Often, alteration of a walk-behind tractor is carried out in cases where the operational characteristics of the unit, functionality and ease of operation no longer satisfy the owner of the equipment. In some cases, individual craftsmen tune a walk-behind tractor to realize their visual fantasies or to impress others. Today, almost every private house and summer cottage has a walk-behind tractor or a walk-behind cultivator. However, the capabilities of this technique are limited. To expand the functionality of walk-behind tractors, you can contact a specialized workshop, but the price of such conversion can be very high. There are several ways to inexpensively and practically upgrade a walk-behind tractor with your own hands.
How to remake a walk-behind tractor
Many owners want to improve their walk-behind tractor to improve comfort during work. The most common modifications are the manufacture of adapters and trailers. This upgrade allows you to expand the functionality of the walk-behind tractor, because the adapter allows you not only to transport various loads, but also to use the walk-behind tractor as a vehicle.
Improving the walk-behind tractor will allow you to create a whole mini-tractor. Adapters and trailers can have their own steering, which is much more convenient than using a steering wheel from a walk-behind tractor. There are many step-by-step photo instructions and videos showing how to create a trailer. One of the most important elements of such a device is the frame, which is made of channel or pipes. Wheels can be taken from any car; the ideal option is wheels from an ATV. Bridges can be taken from VAZ 21-09, they need to be shortened. The steering column can be taken from the same car. The driver's seat will allow you to work with maximum comfort.
In addition, a mini-excavator can be made from a walk-behind tractor, the creation of which requires a hydraulic system. Such an excavator is very convenient for construction on a personal plot, because it is compact and can go where heavy equipment cannot.
Homemade sawmill with a walk-behind tractor engine
A home sawmill is indispensable for construction. You can make such an invention using an engine from a walk-behind tractor. The motor should have quite a lot of power - from 13 hp. You can make your own sawmill with a band saw. The convenience of this design lies in its small size and mobility; it is easy to assemble and disassemble.
The basis is a frame and 2 guide pipes on which the carriage is installed. Impellers are attached to it, one of which is driving (a belt drive is installed on it). The motor is also mounted on the carriage. At the very end, the band saw is tensioned using a tensioner.
The design is small-sized, but quite powerful. The thickness of the cut is adjusted manually. The main advantage of a homemade sawmill is its price.
External tuning of the unit
Structurally, light, medium and heavy walk-behind tractors are practically the same. They consist of a power plant, chassis and controls. The operator resembles an ancient plowman, holding the handles of the machine with both hands. However, it is not protected from sunlight, rain, snow and heat coming from the engine. To create additional comfort, you do not need to spend additional money. Everything you need is at hand. External modernization of a walk-behind tractor involves the installation of a removable or permanent awning, an additional protective casing or hood over the power plant.
To work you will need:
- roulette;
- building level;
- Bulgarian;
- welding machine;
- electric drill;
- set of wrenches;
- steel or aluminum corner 30 x 30 mm;
- paint brush;
- acrylic paint;
- tarpaulin or cellular polycarbonate;
- flexible plastic.
External modification of the walk-behind tractor is carried out in the following sequence:
- Drawing up drawings. It is necessary to accurately calculate all dimensions of the frame and provide options for attaching it to the frame and handles.
- Carrying out markings, cutting out blanks for the awning, casing, wings and hood.
- Welding a frame from a corner. Drilling mounting holes, cleaning metal from rust, oil and dirt. Painting of the manufactured structure.
- Fitting the frame onto the frame. Marking and making holes in it. Fastening the frame with bolts and nuts, checking the reliability of all connections.
- Installation of plastic casings and awnings on frames.
There is an option to mount the instrument panel on the handle. This way the unit will look solid and representative. The operator additionally gets the opportunity to control the state of the power plant, know the speed of the machine and the distance traveled. When remodeling the walk-behind tractor from the outside, you need to pay attention to ensuring that air freely penetrates to the motor, cooling it efficiently.
Preparing to create a homemade mini-tractor
To create a mini-tractor based on a walk-behind tractor, you need to draw up a drawing, its kinematic diagram, and also prepare materials, tools and equipment in advance. If you have the required knowledge and skills, then you can figure out how to develop a mechanism demonstration scheme yourself. But if you don’t have such skills, then you can find a more suitable option online.
For a homemade mini tractor, you can use a purchased factory kit for parts and components. But such a decision cannot be called correct for those who intend to break a 4x4 and save on this procedure.
For the technique you need:
- set of tools;
- equipment for welding work;
- drill with various drill bits;
- pipes, channels made of metal;
- nuts, bolts;
- grinder and discs for working with metal.
Attention!
Purchasing a ready-made set of spare parts for conversion is the main expense item on which you should not save. Otherwise, the quality of the finished structure will leave much to be desired. In addition, for a homemade tractor you need to select two wheels, a hitch, a driver’s seat, a steering mechanism, pedals and a walk-behind tractor with the required weight and power. Ideally, it would be a heavy-duty vehicle with a diesel engine. Thanks to this, you will have a home-made, yet powerful mini-tractor at your disposal that will effectively cope with agricultural tasks.
When choosing the weight of a new mini tractor, you must take into account the condition of the land on which it will be used. If it is compacted and dry, then the unit may not cope with the task assigned to it. Therefore, the harder the soil, the harder it is to choose a walk-behind tractor. And the power of the motor must be correlated with the area of the area that will be processed by such a tractor. Therefore, the larger it is, the more productive the engine should be.
Power plant tuning
Its power and equipment performance depend on the stability of the engine. Upgrading a standard engine is very expensive and unpromising. But, there are several ways to make the engine more efficient.
To do this you need:
- Install a quality spark plug. Regularly clean it from carbon deposits and periodically check the clearance. At the first sign of loss of power, replace the spark plug.
- Use the best gaskets on all connections. This allows you to maintain the required pressure in the unit, preventing a decrease in power and the formation of smoke during operation.
- Fill the engine with the best oil to the upper mark. It should be remembered that when the unit is tilted, oil flows away from the rubbing parts.
- Check the quality of fuel before filling the tank. It is advisable to let it sit for a while so that the water sinks to the bottom of the container. The tank itself must be cleaned and wiped dry every 2-3 days.
- Install an additional radiator. To do this, steel plates are welded to the engine housing, which will effectively remove excess heat.
A radical solution is to replace the power plant with a more powerful and advanced one. Today you can purchase Japanese, Chinese and European engines, which are characterized by high performance and reliability. It is possible that the frame will have to be redesigned to accommodate the new power plant.
Manufacturing of additional accessories
Walk-behind tractors go on sale assembled and with minimal equipment. A plow and a cutter are clearly not enough to perform the entire volume of agricultural work. A factory kit for converting a walk-behind tractor can cost more than the unit itself. You can make various attachments and trailers from scrap materials, using tools that are in every pantry of a country house or cottage.
Drawing of cutters for walk-behind tractor
Drawing of a plow for a walk-behind tractor
Drawing of a trolley for a walk-behind tractor
It is worth considering some options for making additional equipment yourself:
- A converted rake for collecting grass clippings, debris, branches and fallen leaves. If you do this work manually, it will take a lot of time and effort. Trailed equipment will allow you to clean large areas within a few minutes. To work, you will need a wide strip of sheet iron and several meters of reinforcement with a cross section of 8-12 mm. The reinforcement must be cut into pieces 10 cm long and welded to the plate in several rows and at intervals of 3-4 cm. Long rods are welded to the plate for attaching to the walk-behind tractor frame. Trailed rakes can be equipped with rollers to improve maneuverability and smoothness.
- Snow plow. Most units operate much more efficiently in the cold because they do not overheat. You can mechanize snow removal in winter. The blade is made from two pieces of channel welded together. This allows you to get a gripping height of up to 40 cm. The width of the blade is selected according to the power and weight of the unit within 40-80 cm. The blade is attached rigidly to the front of the machine with bolts. Initially, it can be mobile or stationary.
- Trolley and trailer. The walk-behind tractor cannot be driven on the road, so it does not have to be adjusted to the requirements of the traffic rules. The cart is made from a corner, a channel and old wheels from a small car, and a trailer is attached to it. It is made from metal profiles and boards. The towing clutch is made standard, like for cars or tractors.
By showing a creative approach, you can make a hiller, harrows and potato digger that are not inferior in quality to their factory counterparts.
Increased speed and maneuverability
These questions are relevant for those who have to work on heavy and damp ground, on ups and downs. Even the most advanced models can slip, forcing the operator to exert additional effort to push the machine forward. Many people are not satisfied with the speed of the unit when towing equipment or transporting various loads.
There are several ways to solve these problems:
- Increase wheel diameter. Most walk-behind tractors are equipped with wheels with a diameter of 25-30 cm. If you install 45-50 cm wheels from an old small car, the speed of the unit will double. But you should not make a racing car out of a walk-behind tractor, since this device is not highly durable and has good stability. You can accelerate to 25-30 km/h only on a flat road without sharp turns.
- Manufacture and install weighting materials. For such factory-made devices in the store you will have to pay a large sum. It is better to make them yourself from scrap materials. Weights are placed on the wheels and on the frame. The wheel weight is made of steel wheels and a hexagonal solid profile. The welded parts are inserted into the hubs with a hexagon and secured with cotter pins in the drilled holes. Instead of iron disks, you can use reinforced concrete blanks or flat round flasks with a neck, into which sand is poured. The body of the walk-behind tractor is weighted using removable frames from the corner. Loads of various weights and configurations are already screwed to the frame.
- Secure the tracks. This solution will allow you to turn the walk-behind tractor into a full-fledged low-speed snowmobile. It is enough to install another axle with wheels and purchase wide rubber tracks. Stoppers need to be attached inside the tracks to prevent them from jumping off the wheels. A homemade snowmobile can also be useful in the spring, when the soil is wet and the terrain is impassable for conventional equipment. As a kit for a homemade snowmobile, you can make a sled for transporting various property through the snow, going hunting, fishing, or to the nearest store after a snowfall.
There are many opportunities for radical transformation of even a small domestically produced walk-behind tractor. This equipment can be transformed into any agricultural implement and off-road vehicle.
Helpful information
If you have a plot of land that is neither too large nor too small, it can be used effectively. Cultivation of vegetables and grains for some becomes a help in running a household, for others it becomes a supplementary income, and for others it becomes a business, the main source of income. History knows a number of cases when large agricultural complexes grew from small plots of land. To do this you need desire, inventory and household equipment. Regarding the latter: for working in small areas, a mini tractor made from an MTZ walk-behind tractor would be a good solution.
Do-it-yourself modernization of the Cascade walk-behind tractor
Most modernization of walk-behind tractors is aimed at improving important characteristics, for example, performance, maneuverability, and expanded functionality. Modernizing the Cascade walk-behind tractor will help improve certain characteristics or correct shortcomings.
Engine replacement may be necessary to improve performance. Lifan engines have proven themselves for their quality and long service life, and in addition, they are perfect for the Cascade walk-behind tractor. It is important to consider that if you purchase an engine from an imported manufacturer, the shaft rotation may be different (clockwise), while domestic walk-behind tractors are adapted to engines in which the shaft rotates counterclockwise. The problem is easily solved - just move the walk-behind tractor pulley to the other side.
To improve cross-country ability and stability, you can install wheels of larger diameter. Pneumatic wheels perform well. Also, instead of wheels, you can install lugs, which can be easily purchased from the manufacturer or created with your own hands.
Where can you see homemade products in action?
To best appreciate all the benefits of using self-propelled units based on walk-behind tractors, it is best to watch short videos.
A variety of homemade products from a walk-behind tractor, a video about the operation of which will give a better idea of their features, can be used to perform a variety of jobs.
Most often, such units come out much cheaper than, for example, a purchased mini tractor, so many owners remodel their walk-behind tractors precisely in order to save money. At the same time, there are no restrictions in terms of implementing one’s technical and creative ideas, so if the owner has ideas regarding the reconstruction of his walk-behind tractor, he may well bring them to life.
As a conclusion, here is a review of a homemade segment mower for a walk-behind tractor.
Do-it-yourself modification of the Oka walk-behind tractor
Do-it-yourself modifications to the walk-behind tractor can be almost anything, it all depends on engineering skills and the availability of the necessary resources. The Oka walk-behind tractor can be upgraded in different ways: improving what is already there, or adding various devices and accessories.
The most common modification is replacing the engine, since the engine included in the factory configuration may not suit the owner. When changing the engine, it is necessary to take into account the weight of the walk-behind tractor itself, as well as the loads to which it will be subjected. Depending on the class of the walk-behind tractor, an engine of appropriate power is selected - the heavier, the more powerful the engine.
You can modify the Oka walk-behind tractor in the same ways that are used for other brands: creating trailers, various attachments, replacing wheels, improving driving performance, etc.
Have you upgraded your walk-behind tractor?
ATV
You can also build such a popular vehicle as an ATV from a walk-behind tractor. First, you need to install a second axle on the walk-behind tractor. Next, work is carried out to install new wheels that are suitable for driving on rough terrain. There is no need to make your own wheel rims. Disks from a passenger car are suitable, on which you can install the so-called. wide-profile, “mud” tires.
A well-thought-out and hand-made ATV is in many respects not inferior to a branded one. It can be just as maneuverable and passable. Except that it will not be possible to achieve high speeds and the driver’s seating position will not be as comfortable.
