Do-it-yourself caterpillars for a walk-behind tractor

A tracked walk-behind tractor has greater maneuverability than its wheeled counterparts. In order not to spend money on buying factory equipment, many people prefer to make tracks for a walk-behind tractor with their own hands.

Design features

The caterpillar has a chain structure consisting of individual links. The mechanism consists of two metal frames on which rollers and sprockets are attached. The latter are covered with a rubber strip with a relief coating. The caterpillar structure is connected by a removable frame.

Wheels for homemade tracks are attached to the axle of the unit. Another wheel is attached to each side of a conventional walk-behind tractor. You can attach tracks to ready-made four-wheeled vehicles. Since the latter weigh more than the wheels, such a device needs a higher-power engine. To be able to return the walk-behind tractor to its previous state, it is better to make the additional wheels for the tracks removable.

For creating homemade Tracked vehicles will need a four-stroke piston engine. To ensure its full operation, a differential locking mechanism is needed, due to which the equipment can turn freely.

The transmission of the device consists of a gearbox, a track clutch system and a mechanical gearbox.The handle contains levers, switches, emergency units and other control elements.

Installing a caterpillar mechanism on farm equipment will facilitate the process of working with this device. Such a walk-behind tractor will be able to move freely off-road, in snowdrifts and be used in the rain. It is used for snow removal, work in swamps, and cargo transportation in difficult terrain.

The principle of movement of tracked vehicles

The tracked platform consists of a drive wheel, support and support rollers. It creates traction force by converting engine torque through the transmission. It makes the wheels spin and rewinds the tracks. When rotating, the drive wheels influence the track chains, which begin to move forward on the road wheels.

Due to the large area, the caterpillars exert pressure on the surface of the support, which allows them not to get stuck in the ground, but to move along it. Relief protrusions create traction with the ground.

The pressure on the support decreases in the place where the guide wheel of the mechanism is installed. Low pressure levels increase the cross-country ability of a tracked walk-behind tractor, but minimize the traction force of the device. By reducing or increasing the size of the area at the point of contact with the surface, we achieve the desired ratio of both parameters for different tasks. The pressure increases in the area of ​​the rotating sprocket and reaches a maximum at the point of contact of the support roller with the caterpillar.

How to make tracks for a walk-behind tractor with your own hands

There are several technologies for implementing the idea. Each of them requires its own set of materials, tools and certain skills.When making a complex mechanism, it is worth following the recommendations of knowledgeable craftsmen.

From a tire

This is considered to be one of the most reliable ways to make a tracked structure. It is good because the tire does not need to create additional lugs, since it already has a relief pattern.

The best solution would be to take tires from truck or tractor wheels. Large transport equipment has a pronounced tread pattern that provides effective lug traction. In order for the tracked mechanism to move freely, adhering to the ground, the surface of the material must have a clearly defined relief. The tire diameter should be selected based on the desired track length.

To work, you need to take a shoe knife, sharpen it to a very sharp state and moisten it in soapy water. Being careful, we cut out a closed strip from a car tire. We cut off the two sidewalls and the interfering insides with a jigsaw with small teeth. The track ring must have a soft structure, so the hard inner layer of material should be made less thick.

Tractor and truck tires are highly resistant to wear. A walk-behind tractor on tracks made from this “raw material” can easily work in an area filled with sharp stones.

This durable material is always available - old unnecessary tires lie in large quantities in garages after use. They have a closed structure, so they do not need to be additionally stitched. But under such conditions, the caterpillar has limitations in terms of diameter and width. However, the variety of tires makes it easy to choose a product with the desired parameters.

From a conveyor belt

This method requires only a couple of materials, and in the process you can get by with improvised tools. This option is often used by summer residents.

When moving, the caterpillar has to withstand a significant load, so for the manufacture of the structure it is worth choosing a thick tape of about 7 mm. To create the clutch we use a roller chain with a fastening sleeve. To give the track additional strength along the edges, stitch it with fishing line in 10 mm increments. A reinforced track will last much longer. To make a caterpillar ring from the transport tape, it is worth stitching its end parts.

Additional wheels installed on the walk-behind tractor frame must have the same diameter as the main ones.

From belts

Making tracks from V-belts is quite simple. This technology does not require special skills and allows you to make do with available materials.

The caterpillar is obtained by connecting belts to each other. The relief is created by steel lugs. To secure the latter we use rivets or bolts with nuts.

We select two chains of the same size of the required length. We tear them at the ends and combine them into two rings. We clamp the ends of the belts and secure them by welding. We make lugs from steel sheets and fasten them at both ends of the belt rings.

In order for a homemade caterpillar for a walk-behind tractor to have a long service life, it must be properly cared for. Its mechanism needs to be cleaned from dirt, properly stored, and regularly inspected. Maintenance is necessary for all tracked structures, regardless of materials and manufacturing methods.