How to Make a Snowmobile Out of a Chainsaw

With the beginning of winter, especially snowy, there are problems associated with movement. Few people know that snowmobiles can be constructed from improvised means as an alternative means of transportation in winter conditions.

At the same time, there is no need for serious costs. over, if there is a lot of snow in the car, you will not get far, but a snowmobile will allow you to move in such conditions without any problems.

Homemade snowmobile from a chainsaw

Assembly of any design begins with the development of drawings. On them you can place all the necessary units, after which you can proceed to the practical implementation of the idea. Therefore, at this stage, you should decide which brand of chainsaw is suitable for the implementation of the plan.

Chainsaw Choice

In retail outlets you can find several models of chainsaws. The most popular of them are the Druzhba chainsaw, the Ural chainsaw and the Stihl chainsaw. Before choosing, you should think carefully, comparing their technical characteristics.

Friendship chainsaw

This is the simplest chainsaw that can be used as an engine for a snowmobile. The result is an elementary design without anything superfluous.

The only drawback is the large weight with a relatively low power. In addition, there are no parts on the structure for attaching safety covers. In addition, this design is outdated in all respects.

Specifications:

• Power. 1 kW;
• Weight. 12 kg;
• Engine (two stroke);
• Tire length. 45 cm;
• Fuel (gasoline).

Chainsaw "Ural"

This is a specialized model that has greater reliability, power and less weight in relation to power. This is an environmentally friendly unit that can operate in extreme conditions.

If you decide to use the Ural chainsaw, then this is a good choice. Its technical characteristics are fully consistent with the declared.

Specifications.

• Power. 3.68 kW;
• Weight. 11.7 kg;
• Engine (two-stroke gasoline);
• Overall dimensions. 46x88x46 cm;

Chainsaw "Stihl"

It is also suitable for creating a do-it-yourself snowmobile. This is an environmentally friendly device, absolutely harmless to humans. The main advantage of the chainsaw is its low weight and quiet operation, compared with the Ural chainsaw, and even more so when compared with the Friendship chainsaw.

DIY manufacturing snowmobile from a Ural chainsaw

Assembly diagrams of a snowmobile from a Ural chainsaw: 1. steering wheel; 2. a fuel tank (from the Druzhba chainsaw; 3. a power unit (from the Ural chainsaw); 4. a steering ski rack sleeve (a pipe with a diameter of 30-2 pcs.); 5. steering ski (2 pcs.); 6. caterpillar drive gear (capron, sheet s15, 2 pcs.); 7. caterpillar (from the Snowmobile, shortened); 8. frame; 9. track roller (from potato sorting, 18 pcs.); 10. strut back restraint (pipe ½); 11. track tensioner (2 pcs.); 12. track tensioner gear (nylon, sheet s15, 2 pcs.); 13. bearing No. 80204 in the housing (4 pcs.); 14. trunk box bottom plywood s4, side to ska s20); 15. seat (cover plywood s4, foam rubber, leatherette); 16. 1st step of a chain transmission; 17. 2nd stage of a chain transmission; 18. seat back restraint (½ inch pipe); 19. driven sprocket of the 1st chain transmission (large sprocket of the creeper, intermediate shaft); z is 38; 20. the drive sprocket of the 2nd stage of the chain transmission (small sprocket of the creeper), z10; 21. driven sprocket of the 2nd degree of chain transmission (drive sprocket of the drive shaft of the track), z18; 22. a leading asterisk of the 1st stage of a chain transmission (asterisk of an output shaft of a reducer), z12; 23. the knuckle lever; 24. steering draft (2 pcs.); 25. a steering shaft with a bipod; 26. front axle beam (pipe with a diameter of 30); 27. drive shaft of the track; 28. tension axis of the track.

Without creating a diagram and a drawing, it is unlikely to be able to connect together the main units of the structure, such as:

To simplify the design process, you should take the track from the all-terrain vehicle "Buran". If a children’s version is being designed, then skiing will be enough.

Racks

Steering ski: 1. snake (nylon, sheet s20, from a children’s snow scooter); 2. spring (normally extended, from the rear shock of the moped); 3. supporting thrust of the spring; 4. undercut (dural corner 20×20); 5. spring cover (corner 35×35); 6. fixing the spring to the cover (M8 bolt with washer); 7. supporting lever (pipe 30×30); 8. spring mounting rack. forks to the ski lever (steel, sheet s2); 9. spring fastening the support arm to the ski (steel, sheet s2); 10. axis (M8 bolt, 2 pcs.); 11. a rack of a rotary fist (a bicycle steering rack with a crown and part of a fork); 12. steering bipod (steel, sheet s4); 13. fastening the steering bipod (type M16); 14. fastening of the thrust bearing springs and lever springs to the ski (M5 bolt with countersunk head, 7 pcs.); 15. lever sleeve (steel pipe with a diameter of 30 mm); 16. plain bearing (kapron sleeve, 2 pcs.); 17. rack sleeve (steel pipe with a diameter of 30 mm). In the top view, the parts 11, 12, 13 of the steering knuckle are conventionally not shown.

Video: How to Make a Snowmobile Out of a Chainsaw

The snowmobile racks can be made of 3×3 cm corners. They are connected to each other by steel jumpers. As a result, there is a relatively small portal. To create a platform, you need to take a sheet 2 mm thick and connect it to the portal and the middle of the right side of the vehicle elements. This platform will serve as a mounting point for the chainsaw gearbox and chain drive shaft.

On the part of the rear portal and in the middle of the snowmobile, a small place should be formed for the design of the seat.

The front of the frame and the yoke of the front axle are connected by a beam. An ordinary water pipe with a diameter of 1.5 cm acts as a beam. At the end of this pipe, with the help of welding, the steering ski bushings are attached, and in the center, a rack is installed. The rack will serve as a support for the motor subframe.

Particular attention should be paid to the mounting points of the racks. For greater reliability, the attachment points are reinforced with steel scarves, 2 mm thick. This approach will strengthen the vehicle and make it more reliable and durable.

Caterpillar

Tracked Snowmobile Frame: 1. the rear part of the spar (steel sheet s2, with flanges, 2 pcs.); 2. tension device (4 pcs.); 3. rear portal (corner 30×30); 4. the middle part of the spar (corner 50×63, 2 pcs.); 5. bracket-plug for mounting the axis of the track rollers (steel sheet s2, 10 pcs.); 6. middle portal (corner 30×30); 7. platform for mounting the gearbox of the power unit and the intermediate shaft-creeper (steel sheet s2); 8. kerchiefs (steel sheet s2, 4 pcs.); 9. front portal (corner 30×30); 10. front part of the spar (steel sheet s2 with flanges); 11. the axis of the tension gears; 12. caterpillar idler gear (2 pcs.); 13. the axis of the track rollers (steel, circle 10, 5 pcs.); 14. axis mounting (M10 nut and spring washer, 20 pcs.); 15. spacer sleeve (dural pipe); 16. roller (18 pcs.); 17. bearing assembly (4 pcs.); 18. caterpillar drive gear (2 pcs.); 19. drive shaft of the track; 20. drive sprocket of the drive shaft (driven sprocket of the 2nd degree of chain transmission), z = 18; 21. sleeve steering knuckle steering ski (pipe with a diameter of 30 mm, 2 pcs.); 22. front axle beam (pipe with a diameter of 30 mm); 23. kerchiefs, 4 pcs.; 24. under-engine rack (pipe with a diameter of 30 mm); 25. bandage roller (rubber ring, 18 pcs.).

To build a mini-version of the snowmobile, you can take the tracks from the old “Buran” and modify it, shortening it by almost a meter. The gears can be made of a nylon sheet, 1.5 cm thick.

Drive shaft

Caterpillar drive shaft (the tension shaft is the same, only item 4, is replaced by position 1): 1. left (along the way) tip (steel, cylinder 22); 2. shaft (0.28×20 steel pipe; 3. flange of the gear to the shaft (steel sheet s4, 2 pcs.); 4. right (along the way) shaft tip (steel, cylinder 29); 5. caterpillar drive gear (2 pcs.); 6. frame spar, 2 pcs.); 7. bearing housing cover (steel, 2 pcs.); 8. bearing 80204 (2 pcs.); 9. bearing housing (steel, 2 pcs.); 10. drive sprocket shaft; 11. fastening the sprocket to the shaft (M12 nut with wide and spring washers); 12. dowel (steel 20); 13. seal (felt, 2 pcs.); 14. mounting the bearing housing to the spar (M6 bolt, with 4 sets of Grover); 15. mounting the bearing housing to the spar (M6 bolt with spring washer, 4 sets).

The drive shaft is made of steel pipe with a diameter of 1.4 cm. Special flanges are attached to the shaft, to which gears are attached. At the end of the drive shaft, by means of welding, lugs are mounted. On the pins, a place must be provided for the installation of bearings.

Engine

This unit is considered the most responsible snowmobile mechanism. Compared to other structural elements, such as a tire or chain, the engine should work properly and without it the snowmobile cannot even move. Therefore, the long-term performance of the device will depend on the reliable and trouble-free operation of the engine. If you want to install the engine from a chainsaw, imported, then you can buy a used "Stihl".

Another significant structural element, on which the dependable operation of the snowmobile depends, is the gearbox.

Stars

Immediately striking is the fact that the right handpiece has a keyway for installing and securing the chain sprocket. This is the sprocket of the caterpillar shaft, which is securely fastened with a nut. To make mounting possible, a corresponding thread is cut into the tip.

The tip of the tension shaft has the same overall dimensions, and the fastening of structural elements is carried out similarly to the fastening of the sprocket of the caterpillar shaft.

The first gear should have an asterisk with the highest gear ratio (number of teeth). On the engine of the Ural chainsaw, 38 teeth can be counted.

Steering

On a home-made device, you can install the steering wheel of any design, and even from a bicycle. In this case, it is very important to bring manual control of engine speed to the steering wheel. In order not to bother much, it is better to use a steering wheel from a moped, scooter, etc., where the engine power control mechanism is already provided. This will make the design more reliable and easy to manage.

Brake system

Usually, such a vehicle does not have a braking system, and it is not necessary, since the snowmobile does not develop high speeds, especially home-made. Although, if you seriously approach this problem, you can build a primitive braking device.

Application Tips

Immediately it is worth paying attention that a home-made design, whatever it is, is unlikely to be able to register (legalize) with the relevant authorities. And therefore:

1. According to the law, a homemade snowmobile does not belong to the category of vehicles. Therefore, its further application, as well as responsibility for the consequences, rest solely with the person who made it. It is better if it will be operated somewhere in the outback and not fall into the eyes of the relevant services.
2. A snowmobile and a floating all-terrain vehicle are completely different devices, although they have a certain similarity.
3. Since the engine has low power, it is not advisable to transport goods with this vehicle. Better to move on it alone.
4. To move at night, you can install lighting (lights) on the snowmobile. This will increase the functionality of the device and comfort when moving.

Conclusion

Due to the fact that most people do not have the skills to independently manufacture any structures, they believe that assembling a snowmobile with their own hands is quite difficult. And if it is possible to build something similar to a snowmobile, then it is unlikely to go, and if it does, it will stop very soon. And he will look like not at all a snowmobile, but a pile of spare parts assembled together. Fortunately, this is not so, and with the proper approach and level of imagination, you can assemble a similar design from improvised means, which at least "a dime a dozen" in any garage. And if there is any experience with these spare and improvised materials, then the task is simplified at all. Here the principle of desire is already beginning to work, and if it is not there, it is unlikely that it will be possible to collect anything at all, not to mention the snowmobile.

The fact that the problem is relevant in our time is not just a statement, but a belief based on the problems of today. Unfortunately, the state does not meet with a wide range of consumers, but has set a course for the production of only expensive equipment intended for sale to consumers with money.