Fishing enthusiasts sometimes have a problem, which is associated with passing through difficult terrain. It is not always possible to get to the coast by SUV. The solution to this problem is a snowmobile that is driven by a caterpillar. True, not everyone can afford such a technique. The fact is that it is not cheap. That is why it is worth thinking about manufacturing.
You can install on it different types engines and transmissions. However, all models are universal vehicles with the help of which movement on snow is carried out. In winter, this technique has a number of advantages:
1. Speed. Most vehicles get stuck in snowdrifts. Snowmobiles, on the other hand, cope with these obstacles, faster passing through problem areas.
2. Profitability. In terms of fuel consumption, the presented unit is much more profitable than other vehicles for movement.
3. Maneuverability. Snowmobiles are small in size, which allows them to move even in a snowy forest. That is why they are often used by hunters in winter period.
The manufacture of the device provides some features that must be considered in order to achieve safe and efficient operation.
Caterpillar Is the most difficult element in production technology. Together with the engine, it is responsible for the movement of the unit. Before starting work, you need to create a drawing of the future model.
Thanks to him, it is allowed to remember smallest details and the sequence of placing all important elements... First of all, a plastic pipe and two belts of a conveyor belt are taken. Their number is in direct proportion to the length of the caterpillar itself. This element is cut several times along the wall in order to achieve accuracy in the work being done. To connect the tape to the cut pipe, you need two bolts used in the furniture industry. It is important to ensure that there is no offset of more than three millimeters.
Otherwise, the track teeth may not work properly. As a result, the tape will simply slide off. In addition, the choice of motor power depends on the length of the element. Also on the tracks, it is necessary to calculate the nominal pressure of the unit on its plane. Only thanks to these calculations can you count on the safe functionality of the transport.
Drilling tape
You need to take an ordinary drill in order to drill the tape. If the drill is rebuilt to work with rubber material, the unit will last much longer. You will also need a tool with which the wood is processed. It is strictly forbidden to use a drill intended for working with metal. 
Undercarriage parts
Many items are easy to buy from specialized stores. These include rubber wheels, assemblies, axles, sprockets, bearings and others. There shouldn't be any difficulties with these details. It is recommended to buy inflatable wheels. As a result, a smoother ride of the snowmobile can be achieved. Then an ordinary cart is taken, used for gardening needs.
The axis is extracted from it. If necessary, it can be converted to the needs of technology. The drive shaft is purchased from a store or made on a lathe, if you have experience with it. The main thing that you need to pay attention to is that it corresponds to the required dimensions. It must accommodate the bearings.
Frame
This part is the main load-bearing part that is able to hold the rest of the structure. The frame is made of a steel tube with square section... It is welded to make five beams: three transverse and two longitudinal. Due to this, the structure will become much stronger. 
At the last stage, the prepared parts are assembled into a single mechanism. It is important that this process be carried out with particular care, as the proper operation of the snowmobile depends on it. It is necessary to make two swivel sleeves that will serve as a steering mechanism. To do this, a water sleeve is attached to the front beam using a welding machine.
Its female thread should be 1/3 inch. The pipes should be screwed in there. They must have external threads and track posts, as well as bipods, which are necessary for the tie rod. It is required to achieve good maneuverability and control of equipment. Therefore, the finished skis are prepared in advance for the equipment. The corners of the swivel stand are attached to them, the metal is cut. Thus, the ready will be endowed positive characteristics, to be distinguished by maneuverability, stability, smooth cornering and high-quality assembly.
A snowmobile is a unique vehicle for daily use in winter. It is used to move around snowy terrain during scientific expeditions, excursions, hikes, hunting animals, and protecting the territory. Such a product can be purchased at a specialized store or made by hand. If ready-made designs have a fairly high price, and not every person is able to afford such a purchase, then home-made ones are more affordable. Alternative option made from scrap materials and equipment.
A homemade snowmobile can be made with your own hands from available equipment. For these purposes, experts recommend using:
- chainsaws;
- walk-behind tractors;
- motorcycles.
Important! To make a portable snowmobile at home, you definitely need to have skills in working with locksmith tools.
Drawings, options for finished work
Designing a snowmobile must begin by creating a drawing of the desired product. He will help in the process of making practical and functional equipment that will serve for more than one year.
Option finished work If you can use ready-made drawings to create a snowmobile from a walk-behind tractor or motorcycle, then for a construction from a chainsaw, they are not provided, since each tool has its own specifications and features.
Chainsaw snowmobile
Advice. The snowmobile can be made both tracked and skiing.
Before you start making a snowmobile from a chainsaw, you need to choose equipment that will have all the necessary characteristics. The best option for this purpose - chainsaw "Friendship", "Ural" and "Calm" (the power of these tools is ideal for creating high-speed snowmobiles).
Important! The engine and gearbox are the main parts of the chainsaw that are used in the process.
The construction of a snowmobile consists of four parts:
- Caterpillars.
- Transmissions.
- Engine.
Chainsaw Ural The assembly of a homemade snowmobile is not carried out according to some proposed scheme or a standard drawing, but based on the materials and tools that are at the disposal of the master.
Instructions for assembling a snowmobile from a chainsaw
Assembling the product - enough interesting job... It consists of several sequential steps that must be performed carefully and responsibly.
- The first stage is the assembly of the frame base of the future homemade snowmobile. For work, you will need steel corners (size - 50 x 36 cm) or steel sheets (thickness - at least 2 mm). The middle part of the structure is made from the corners, and the front and back from the sheets.
Advice. To give the necessary rigidity to the structure, the metal is bent at an angle of 90 degrees.
- Do two carefully through holes for the placement of the shaft of the caterpillar mechanism and the guides of the caterpillar wheels (tensioners are installed on both sides of the side members).
Important! The front device is specially designed to tension the second stage of the idler, and it also helps in adjusting the track itself.
- Special brackets are carefully welded to the lower part of the side members (they are fixed at the same distance from each other), road rollers are installed in their open grooves.
- Rollers (in rubber covers) are located on five axles, each of which is attached to the underside of the open grooves.
- Special duralumin bushings are installed between each of the elements (they are made from a suitable pipe).
Advice. In order not to waste time making rollers and axles for them, they can be borrowed from old equipment for digging potatoes.
- The axles of the brackets themselves are fastened with nuts and locknuts (they are designed to strengthen the snowmobile frame, hold the side members at a certain distance from each other).
- From three metal corners, racks are made for fastening the prepared chainsaw gearbox, and the intermediate shaft of the chain drive is installed.
- A seat for the user is installed on the prepared frame (for this purpose, a suitable box or car seat is used), it is fixed in the area between the middle and rear of the structure.
Chainsaw snowmobile - On the front section of the frame, a hole is made to accommodate the steering wheel, it is made from a pipe with welded control handles.
- In the places where the snowmobile racks are attached, metal scarves are installed (they strengthen the structure, make it more durable and reliable).
Important! In order for the future homemade snowmobile to have good cross-country ability on snowy terrain, it is equipped with a caterpillar mechanism.
- A snowmobile drive shaft is made from a metal pipe, a special round flange is inserted into it for attaching gear wheels.
- To create steering, equipment from old motorcycles or mopeds with three-lever control is used.
The finished snowmobile is lightweight, easily fits into the trunk of a car for long-distance transportation. Its controls are so simple and straightforward that even a child can use it with ease.
Snowmobile from a walk-behind tractor
A walk-behind tractor is another option for equipment that is used in the process of making a snowmobile with your own hands. Its design practically does not need to be redone, since it is initially multifunctional.
There are three types of snowmobiles from a walk-behind tractor:
- wheeled;
- on tracks;
- combined.
Motoblock Before you start working with a walk-behind tractor, you need to decide on the type of future design. The complexity of the master's work, as well as the duration of the entire process, will depend on him.
Designing a snowmobile from a walk-behind tractor
Important! For creating wheeled snowmobile no need to alter the steering system, Special attention need to be given only to the frame of the device and the skis.
- The snowmobile frame is made of metal pipes or corners (it must have the shape of a rectangle).
- A box or seat is attached to the finished base to accommodate the driver.
- Skis are made separately from corners and sheet metal, welded to the frame.
- The finished structure is attached to the walk-behind tractor, used for its intended purpose.
Blueprint: walk-behind snowmobile Snowmobile from Motorcycle: A Craftsman's Guide
Making a snowmobile from a motorcycle is not so easy. If the assembly of previous products practically does not cause difficulties, then you will have to suffer with this design. For work, you will need not only tools, materials and equipment, but also skills in working with a welding machine and other equipment.
Important! Motorcycles "Ural", "Izh" and "Dnepr" are the most suitable models for making a snowmobile with your own hands.
Snowmobile design technology
- A suitable frame is made of metal pipes of different diameters and steel corners. Its base is made in the form of a rectangle (its dimensions are 150 x 43.2 cm).
- The steering beam is constructed from metal corners (its dimensions are 50 x 50 x 5 mm), its parts are sheathed with dense metal linings. The finished structure is installed in a horizontal position on a drilling machine.
Motorcycle Izh - The frame and the finished beam are processed at the joints, special grooves are prepared for secure fixation elements.
- The front frame bar is equipped with a sturdy corner.
- Attach the seat to the frame of the structure.
- Holes are made in the side members.
- A channel is welded between the steering and middle section.
- Select a suitable track sprocket and rubber band for further installation (suitable dimensions - 2200 x 300 mm, thickness - no more than 10 mm).
- The caterpillar itself is carefully sheathed with nylon so that the material does not delaminate during use.
Snowmobile from motorcycle - A transmission is installed, which consists of a front and rear axle. The front one is the leading one, it consists of a tubular shaft, a caterpillar sprocket and rollers (the sprockets themselves are fixed on through bolts). The rear axle structure consists of a caterpillar drum and a tubular shaft.
- The skis are welded to the structure of the snowmobile (sheets of steel and metal corners are used for their manufacture).
The control system of a homemade snowmobile from a motorcycle is quite complex in design. It consists of:
- longitudinal thrust;
- lateral thrust.
From the information provided, we can conclude: a homemade snowmobile from elements of a walk-behind tractor, chainsaw or motorcycle is a reality. Any master can make it. For productive work, only certain skills, equipment, tools and materials are required.
Homemade snowmobile: video
A do-it-yourself 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 presented recommendations. For work, you can use a variety of tools and materials. It is permissible, of course, to use, if necessary, a caterpillar that was produced in the conditions of the factory. But this will cost much more than if you do the manufacturing yourself. The article will present several options for manufacturing 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. It will take you a minimum amount of time. The caterpillar propeller can be made on the basis of a sleeve-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 stitch its edges with a fishing line, reinforcing it at a distance of 1 cm. It is necessary to use the principle that seamstresses use to overcast the edges of the fabric, which will protect the tape from damage.
A do-it-yourself caterpillar can be made by pairing 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 patching the ends of the tape. It is important to take into account that the thickness of the tape must be chosen, which corresponds to the power of the motor. If you intend to use a motorcycle engine domestic production, then you can use a belt with a thickness of 10 mm, of the type that is used on agricultural conveyors.
If the caterpillar is made with your own hands using this technology, then you will not have to spend a lot of effort. Despite the fact that such a model of a caterpillar is made quite simply, it has long term service and great resource.
Making tracks from car tires
You can make a caterpillar yourself using car tires. To carry out the work, you need to pick up 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 the treadmill. It is worth considering that this work is quite laborious and involves the application of a large amount of patience and strength, in this case it is necessary to use an exceptionally well-sharpened boot knife.
In order to make less effort in the manufacture of a caterpillar for a car with your own hands, you can wet the blade from time to time using a soapy solution. As an alternative solution, you can use a device designed for cutting, it is permissible to use an electric jigsaw. On the latter, you first need to fix a file with small teeth, the file must also be pre-moistened with water, in the process of work such manipulations must be performed periodically.
Work technology
Do-it-yourself tracks for a car should be made using a technology that involves the initial removal of the beads from the tires, then, if necessary, you need to remove excess layers that are located on the seamy side of the formed ring, this is necessary if the track has increased hardness. If the tread pattern does not fit, then a new structure must be cut, which will be necessary so that the structure can cling to the soil.
A do-it-yourself track for a snowmobile, made according to the above scheme, will have many advantages, even if compared with the above option. This is due to the fact that she has closed loop, which indicates reliability. But there are also disadvantages, one of which is expressed in the limited width of the caterpillar, but if there is a need, then double width can be used.
Making a caterpillar from belts
The next version of the caterpillar is especially attractive in that you do not have to spend extra energy in the process of carrying out the work. Before starting, it is necessary to prepare belts that have a V-shaped profile. They will have to be connected into one whole using soil hooks, which are fixed with screws, rivets can be used as an alternative solution. As a result, you get a snowmobile track, created by your own hands, which has holes for the drive sprocket. In order to form the holes, it will be necessary to leave some space between the belts.
Another option for making a caterpillar
Before making a caterpillar with your own hands, you need to choose the technology for carrying out the work. It is also permissible to use the technique presented below. The frame of the propellers 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 spline part can be borrowed from the "Buran", this will allow the drive shafts to be made, to them you need to weld the spline part of the shafts, which are borrowed from the "Oka". It will be necessary to use brake discs as well. When working on the front shafts, you need to install on them brakes... Some part of the gearbox housing must be cut off. Making a caterpillar with your own hands will not only save money, but also move around the snow-covered area without any problems. This design can be used for a long time without the need for repairs.
The number of ways to manually assemble snowmobiles is amazing. Craftsmen are inspired by cars, motorcycles, scooters and even tractors. Making such a machine? individual process. Everyone uses schemes and drawings suitable for him. The work result differs depending on the parts and materials used. The production scheme is the same. But before we start assembling, let's better understand what this snowy beast is.
Features of tracked snowmobiles
The stuffing of these types of snowmobiles is a lot like a car: they have brakes, a gearbox, and an engine. Snowmobile motor? specific detail. They are divided into diesel and gasoline. The volume reaches 2 cm 3, the power reaches 250 liters. with. These numbers vary depending on the engine manufacturer. Under favorable conditions on the rolled surface, the cars reach speeds of 45 to 65 km / h.
Tracked snowmobiles are in contact with the surface exclusively with the tracks. Is it either one track in the middle, or another design solution? two on the sides. The wide track reduces ground pressure for increased flotation. The tracks are characterized by the value of the base, track and width.
Hence the importance of the mass of the snowmobile (up to 3-4 tons). The lighter an all-terrain vehicle is, the more mobile it is. Pay attention to the carrying capacity limit, the number of seats and berths.
When is it advisable to use tracked snowmobiles?
If you have to navigate rough snowy terrain, what about a snowmobile? your choice. High cross-country ability and driving in deep snow will be appreciated by anglers and hunters who choose hard-to-reach places for fishing.
Are you a farmer or forester and have to drive around on business, but buying a car? too expensive? With a snowmobile, you will deliver cargo through a snowy forest, you will find a man lost in the winter wilderness. Caterpillar type? this is best type all-terrain vehicle for winter time. You cannot do without these machines if you get or deliver people to an inaccessible place through dense snow and viscous swamps.
Features of the operation of tracked snowmobiles
The snowmobile's engine is either diesel or gasoline. Its breakdown threatens with sad consequences if it happened far from civilization. Therefore, self-propelled engines are adapted to work in winter operating conditions. They start at temperatures from -50 ° and below. Motors withstand high revs and a heavy load. Monthly maintenance? part of their exploitation.
The same applies to the tracks. They? the most loaded part and bear the weight of the vehicle. Is it a breakdown? it is a 100% completion of your off-road journey. Replacing and repairing it with your own hands in the field is impossible. We replace the tracked track. Various caterpillar tracks are resorted to depending on the required adhesion to the surface (soil, snow, stone).
Remember that it is advisable to mothball the snow rover at the end of the season. Models are also assembled that work all year round.
Types of tracked snowmobiles
Subdivided according to the utilitarian principle. Some carry passengers, others? luggage, cargo. Still others do both. The fourth are intended for performing narrow tasks: drilling, digging and even helping to extinguish fires.
Some SUVs carry up to 16 people. This is already a bus on tracks. They lift up to 2.5 tons of cargo on board. A crawler crane is working with weights. A platform with a tower and a hook is based on it. The all-terrain vehicle that fights with fire is built like a bulldozer to fill the flames with snow or soil.
By the nature of the surfaces to be overcome, all-terrain vehicles are divided into snowmobiles, swamp vehicles and snow and swamp vehicles.
What and why to make them
If building a homemade track snowmobile is cheaper than buying one, why not take advantage of it? You will need:
- motor;
- supporting, driving, directing wheels;
- supporting rollers;
- Caterpillar;
- frame profile (frame).
Parts can be bought or made by hand. Self assembly the good thing is that you hone the snowmobile's capabilities to suit your own needs. Start with a diagram or sketch of the future snow horse. Indicate the dimensions of the machine and its parts. Draw up a separate drawing for each part.
Remember that tracked vehicle? integral part. If you are planning to assemble it with your own hands, then take care of the guide and driving wheels, support rollers, support wheels. Wrap them in rubber in advance or use tires with a tire. Your vehicle will become noticeably quieter while moving. Weld the frame for the propeller.
For better cross-country ability, make the front part of the machine body elongated. At the back, take care of the fasteners for the trailer. Decide right away whether it will be airtight or not. For movement on snow, this feature will not play a role. If you have chosen a box-like body, consider a ventilation system: the radiator fan will take in air. Install the hood on the back of the hood.
Work the track tensioner. Make it either pneumatic or mechanical. In the first case, you will be tortured to pump air into the cylinder. Give preference to the second option and make a screw type tensioner. To relieve the tension from the track, attach a cable framing it along the side edge, which will take the force.
The track chain will be replaced car tire... Cut off the top. Use large wheels. You will need a boot knife. Rub it with soap periodically for better cutting. Scrape the resulting canvas so that there are no excess rubber parts left. For traction on the ground, cut the embossed pattern on the rubber.
Another option is to cut conveyor belt... To her outside attach metal corners or steel pipes that will cling to the surface.
To simplify things and not suffer with your own hands? buy the track chain and the shafts that come with it. The Burana package is considered popular. The road wheels will be wheels from a motorcycle sidecar. Install the cover plate between the support wheel and the drive wheel. This will save the latter from throwing snow. Work it out drive wheel... Make hooks on it and wrap rubber around them. Install the brakes on the wheel. Choose the engine yourself. A motor from a Zhiguli will do.
So, you have assembled a personal all-terrain vehicle for moving in the snow with your own hands. The car turned out to be light and compact, which will have a good effect on its driving performance... Homemade snowmobiles on tracks reach speeds of up to 45 km / h. According to the documents, such transport will be listed as a tractor.
In our reviews, we have repeatedly touched on the topic of assembling motorcycles and ATVs with our own hands, and on vehicles for transportation in winter time paid no attention. We decided that it was no longer possible to bypass this topic, so today we will tell you how you can make a snowmobile with your own hands. Surely, it seems to you that an ordinary person who does not have experience in this area, such a task will be unbearable. But we are in a hurry to dissuade you - in this review we will try to tell you as clearly as possible how to assemble a snowmobile yourself, and what is needed for this. If you have long dreamed of having a homemade snowmobile in your garage, then it's time to start making your dream a reality.
Why does it make sense to assemble a snowmobile yourself?
A snowmobile is the best vehicle you can use off-road in the winter. If you are one of the lovers of winter fishing or hunting, and just a person who loves outdoor activities, then such a vehicle as a snowmobile will be the best option for winter recreation. Recently, in the motorcycle market, which includes representatives of winter transport, there has been a huge increase in prices. Because of this, buying a new snowmobile today is comparable to buying a mid-range car, which will certainly hit the budget.
There are not so many ways out of the situation as we would like, so everyone who wants to buy a snowmobile solves the problem in one of two ways. The first option is to buy a used snowmobile that has been in service for several years. It is quite obvious that this technique is no longer new, but the price also gives an opportunity to save money. In principle, buying a snowmobile off hand is a good option. The most important thing is to choose the right model and check the snowmobile well for breakdowns.
It will be much more interesting, and usually even more economical, to assemble a snowmobile with your own hands. In this case, you not only save a lot of money, but also have all the possibilities to build a snowmobile especially for yourself. Making a snowmobile with your own hands on the basis of some other vehicle is more than a real task. So why not try your hand at building a homemade snowmobile that will delight you every new ride?
What can you make a snowmobile from?
At the first stages of developing a homemade snowmobile, you need to decide on the choice of the so-called donor, that is, the vehicle on the basis of which the snowmobile construction process will take place. There are not so many options here, but they are quite enough to choose the most suitable one for you. Basically, homemade snowmobiles are built on the basis of the following power units:
- Motorbike
- Chainsaw
- Motoblock
You can choose from this list the option that suits you best. The only thing to keep in mind is the amount of horsepower that comes out of the snowmobile. It is logical to assume that a snowmobile based on even the simplest motorcycle will be much faster than a snowmobile with a chainsaw engine. A walk-behind tractor will also be more powerful than a chainsaw, but a motorcycle still remains the best option, if we take into account the power of the resulting vehicle. In our review, we will analyze the design of a motorcycle and a walk-behind tractor. So how to make a snowmobile with your own hands?
Motorcycle Snowmobile
To make a snowmobile with our own hands, using a motorcycle, we need a welding machine and a drill, which we simply cannot do without. We advise you to take as a basis for the future snowmobile Soviet motorcycles, for example, - Ural, Dnieper, IZH Jupiter or IZH Planet. It is these motorcycles that can be purchased quite cheaply, and their engine power reserve will be enough to drive on the most difficult slopes without any problems.
Let's start with the front of the future snowmobile. The first thing to do is put the ski in place of the wheel. In our case, it will be only one, so as not to complicate and not make the structure heavier. After the wheel has been removed, you need to buy or make your own ski for a snowmobile, and use a welding machine to weld it to the motorcycle fork as shown in the photo.
Now that the front of the snowmobile has been done necessary work, you can proceed to the back. Here everything will be somewhat more complicated, but it is not as difficult to figure it out as it seems at first glance. First, you need to lengthen the motorcycle frame, based on the drawings you found on the Internet. Then set rear axle consisting of a caterpillar drum and tubular shaft. Optimal dimensions for a caterpillar - 2200 × 300 mm with a thickness of 10 mm.
A snowmobile based on a walk-behind tractor
A do-it-yourself snowmobile based on a motorcycle is the most difficult option. If you are not so worried about the speed of the future snowmobile, then you can stop at a snowmobile based on a walk-behind tractor. However, in this case, you need to make your own snowmobile frame. If you describe the whole process in stages, then you can sum up several points:
- Making a rectangular snowmobile frame from metal pipes
- The driver's seat is made independently or purchased in the store, then mounted on a finished frame
- Instead of wheels, two tracks are installed, made independently or purchased on the motorcycle market
- Snowmobile skis are mounted on the frame of the future vehicle, which can be made independently from metal sheets.
A snowmobile from a walk-behind tractor, although inferior in power to the same vehicle made from a motorcycle, but not so critical. But the big advantage of this snowmobile construction option is its simplicity and short assembly time.
conclusions
V this review we tried to give you the most accurate answer to the question of how to make a snowmobile with your own hands. The beauty of a homemade snowmobile is that you can save a lot of money and build a snowmobile that meets your needs.
