Do-it-yourself tracked module for a walk-behind tractor

From the conveyor belt to increase the cross-country ability of the all-terrain vehicle

One of the simplest methods is considered to be the manufacture of a caterpillar from a conveyor belt using a sleeve-roller chain. The ease lies in the fact that for their manufacture you do not need to use a large number of tools and aids.

To extend the service life of our conveyor belt in the tracked walk-behind tractor device, you can sew it along the edges with a fishing line, observing a step of 10 mm. To connect the tape into the ring we need, you can sew it along the ends, or use the hinge.

Particular attention should be paid to the thickness of the conveyor belt, because it directly depends on the degree of load on the unit. The optimal choice of tape is at least 7 mm thick. In addition, we need to take care of an additional wheel on each side.

You can take it from an old car, but remember that the diameter must be identical to the wheel on the walk-behind tractor.

Track module from a tire

Caterpillars from car tires for a walk-behind tractor are also a fairly common home-made product, which is characterized by a high reliability of the design. However, for the resulting single-axle tracked tractor to be practical, you need to take care of finding the right car tires.

Farm owners are increasingly resorting to purchasing special technical devices. grain grinders, with which they can process raw materials, thus preparing feed for feeding on their own. By clicking on the link, see how to make a grain crusher from a washing machine with your own hands.

On the domestic market of agricultural machinery, there are various options for cultivators, not only Russian, but also of foreign production. The Mantis cultivator is a reliable and practical technique for decades.

Recently, small-sized agricultural machinery has been very popular, allowing you to carry out the same work as their “older brothers”, but at the same time they cost an order of magnitude less. It’s all about the different types and characteristics of mini combine harvesters.

In particular, they must have the required tread pattern, preferably from tractors or large machines. The tread pattern is very important because it acts as a lug and also increases the grip of the track.

do-it-yourself, tracked, module, walk-behind, tractor

Two wheel tractor upgrade

Let’s divide the manufacturing process into several steps:

  • Having found suitable tires, we need to cut out a track for caterpillars from them. This is a rather laborious work that will take a lot of time.
  • For cutting, you can use a well-sharpened boot knife, which from time to time needs to be moistened in soapy water. this will help to cut the rubber better.
  • You also need to cut both sidewalls off the tires. To simplify the process, the sidewall can be cut with a fine-toothed electric jigsaw.
  • If necessary, remove excess parts from the inside of the tire. This manipulation must be performed if the track is too hard from the inside.

The advantage of this method is the absence of the need to connect it into a ring, since the tire already has a closed structure. This increases the reliability of such tracks, which is quite important in conditions of heavy loads.

However, such tracks are of a rather limited length. exactly along the length of the car tire.

Additional tips and warnings for making a goose yourself

Before you start making a homemade caterpillar, you need to clearly understand its necessary parameters. The fact is that in the case of manufacturing a very high caterpillar, the center of gravity of the walk-behind tractor will be changed, which will inevitably lead to certain problems when turning, i.e. the unit will fall on its side.

In addition to the requirements for engine power, it is worth paying attention to its cooling system. The fact is that air cooling does not cope very well at high loads, which leads to significant overheating of the motor.

Thus, it is better to give preference to a water-cooled engine, which show more stable performance in operation.

A method of making a caterpillar from belts and chains

Consider a method of making a product from belts and chains. Tracks can also be made from standard V-belts. Connect them using lugs, which are attached to the belts with screws and rivets.

When making tracks from chains, they must be the same size. The chains are opened, closed in a ring and welded. Steel plates can be used to make lugs, which are used to fasten chains with bolts.

On sale you can find a unique crawler drive GP. H1, which is suitable for many cultivators. It is suitable for the motor-block “Neva”, “Ugra”, “Cascade”, “Salut”, “Favorite”, “Oka”, Havert, Caiman, Nusqarna.

do-it-yourself, tracked, module, walk-behind, tractor

They have a circle diameter of 30 mm. For heavy motoblocks, such as MTZ or Agro, these tracks are not suitable.

the single-axle tractor “Neva” with a caterpillar attachment has good maneuverability. It is impossible to get stuck with it in mud, snow and sand. It is very popular in Russia, as it is intended for the processing of small areas.

Ready-made tracks for walk-behind tractors are very easy to install. They serve as attachments.

Design features of the device

Making components for a home-made caterpillar for a walk-behind tractor with your own hands saves money on the purchase of factory devices and the further operation of the equipment. If everything is done correctly, then the self-made tracks for the walk-behind tractor increase the cross-country ability.

Compared to wheeled counterparts, tracked motoblocks are not so widespread. The explanation is simple. Wheel aggregates from Texas, Patriot, Caiman, VIKING, Forza are best suited for plowing land areas. This design is best suited for ground work.

Alteration of a wheeled walk-behind tractor is a work consisting in attaching one additional wheel on each side. The result is a four-wheeled, uniaxial tractor, on which you can put on tracks. They can be, in turn, purchased or homemade. Additional wheels can be detachable. This allows the machine to be converted into a standard single-axle tractor in a timely manner, ideal for work in the garden.

For this, the wheels are fixed to the axle, which are already provided in the structure, by means of a rigid or flexible transmission. This solution is considered advisable, since the need for the installation of additional fasteners disappears. As for the device of these motoblocks, they fully correspond to the parameters of wheel modifications:

  • Engine. It is powerful, four-stroke. It has a function for locking the axes. This allows the single-axle tracked tractor to turn on the spot without making a full circle.
  • Transmission. Standard kit includes gearbox, clutch system and gearbox.
  • Chassis. Caterpillars are used here. They replace the wheelbase. If the alteration is made, then one kata is added to the existing pair of wheels on each side. They put on a homemade caterpillar.
  • Control bodies. Located on the control handle. Includes emergency stop mechanisms and all sorts of clutch levers.
  • develops a speed of the order of. 18 km per hour;
  • total weight of the console. 37 kg;
  • width. 60 cm;
  • length. 100 cm;
  • height. 34 cm.

Accommodates one driver and one passenger on board. In addition, on sale you can find an attachment for a walk-behind tractor on tracks, which is designed for the Salute and Agat models. Its cost ranges from 25 to 27 thousand rubles. This design does not provide for the attachment of a driver’s seat. Because of this, some restrictions are imposed on the functional features of this device. But for driving on off-road and snow, such transport is quite suitable.

Their feature is the ability to control not only with two hands, walking behind the walk-behind tractor, but also while sitting in a folding sleigh. The latter will have to be purchased separately. If we consider that the average cost of a set-top box is about 30 thousand rubles, not counting the price of a folding sleigh, we can say that the independent production of caterpillars saves a lot of money.

Recommendations for use

Using the tracks of the walk-behind tractor, it is necessary to constantly check how well the chain is tensioned, and also regularly oil the parts whose friction occurs when driving. In addition, it is recommended each time before use to check whether any damage or breaks have appeared on the chain. After the trip, a routine inspection should also be carried out in order to detect any damage or broken hooks in time. When using a walk-behind tractor, you should avoid driving over roots and stone massifs, as well as hemp, otherwise the track module will be torn very quickly.

do-it-yourself, tracked, module, walk-behind, tractor

For an overview of the all-terrain motoblock on tracks, see the following video.

Mounting Tracks to walk-behind tractor

Production

A lot of money is required to open and start production, although the patent for the Metelitsa all-terrain vehicle was obtained in 2003, due to the financial component, it took a lot of time to open the enterprise.

Today, the production of platforms is about a hundred per year, production is expanding every year, branches for the production of Metelitsa are opening in other cities. The first cities to open representative offices were Tyumen and Salekhard.

The opened branches constantly require employees to assemble, maintain and organize the sale of the product. It takes about a month to make one unit.

Frame and cab

The stability of the entire structure depends on the strength and rigidity of the frame, because all mechanisms and assemblies are installed on the base.

The frame is a welded base consisting of cross-beams and longitudinal spars. Professionals make the spars 3-stage and weld them from pieces of steel lightweight channel The front cross members are made of 2 channels, the rear ones. 6.

To increase stability at the inner corners of the front axle brackets, gussets of 5 mm made of “troika” steel are installed. Steel plates for fastening the structure of 8 mm to the rear axle and the hinge bracket are attached to the front side members, steel footboards are welded on the sides. On the frame, 15 M12 mounting holes are drilled at the place of installation of parts and assemblies according to the drawings, provide for the possibility of mounting the engine and seat.

2 welded bushings of 20 mm St3 are mounted in the front crosshead, in the rear. a steering column bracket made of steel strip with a section of 8×70 mm.

Then the road wheels and wheelsets are attached to the base.

If desired, a homemade tracked product can be made with a stainless steel body, which will protect the driver and machine mechanisms from dirt and external mechanical factors.

What are?

Motoblocks equipped with caterpillar attachments can be safely called a universal technique. They are successfully used not only for agricultural work in various, even the most difficult operating conditions.

The owners of the units focus on the ability of the modernized units to easily overcome any, including snow-covered areas. Motoblocks equipped with tracked platforms can be used all year round for:

  • performance of work of any complexity in swampy and hard-to-reach areas;
  • land clearing.
  • transportation of goods.

In addition, such units are a convenient means of transportation for hunters and fishermen. It is the scope of application and the tasks assigned to the technology that determine the features of attachments and modules, which are most often equipped with rubber tracks. These elements of the modernization of equipment have many modifications that differ from each other:

  • shape (there are rectangular axial and triangular gear);
  • installation principle;
  • materials used.

The components of the axle modules are the following:

  • main platform;
  • axles;
  • rollers (4 pcs.);
  • gears (2 pcs.);
  • caterpillars (2 pcs.).

When analyzing the types of additional attachments, the installation methods should also be taken into account. So, rectangular models are fastened by means of a bolted connection. The rollers installed at the bottom of the axle are responsible for the tension of the track chains. And the platform is driven by two gears located on both sides. A gear-type attachment with a triangular track tension consists of:

  • large gears;
  • a frame with a rigid structure;
  • rollers (8 pcs.);
  • caterpillar belts.

Is it possible to make caterpillars with your own hands?

If the cost of a ready-made set of tracks discouraged you, you can consider an option with self-production, but you should know in advance about the laboriousness of such a process. You must have master level locksmith equipment and construction skills. Garage production may not even be considered, since you have to use special machines and tools for turning hubs, assembling and installing sprockets, shafts and bearings.

There are three ways, thanks to which the caterpillar made by you on “Niva” will fulfill its functions. from a conveyor belt, from car tires or from belts. These will be the simplest designs, which, despite their functionality and maintainability, cannot be called full-fledged tracks.

Advantages and disadvantages

In many respects, the caterpillar track compares favorably with the wheeled version. Taking into account the fact that the owners of farms are trying to maximize the use of walk-behind tractors to perform a wide range of tasks, the purchase or manufacture of tracks will be a rational solution. Naturally, like any other technique, these machines have their undeniable advantages and no less significant disadvantages. As for the merits, there are several points to highlight here.

  • Effective load distribution minimizes pressure on the supporting surface.
  • Thanks to these elements, the permeability of the device is increased.
  • Tracked track is highly maneuverable.
  • Caring for the module does not require special knowledge and skills from the owner. During operation, it is only necessary to monitor the state of the rubbing parts, which must be periodically lubricated, as well as to control the tension of the track chains and their solidity.
  • Self-construction of a caterpillar track can significantly reduce financial costs.

Conveyor belt tracks

To assemble the tracked set, you can use a conveyor belt with a thickness of 8. 10 mm and a sleeve-roller chain. Be sure to sew the edges of the tape with fishing line to reinforce it and avoid fraying. Use an overcast seam. The hinge can be used to connect the ends of the tape. The connection through flashing can also be used, but the reliability will be questionable. In general, this design inspires confidence in terms of reliability and can be easily repaired.

Also, caterpillars can be made from a conveyor belt using a rectangular shaped pipe. To do this, you must first give the tracks the required shape using a pressing machine. You can use nuts and bolts to fix the tracks to the tape. We will consider this technology in more detail. You will need the following tools and materials:

  • pressing machine;
  • hammer and a set of keys;
  • hole puncher;
  • drill, angle grinder and welding machine;
  • fittings and profile pipes;
  • Grover, washers, nuts and bolts;
  • conveyer belt.

The phased technology is as follows:

  • Considering the width of the track to be produced, cut the track blanks with an angle grinder.
  • Press the workpieces on the machine to give them the desired shape, use waste oil to lubricate the ends.
  • Weld on each track the fangs-restraints and additionally at the top of the V-shaped reinforcement.
  • Check the correct dimensions at the track installation site.
  • Use an industrial hole punch to create holes in the conveyor belt. You can make such a hole punch yourself. it will be a tube sharpened from the end part with a side hole for removing rubber waste.
  • Drill two holes in the tracks at each end.
  • At the final stage, the assembly of the caterpillar is waiting for you.

Installing tracks on a car

How to install tracks on a car with your own hands or a car on tracks? Everything is very simple! You don’t even need instructions or drawings for this. It will be enough to just watch the video or “look through” the photo. The installation scheme is intuitive and constructively simple. To independently install track tracks on a car, you do not need a specially equipped garage or any additional equipment and tools.

The time for mounting / dismounting tracks on a vehicle depends on the design of the all-terrain tracked propellers. Typically, the entire process takes 40-60 minutes for the IOP and about two hours for the platform. Tracked units are transported either in the cabin and trunk of the car, or in a car trailer, the Egoza tracked module, if it has a coupling device, is towed by the car like a regular trailer. By the way, Egoza can be operated with vehicles equipped with rear-wheel drive only.

Buying tracks for an SUV or a passenger car will be interesting and beneficial to those who are often forced to travel over rough terrain, periodically driving on paved roads and highways. Such a quick and independent tuning will be very interesting for fishermen and hunters, outdoor enthusiasts and travelers, professionals whose activities are related to impassable places, and organizers of the rental business, owners of auto clubs and, of course, residents of remote regions of Russia.