Dear site visitors homemade friend"Today we will figure out how to make tracks for a caterpillar all-terrain vehicle on our own and what is needed for this? Let's go... Tracked all-terrain vehicle is the most passable among its counterparts, and all because the specific pressure on the ground is evenly distributed over the entire lower plane of the caterpillar, that is, it is a homogeneous fulcrum. But on wheeled all-terrain vehicles, the pressure is distributed over 4 points, so they often get stuck and skid. A simple example for you, why are tanks tracked? Yes, all for the same reason, in order to evenly distribute the huge weight of the machine on the plane of the caterpillar in contact with the ground, otherwise they will simply get stuck in the ground and not budge.
Caterpillars for homemade all-terrain vehicles they are made mainly of a conveyor belt and a rectangular pipe, and the tracks are pre-pressed on a home-made machine where they are given the necessary shape. Tracks are attached to the tape with bolts and nuts. And so, let's take a closer look at the process of creating an all-terrain vehicle caterpillar.
materials
- conveyer belt
- rectangular tube
- bolts, nuts, washers
- fittings
Instruments
A step-by-step process for creating an all-terrain vehicle caterpillar with your own hands.
The first step is to get a conveyor belt, it looks like this.
You will also need a rectangular profiled pipe.
And of course fasteners in the form of: bolts, nuts, washers, engravers.
First, we make blanks of tracks according to the width of the caterpillar to be made, saw it with a grinder and put it in a pile)
After that, these blanks need to be given the desired shape and pressed on a special home-made machine. For clarity, let's see how a professional does it, 40 seconds to crimp one track is not a joke for you guys)
It is advisable to lubricate the ends with a little used oil.
After the truck is betrayed correct form, you still need to weld fangs-limiters on it.
In the upper part, reinforcement is additionally welded in the form of the letter " V»
In general, such a track should turn out.
First you need to check and adjust directly at the installation site of the caterpillar itself.
Then you can already start assembling the caterpillar, but first you need to make holes in the conveyor belt, this is mainly used homemade tool. The tube is sharpened at the end, and on the side there is a hole for removing chopped rubber.
Tracks are also drilled with a drill, 2 holes on each edge.
This is how they do it homemade caterpillars for all-terrain vehicles, as you can see, it is quite possible to do it yourself, which will significantly reduce the cost of the all-terrain vehicle you are assembling.
Thank you all for your attention!
A home-made caterpillar for an all-terrain vehicle or a snowmobile that is light in weight can be made on the basis of a simple bush-roller chain and a conveyor belt. Yes, and it is very easy to do, there is no need to purchase a special tool. In order for such a home-made caterpillar to last longer, it is necessary to sew the edge of the conveyor belt with a fishing line. Step - about a centimeter. This procedure will help protect the tape from "fraying". But you can connect it into a ring in any way that is acceptable and accessible to you. Less reliable is to simply sew the ends of the tape together. Most often, it is advised to use a hinge like a piano loop. But the thickness of the tape depends on the power of the engine installed on the all-terrain vehicle. An indicator of 8 to 10 mm will be appropriate if you use a motor from a domestic motorcycle. A device made in this way is well suited for operation on a snowmobile. Plus, such a homemade caterpillar is easy to repair and replace in case of damage. This greatly simplifies the operation of your invention.
For the movement of most walk-behind tractors, conventional wheels are used. The throughput capacity of the apparatus in such cases is extremely small. Fortunately, there are several good ways, allowing you to turn a walk-behind tractor into an all-terrain vehicle or snowmobile. To do this, it is enough to make homemade caterpillars.
Manufacturing methods and materials
When choosing a material for a future caterpillar with your own hands, you should take into account the type of work for which they are intended. The product must be not only extremely durable, but also light for convenient work with the unit.
The first step is to install additional wheels on the walk-behind tractor so that there are a pair on each side. Future units will be attached to them, the length of which will be the circumference of each wheel plus the distance between their axles, multiplied by two. All wheels must be the same diameter.
The most popular starting materials for making caterpillars with your own hands include:
- Conveyor belts and roller chain.
- Unused car tires.
- Chains and belts.
Each method implies its own course of action.
Conveyor belt and chain
The method of manufacturing a unit from these materials, according to most, is the simplest. It does not require a large number of tools and materials. It is recommended to consider the following tips:
Tire construction
In addition to the product from the conveyor belt, you can make a caterpillar from a tire with your own hands. There is no need to stitch and hook anything together, since the tire already has a closed structure with a special clutch protector.
Ordinary tires cars won't fit. Find products for trucks or tractors that have a pronounced tread pattern.
The procedure for manufacturing such a unit can be divided into three main stages:
It is worth carefully studying the tread pattern. It should be clearly defined in order to maximize the throughput of the walk-behind tractor by increasing the adhesion of the track to the surface.
Belts and chains
This method uses standard V-belts. They are attached to each other with rivets that are placed on them. Such a caterpillar is made of two segments of the same chain and belts. The algorithm of actions is as follows:
Thus, you can get a durable and high-quality do-it-yourself caterpillar made of belts and chains. This method is the most time-consuming of all presented.
Tracks for caterpillars
Trucks are the main part of any caterpillar. Fortunately, it is not necessary to buy them in specialized stores. They are quite easy to make yourself from various materials. The main thing to consider is the level of load that is planned to be exerted on the walk-behind tractor. Tracks can be made from:
- plastic pipes;
- wooden bars;
- metal tracks.
For the manufacture of tracks from plastic pipes, you will need a water pipe No. 40. It is cut into segments, the length of which is equal to the width of the caterpillar. After that, each such segment is cut lengthwise into two halves. It will help you deal with it a circular saw with wood cutting disc.
When all the tracks are ready, they can be hooked onto the main structure. For this, furniture bolts No. 6 and large hemispherical caps are used. With these bolts, each segment is attached to the structure itself.
Thus, it turns out an excellent relief caterpillar for a walk-behind tractor, which allows you to pass in difficult places even in winter.
A track made of wooden blocks is suitable for a small load, since the structural strength is not so great. To make a caterpillar from this material, birch blocks of the same size and length equal to the width of the caterpillars will be required.
The main advantage of tracks with wooden blocks as tracks is the availability of materials, the lightness of the whole structure, and the ability to quickly make repairs.
It is not surprising that metal tracks for caterpillars are the most common and reliable, because their level of strength is quite high. Most often, metal pipes or a profile are used, which are cut into pieces of suitable length and attached to the caterpillar in the same way as was done in previous methods.
The main disadvantage of this design is the large mass and complexity of repair. If one of the tracks bends during operation, you will have to spend a lot of effort to replace it.
It is not so difficult to make a caterpillar for a walk-behind tractor with your own hands, although it takes a sufficient amount of time. It is important to treat the process with the utmost care and correctly perform all calculations. Also, it is necessary to assess the degree of load with which the walk-behind tractor works, and choose the most suitable materials for the product.
Fishermen, hunters and winter sports enthusiasts use snowmobiles to travel to the best places recreation. Even inexpensive models of such equipment cost about a hundred thousand rubles, more often - more. Those who want to save money can assemble a homemade snowmobile on tracks in an ordinary garage workshop. The cost of parts for construction does not exceed 40 thousand rubles.
Snowmobile device
Homemade snowmobiles arranged on caterpillar tracks. Caterpillars are driven by the engine internal combustion mounted on a rigid metal frame. They are supported in working position by wheels and special rollers. Main options:
- With a solid or fractured frame.
- With rigid or shock-absorbed suspension.
- With an engine from a walk-behind tractor or from a motorized carriage.
Short skis are used for steering. Light snowmobiles (weighing up to 100 kg), designed to move with maximum speed up to 15 km/h, do not require mandatory equipment braking system. They stop easily when the engine speed drops. Make a homemade snowmobile on tracks it is possible according to the algorithm:
- Selection of the engine, calculation of the frame and chassis.
- Frame assembly by spot welding.
- Steering device.
- Installing the engine in the design position on a temporary mount.
- Checking the structure for resistance to overturning.
- At successful verification- major frame welding, engine installation.
- Installation of the drive system, bridges.
- Assembly and installation of caterpillars.
- Assembly of body parts.
After that, the final tests are carried out. If the snowmobile rides normally and does not tip over, then it is driven into the garage and disassembled. The frame is cleaned of rust, painted in 2 layers, the rest of the elements are finished, after which they assemble a home-made snowmobile on tracks with their own hands.
Engine selection
Apply gasoline engines for walk-behind tractors or wheelchairs. The engine speed is controlled by the throttle placed on the handlebar. To make a homemade caterpillar snowmobile with your own hands, the easiest way is use ready-made small-volume engines for walk-behind tractors with pre-installed:
- Fuel tank.
- Ignition system.
- A reduction gear with a ratio of 1:2.
- Centrifugal clutch, automatically activated when the speed increases.
The power of these motors does not exceed 10 Horse power, but they are easy to install: the master does not need to separately assemble the ignition system, supply fuel pipes, adjust the clutch, etc. There are different options on the market:
| Brand | Model | Power, l. with. | Volume, cm3 | Weight, kg | Approximate price, thousand rubles |
| Kipor | KG160S | 4,1 | 163 | 15,5 | 20−25 |
| Sadko | GE-200R | 6,5 | 196 | 15,7 | 15−20 |
| Lifan | 168 FD-R | 5,5 | 196 | 18,0 | 15−20 |
| Zongshen | ZS168FB4 | 6,5 | 196 | 16,0 | 10−15 |
| Nomad | NT200R | 6,5 | 196 | 20,1 | 10−15 |
| Bright | BR-177F-2R | 9,0 | 270 | 30,0 | 10−15 |
| Honda | GX-270 | 9,0 | 270 | 25,0 | 45−50 |
If it is not possible to purchase a ready-made engine from a walk-behind tractor, then you can use the engine from a motorized carriage. Such engines are more powerful by 10-15 horsepower, but require self assembly. The system includes:
- Engine.
- Clutch.
- Reducer.
- Gas tank (volume 5-10 liters).
- Muffler.
- Generator.
- Switch and electronic ignition coil.
Some of the elements are suitable from old motorcycles (Minsk, Vostok, Java, Ural). The gas tank is located as close as possible to the carburetor in order to reduce the length of the pipes.
Frame and body
Before work, it is recommended to draw up a drawing of the frame. The structure is welded from a 25 x 25 mm square tube with a wall thickness of 2 mm. At payload over 150 kg, the section size is increased to 30 x 25 mm. The loading area and body elements are sheathed with plywood. Seats are selected with a hydrophobic coating.
In the center of the fracture frame, a hinge is located that allows rotation around a vertical axis. Max Angle rotation is limited by welding metal plates. The front half is used for steering, and the engine is placed on the rear frame.
The whole frame is welded in the form of a rectangle, inside which bridges and caterpillars are placed. The engine is placed in front on a special platform, rigidly welded to the rest of the frame. In both cases, the motor is placed in the transverse direction (the shaft goes to the end).
Drive system
A drive sprocket of small diameter is installed on the output shaft of the engine. From it, the torque is transmitted through the chain to the driven shaft, located under the engine seat. On the driven shaft are:
- Large diameter driven sprocket.
- Gear wheels that drive the tracks.
- Track guides.
The driven shaft is mounted on the frame with bearings. The gear wheels push the tracks, setting the tracks in motion. The chain and sprockets are removed from one device. Old motorcycles, snowmobiles ("Buran") are suitable for the role of a donor. Gear wheels for tracks are removed only from other tracked vehicles.
The guide rollers rotate with the shaft, are mounted next to the gear wheels and serve to tension the belt. They are made of wood or plastic, with a layer of soft rubber on the ends. Rubber prevents track damage. It is easy to make such rollers yourself by fixing the edging with a furniture stapler.
Calculation and assembly of the caterpillar
The caterpillar is a tape, on the outer surface of which tracks are fixed. Trucks are rigid lugs installed along the entire length of the tracks. Track options:
- From a transport tape 3 mm thick.
- From a car tire.
- From V-belts.
- Ready-made caterpillars of factory production.
The conveyor belt must be looped. Its strength is only sufficient for light snowmobiles with engines no more powerful than 10 hp. with. Car tires are stronger than tape, they are suitable for powerful engines. One-piece tires do not need to be looped, so the likelihood of a break is minimal. It is more difficult to choose a tire of the desired length than a tape.
Ready caterpillars are removed from other similar equipment (snowmobiles "Buran", "Sherkhan"). Lugs are installed on them from the factory. Products are not suitable for use with low-power motors from walk-behind tractors. Homemade snowmobiles from "Buranovsky" caterpillars must have gear wheels from the same "donor".
The size of the caterpillar is selected according to the required driving characteristics: the greater the width, the lower the handling, but the higher the cross-country ability. The minimum area of the contact patch from the snowmobile (skis and caterpillars) must be such that the pressure from the equipped transport does not exceed 0.4 kg/cm 2 of the surface. Light snowmobiles use a 300 mm wide conveyor belt, cut lengthwise into 2 strips of 150 mm.
Tape preparation
Trucks are mounted on self-made tracks with M6 bolts with a wide head. The bolts are fixed with a nut, a washer and a grover are used. Before fastening, leading holes with a diameter of 6 mm are drilled in the tape and tracks. When drilling, a jig and wood drills with special sharpening are used.
The conveyor belt is also looped with M6 bolts. To do this, the edges of the tape are superimposed on each other with an overlap of 3-5 cm, the connection contains 1-2 rows of bolts. For track width 150mm withstand the following distances:
- From the edge of the tape 15-20 mm.
- Between the bolts on the tracks 100-120 mm.
- Between bolts when banding 25−30 mm.
In total, 2 bolts go to one track, 5-10 bolts to one tape connection, depending on the number of rows. When using car tires, only the treadmill is left, and the sidewalls are removed with a shoe knife.
Tracks are made of a polyethylene pipe with a diameter of 40 mm with a wall thickness of 5 mm, sawn in half in the longitudinal direction. The whole section of the lug is adjacent to the tape. In light snowmobiles, one track connects the caterpillar pair. With a track width of 150 mm, the length of the track is 450-500 mm.
Grousers are cut with a circular saw on wood. They use a special machine with two guides (metal and wood), rigidly fixed on a fixed tabletop. The walls of the pipes are sawn in turn.
The distance between the tracks depends on the parameters of the gears on the drive shaft. Usually it is 5-7 cm. The specified distance is maintained with an error of no more than 3 mm. Otherwise, the operation of the drive is disrupted: the lugs “run into” the teeth of the drive wheels, the caterpillar begins to slip and fly off the rollers.
Chassis
Light snowmobiles designed for riding on loose snow are equipped with an articulated suspension made of an elongated M16 nut. It is a lightweight design with simple device, which does not provide comfortable driving characteristics of a homemade product.
Tracked snowmobiles designed to ride on packed snow must have shock absorbers (from a motorcycle or moped). Shock absorbers are installed in the places where skis and bridges are attached to the frame. The suspension travel is selected so that the moving elements do not touch the snowmobile body during operation.
Helms and skis
The steering is output to two front skis according to a scheme structurally similar to the suspension. It is made from a threaded stud installed in an elongated M16 nut, rigidly welded to the frame. The steering wheel from a moped or motorcycle ("Minsk") is used.
In total, the design uses 3 plastic skis from a children's scooter (or home-made plywood 3 mm thick). A pair of front skis is used for taxiing. Skis up to 1 meter long are used, if necessary, reinforced with a steel pipe and plate.
The third ski is supporting, serves to maintain the tape in working condition. It is shorter than the rest, placed between the bridges (in the center). A T-beam is attached to the supporting ski, rigidly welded to the frame. On top of the beams are freely rotating rollers for tracks. Installation of this design is not needed if the caterpillar does not sag.
Bridge device
Bridges are placed under the loading area. One bridge takes 2 inflatable wheels from a garden cart and a metal rod. The wheels rotate freely and are not driven. In snowmobiles built on the basis of motors from walk-behind tractors, the wheels are half-inflated. Clamps are welded to the outer ends of the wheels, with the help of which the bridges are attached to the frame.
The front axle is fixed, its clamps are rigidly welded to the frame. rear axle must move freely along the frame, as it serves to tension the track. Its latches provide for friction tightening of M10 bolts, fixing the bridge in working position.
Each driver decides for himself whether to buy caterpillars or do it himself. We will consider both aspects, but each of them is only useful if the car drives not only on the highway. Tracks are a great way to improve your off-road capability, and for many motorists, tuning is a must. Is it worth buying caterpillars for the Niva if you can make them yourself?
Problems with transporting incredibly heavy camp equipment and tying to public transport hunting grounds are essential for every hunter. An off-road vehicle, even one like the Niva, solves these problems only partially, since there are obstacles in the form of gullies, slopes and off-road, with which the car is on standard wheels can not manage. There is an urgent need to transfer your transport to crawler. How to make caterpillars for Niva in three ways, in which cases is it better to buy ready-made ones?
In the production of caterpillars, special rubber is used with a special substance in the composition, thanks to which even aggressive weather conditions do not reduce their strength and elasticity. The weight of one caterpillar can vary between 75 - 110 kg, which is affected by the design of the product and its type. Despite this weight, the transformation of the Niva into an all-terrain vehicle is not difficult, since the caterpillar easily rolls over the ground, there is no need to lift or drag it.
There is also nothing complicated in the design of the caterpillar mover - a powerful metal frame in the shape of a triangle, one large roller at the top and five pairs or more of a smaller size at the bottom. The caterpillar is dressed on them.
The classic wheel hub is installed in the upper roller, then it sits on a rigid hitch so that during rotation the hub transmits the rotational movements of the entire structure. The key advantage is the ability to turn the steering wheel as if it had wheels. If necessary, the tracks for the car are removed and replaced with conventional tracks.
What are caterpillars for? Design pros and cons
The basis of the audience of drivers who install caterpillars on a car are extreme sportsmen, hunters and fishermen, who, in pursuit of pristine beauty and maximum comfort, do not skimp on the elements of car modernization. Considering the purpose of using your own car and the size of your wallet, choosing between buying tracks and their self-manufacturing will have to do it yourself. If you rarely go off-road, and most often your Niva sees only the main highway, there is no point in buying.
If you are fond of fishing and hunting, then increasing the cross-country ability of the vehicle due to such a modification is vital in order to master new cordons, as well as safely, quickly and comfortably get to the so-called fishing spots. After installation, you will notice the following positive changes:
- The level of comfort during off-road driving is significantly increased, the difference between the wheels and the caterpillar track is immediately felt.
- Increases vehicle speed when driving on snowy, swampy, or sandy terrain. Indicators reach 80 km / h.
- The cross-country ability of the vehicle also increases and this parameter can be compared with the cross-country ability of the Belarus tractor. The only limitation is the size ground clearance, which for "Niva" is 30 cm.
The first caterpillars on a car appeared about 100 years ago, and during this time motorists fully appreciated their advantages, however disadvantages also exist:
- A set of caterpillars is expensive, and in the manufacture of a home-made design, you cannot do without basic skills and additional equipment.
- Slopes, hills and terrain with sudden changes in elevation can be a problem for the suspension system and transmission, since a vehicle of this size requires a larger area of the track module.
- It is also not always possible to move over a fallen tree trunk or similar obstacle.
Main manufacturers and prices
The first caterpillar mechanisms were developed in the USA, after which they were distributed throughout the world. Now several dozens of manufacturers, including domestic ones, are engaged in the production of such structures. Of the imported brands, Mattracks is considered one of the most popular. Their prices correspond to a big name - one set corresponds to the cost of a Russian car.
Several companies are now engaged in the production of caterpillars for passenger cars, but such a purchase, again, will not be cheap. Pricing depends on the following factors:
- diameter of bearings and axles;
- metal thickness and quality;
- design features.
When choosing imported caterpillar mechanisms, be guided by a price of 230 - 700 thousand rubles. Having decided to buy caterpillars for the Niva domestic manufacturer can cut costs in half.
Development of Chelyabinsk engineers
Engineers from Chelyabinsk offer an alternative design, thanks to which vehicle can conquer not only off-road, but also water. Movement on water is provided by quick-detachable pontoons fixed on the chassis.
As unnecessary, they can be stored on a wheel-ski trailer or trunk. The installation of the tracks in this case is somewhat more time-consuming when compared with the classic caterpillar mechanisms, the installation of which does not take more than an hour. You will have to follow the step by step instructions:
- At the first stage, the car should be put on the caterpillar module, get rid of the wheels and lower the suspension onto the catchers.
- Next, the car is attached to the frame, and the module bridge is connected to the cardan.
- At the final stage, the control unit is installed and the hydraulic system is pumped.
Such an all-terrain mechanism is installed for at least 2 hours, after which control is available through the steering wheel. After the next off-road raid, the car starts up on the platform again, and the tracked modules replace the usual wheels. Issue price - 100 thousand rubles. and higher.
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 the option of self-manufacturing, but you should know in advance about the laboriousness of such a process. You must be proficient in locksmith equipment and have construction skills. Garage production can not even be considered, since you will have to use special machines and tools for turning hubs, assembling and mounting sprockets, shafts and bearings.
There are three ways that the Niva caterpillar you made will perform 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.
Caterpillars from a conveyor belt
To assemble the caterpillar kit, you can use a conveyor belt with a thickness of 8 - 10 mm and a bush-roller chain. Be sure to sew the edges of the tape with fishing line to strengthen it and avoid fraying. Use overlock stitch. The hinge can be used to connect the ends of the tape. The connection by flashing can also be used, but the reliability will be doubtful. 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 profile pipe. To do this, you must first give the tracks the desired shape using a pressing machine. To fix the tracks on the tape, you can use nuts and bolts. 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 pipe;
- Grover, washers, nuts and bolts;
- conveyer belt.
The step by step process looks like this:
- Considering the width of the caterpillar to be manufactured, cut the track blanks with a grinder.
- Press the blanks on the machine to give them the desired shape, use used oil to lubricate the ends.
- Weld on each truck fangs-limiters and additionally at the top of the fittings in the shape of the letter V.
- At the installation site of the track, check the conformity of the dimensions.
- Use an industrial hole punch to create holes in the conveyor belt. Such a hole punch can be made independently - it will be a tube sharpened from the end part with a side hole for removing rubber waste.
- Drill two holes in the tracks on each end.
- At the final stage, the assembly of the caterpillar awaits you.
Caterpillars from car tires
Having decided to use car tires for the manufacture of caterpillars, you should choose them with an appropriate tread pattern that will replace the lugs. Suitable tires from tractors or trucks. Carefully remove the bead from the tire using a well-sharpened cobbler's knife. Moisten the blade periodically with soapy water to make cutting easier.
If you have the skills to use an electric jigsaw, you can use this tool in tandem with a fine-toothed file.
For achievement required level elasticity, several layers of the inner ring can be removed. Compared to the first option (conveyor belt + roller chain), car tires more reliable, since the contour of the ring in this case is closed and the ends do not need to be connected.
Belt tracks
Caterpillar belt kits also fall into the category of easy-to-make designs. Grousers are used to assemble the caterpillar track from wedge-shaped rubber belts. The connection is made by means of small bolts and rivets. The interval between the belts must match the dimensions of the drive sprocket. Use rivets to fix the ends of the resulting canvas.
findings
Summing up, it is worth mentioning the ease of installation of tracks, which takes less than an hour, unless of course we are talking about a Chelyabinsk invention.
Before installation, weld special triangle-shaped scarves to the Niva bridges to strengthen them. Concerning improvised designs, they can hardly compete with the factory options in terms of reliability, but they will be an excellent solution for single raids for game or fish.
When operating in off-road conditions, tracked vehicles have undeniable advantages over wheeled transport due to its all-terrain qualities, allowing to overcome deep loose snow, muddy arable land or rocky ford.
The popularity of caterpillar vehicles among domestic users is so great that many home craftsmen independently "change shoes" of their wheeled vehicles into homemade products - caterpillars made from improvised materials.
One option for retrofitting is to use old tires from MTZ tractors, allowing significantly improve permeability personal auto and motorcycle equipment with minimal financial outlay.
For a tracked vehicle of any purpose, whether it is a tank or a snowmobile, the translational motion is provided by a tracked propulsion unit (MD).
It uses two driving factors:
- torque M to transmitted from the engine/power drive to the drive wheels;
- adhesion of tracks to the ground.
A caterpillar or caterpillar chain of the main engine is a link structure, which is a continuous continuous tape or chain.
For full adhesion to the ground surface, the caterpillar equipped with relief protrusions serving as active lugs.
The principle of the caterpillar drive is illustrated by the kinematic scheme of the main engine, located below. The diagram shows the following positions:
- pos. 1 - caterpillar;
- pos. 2 - supporting rollers that prevent sagging of the track web;
- pos. 3 - drive sprocket (drive wheel), which converts the torque from the engine into the traction force necessary for the forward movement of the machine;
- pos. 4 - track rollers that ensure full contact of the track web with the surface of the ground support;
- pos. 5 - shock absorbers;
- pos. 6 - guide wheel, which serves to direct the translational movement of the machine, and transfers part of its weight to the ground.
Caterpillar movement carried out as follows:
- The drive sprocket (pos. 3) is supplied with torque M k.
- The rotating sprocket rewinds the continuous belt/track chain (key 2).
- The caterpillar (pos. 2) is in close contact with the support surface (soil, loose soil, etc.). It is affected by:
- force R z - the reaction of the supporting surface, which the caterpillar transmits to the vehicle frame;
- tangential reaction of the soil support P k.
The rewindable track belt/chain is continuously laid in the direction of the forward movement of the vehicle on the surface of the ground support under the track rollers, creating for the wheels of the machine way with more low resistance movement than on soft ground.
During the movement, the caterpillar belt rises from the supporting surface and transfers the pushing force to the vehicle frame.
The specific pressure on the support (ground) along the length of the caterpillar is uneven - increased in the area of the drive sprockets, reduced - in the front part in the area of the idler wheel (pos. 6). Max pressure on the ground from the main engine - in the area of the road wheels (pos. 4).
Advantages of homemade main engines from MTZ tires
Due to the continuous laying of the track under the rollers of the machine, during the movement, a large contact area of the tape with the ground, which significantly reduces the average pressure of the machine on the soil.
The range of average pressure on the soil of equipment with a main engine is from 11.8 to 118 kN / sq.m (from 0.12 to 1.2 kgf / sq. cm), which is much lower than the pressure of a human foot.
Such low pressures ensure that the equipment does not sink into the ground, marshy soil or snow. By varying the size of the surface area in the zone of contact of the caterpillar with the support, an optimal ratio of the vehicle's cross-country ability with its traction force for towing cargo is achieved.
When equipping vehicles with caterpillar tracks, homemade Samodelkins use a conveyor belt or tires from automobile and tractor wheels.
The photo below shows homemade all-terrain vehicle on caterpillars from a reinforced type conveyor belt 250 mm wide. Grousers 25 mm high are used.
Tracked all-terrain vehicle from a conveyor belt:
For most craftsmen, the preferred starting materials for the manufacture of the main engine are old tires from MTZ tractors of various models.
Among the main advantages of MTZ tires, as source material, and the tracks themselves, made from these tires, include the following factors:
- Availability old MTZ tires. Quite often, after dismantling, they are stored in the depths of the utility yards of enterprises, cluttering up the territory.
- The tire is a closed continuous structure, does not require stitching ends ribbons.
- On a caterpillar platform from a tractor tire no need to build up lugs, since the tires have a pronounced tread relief of the factory design.
- MTZ wheel tires have high strength and wear resistance, ensuring reliable trouble-free operation of the track on soils containing sharp stones.
- Versatility Applications – Tires can be selected for all types of tracked vehicles, including measures to modernize equipment or increase the width of the tracks.
- Recycling used tractor tires solves the most important problem of dismantled wheels disposal – the possibility of their reuse.
From shortcomings work with tractor tires note two circumstances:
- limited fixed length of the caterpillar, due to the size of the blank tire;
- the need to double two tires when mounting a caterpillar with a width exceeding the width of one blank tire.
Requirements for the conversion of equipment to caterpillars
The figure shows the simplest in design homemade - a cart with caterpillars made of tires.
The re-equipment of equipment on the main engine is carried out solely for the utilitarian considerations of pragmatic owners of wheeled vehicles or motorcycles who wished improve all-terrain qualities their "helpers".
For all models of equipment intended for driving in the field, the market offers serial versions of industrial-made main engines.
However, all this costs a lot of money, and tires free or very cheap.
Many users of equipment manage on their own, in the conditions of a home workshop, to make caterpillars from tractor tires, install them on their machines and successfully operate in off-road conditions.
Regardless of the type of car or motor vehicle, the masters take into account the following factors:
- To install the mechanisms of the main engine, it is necessary to equip special frame structures increased strength and rigidity, able to withstand increased weight and dynamic loads.
- When using improvised means, many craftsmen use pneumatic wheels as tensioners, as well as a pair of driving and driven wheels. The tape is put on flat tires, which are then inflated, creating the required track tension.
- The owner of the equipment must clearly define the purpose of the machine in order to select optimal dimensions track width and length.
- Taking into account the increase in weight and traction loads on the engine after the installation of the main engine, it is necessary to optimize the correspondence between the maximum power of the engine and the width of the track. Otherwise, the engine breaks down quickly.
When choosing the ratio of engine power and the width of the belt of a self-made caterpillar installation you can follow the price lists on all-terrain vehicles equipped with serial tracks.
Below we will consider the categories of machines that are most popular among craftsmen when retrofitting to a caterpillar track.
The main categories of popular equipment equipped with a main engine
The list of models of household vehicles and motor vehicles operating on loose snow and marshy soils is unusually wide.
The very names of machines, adopted in everyday life, indicate their scope.
Snowmobiles
This is a vehicle designed to move on loose snow.
In contrast to the Anglicism “snowmobile”, which means any vehicle adapted to driving on snow (aerosleighs, all-terrain vehicles on caterpillars and pneumatic wheels, etc.), in Russia only a snowmobile is called ski-caterpillar means of movement(rear main engine, in front - skis instead of front wheel) with governing bodies of the motorcycle type.
For utility snowmobiles, the engine power is 30-40 hp, the track width ranges from 38 cm to 50 cm and even 60 cm.
Accordingly, if the master sets as his task the creation of a machine for moving on virgin snow with a load, then he should be guided by these indicators.
Similar parameters must be maintained when creating the so-called snow and swamp vehicles.
If the master needs make a faster snowmobile(by the type of sports), then the width of the caterpillar from the tire can be reduced.
The weight loads of the speedster are much lower than those of the cargo utility.
The picture shows a motorcycle-based snowmobile fitted with a homemade 23 cm wide track cut from an excavator tire.
Otherwise, a do-it-yourself homemade caterpillar for a snowmobile is made according to the basic principle.
ATVs
They are commonly referred to as any vehicle capable of moving off-road and even overcome water barriers.
There are plenty of all-terrain vehicles for industrial production:
- SUVs;
- swamps;
- amphibians;
- caterpillar tractors and conveyors;
- quad bikes;
- machines of the ATV category, etc.
Their cost not everyone can afford, therefore, in home workshops, they prefer to create their own exclusive products, “changing shoes” for their cars on tire tracks made by their own hands for an all-terrain vehicle.
Depending on the engine power of the vehicle, wider canvases can be allowed.
For homemade all-terrain vehicles with a 40-70 hp engine. and small weight load enough tape width 30-40 cm.
For vehicles based on UAZ vehicles with an engine of 110-150 hp. track width required 40 cm with support rollers (6 pcs.) and supporting rollers (3 pcs.).
Naturally, to overcome the water barrier, the height of the profile of the 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 tire track.
Motoblocks
Represented by numerous mobile devices based on a single axle chassis. Converted to DG homemade options walk-behind tractors are widely in demand among rural residents and owners of country houses or summer cottages.
The motivation for independent re-equipment of units, bypassing the purchase of serial tracks, is obvious.
The cost of a wheeled walk-behind tractor NEVA does not exceed $1000. United States, while the most simple machines, adapted for driving on snow, are estimated at 5-10 thousand dollars. and higher.
The drive power of the walk-behind tractor (5-8 hp) is enough to successfully operate as an all-weather vehicle
motorized dogs
Motorized towing vehicles, nicknamed motorized dogs in everyday speech, are a mechanical coupling of a sled with a towing vehicle on a main engine. The driver and cargo are placed in the sleigh.
Serial models are produced in a wide range of drive power (from 6 to 30 hp) and are equipped with a main engine made of rubber-metal belt up to 60 cm wide.
Home craftsmen usually make tugs based on a 15 hp engine from improvised means, installing caterpillars from tires 500 mm wide.
Such self-made motorized dogs are capable of transporting sleds with a load of up to 700 kg, developing a speed of up to 40-50 km / h.
Most often, a homemade caterpillar for a motorized dog is made from a tire to save money.
The photo shows a homemade towing vehicle based on a walk-behind tractor.
Algorithm for making a caterpillar belt with your own hands
The caterpillar tape for any model from the categories of equipment listed above is made from tires of various sizes corresponding to the chosen design. We will analyze step by step how to make a caterpillar from a tire.
Tape manufacturing works are of a unified nature and are subject to a common algorithm.
Special knowledge in the manufacture of a caterpillar from a tractor or automobile tire is not required, however certain locksmith skills are indispensable.
The process of forming a caterpillar track from an MTZ tire consists of several stages:
- A tire with a slightly worn tread pattern is selected.
- The track is being cut for the caterpillar using a sharply sharpened shoe knife. Working with a sharp knife is traumatic and requires increased caution and attention.
- To make the rubber cut better, a knife is recommended periodically soak in soapy water.
- Cutting with a knife can be successfully replaced jigsaw to avoid possible injury.
- Cut off both sides tires.
- Excess material is removed from the inside of the tire.
The criterion for a job well done is straight cut without frayed edges of the resulting tape.
Thus, the caterpillar element is ready for use:
Related videos
You can see a homemade caterpillar for a snowmobile from a tire in action in this video:
Conclusion
Making homemade caterpillars to convert vehicles to caterpillars is a very popular way to expand the functionality of machines at minimal cost.
The use of dismantled old tractor tires for the main engine contributes to solving the issues of recycling old tires without the use of traditional waste recycling methods - incineration, grinding, chemical treatment, etc.
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