Do-it-yourself caterpillar on a motorcycle

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42

Which motorcycles are best suited for conversion into an all-terrain vehicle (snowmobile)? In the winter snowy period, many motorists come up with the idea to create an all-terrain vehicle from their motorcycle. To do this, you need to install the caterpillar on the wheels. This can be done, in principle, with any "iron horse", but most users agree that the best of the domestic units for such a change is the motorcycle "Dnepr", "Izh" or "Ural".

Even during the Second World War, the German caterpillar motorcycle was known, which was designed by the inventor Heinrich Ernst Knipkapm. At first it was used only by German paratroopers, but later it became more widespread as a traction force. It continued to exist after the war, the remaining models were actively used in agriculture.

Two main types of all-terrain vehicles

In our vast country there are a large number of craftsmen who can create a winter form of transport from a motorcycle or a walk-behind tractor. All of them have at least basic knowledge of auto mechanics, a certain amount of spare parts from motorcycles and a sea of \u200b\u200bimagination. Each such vehicle is unique, butthey have something in common. Some authors put their equipment on a caterpillar, others put skis in place of the wheels. Both front and rear skis can be leading.

Before you can conjure your favorite motorcycle, you need to stock up on some knowledge or the help of knowledgeable designers. After all, your equipment can break. But often in our conditions it is impossible to just drive in the snow. Such a ride is similar to moving on sand or mud, and in deep snow the motorcycle may even stall, and it will not be able to drive along every track. Therefore, we choose the lesser of two evils and still decide to change.

Features of manufacturing tracks for motorcycles

Of course, you can always buy snowmobile skis or factory-made wheels on a caterpillar. Then the need to invent something will disappear. But we are not looking for easy ways, and not everyone has the opportunity to purchase new spare parts. Sometimes it's not about the price and it's not about the hard parts to find. For some people, it's a hobby to create their own "transformer" and ride it around their town. So we decided to put together some of the tricks that different craftsmen use to create their snowmobiles to make your creative process easier.

Best Materials

Most craftsmen use a material such as aluminum to make spare parts. It flexes well, is easy to drill, grind, and is not heavy, which will help give your vehicle extra maneuverability.

Caterpillars are made from studded rubber, tires, chains. For their manufacture, sheet steel is most often used. Now let's figure out how to build a snowmobile or an all-terrain vehicle from a motorcycle.

Physical Features

When designing such a vehicle, you need to remember several important laws of physics, without knowing which your work will be reduced to zero. For good cross-country ability on a snowy surface, it is necessary to make the area of contact with the coating as large as possible. This will help the snowmobile not fall through. In order to reduce the load on the snow cover, you need to make the weight of your vehicle as light as possible. In order for your snowmobile to be stable, another law of physics must be applied - you need to make at least three points of support. That is, a snowmobile with three skis will be more stable when moving than with two. The design may consist not only of skis, but, for example, of one caterpillar and two skis, or, conversely, of a ski and a pair of caterpillars. There can be four points of support, then you will get something resembling a quad bike.

Most often, such units as "Dnepr", "Izh" are taken for such a rework, you can also find a motorcycle "Ural" on caterpillars. The steering part is left original, all the necessary systems are brought to it - the clutch, the gas lever. For the frame, steel pipes or corners are used. For the manufacture of skis, sheet steel is used and corners again.

Manufacturing technologycaterpillars

Do-it-yourself caterpillar for a motorcycle is easy for knowledgeable people. Consider the most common way.

We make a caterpillar for a motorcycle from a conveyor belt, which we divide into 4 parts. It turns out strips 5.5 cm wide. We assemble them into a single structure using U-shaped profiles. The track supports need to be balanced. Balancers are made of steel sheets. Cut out the halves of the disks with the help of stamps. We take bronze hubs or grind them ourselves.

Then we connect the half-disks with six bolts. Preparations for balancing are ready. It is necessary to make shafts for support drums in front and behind. They are made from steel rod. They make holes for bearings, insert them there. Support drums are made of aluminum or duralumin spare parts. Then connect the structure with bolts. When installing, rubber sprockets are inserted between the supporting drums.

And now the caterpillar on the motorcycle is already rotating from the chain. To fix this entire structure on the back of the all-terrain vehicle, a special knot helps, which is attached to the ear of the sleeve in front. Two such ears are needed, they should be welded onto the longitudinal pipes and the balancers made earlier should be attached. Here is the main part of the work, allowing you to make a snowmobile on tracks from a motorcycle.

The second life of old tires

There is another well-known way. Let's look at how a homemade motorcycle track is made using old tires. For such workIt is best to pick up tires from large trucks. It is better that the tread pattern is kept in a satisfactory condition. To work, we need a very sharp shoe knife and some cutting skills, no matter how strange it may sound. In the manufacture of such a caterpillar, the method of cutting out the sides of the tires is used. To ease the effort when cutting thick tires, you need to periodically dip the knife in soapy water. You can also use an electric jigsaw with fine teeth.

So, for old tires, we remove the beads, select parts with a well-preserved tread pattern, or we will have to cut it ourselves to improve grip on the road surface. The undoubted advantage of such a tire chain is that it consists of a closed solid material, which means it is more resistant to tearing. The disadvantage of this design is the limited tire size.

Using straps

Snowmobile tracks are also made from belts. The manufacturing principle is similar to the previous one. For it, belts with a wedge-shaped profile are used. They are connected to each other with rivets or hooks for the soil. Thus, it turns out a caterpillar for a motorcycle with holes for the drive sprocket.

Everything is in your hands

We see that it is possible to remake any motorcycle or walk-behind tractor, put it on tracks, ski or combine it. Fantasy is not limited by anything, except for its own capabilities. To get started, inspect your garage - maybe alreadythe caterpillar on the motorcycle is available. If so, you can proceed with the assembly. Even if you are using a motocross track, remember that safety should come first. It is necessary to think not only about yourself, but also about those around you, whom you can harm. Do a test drive in a deserted area. Was the test drive successful? Now let's go to the track!

There are a huge number of options, all of them are unique in their own way. They can be safely attributed to the category of handmade, because almost every detail is made individually. The choice of materials and manufacturing methods is also huge. In addition to the standard set of locksmith tools, you will definitely need a welding machine, perhaps a pipe bender, grinder, etc. But one thing is for sure: making a caterpillar for a motorcycle and turning it into a snowmobile on your own is much more interesting, and most importantly, cheaper than just buying ready-made components.