Cultivating a large area, in which a significant part of the territory is allocated for a vegetable garden, using only available tools, is not an easy task. The work of loosening, digging, and weeding the garden manually takes a lot of effort and time. It’s good when you have the opportunity to purchase a walk-behind tractor that will become an indispensable assistant on the site. But you can make work on the ground easier by making a walk-behind tractor with your own hands.
We build a walk-behind tractor according to instructions from Arkhipov
The walk-behind tractor is a self-propelled machine on two wheels, equipped with an engine removed from a VP-150M motor scooter. The reason for choosing this particular engine was that it has such constructive solution, due to which the cylinder head is forced to be cooled with air.
Such a motor from a scooter is capable of operating at the lowest speeds and at fairly heavy loads.
To build the walk-behind tractor, the master used control cables, engine mounts taken from a motor scooter, as well as a double arc of the frame, handles and chains. The rest of the design details were industrial production
Separately, the designer produced a U-shaped frame welded from pipes and machined to lathe wheel axle. He also made 3 homemade hinges for the main and control rods. They will be used as connecting elements between the walk-behind tractor itself, its steering wheel and the plow.
A steel pipe is attached to the frame of the unit by welding, ending with an axis, which is necessary for tensioning the cables going to the engine gearbox. The tension itself is carried out by means of a swinging rocker arm, the gear shift knob of which is a welded section of steel pipe.
The pitch of the chains used to create the device is 12.7 mm and 15.9 mm. Number of teeth on sprockets: output shaft – 11, secondary shaft – 20 and 60, drive axle – 40.
What is good about this particular design?
There are dozens of analogues of this model, but in comparison with them, the original model of the Kaluga master’s walk-behind tractor has a number of undeniable advantages.
- Swivel joint. The processing tools and tractors of most of these models have a rigid connection, which complicates the maneuvering of the unit and thereby makes it difficult to work with it. The parts of this agricultural unit are connected by means of hinges. This makes it possible to change the direction of movement during work, if necessary, without removing the plow from the furrow.
- Shift of the axis to the direction of movement. Many owners, when cultivating soil using a walk-behind tractor, have encountered such a difficulty that in the process of moving forward under the influence of soil resistance, the unit moves to the side. To level the furrow, a lot of effort must be made. To compensate for such a skid, the master positioned the plow axis at a slight angle in the direction of movement. When plowing, the structure is slightly turned to the left. The desired position can always be adjusted using three rod joints.
- The level of the specified plowing depth. If in other models the plowing depth is maintained by lowering or raising the plow, then when working with this walk-behind tractor it is performed automatically. Regulation is carried out by changing the angle of the plow in relation to the furrow. The structure is equipped with a field board, which acts as a lifting force when burying the plow. If, on the contrary, the ploughshare appears above the surface of the earth, then its angle of attack instantly increases, under the influence of which it again plunges into the ground to a given depth.
Step-by-step device assembly technology
The assembly of the structure begins with the arrangement of the drive shaft. To do this, attach a housing with bearings to it, weld the sprocket and mount overrunning clutches, which during operation will perform the function of a differential. After this, the structure is equipped with wheels and a frame. A telescopic rod, a plow and a steering wheel are installed on a fixed frame.
The main elements of the running shaft: 1 – shaft, 2 – sprocket, 3 – cover, 4 – bearing housing, 5 – support platform, 6 – bearing No. 308, 7 – overrunning clutch housing, 8 – pawl axis, 9 – pawl, 10 – ratchet, 11 – bearing No. 307, 12 – washers, 13 – wheel, 14 – pawl spring
The agricultural walk-behind tractor is equipped with special wheels, which, unlike rubber counterparts, are able to provide better traction with the ground.
Such metal wheels do not become clogged with soil. When they come into contact with the soil, they do not compact it, but rather loosen it.
To connect the frame of the unit with the engine mount and the frame of the scooter itself, two arc-shaped pipes are used. Between them there is space for placing a fuel tank.
To equip the engine, a bracket is used, ending with a steel axle 150 mm long. The bracket is welded cantilever to the U-shaped frame of the structure. The motor with suspension is suspended on the axle itself. The assembled structure is connected to the arc-shaped arches of the frame. Only after this the secondary shaft is mounted, the control cables are pulled and the chains are tensioned.
Main elements of the control unit: 1 – connecting axis, 2 – bar, 3 – pipe, 4 – handles
Connecting elements of the structure: 1 – main rod, 2 – control rod
How this whole thing works - video example
A clear example of using a walk-behind tractor:
How can you upgrade a homemade walk-behind tractor?
Arkhipov's walk-behind tractor is multifunctional. It can be used as a plow, or. To do this, it is enough to replace the removable parts for the plow with parts with removed moldboards for the cultivator. As it moves, the walk-behind tractor will deepen furrows into the ground and place potato tubers in them. To plow the tubers, you just need to put the moldboards in place and walk the unit between the planted rows.
The agricultural unit is also convenient for harvesting. Using different blades you can change the working width. The unit is also good because it is capable of collecting missed potatoes and plant tops remaining after harvesting. For these purposes, it is equipped with a rake or harrow.
The universal design can be used not only for agricultural work. IN winter time It is successfully used for snow removal. A faithful assistant will also come in handy for cleaning paths local area. By installing a roller with a round brush and an additional sprocket on the walk-behind tractor, the owner will make it easier for him to clear the sidewalks.
The walk-behind tractor itself will run on a gasoline engine from an old motorcycle or moped. This engine has a cooling system that will prevent it from quickly failing. The design will have a trunk for transporting small-sized weights and tools. We also take other parts from the motorcycle: chains, gas tank, suspension, etc. The number of teeth on the output shaft sprockets is 11, on the running axle - 12, on the secondary shaft - twenty and sixty teeth.
The remaining parts are made by hand. The wheel axle will be made of reinforcement. The U-shaped body frame and trunk are made of steel pipes. If the fasteners are not enough, you must use a welding machine.
Next, we connect the walk-behind tractor with the plow and the structure’s controls using hinges and a control rod. This connection will allow the structure to be rotated without special effort. After this, you need to attach the gearbox.
The sprocket is welded onto the running shaft, only after that the couplings and housings with bearings are assembled.
Then comes the installation of the frame, rack and wheels. The wheels can be any, even ordinary automobile ones, but the larger the diameter of the wheels, the better and easier it will be.
This is followed by installation of the fuel tank, which is inserted between the frame tubes, and the bracket is welded to the frame. We place a steel axle with a diameter of 36 millimeters and a length of 15 centimeters across it.
The engine must be secured to the side frames of the machine.
All elements of the walk-behind tractor must be well fixed using fasteners and a welding machine.
This design provides for the replaceable installation of a plow, rake, harrow and other tools agriculture. There is even provision for installing a cultivator for planting potatoes. If you install a bulldozer blade, then the machine will quickly remove snow.
The plow is installed in such a way that if it deviates from the soil above or below it, then the structure will return the plow to required level. This design makes the car safer and more stable and will prevent it from falling over when turning.
If you are seriously thinking about growing any garden crops at your dacha or near a private house, you will need a motor cultivator. This universal miracle machine can fully automate most of the agricultural activities on your site, allowing you to plow the soil, plant and dig up potatoes, remove snow, and sometimes transport some cargo, including crops and fertilizers.
It is no secret that such an indispensable device can be bought at any agricultural hypermarket, but its cost can be prohibitively high. Therefore, more and more often, summer residents are trying to make a walk-behind tractor with their own hands. But in fact this does not require special efforts and skills, and the amount of expenses is reduced to a minimum.
A walk-behind tractor, or motor-cultivator, is a self-propelled two-wheeled unit that is equipped with an internal combustion engine. The device moves freely forward, and the summer resident walks behind it, holding handles with various components and controls. Many available models have multiple gears for forward and reverse movement. . To exploit such an invention was as productive as possible, it is equipped with additional tools, including a plow, which allows plowing and cultivating the land.
The average weight of a walk-behind tractor reaches 100 kg, and the engine power often exceeds 8 horsepower. Due to such features, such a tool can become indispensable for plowing a garden area.
You should pay attention to the fact that all walk-behind tractors are equipped with a special drive for attachments, which allows you to transfer part of the engine power to a suspended mower. Mostly like this universal mechanism allows you to cope with a variety of agricultural work, including:
- plowing the land;
- cultivation;
- transportation of the crop (in this case, you need to get a small trailer);
- cutting the grass.
With the help of such miniature trucks, residents of our regions transport firewood, fertilizers and crops. IN winter period it can be used as a snow removal tool. Even the weakest model can easily pull a load weighing up to 400 kg.
Advantages of the cultivator
Despite many advantages, not every summer resident needs the excessive versatility of a walk-behind tractor. And the rather impressive weight sometimes complicates the operation of the device when performing daily tasks. Therefore, many owners of summer cottages prefer a simplified version in the form of a cultivator. This solution is characterized by affordable cost and low energy consumption.
Most cultivators are much smaller than walk-behind tractors. Instead of wheels, which are provided in the classic version, special cutters are installed here that are capable of loosening and grinding the soil while moving. They are the main working element of the cultivator. Unfortunately, it is not possible to use additional equipment powered by the power plant of this device. This is due to the lack of an appropriate drive.
Among the possible “equipment” only “passive” tools, such as:
- plow;
- potato digger;
- hillers, etc.
The weight of the cultivator does not exceed 50 kg, while on the market you can find many powerful models weighing up to 20 kg. Due to these characteristics, the car is very easy to hold with your hands, and fuel consumption remains at a minimum level. By the way, some products are equipped with an electric motor.
The cost of cultivators differs significantly from the cost of walk-behind tractors. A relatively low-power and inexpensive walk-behind tractor with a capacity of 6 horsepower will cost twice as much as a cultivator with similar performance indicators.
Features of choosing a unit
If desired, select suitable model walk-behind tractor, pay attention to a number of important parameters. Among them:
- processed area;
- type of tasks to be solved;
- equipment power.
If the size of your plot does not exceed 10 acres, then, naturally, it is better to opt for a device for cultivating land. If you own a larger territory, it makes sense to think about buying a full-fledged walk-behind tractor.
As for power indicators, they are selected taking into account the type of work that will be carried out on the site. For seasonal plowing of soil in autumn period It is enough to purchase a unit with an engine power of 5.5-6 horsepower. However, if we are talking about processing virgin lands and dry soils, then you will need to purchase a heavier model with a stronger motor. Most likely, it will run on A92 or A95 standard gasoline fuel. There are also diesel developments that consume from 2 to 2.5 liters of fuel mixture per hour of hard work.
If you want to purchase a miniature version of a tractor, give preference to products from trusted brands. It is no secret that small European-made equipment can be equipped with “native” power plants from more well-known manufacturers, so such an engine can serve the future owner for a very long time. If you provide the equipment with proper care and maintenance, it will work freely for about 15 years, and the same amount after overhaul in a good service center.
As for Chinese products, they cannot boast good performance power, reliability and durability. However, in this segment you can find quite a good solution. Just carefully study the company’s reputation, find out reviews from real customers on forums and portals for farmers.
Homemade walk-behind tractor according to Arkhipov’s instructions
The design of such a walk-behind tractor is made in the form of a self-propelled two-wheeled unit, which comes with an engine from a VP-150M scooter. This motor model has such a design that at increased loads the cylinder head is forced to cool using air.
If you follow Arkhipov’s instructions, then at the next stage you will have to make a U-shaped frame welded from a corpse, and then turn the wheel axle on a lathe. For the main and control rods, 3 hinges should be created, which will act as connecting elements between the walk-behind tractor, the steering wheel and the plow.
In turn, the unit frame is equipped steel pipe with axle using welding machine. This will allow tension the cables, going to the gearbox. The tension itself is provided by a rocker arm. Gear shifting is carried out using a welded piece of steel pipe.
As for analogues of such a development, there are indeed a lot of them, however, the original version has some undeniable advantages.
Advantages of the Arkhipov walk-behind tractor:
Step by step assembly guide
You need to start assembling the unit by arranging the drive shaft. Then it is equipped with a housing with bearings, a sprocket is welded and overrunning clutches are fixed, which act as a differential. Then the structure is equipped with wheels and a frame with a telescopic rod, a plow and a steering wheel.
A homemade version of an agricultural walk-behind tractor has at its disposal special wheels that are capable of providing maximum traction with the ground.
To connect the frame of the unit with the suspension and frame of the scooter, two arc-shaped metal pipes should be used. A container for storing the fuel mixture is installed between them.
When arranging the power plant, a bracket is used, which is equipped with a steel axle 150 mm long. It is welded in a cantilever manner to a U-shaped frame. The axle itself is equipped with a motor and suspension, and the assembled product is connected to the frame arches. Only after this the secondary shaft is installed, pulling cables and tensioning chains.
Modernization of a homemade design
The Arkhipov walk-behind tractor is extremely popular among a wide audience of summer residents and gardeners due to its versatility. Very often it is used as a plow or cultivator. To expand the functionality, it is enough to replace the removable parts for the plow with parts with removed moldboards for the cultivator. As it moves around the garden, the device will deepen furrows into the ground, placing potato tubers there. For plowing planting material It is enough to equip the unit with dumps and walk again between the planted rows.
Hilling up of sprouted plants occurs in a similar way. The agricultural walk-behind tractor is characterized by excellent productivity and ease of use, even for purposes such as harvesting. To change the working width, it is enough to use different blades. In addition, the unit is capable of collecting missed potatoes and remaining tops in the presence of a rake or harrow.
The universal design is indispensable not only for work in the agricultural sector. It can also be used for snow removal in winter. Such a faithful assistant will be a good tool when cleaning paths and garden territory from leaves or debris. It is enough to equip it with a roller with a round brush and an additional star, which will allow you to clear sidewalks.
Every self-respecting summer resident sooner or later comes to the question of buying or manufacturing a motor cultivator. A similar unit - a truly valuable find for people involved organic farming. It can be used to process small vegetable gardens, and large territories from 30 acres.
Despite its compact size, such a miniature “truck” It is not inferior in productivity to some tractors. Powerful engine is capable of processing the heaviest soil, and ease of use allows it to be used even in the absence of specific experience. In addition, making such a device is much simpler than it might seem at first glance. It is enough to pay attention to the existing instructions and use the recommendations of professionals.
Owners of personal plots can greatly benefit from an electric walk-behind tractor that you can make yourself.
This device greatly facilitates light agricultural work involving loosening the soil. Such equipment is especially useful during the season of planting and harvesting vegetables.
According to some indicators, electric walk-behind tractors are inferior to their gasoline counterparts. However, such homemade devices have a number of advantages. In practice, walk-behind tractors equipped with an electric motor have less weight, are less noisy in operation, do not produce toxic emissions and are cheaper to use.
For people who are unfamiliar with this type of technology, mastering an electric walk-behind tractor will be much easier than understanding the complexity of the design of traditional gasoline units.
How to make an electric walk-behind tractor with your own hands
Electric walk-behind tractors can be used both in greenhouses and land plots, which have a limited area. This limitation is caused by the need to access the power grid.
Some models have rechargeable batteries, which will allow you to use such devices on rough terrain. When operating an electric walk-behind tractor, it is necessary to prevent overheating of the engine by periodically allowing it to cool. To extend the working life, such devices are also not recommended for use on heavy, unplowed soils.
As an example, we can consider the electric walk-behind tractor “Electrokrot”, which was made with our own hands on the basis of a gasoline module. The model equipped with an electric motor has significant advantages over its gasoline counterparts. Namely:
Ease of use;
Easy to maintain;
Economical operation, given the lack of costs for purchasing fuel;
No harmful emissions;
Availability of spare parts;
Low cost, considering DIY assembly.
As additional dignity You can highlight the automatic shutdown of the electric motor in case of overheating. This function can significantly extend the operating life of electrical equipment. Thanks to the handle adjustable to the operator’s height, the ergonomics of the walk-behind tractor increases.
Homemade electric walk-behind tractor
To make an electric walk-behind tractor with your own hands, you will need some materials that are available to owners of personal plots. The manufacturing process of such a device can be divided into several technical operations:
1. The supporting frame is one of the main elements of the equipment. To make it you will need a channel and a corner. The width of the frame must correspond to the dimensions of the engine and gearbox. Pieces of pipe can be used as handles required sizes. The pipes should be welded to both sides of the metal frame. After this, you need to screw a bronze insert to the pipes with screws, which will serve as an axis.
2. For the sliding effect, you can use ball bearings that are selected with the appropriate diameter. To fix the handles to the pipe, you need to weld special brackets. In order to secure the cultivator and the plow holder, you need to weld the bracket in the middle part of the pipe. Using screws, you need to install a platform on the frame body in special slots in the side ribs. To mount the electric motor, special holes should be made in the platform.
3. By means of a belt, the pulley on the bronze axis is connected to the same element on the electric motor. Using a chain, the movement is transmitted to a sprocket located slightly lower. For these purposes, you can use a regular bicycle chain.
4. The movement of the walk-behind tractor will be carried out due to the working device, which directly cultivates the soil. Curved knives need to be secured to a square plate, and they will be held in place thanks to a key located on the lower axis. When the shaft rotates, the soil will be loosened and the entire module will move. Reduction is created through the relationship of pulleys and sprockets.
5. The movement is controlled by a switch that must be placed on the handle of the holder. You can connect the motor to the network using a wire wound on a reel.
In general, making a homemade electric walk-behind tractor does not require special technical qualifications. When manufacturing it, basic ergonomics and safety rules for the owner of such agricultural equipment should be observed.
Homemade walk-behind tractor video