs, even in the field.
Tire propellers
Many owners of snowmobiles use regular car tires as tracks for their equipment. For these purposes, you need truck tires, and you should choose them with the required pattern so as not to complicate your work in the future.
To make a caterpillar mover from a tire, you need to cut off the sides, leaving only the part with the tread. This activity takes a lot of effort and requires patience, since the work requires only a well-sharpened shoe knife.
In order to make manufacturing a little easier, you need to periodically wet the knife. soap solution, which will facilitate the process of cutting rubber. Some use specially designed devices for these purposes. You can also use an electric jigsaw with a fine-tooth file attached to it. It also needs to be watered with soapy water.
The first step is to cut off the beads from the tire. Next, if necessary, you need to remove several inner layers in the resulting track. This is done to give it softness. If the tread pattern is not satisfactory, then you should start cutting a new one, which is quite a painstaking task.
This type of track lugs has one undeniable advantage over the previous option. Since it is solid, without joints, its reliability is much higher. One of the negative aspects is the small width of the track, but to increase it, two or three tires can be spliced together.
Belt tracks
The ease of manufacturing of such tracked propulsion systems is increasingly attracting all-terrain vehicle owners to use them on their vehicles. Belts with a wedge-shaped profile are assembled into a single structure using lugs, which are attached to the belts using rivets or screws.
As a result, it turns out that the caterpillar track already has holes for the sprocket. To do this, it is necessary to lay the belts at small intervals.
Making tracks for an all-terrain vehicle
The name all-terrain vehicle means vehicle with increased cross-country ability. These include tractors, snowmobiles, SUVs and tanks. Since often from improvised vehicles. Initially, this involves motorcycles or scooters, but the end result is a vehicle that is not afraid of either off-road or dirt. The increased cross-country ability of an all-terrain vehicle mainly depends on its tracked propulsion units, which are mounted on wheels.
In this version, the caterpillar will have four stripes 5 centimeters wide. They must be cut from a regular conveyor belt. Then connect the sides using a P-shaped profile. Next, you need to make balancers. Using a stamp, you need to make parts for the floor of the wheel from sheet steel. After this, it is necessary to make hubs from bronze. The half wheels should be connected with six bolts. The balancers are ready.
The next step is to produce the shafts for the track support drums. They should have holes for the bearings. Drums can be made from duralumin blanks. When connecting them together, you need to insert a rubber sprocket. It turns out that the caterpillar is driven by a drive sprocket with a chain drive. It is installed on the rear fork.
After which the entire caterpillar should be assembled into a single whole.
The vertical arc must be equipped with a steel bushing through which the wheel axle passes. A mechanism is attached to the eye on this bushing that secures the structure of the rear fork. Track balancers are attached to the remaining ears of the all-terrain vehicle. The mover is ready to use.
As you can see, you can make a caterpillar in different ways, the main thing is to have patience and desire.