✅ How to make a motorized dog from a walk-behind tractor

How to make a motorized towing vehicle with your own hands?

A motorized towing vehicle in a scientific way, or a motorized dog in a simple, popular way, is a very convenient vehicle for hunting and fishing. It's compact, easy to drive, doesn't require a driver's license, and costs significantly less than any snowmobile. You can buy it at a specialized retail outlet, but the prices for such equipment are high. There is a solution: you can assemble the device yourself at home, in which case the investment will be insignificant. In order for a homemade motorized dog to be manufactured at the proper level and to work for a long time, a detailed diagram and drawings, a number of components and tools are needed.

Tools and materials

To carry out assembly work independently, you need a certain list of tools and materials.

You will need several tools.

Welding machine. It is needed for joining metal, making it possible to obtain a reliable connection. To work with a welding unit, you need certain equipment, in particular, electrodes, as well as protective equipment.
An angle grinder (grinder) is an indispensable tool when working with metals. It is necessary for dividing workpieces into separate parts. For the grinder, you need to select special attachments that will be required for working with certain materials.
Electric drill - for making holes.
A set of wrenches for working with fasteners.

From materials and units we will need:

appropriate motor for certain operating conditions;
profile and round pipe for constructing a skeleton (frame);
wheels on the chassis.

Selection and production of basic elements

The main components, basic components and controls of a motorized towing vehicle should be discussed in more detail.

Engine

The most important component of the equipment is the motor (power unit). As a rule, a single-cylinder carburetor engine is used to manufacture motorized towing vehicles. An equally important element is the caterpillar - suspension and propulsion. With the help of the caterpillar you can move on ice, snow cover, and soft ground in warm weather.

In most cases, motorized towing vehicles use motors from Honda, Yamaha (expensive) or Chinese brands (MTR, Lifan and others, affordable).

These motors vary significantly in cost, although their power is usually equivalent. Lifan engines equipped with a centrifugal clutch performed well.

Some craftsmen use engines from a walk-behind tractor (cultivator) and engines from chainsaws (motor saws) “Ural” and “Druzhba” to make motorized towing vehicles.

The Sh-58 motor from a moped, designed for manual gearbox shifting, is in demand. Scooter motors can be used equally. The main condition is that the units have good traction properties, a power of at least 6 horsepower. This is quite enough to transport one person and 30-50 kilograms of cargo on a motorized towing vehicle. To move 2 people and 150-200 kilograms of cargo, it is advisable to choose a motor with a power of more than 9 horsepower.

Support frame

The quality level of the frame must be high, since during movement it is subject to heavy loads, especially when moving off-road. This structure is constructed entirely on its own, welded from profile pipes with a rectangular cross-section. Basically, a pipe with a wall thickness of 3 mm is sufficient - thinner metal is not suitable, it can quickly deform.

The assembly of the homemade product is carried out according to the previously selected drawing (about the same as ours).

To make the frame, take 2 pipes measuring 20x20 millimeters, add two more with a section of 20x40 millimeters, and form the frame.

2 corners of 40 millimeters each are welded into it, and a safety structure for the engine is welded on top, which will prevent it from being damaged when the equipment turns over. It also doesn’t hurt to “sew” a galvanized sheet to the frame using rivets to cover the track.

Suspension

Suspension (suspension system) is an important factor in the functioning of the chassis. The size and speed of movement will depend on the type of system chosen.

Engine selection and base assembly

At the first stage, the master will have to assemble a frame on which the engine, chassis and gearbox will be mounted. For this, a channel or a metal beam is usually used, from one of which it will be possible to assemble a rectangular frame, and for this you need to use a welding machine and an angle grinder. When assembling a motorized dog with your own hands, mounts for the gearbox and motor are installed on the frame, and a steel corner should be used. The engine can be anything, it can be borrowed from the Druzhba or Ural chainsaw. This is exactly what the manufacturers of the first motorized towing vehicles did.

However, you can also use a powerful motor, which can be taken from an imported scooter or moped. If we are talking about the Sh-58 engine, we can highlight its main advantage - the ability to use a manual gearbox. If you use a foreign-made engine, then it must be small-displacement; it is advisable to prefer a two-stroke engine, because a four-stroke engine with the same power will have a more impressive mass. If we talk about power, then 6.5 liters will be quite enough. s., this will ensure a speed of 30 km/h, which is true even when moving in deep snow.

Homemade motorized dog-stretcher from a walk-behind tractor

Dear visitors to the site “ Samodelkin Friend ”, today we will look at one of the options for creating a motorized dog from a crawler walk-behind tractor with your own hands. As always, everything is budget-friendly and affordable for the common man, and so here we go... The author and designer, developer, is Nikolay from Arkhangelsk. Having a private house and a personal plot, the owner also has a multifunctional “Tarpan” walk-behind tractor, with which he cultivates the soil in the garden, there is a lot of work in the spring: plowing, cultivation, then planting potatoes, harvesting in the fall) in general, the walk-behind tractor works throughout the spring-autumn period, but in the winter it sits idle in the garage, gathering dust) - No business thought Nikolai!... How is it that the equipment is idle. and he decided to make a kind of snowmobile or motorized dog out of it.

As for the walk-behind tractor itself, no changes were made to the factory design, but the tracked platform, frame, tracks, drive stars, tension mechanism were all made by Nikolai himself with his own hands.

The caterpillar track for the all-terrain vehicle is made of conveyor belt and thick-walled PVC pipe, the tracks are screwed to the belt using bolts and nuts, the size of the tracks is 80 X 2300, the thickness of the tape is 4 mm. axle base 670 mm + tension. The drive stars are cut from HDPE (low-density polyethylene). The tension mechanism and the frame of the tracked platform are also made. It turns out that the walk-behind tractor is simply installed on the platform, secured and that’s it... you can go)

The motorcycle dog additionally has a small box in the front with dimensions of 700 x 800 mm, which allows you to place part of the luggage on it (for example, a backpack, a drill, a gun, etc.) The trailer is a sled or runners. It walks confidently in the snow and pulls a load of up to 150 kg, a speed of 5 km/h, in principle, getting to the lake and back is quite normal.

Let's look at the design features of components and assemblies.

Materials

conveyer belt
HDPE (low density polyethylene)
PVC thick wall pipe
bolts, nuts, etc.
professional pipe

Tools

welding inverter
drill
jigsaw
Angle grinder (grinder)

Step-by-step instructions for assembling a motorized dog from a walk-behind tractor with your own hands.

The caterpillar platform is welded from a profile, the tracks are made of thick-walled PVC pipe, and they are bolted to the conveyor belt on one side at 2 points.

Track tension mechanism.

The drive sprocket is put on the walk-behind tractor axle.

Platform assembly. This is what we got in the end. An excellent vehicle for hunting and fishing trips on snowy roads.

Why homemade motorized towing vehicles are preferable

What shortcomings can be avoided by developing your own model?
Due to improper design, the tracks of towing vehicles can become clogged with snow. In another case, a motorized dog rears up and buries itself in deep snow, throwing it onto the rider and the drag. Homemade motorized towing vehicles with a front engine, unlike most factory ones, where it is located in the rear, are much preferable. Road traction is much better, which allows you to save fuel and pull the drags faster. In addition, additional compartments for supplies and gear can be provided in a tow or pusher for fishing and work. In addition, the towing vehicle’s grip on the road directly depends on the installed track. The Buran track has good traction, which, unfortunately, is not installed on all modern towing vehicles. To improve traction, you can add studs to the tracks if desired.

Well, the main advantage? for the price of the cheapest Chinese towbar, you can make a more durable homemade towbar or pusher. For the same money we get an excellent engine, a powerful track and better parts.

Do-it-yourself crawler snowmobile attachment for a walk-behind tractor

A motorized towing vehicle is an essential purchase in places where a car cannot pass - these are fields, forests, areas where there is deep snow most of the year. The advantages of this technique are that it is relatively small in size, weighs little, can cope with various skids, and also easily passes through hard-to-reach places. It is especially good to have a motorized towing vehicle for people who are interested in winter hunting, fishing, and also for transporting small-sized cargo and firewood. The device will be useful in winter and summer. You can buy a motorized dog in a store, however, if you don’t want to overpay, you can assemble it yourself.

Main categories of popular equipment equipped with gas engines

The list of models of household vehicles and motorcycles operating on loose snow and marshy soils is unusually wide.

The names of the machines themselves, accepted in everyday life, indicate their field of application.

Snowmobiles

This is a vehicle designed to travel on loose snow cover.

Unlike the anglicism “snowmobile”, which denotes any vehicle adapted for movement on snow (snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles on tracks and pneumatic wheels, etc.), in Russia only ski-tracked vehicles

(rear main engine, in front - skis instead of the front wheel) with motorcycle-type controls.

Accordingly, if a master sets his task to create a machine for moving on virgin snow with a load, then he should focus on these indicators.

Similar parameters must be maintained when creating so-called snow and swamp-going vehicles.

If the master needs
to make a faster snowmobile
(like a sports one), then the width of the track from the tire can be reduced.

The weight loads of a high-speed vehicle are much lower than those of a cargo utility vehicle.

The picture shows a motorcycle-based snowmobile equipped with a homemade 23 cm wide track cut from an excavator tire.

Otherwise, a homemade snowmobile track is made with your own hands according to the basic principle.

All-terrain vehicles

In everyday life, they include any vehicle capable of moving off-road.

and even overcome water obstacles.

There are plenty of varieties of industrial all-terrain vehicles:

SUVs;
swamp walkers;
amphibians;
tracked tractors and conveyors;
ATVs;
ATV category vehicles, etc.

Depending on the engine power of the vehicle, wider blades can be allowed.

For homemade all-terrain vehicles with a 40-70 hp engine. and a small weight load, a tape 30-40 cm

For vehicles based on UAZ vehicles with an engine of 110-150 hp. 40 cm wide track required

with support rollers (6 pcs.) and support rollers (3 pcs.).

Naturally, to overcome a water obstacle, the profile height of a tractor tire will not be enough; it is necessary to install high lugs

The figure shows an all-terrain vehicle based on the Oka vehicle with a caterpillar track made of tires.

Walk-behind tractors

Represented by numerous mobile devices based on a single-axis chassis

. Home-made versions of walk-behind tractors converted for diesel engines are widely in demand among rural residents and owners of country houses or summer cottages.

The motivation for independently re-equipping units, bypassing the purchase of serial tracks, is obvious.

The drive power of the walk-behind tractor (5-8 hp) is quite enough to be successfully used as an all-season vehicle

What is a motorized dog for a walk-behind tractor?

The track attachment is represented by a module on which there is a seat for a person and a place for installing a walk-behind tractor. Instead of standard wheels, the walk-behind tractor is mounted on tracks.

You can control a motorized dog while sitting on a trailer or standing on a sled. The motorized towing vehicle starts and stops by pressing the gas or clutch lever, which are located on the steering wheel of the walk-behind tractor. You can set turns and hold them using the steering wheel.

The motorized towing vehicle can be easily disassembled and easily placed in the trunk of a car or in a garage. Making the device is as easy as disassembling it.

The assembly time of the motorized dog does not exceed 15 minutes. Does not require special care, easy to use.

The Russian Federation has launched the production of motorized dogs for walk-behind tractors. By purchasing a motor cultivator and tracks, you can make a reliable device at home. The snowmobile attachment will help hunters and fishermen pass through impassable places in winter. The motorized dog pulls up to 2 ski trailers and standard sleds weighing up to 150 kg.

Maybe it's better to buy a snowmobile?

Today, ready-made snowmobiles and motorized towing vehicles from various companies are available for sale. Their cost starts from 100,000 rubles. and higher. The price of snowmobiles from branded companies exceeds 1,500,000 rubles. Not everyone can buy one. Not only are they very expensive in themselves. A snowmobile requires a separate place in the garage; it has high fuel consumption and expensive maintenance. In order not to receive a fine, you must obtain an A1 category license, which is issued to drivers of self-propelled vehicles by Gostekhnadzor. It is prohibited to drive a self-propelled vehicle without a license. You will also have to pay transport tax for a snowmobile.

Factory motorized towing vehicles

After the hype for tracked attachments, they began to be produced in our country. Motorized towing vehicles for walk-behind tractors Salyut (Agat) and Neva can rightfully be called one of the most popular.

Snowmobile attachments for Salyut (for example, model SP-MB-S) and Neva (models SP-MB-2, SP-MB-23 and others) began to be produced 15 years ago and managed to win the hearts of many people for their ease of use and simple repairs .

Due to its small parameters, the motorized dog can be easily kept in the garage and transported by car.

Walk-behind tractors have a small engine, so it is better to buy a two-track attachment for them. Each track has holes, and standard models have the usual 2 plastic sprockets on the axle, where the tracks are mounted. This technical point is more practical, since motorized dogs often break down due to this problem.

But there is a significant drawback: the engine has low power (7 liters), so acceleration will be no more than 20 km/h, or even lower. It is difficult for these models to pull several drags, because... they are lightweight options. When choosing a tracked attachment, you need to pay attention to this fact, because The devices are not suitable for heavy loads.

Do-it-yourself motorized towing vehicle for a walk-behind tractor

It’s not difficult to make a motorized towing vehicle yourself. It is important to decide on the engine. You can buy both domestic and foreign engines. Yamaha and Honda engines have good performance reviews. They are universal, so they will fit any device model. As for the caterpillars, you can make them yourself; you only need materials, a little time and patience.

Homemade tracks for a snowmobile attachment

There are many ways to make a caterpillar, but today we will tell you how to make it from V-belts and chains. To do this, we take belts, fasten them to lugs or wheels, thus getting simple homemade tracks.

The assembly of a caterpillar from chains is no less simple. You need to take two identical chains, find the last links, open them and bend them to form a vicious circle. Then we fix the links and weld them with a soldering iron. Strengthening the chains is done with lugs made of steel plates. They are secured with bolts. For presentation, you can see the diagrams:

If you don’t want to do it yourself, you can simply take a caterpillar from other unnecessary equipment.

Learn more about how to make homemade tracks from a tire. or other materials, is written in a separate article.

Assembling a crawler attachment for a walk-behind tractor

When assembling a snowmobile attachment, you need to outline a drawing that will prevent unnecessary mistakes.

First you need to select support bearings, and machine bushings for them.
We take a welded frame in which the pipes will be located, and fill them with sand to give the required shape.
We cover the 2 ends with wooden plugs, place them in a vice and slowly begin to bend it using a soldering iron. The bend should be maximum, so in order not to make a mistake, it is better to make a template that you can use as a guide.

Selection of the necessary parts for a motorized dog

As the main control element, we will need a steering wheel with a built-in gearshift switch, clutch and gas, for example, from the same Soviet-style motorcycles. The chassis requires support bearings, bushings to match them, plus a support frame. It's easy to make from water pipes. To give them the desired shape, the pipes are filled with sand, sealed and carefully bent using a blowtorch, having previously been fixed in a vice. Next, the components are fastened with welding clamps, in accordance with the reference design. When it is clear that no defects need correction, the parts are finally welded.

Homemade Karakat snowmobile from a 6 hp walk-behind tractor.

The story of how I made my homemade product: a snowmobile for winter fishing from a walk-behind tractor

. All stages of production: wheels, tires, installation of a walk-behind tractor on low-pressure wheels, a trailed cart, testing, the first test ride on ice and the first winter fishing on a new snowmobile.

I have a not entirely new, but in very good condition, walk-behind tractor with a 6 hp Subaru EX17 engine. It is worth noting that the fuel consumption of this walk-behind tractor, or rather this engine, is quite small. Two full refills are enough for me for the entire season of field work. Also, my dear niece and I rode this walk-behind tractor with a trailer into the forest to pick mushrooms last fall, and I know for sure that we drove it about 40 kilometers in both directions, since this distance is known from the car’s odometer. The entire journey took us just over two hours and exactly a full 2.5-liter tank of gasoline. Fuel consumption turned out to be very low, and the speed was even very decent - more than 15 km per hour in the second gear of the gearbox. An indispensable thing in the countryside!

So why don't I try making it into an ice fishing snowmobile? Previously, my, unfortunately now deceased, father and I often went fishing on the ice beyond the Volga Islands on a homemade motor helmet from an IZH motorcycle. Those were great times! Winter dawn and tired sunset, sparks on the snow and wet snow in the eyes, a hundred grams in a smoke break and a successful catch! And the mother, who flooded the bathhouse, is waiting at home. Oh, nostalgia! I still have this motor helmet, but it needs a little repair. Although, most likely, I will not repair it anymore, since I have neither documents nor a driver’s license for it. But for a motorized dog, as I understand it, none of the above seems to be required. Well, it's worth a try, isn't it?!

It's decided, I'll do it. I will write reports here. I only ask your forgiveness, probable reader, for my grammatical and syntax errors in the text, for the absence of all sections on the page and my lame punctuality. The whole point is that I’m not a writer, and the sections are missing because it’s a matter of process. My punctuality suffers for good reasons, which are work, the presence of other things to do around the house, the weather, sometimes lack of materials and, of course, laziness, which I have had since birth. I will add sections as the work is done and photo and video materials become available. Some things have to be filmed not in the order of work, but due to the presence of my director and cameraman in one person, who is my beloved niece Daria Mikhailovna Volkova. What stages are currently in progress and what has already been done, see below.

Pros and cons of wide tracks

A homemade motorized dog, made with your own hands, is more maneuverable and lighter with a narrower track (380 mm) than with 500 mm or more. This is important when you have to drive through the forest among trees and stumps, turn over or get out a car that has sunk (stuck) in the snow. It will be better if you can do it yourself without outside help.
At high speeds, motorized dogs with wide tracks are more stable.
On narrow tracks the speed is lower. Less cravings. The fact is that when using a gearbox, gear ratios can only be changed on sprockets. And here you have to sacrifice either speed or traction. If you use 12/40 chainrings, you can reach speeds of up to 20 km/h without loss of power.
A more compact motorized dog is cheaper. If a motorized dog on 380 mm tracks can cost 25-30 thousand rubles, then on 500 mm it will cost no less than 60 thousand.
More compact motorized dogs are cheaper to maintain. They are lighter - less fuel consumption.
The cross-country ability even on loose snow is approximately the same for both options. But more compact motorized dogs are lighter: the track is lighter, even with the same length, and the engine weighs less (because it may be less powerful). This is important when you have to drive on frozen bodies of water - there is less danger of falling through the ice. If such a danger exists, then it is better to play it safe and purchase inflatable PVC cylinders (their volume is enough so that the towing vehicle and you do not fall under the water).

All stages of snowmobile manufacturing and testing:

I provide external links to my Homemade Diary
-
the latest information will be there.
to Zen
/subscribe/ as soon as possible and based on my diary. Now [11/27/2019] a lot has already been done in “metal” and tested, I am adding and updating articles from ready-made and new material. Work continues. I expect to go fishing on it for the first time in mid-December.

I will be glad to like-minded people and readers, any comments, reviews and advice.