The Ant cargo scooter began production back in 1959, and lasted on the assembly line for decades until it was finally discontinued. But the niche of “working” motorcycles even now remains practically vacant, and even attempts by Chinese companies to get into it do not bring much success, so the legendary model may have been officially revived. At least, rumors about this have been circulating on the Internet since 2022. And in 2022, the public was even shown a mini-truck assembled at the Tula plant and in the future intended to replace the famous old man.
Specifications
The outdated design was good for its time, although these days it looks like a kind of fossil even against the backdrop of more modern budget analogues from China. Despite this, the technical characteristics of the Ant scooter are good enough for the tricycle to cope with the tasks assigned to it.
Engine
The power unit with forced air cooling produces 11 horsepower , volume – 199 cubic meters . This is not enough, given the weight of the moped itself, so the maximum speed without load does not exceed 60 km/h , and with it it is even less, but from a safety point of view this is even good. The engine is not at all demanding on the quality of gasoline. Fuel is supplied to the combustion chambers by gravity, using a simple carburetor - there is no pump provided.
Transmission
The gearbox has 4 stages . You will have to work actively with the transmission, and it will also take some time to get used to its features - the gears are shifted roughly and harshly. At the same time, the gearbox is phenomenally reliable.
Chassis and brakes
This entire structure is placed on a steel tubular frame , and it is sprung using a complex suspension. At the rear there are shock absorbers similar to automobile ones (independent suspension, on wishbones), at the front there is a long-link fork. “Drums” on all wheels are responsible for braking.
Electronics
For decades, 6-volt batteries have been installed, two at a time, connected in series. Owners often install one 12-volt battery - according to reviews, this scheme works no worse. Although the user manual recommends that when using 12-volt batteries, it is also recommended to use two at once, connected in parallel. By the way, some people install a regular car battery, and place it directly in the body.
Weight and dimensions
The weight of the Ant motorcycle reaches 258 kg for modifications with an open platform , and 285 kg for versions with a closed body a la “van”. This is a lot, considering the weak motor, so the maximum speed that this miracle of technology can develop is small. But for utilitarian purposes it is more than enough. The length of the model reaches 288 cm, and the wheelbase is 184 cm.
Controllability
The maneuverability of Ant's scooter is surprisingly good, especially considering that this is still a vehicle for work, not for pleasure. It can turn around almost anywhere, which is very useful when maneuvering in a summer cottage or when parking in a garage. If it also had reverse gear, it wouldn’t have any value at all.
Fuel consumption
The declared fuel consumption reaches 4.5 liters per 100 km . The figure is not small, but it is partly due to the archaic motor of the mid-last century, and partly to the large mass that this motor has to drag. With a fully loaded platform, consumption can increase even more. But you can fill in absolutely any gasoline! The tank capacity is small - 10 liters .
Engine Features
The official manufacturer of the 139QMB scooter engine is Hongling Corporation, which equips motorcycles not only of its own brand, but also of other brands with this engine.
The corporation sells power units to other manufacturers. The motor itself is very recognizable: the design features of the 139QMB engine and its markings on the left side of the crankcase immediately make it clear what kind of heart beats the scooter.
The motor has no flaws, does not require special treatment and calmly tolerates minor negligence and negligence. The manufacturer provides a guarantee for its products that covers the first 5 thousand kilometers. This mileage is enough for the new 139QMB 4t scooter engine to fully run in and grind in all elements and components of the systems.
The total service life of the engine is about 20 thousand kilometers, with the exception of 5 thousand running-in at an average driving speed of 90 km/h. The technical characteristics of the 139QMB engine are not bad: its power is enough for a two-seater full-size scooter.
Scooter price
Despite the fact that the USSR produced a huge number of copies of this tireless worker, it is not found on the secondary market as often as one might expect - apparently, no one is in a hurry to part with this valuable household assistant. On average, these mopeds are sold for 30-35 thousand rubles , and this is a very fair price for them.
Fuel system
The power system consists of a fuel tank, carburetor and air filter
Fuel supply by gravity, supply control by mechanical fuel tap
The latest scooters were equipped with a more advanced K-65G carburetor. In general, the carburetor is very good, if only because it has two systems that make starting easier in cold weather: a manual enricher on the steering wheel and a float suppressor. All these systems together ensure reliable engine starting in any frost
To increase low-end thrust, a reed valve was added to the engine design. The valve is installed in the cylinder and blocks the reverse emission of fuel from the crank chamber
The cylinder is purged with three channels. Three-channel purge ensures better cylinder filling
The cylinder head has a displacer. The displacer itself is useless, but in combination with a three-channel purge and a reed valve it significantly adds traction at the bottom
Repair and tuning
Repairing and servicing the Ant motorcycle is not difficult, and besides, it is not necessary to do it often - the mileage of this specific motorcycle is short. But, if you often load it to the limit, you should pay special attention to the suspension elements, which in this case are subject to extreme loads.
Repair
You can probably repair a breakdown of any complexity yourself if you have at least once held a screwdriver and wrench in your hands. There is no point in dragging your property to a service center if you don’t have extra money. And the Internet is full of information about all common problems and ways to fix them.
Spare parts
Despite the fact that the tricycle has been out of production for a long time, there are no problems with spare parts. There are both used original parts and new non-original parts on sale, and both are inexpensive.
Tuning
No one deals with cosmetic improvements to utilitarian equipment, so all tuning almost always comes down to minor technical improvements, such as installing a more economical carburetor. But most owners are not even bothered by this, because standard parts already work satisfactorily. Tuning for an ant scooter is usually done only when the original unit has failed, and it is easier to replace it with a non-original one than to repair it.
Appearance
The design of the Ant scooter can be described as simple and unprepossessing. It doesn’t take long to look for reasons in this approach to developing the appearance. This was due to the times when it was developed, as well as its functional purpose.
The USSR was still going through difficult post-war times. Therefore, there was no need or desire to think about original design and any unique solutions. And in general, at the end of the 50s of the last century, domestic manufacturers and developers did not even use such a concept as “design”.
That is, it is completely unfair to blame Ant for looking simple and unsightly. This was due to the situation at that time. In addition, we are talking about agricultural machinery here. And a priori it is impossible to make demands on it for an attractive design.
But now the view on Ant has seriously changed. Against the backdrop of sophisticated technology and motorcycles, the Soviet scooter looks unusual, distinctive and original.
The lineup
Ant is rather a general name for a number of three-wheeled cargo scooters. Although many modifications had their own names.
In short, the model range consisted of the following scooters:
- TG200 (called Tula, at that time the name Ant was not yet used);
- TGA-200;
- TGA-200-01 (aka Tourist);
- TGA-200 01P;
- Ant-2 01 (Tulitsa);
- Ant-2 02 (Tulitsa-2);
- Ant-2 03 (was the last model as of 1991);
- GTS-1.
But most people are accustomed to the concept of Ant. Easy to remember and also sounds original.
Scooter modifications
The only modification is TG200, also known as T-200. There were other models, for example, “Tourist” and “Tulitsa”, also known as Ant 2, or Ant 2M 01. But all of them were ordinary two-wheeled vehicles, and not utilitarian motor vehicles. Therefore, they have the most indirect relation to the hero of our article, only in terms of compatibility for some spare parts. The TMZ version, equipped with a diesel engine instead of a gasoline engine, stands somewhat apart, but this is extremely rare these days. In museums you can also see a version with a cabin - such machines were used by the Soviet postal service in some regions.
Running in the engine
Incorrectly carried out running-in of the 139QMB engine in most cases leads to failure of the piston system. Friction occurs between the parts of the new CPG, which leads to an increase in engine temperature.
Running in the scooter motor is carried out as follows:
After carrying out such manipulations, you can run in the scooter itself. In the first 100 kilometers of the journey, you should not turn the throttle handle more than 1/3 of its full stroke. The maximum speed should not exceed 30 km/h. The speed can be increased by 15–20 km/h for the next 300 kilometers - during this time the engine should more or less reveal its potential.
After this break-in process, the oil must be changed.
Engine valves are adjusted every 500 kilometers.
Advantages and disadvantages
The few weaknesses are more than offset by numerous advantages. Simple and in some ways even primitive, this three-wheeled workaholic is capable of doing a huge amount of work with minimal effort. And only for this alone can he be forgiven for his imperfections.
Advantages
- Incredible endurance . For many owners, with proper attention and maintenance, it works for decades without any serious breakdowns.
- High load capacity . You can easily carry a third of a ton at a time.
- Good cross-country ability . Rough terrain is quite tough for him, even with a load.
- Economical . This is important for regular use.
Flaws
- The advanced age of all surviving specimens, which inevitably leads to various breakdowns from time to time.
- Exhaust and engine volume . To put it simply, it makes a lot of noise and on long journeys it is very annoying.
- Periodically arising problems with the brake system of the rear wheels.
Electrics
The most problematic part of the Ant has always been considered its electrics, in particular the voltage regulator relay and dyno starter (generator and starter rolled into one). Due to their design features, the dyno starter and relay regulator require constant attention and qualified maintenance. If the dyno starter is not serviced on time, then it begins to undercharge the battery literally in the first season
On older models, the relay-regulator was of a mechanical type
On the latter, more advanced - electronic type
Contact ignition. The contacts are located in the cooling casing
The ignition coil and capacitor are located on the frame. In terms of repair and maintenance it is very convenient
Owner reviews
This one is in the garage; it is unknown when it was released; the documents were lost a hundred years ago. Grandfather drove it, dad too, now I drive it in the summer, when my mother-in-law is pottering around in the garden, and she needs to bring manure, hay, or something else. This fiend of Soviet industry is already 30-40 years old, apparently, but it is still rolling around, and in my memory it has never been seriously repaired at all! The mileage, of course, is ridiculous, God forbid 1000 km per season, but I rarely drive empty, I mostly carry junk, and probably with an excess, because... I never actually measured it, of course. This thing, it seems to me, will even survive the third world war. Ivan, Borisoglebsk.
A truly indispensable household assistant, it’s a pity they don’t make new ones like this anymore. In fact, you can load as much as you want, so much that it simply won’t fit in the body to break something, although the overall dimensions of the platform allow you to load a lot or more. You can see from the photo, although overall the dimensions are small, it easily fits into a Soviet garage on the side of the car. Vasily, Kirov.
Absolutely indestructible pepelats, starts even in winter, turning radius is surprisingly modest. One of the downsides is that it is sometimes difficult to get along dirt roads, since the front wheel does not go along the ruts, but between them. In general, you can find fault with a lot of little things, but for the time when it was released, I think it has no shortcomings. Alexey, Bologoe.
First meeting
The Ant is positioned as a cargo scooter created by the Tula Machine-Building Plant (TMZ) specifically for the needs and requirements of rural residents.
Production of Ant began in 1959. Taking into account the changes in modifications and versions, which many consider to be separate types of scooters, the equipment lasted on the assembly line for several decades. It was not until 1995 that production officially ceased.
It is also interesting that the segment of cargo motorcycles is still practically free. There are no serious competitors or any different options. This allows the Soviet Ant to still remain in demand and relevant, despite the year 2022 coming to an end.
It is also worth noting that in 2016 the question arose about the need to revive the production of cargo scooters at the facilities of the Tula plant. And in 2022 they even assembled the first prototype.
2022 has become significant. It was then that in the spring they launched the sale of the VTS-01 motorized trolley, equipped with a diesel generator power plant, as well as the VTS-02, but with a drive powered by a battery. Such a vehicle will cost at least 1.25 million rubles, which cannot but raise certain questions and sometimes bewilderment in the eyes of potential buyers.
If we talk about Ant, then this scooter became popular during the times of the USSR. At one time, it was practically the only three-wheeled truck that could be purchased for so little money.
In rural areas, it is perfect for small work and cargo transportation. The Ant gained its popularity due to its fairly solid load-carrying capacity, reliability, simplicity of design, maneuverability and the ability to carry out repairs with your own hands literally in the field.
This is a tricycle that still has an impressive army of fans. Many owners note that even modern Chinese analogues cannot compare with the advantages and capabilities that the good old Soviet Ant provides.
Similar models
- LIFAN LF200ZH-3 . An inexpensive hard worker originally from China, with a 200 cc engine, torquey enough to haul a significant weight.
- ABM Helper 250 . Another native of China, quite tenacious, reliable and unpretentious.
- Triton 200 . A not very common model in Russia from ZIP Motors, in many ways similar to the two aforementioned competitors.
Engine D1E41QMB
The D1E41QMB motor is the only two-stroke engine model made in China. A distinctive feature of this engine from other representatives of the category of power units is the presence of a chain reverse gear in the design. The uninterrupted operation of such an engine is ensured by mixing gasoline and oil in proportions of 40 to 1. The working life of the engine is about 10 thousand kilometers, after which the need for repairs arises. The disadvantage of the engine is the forced speed limit - no more than 50 km/h.
FAQ
- What is its maximum load capacity? You can put 340-375 kg on the platform depending on the year of manufacture (there are minor differences), but you should do this carefully so as not to tip over on your side somewhere in a turn.
- What about the maximum speed with and without a load? Without it - 60 km/h, according to the manufacturer. With a load, it is better to drive slowly and carefully, since a loaded tricycle is controlled in a very non-trivial way and is not stable.
- They haven't been produced for a hundred years now, I'm afraid I can't find spare parts. Are there any Chinese analogues? No, there are no direct analogues, but in most cases you can choose something suitable and then modify the part with a file. And in general there are enough non-original Russian-made spare parts.
What category of rights is needed for the owner of Ant?
Also, many people are interested in the question of what category of license will be needed for the Soviet Ant scooter.
Here it is even more logical to ask whether rights are needed at all. If the Ant scooter will be used exclusively as an assistant in the garden or summer cottage, without going on public roads, then, in principle, you can do without a license.
It would not be superfluous to figure out which of the existing categories of rights actually applies to today’s hero scooter Ant.
Taking this into account, you will eventually understand what category of license is needed and whether you will have to separately obtain a category for your driver’s license in order to be able to ride the three-wheeled Soviet motor scooter Ant.
According to the generally accepted classification that operates in the Russian Federation, a motor scooter belongs to the category of tricycles. As of November 2013, category B1 is required to drive tricycles and quads. To be more precise, it is considered a subcategory.
If you have category B rights of the old type, when exchanging for a new type of certificate, the corresponding category is automatically included in the document. In this situation, you will not have to take courses and pass your license.
But it happens that the owners of Ant themselves modernize the equipment. Depending on the changes made, the situation with rights and the required category may change.
If it is a lightweight design and the weight of the equipment does not exceed 400 kilograms, and the power is up to 20 horsepower, then it is quite possible to get by with category A.
If the weight exceeds 400 kg, even in conditions of lightweight characteristics there is no way to do without category B1.
If the engine volume exceeds 50 cubic centimeters, you will have to open the M subcategory in your license.
Now look at your current license and see if your license option is suitable for legally driving a Soviet scooter.
Conclusion
During the Soviet era, the Tula plant managed to produce many hundreds of thousands of copies of this incredibly popular equipment. Thanks to their successful layout, they enjoyed unprecedented popularity, since they were, in fact, the only affordable freight transport. Therefore, even now in villages and hamlets across the vast expanses of our vast country, the Ant moped remains in demand. It is repaired on the knee, stored in a barn, and at the same time regularly carries substantial loads, costing a very modest amount of maintenance. And even the gradual penetration of cargo trikes from China into the Russian market failed to shake its popularity.
Specifications
| Maximum engine power: | 11 l. With. at 4600 rpm HP |
| Torque: | 16.3 Nm at 4900 rpm Nm |
| Working volume: | 199 cm3 |
| Motor type (cylinder arrangement, number of strokes): | Single-cylinder, carburetor, two-stroke with forced air cooling |
| Number of cylinders: | 1 |
| Number of valves: | |
| Intake type (Injector / Carburetor): | |
| Bore and stroke: | |
| Starting system (Electric starter, kick starter): | |
| Maximum speed in km/h: | 60 km/h |
| Cooling system: | Air |
| Transmission (gearbox): | 4-speed, reverse gear (reverse gear) |
| Clutch (Dry / Wet): | |
| Drive unit: | Cardan |
| Frame: | Steel tubular |
| Chassis | |
| Suspension (front/rear travel): | |
| Brakes (Front/Rear): | |
| Wheels / Tires / Rubber: | |
| Dimensions and weight | |
| Dimensions (Length / Width): | |
| Seat height: | |
| Ground clearance: | |
| Curb weight: | |
| Wheelbase: | 1840 mm |
| Weight: | 258 kg |
| Fuel tank capacity: | 10 l. |
| Battery capacity: | |
| Year of release: | |
| Country of Origin: |
Engine
The Ant engine is somewhat different from Soviet engines of that time. The most significant difference is in the starting system: here it can be done using an electric starter (this was very cool in the 50s) or using a manual kickstarter. There was no trace of an electric starter on any Soviet motorcycle of those years.
The engine is started with the starter just like a regular car: insert the key into the ignition, turn the key all the way to the right and the engine starts.
The second difference is the forced cooling of the engine
The fan drives air through the casings, cooling the cylinder and cylinder head. The cooling system works tolerably
Mechanical clutch with cable drive from a lever on the steering wheel
The gearbox is manual, the shift lever is located on the left directly under the driver’s foot. The switching algorithm is as follows: first, second, third and fourth gears are switched up. Neutral gear is at the very beginning and to engage it you need to push the gear lever down. Controversial decision, but that's how it's done here
Twin-shaft gearbox with constant gear meshing
The engine is as simple as a broom
Removing the clutch
Unscrew the nuts and remove the pressure plate from the basket.
Unbend the lock washer, insert a tin rod or stick under the tooth of the motor transmission sprocket and unscrew the nut on the crankshaft journal (right-hand thread).
Unbend the lock washer, fix the inner clutch drum with a puller, which is a clutch disc with a welded piece of tire, and unscrew the nut (left-hand thread).
We take out the discs and drum.
Remove the basket from the shaft along with the chain and sprocket.
A few words about the trailer
You can also make a trike yourself. The spaciousness of the body is indicated by the photo of the Ant scooter. A standard trailer consists of:
- stroller frame;
- L-shaped steel bracket;
- two clamps;
- tubular struts.
When working on the trike, it is very important to ensure that the trailer shell does not come into contact with the bracket. To increase the rigidity of the body, a steel gusset can be welded. In addition, it is important to make a homemade trike with an opening and removable tailgate. The sides and bottom are covered with boards. Additionally, the trailer is equipped with lighting equipment (dimensions, brake lights, turn signals).
Frame
Creating a case is one of the difficult stages.
Suitable materials for this are fiberglass or fiberglass. Sheet metal can also be used, but an artificial body kit will weigh less. First, a “blank” of the body is cut out of pieces of foam plastic, for which you will need to develop a preliminary drawing. Fiberglass is applied to the prepared form. There will be several layers, so metal fasteners are installed between them for subsequent fixation of the new body kit to the frame. To ensure that each layer is properly bonded to each other, they are additionally coated with epoxy resin. The body needs to be thoroughly dried, and then primed and painted.
After installing all components and connecting the systems, you need to check the functionality and run the vehicle, gradually increasing the load.
The Ant scooter today, unfortunately, has already been discontinued from production and sales by the manufacturer. However, it is still possible to purchase a used model.
Such scooters have already won a lot of fans due to their characteristics. More carrying capacity compared to motorcycles, affordable cost, ease of use - all this makes the model a priority among other motorcycles.
What's the result?
The crankshaft has been taken away - to say that it is worn out is to say nothing... The gearbox bearings, like the main bearings, have gone to the same place - to the crankshaft: in the trash. The gearbox, with the exception of one fork, did not cause any complaints. By the way, the clutch too.
Now the question is: what to do with all this junk? Buy a “plasticine” crankshaft from no one’s making and mold it into the engine. I was initially against this idea. In general, we found a used engine for a ruble and removed the crankshaft from it. Of course I had to tinker with him. Since the thread was clogged, I sharpened it and straightened it with a sharpening tool.
After correcting the threads, I checked the crankshaft for runout. There was no need to worry - the beating of the trunnions did not exceed one hundredth of a millimeter with a tolerance of three hundredths. By and large, it would have been necessary to replace the bushing of the upper head of the connecting rod, but time was running out and the bushing was not very worn. In all other respects, the crankshaft did not disappoint and this purchase can safely be called a success.
We decided to buy everything else: CPG, cylinder head, gaskets, seals, bearings, motor chain, etc. in the store. Although, by and large, the cylinder could have been bored out and that would be enough. But the owner did not want to wait, but in vain.
