Snowmobiles are the dream of any fisherman. Because in winter, in search of a good place, they have to constantly move through a snow-covered reservoir. During this period, fish are collected in pits. To find it, anglers often travel considerable distances. The main part of daylight hours is spent on walking. It is good if the snow cover on the ice is small. But when he grows to his knees, the path becomes a real torment. As a result, all chances of successful fishing automatically disappear. In such a situation, only light transport can help, where the best of all is a sled with a motor.
Many may object and offer to buy a branded snowmobile. However, this transport has serious drawbacks. The main one is that the price is too high, which is not affordable for everyone. And also a snowmobile for ice fishing is dangerous, especially in early autumn or late spring. Its considerable weight does not allow traveling on thin ice, where light sledges can safely pass on skis. Often, the propeller-driven unit is installed on a boat. This version of the snowmobile is considered the most reliable, which can be used safely all year round and on any ice.
To build a snowmobile, you will need the following tools:
Engine selection
The most complex and most expensive unit is the motor... For a light sled for one person, you can put a small saw motor. But its small power will not allow you to drive fast enough. In addition, such engines have a small working resource in terms of service life. It is best to choose a more powerful motor from a motorcycle. On such an engine, the sled will develop a very good speed in the snow, even with an additional load.
Air propeller
The snowmobile is moved using a propeller. It must match the parameters of the engine. Otherwise, the motor will start to overheat or will not operate at full power. This is a rather complex unit that is very difficult to make at home. If you build it with your own hands, it will take too long. On top of that, it requires some serious knowledge of aerodynamics. Therefore, the propeller is best purchased at a store.
Assembling the frame
For the construction of the frame, you will need the following materials:
- pipes;
- clamps;
- bolts;
- nuts;
- washers.
The easiest way is to make a snowmobile on three skis. This is the most common way, where the cost of material and construction time will be the most minimal in terms of calculations. For these purposes, a triangular frame is made, which must be very strong. Because all units will be attached to it. The structure will be light and strong if it is made of metal pipes. Craftsmen often make a frame made of wood. Although it is not the strongest material, it does have one advantage. If, for any reason, the snowmobile falls under the ice, they will still remain afloat.
Although this is the easiest option, it is better to use iron pipes for reliability and durability when building a sled. First, you need to draw a drawing by hand and designate the dimensions of the parts. In this case, it will be much easier to calculate the material consumption and cut the pipes for the frame correctly. First, they are laid out in a triangle on a flat floor. And with the help of welding, the ends are connected, and all the seams are cleaned with a grinder. Then, small bushings are cut from this pipe and welded to the ends of the frame. Three skis will be attached here. The two rear bushings are installed strictly vertically, and the front for the steering gear is slightly tilted.
Installing the engine
Since a propeller is used on a snowmobile, the motor will have to be lifted a considerable distance from the frame. To do this, you will first need and prepare two arched racks... They are easy to make from the same pipes that were used in the previous construction. One post is welded to the rear tube of the frame. And for the second, an additional crossbar is made inside the frame. When this work is completed, you need to install a mounting saddle under the motor at the top. It is easy to cut it with a grinder from the old frame of the motorcycle from which the engine was removed. Or construct a similar device with your own hands.
To prevent the propeller from hitting the coastal bushes or tree branches, a fence is installed on the snowmobile. It is easy to make from the same material that was used in the construction of the frame. To do this, you first need to bend the pipe in the form of a large ring. Then, using a welding machine, attach it to the bottom of the frame, and the sides to the arched motor posts. Often, an additional grille is installed on the protective ring. Although this solution reduces the thrust of the propeller, it significantly increases the safety of the propeller.
Construction of skis
Almost all anglers prefer to use the simplest material when building skis. - wood... This is the cheapest and most affordable option and is easy to handle. When making skis on a snowmobile, they usually use wooden boards made of oak or birch.
At first, they are well dried, and then the ends are sharpened and folded. To increase strength, the lower plane of the skis is covered with duralumin or iron. And a support hinge is installed on the upper part, which is easy to do on your own. To do this, first cut a square plate of sheet steel across the width of the skis. Holes for screws are drilled along the edges, and a large nut or thick metal washer is welded in the center.
Skis are mounted on racks, which are made from a pipe of a smaller diameter. It should fit easily into the bushings on the frame. At one end, a hole is drilled for a cotter pin, and two nuts are welded parallel to the other, as on a hinge. You will get a kind of fork, which is inserted into the frame sleeve and pinned from above. Then the hinge on the ski is aligned with the nuts at the end of the rack and fixed with a finger or pin. It can be made from a thin metal rod or reinforcement.
To turn the sleigh usually use a handlebar from a motorcycle. E it is welded to the front pillar or screwed onto clamps. Add engine RPM using a standard hummock handle. The whole set is easy to find in any car shop.
To ride with comfort, you need to make a comfortable and soft seat. To do this, two parallel tubes are welded into the middle part of the frame triangle. Small arcuate posts are vertically installed on them, and a seat with springs is attached on top. Often, additional springs are put on the ski racks under the frame. This noticeably softens the ride and dramatically increases the comfort when riding on a sled with a motor.
It's no secret that the wind always blows in the vastness of reservoirs in winter. And the propeller increases the air flow even more during operation. Because of this, it becomes very cold for fishermen when traveling on a snowmobile in winter. Therefore, in front of the frame, they always make a protective visor with glass at the top. And then sleigh rides will become more comfortable. When all the parts and assemblies are built, all that remains is to attach the fuel tank. Snowmobiles are ready, and now only luck will accompany fishing.
My first homemade product for fishing was a snowmobile ... First, I got the disassembled head of the Whirlwind 30 outboard motor, which I had to sort out and modify ... A water pump from a Muscovite was installed in a makeshift case, water channels were drilled in the cylinder block, conclusions were drawn from the cylinder head to drain hot coolant, a propeller shaft with a tension roller and an expansion tank was installed on the cylinder head 
, a new muffler was made ... A radiator from Moskvich was installed to cool the brake fluid ...
Scraper-type brakes were installed on the rear skis, the brakes were driven by the handbrake from the Zhiguli, by means of cables ...
The frame of the sled was made of shaped tubes of a square cross-section, the seat and the steering fork with the handlebar were installed from the Voskhod motorcycle ... The skis were made of a welded corner, with an unrolled polyethylene pipe outsole. Damping of irregularities on the rear skis was carried out by the springs installed on them, and the front ski with a telescopic motorcycle fork ... 
An air propeller measuring 1.5 meters was made from three glued gussets 150 mm wide ... With subsequent pasting with fiberglass and metal forging the chopping edge of the propeller, so that you could mow bushes without consequences: D ... 
Then painted ... 
After revision and painting, they began to look like this 
Then like this 
Since the snowmobile was manufactured before the snow was tested on the concrete ramp of the warehouse on skis ...: D
then, without waiting for the snow, he put his fan on wheels ...
Interest in snowmobiles as an individual means of transportation on winter off-road and a sports type of motor technology has been shown for a long time. But such a massive hobby as now, hobby for amateur snowmobiles was undoubtedly promoted by an increase in the general technical level of young people. According to far from complete information, the number of snowmobiles built by amateurs since 1968 has almost doubled.
WHEN ENGINE ... BRAKE
You can name many settlements in the northern regions of our country, where there are from a few copies to 25-35 snowmobiles. They are built not only by individual amateurs. They are created in school technical circles, in the Houses and Palaces of Pioneers, in the city stations of young technicians, in vocational schools.
A big brake on the creation of a snowmobile is the fact that our industry does not produce special engines adapted to work with a propeller in the harsh climatic conditions of the North with its low temperatures. Existing motorcycle engines, most often used on home-made snowmobiles, do not meet the requirements due to their relatively low power. Therefore, engines are usually paired (Fig. 1) or adapted in two, or even three for operation on one or two propellers (Fig. 2).
Recently, there has been a tendency to create engines of our own design. They. as a rule, they are carried out on the basis of serial parts and assemblies.
These engines (Fig. 3) are often distinguished by their original layout, high power and adaptability to work in winter conditions. The poll conducted by the editors showed that now about 8% of the total number of snowmobiles are equipped with home-made engines. It should also be noted a significant increase in the power of the snowmobile engines used: 24.5% of them are of their own design or motorcycle types M-72, M-61, M-63, K-750, Java-350, with a capacity of over 20 liters. with.; 4.2% - automobiles, with a capacity of 40 to 70 liters. with.; and 7.2% - old aircraft engines such as M-11, AI-14, Walter-Minor, etc.
AESTHETICS AND COMFORT
Analyzing the materials at the disposal of the editors on amateur-built snowmobiles, I would like to note that the technical culture of structures has significantly increased lately, more attention has been paid to aesthetics (Fig. 4), comfort, and their external finishing. If 10 years ago most of the snowmobiles were built according to the simplest scheme, without a body that protects the driver and passenger from the oncoming air flow and snow dust, now 55% of cars are made with semi-closed bodies and more than 20% with fully closed bodies. Moreover, these machines, as a rule, have a streamlined body and motor installation (Fig. 5 and 6).
Only 3.6% of snowmobiles are built according to the motorcycle scheme, which is the most profitable for low-power cars.
The three-ski system of the undercarriage still prevails: 73.5% of the known snowmobiles are built on it. The number of four-ski machines in comparison with 1965-1966 has increased from 10 to 10%. The four-skis scheme is more labor intensive, but provides better cross-country ability of the sled in loose snow and good stability when driving over rough terrain, especially when cornering at high speed.
Amateurs use mainly two-bladed wooden block propellers on their sleds, that is, made of a solid bar or a blank, glued from separate thin boards - a drek.
Only 5.5% of snowmobiles are equipped with three- or four-bladed propellers; 3.5% of the propellers are made with metal blades and the same number with variable-pitch blades (when the engine is not running).
Very few (less than 1%) propellers - with a change in the angle of attack of the blades while the machine is moving (our magazine informed readers about such propellers - see No. 5 for 1969 and No. 2 for 1972). About 40% of snowmobiles are equipped with gearboxes; 25.8% of gearboxes are made of chain, the rest are V-belt and gear.
Below are brief information about some amateur snowmobiles of interest to a wide range of readers.
In the town of Zheleznodorozhny near Moscow, a group of amateur snowmobile designers has been working for many years. I. Lukin, V. Mashenkii, S. Kuznetsov and their young assistants have created and successfully operate a number of interesting machines.
THREE SKIS? FOUR?
I. Lukin built and tested the first snowmobiles in the winter of 1969/70. They had an insufficiently stable three-ski circuit. The designer converted the car to a four-ski (see tab). He installed the front, steerable skis on a tubular truss attached to the body, providing them with spring cushioning. The low point (almost at the very sole) of the ski suspension point provides good stability and significantly increases the cross-country ability of the machine on soft virgin snow.
The ski soles are made of stainless steel, which also helps to improve the ride quality of the snowmobile.
An increase in the stability of the machine is also achieved by lowering its center of gravity. The engine from the M-72 motorcycle is located on the body frame in the lower rear part on special units. The engine has a magneto and an automobile gasoline pump driven by a cam roller driven by a V-belt from the propeller shaft. For this, a 26 mm diameter pulley is installed on the latter, and a 80 mm diameter on the cam roller. The magneto is mounted on the crankcase cover, where the ignition distributor removed from the engine is located.
The transmission from the engine to the propeller shaft is made by two parallel V-belts. This eliminates belt slippage when transmitting full power. The pulley on the motor shaft Ø 130 mm is made of duralumin. The driven pulley Ø 260 mm is keyed on the propeller shaft.
The shaft itself is on an outrigger pylon, on two radial ball bearings and one thrust bearing.
The gear ratio of the driving and driven pulleys is 1: 2, which made it possible to make a propeller with increased thrust. It is made from a birch bar.
Currently, I. Lukin is working on a more powerful two-cylinder engine.
S. Kuznetsov became interested in snowmobiles while still a student of the eighth grade. Interestingly, his first design was also a three-ski, one-seater machine with an IZH-49 motorcycle engine. The motor was located at the back, on top, on a tubular welded frame; the propeller was installed directly on the shank of the engine crankshaft. The motor was equipped with a KATEK modular magneto.
The second design (Fig. 7), created by S. Kuznetsov in 1972, with the same engine, was built according to a motorcycle scheme. This is a one-seater car with a semi-closed body. The engine on it was located at the bottom, on a transverse beam, with the transmission to the propeller shaft by two V-belts.
This design is interesting in that the entire propeller group was an easily removable unit. In the summer it was dismantled and used on the water without any changes.
The propeller is made of a solid block of wood, with straight cuts at the ends of the blades. The propeller shaft is mounted on ball bearings installed in special seats welded to the frame.
The body of the snowmobile is assembled with glue and screws from 20x20 mm bars, sheathed with plywood 2 mm thick. A transverse board is installed in the rear part, which serves as a support for the engine mounting brackets, the propeller frame and the cross tube of the ski suspension.
The snowmobile skis are equipped with steel soles and have undercuts to ensure a stable ride.
The next stage of S. Kuznetsov's technical creativity is a snowmobile with two IZH-49 engines, driven by one propeller.
AEROSANI "SVERCHOK" AND "KUPAVNA"
But the Vshivtsevs, who live in the Moscow region, build snowmobiles with the whole family: Kuzma Afanasyevich Vshivtsev is the head of the family, his wife and his son, a schoolboy.
The beginning was laid with a sled, also a three-ski circuit. They used a motor from the first Zaporozhets car. The engine was located at the top, and the propeller was mounted directly to the crankshaft shank. The propeller was three-bladed, metal, each of the blades with its threaded shank was screwed into the socket of the bushing and was fixed with a locknut. This made it possible, if necessary, to change the angles of the blades.
The body of the car was made from an old motorcycle sidecar. The snowmobiles had good driving characteristics, but the high center of gravity made them unstable.
Therefore, in 1972-1973, K. Vshivtsev made new, two-seater snowmobiles "Sverchok" (Fig. 8). The engine on them is the same, but shifted down and fixed on the frame of the body. The propeller is driven by three V-belts. The propeller itself was also changed: it became two-bladed.
Snowmobile "Sverchok" is original in that it can be quickly turned into an air car: it has 4 wheels of small diameter, on which, in fact, skis are put on, which have special sockets for this and are fastened to the wheel axle.
The low position of the machine provides it with good stability and allows it to move freely over rough terrain without fear of overturning. Snowmobile "Sverchok" took part in the winter holiday in Zelenograd and attracted the attention of numerous participants in the rally.
In his free time, P. Semkin from the village of Kupavna near Moscow likes to rush in a snowmobile. He considers such walks to be the best rest.
His snowmobiles are single, three-ski (see inset).
The front and rear ski suspensions are originally made. They consist of movable rocker frames with spring shock absorbers. This suspension scheme helps the sled to get under way, even if the skis are frozen. To prevent the ski socks from burrowing into the snow, pull-back springs are placed between them and the rocking frame. On the snowmobile, propeller guard rails are provided.
The two-cylinder two-stroke engine develops a power of 16 liters. with., equipped with a gear reducer with a gear ratio of 1: 3. The engine is located on a tubular under-motor frame at the top, above the rear edge of the housing. The propeller is wooden, block, mounted on the gearbox shaft on a key.
The body of the snowmobile is semi-closed, streamlined, has a windshield. The dry weight of the structure is only 96 kg. The sleds have been in operation since 1965.
LIKE A PLANE
For the third year already, I. Svetchikov has been improving his design of snowmobiles, gradually achieving more and more cross-country ability, speed, and reliability.
Snowmobile S-4 (Fig. 9) has a closed body. The cab accommodates two people: the driver in the comfortable front seat and the passenger in the back seat. The cockpit has a sliding canopy, similar to an aircraft.
The snowmobile is equipped with an M-72 motorcycle engine with a capacity of 22 liters. with.; it is located in the lower rear part of the body, with the transmission of rotation to the propeller shaft by four V-belts. The diameters of the pulleys provide a speed reduction of 1: 1.4.
The propeller is two-bladed, wooden, block. With a diameter of 1.8 m, it provides a pulling force of 84 kg.
IN THE CABIN - TWO
For the sixth year, M. Nosikov from Neftegorsk, Kuibyshev Region, has been building a snowmobile on his own.
The sled was altered many times, but the results were quite satisfying to the designer. ANOMI-4 (fig. 10) is the fourth and most successful amateur design. The machine has a pleasant appearance, good driving characteristics, is stable, maneuverable and, most importantly, reliable in operation.
The design is made according to a four-ski scheme, with front steerable skis. The body is semi-closed, streamlined. It accommodates two people.
In contrast to the usually accepted scheme, when the driver sits in front and the passenger in the back, in ANOMI-4 they sit side by side.
Despite the fact that the car has an incompletely closed body, the windshield and the upper glazed sections of the entrance doors protect passengers well from the oncoming air flow.
The back of the case is made with a large bevel, providing a good air flow to the working propeller.
The snowmobile is powered by a 22-liter M-72 motorcycle engine. with. It is located above the rear edge of the housing and is attached to the tubular motor frame. The propeller shaft is mounted on a subframe above the engine. The transmission is carried out through the intermediate shaft by a chain. The engine is connected to the intermediate shaft through a cardan joint.On the intermediate shaft, which rotates in ball bearings, there are two sprockets: a leading one (to drive the propeller shaft) and a small one (from the rear wheel of the bicycle) - to drive a magdina, which provides current for lighting devices.
In the photo (top to bottom). An unusual transmission from the engine to the propeller - two bevel gearboxes with a rigid vertical shaft - is made on the snowmobiles of N. Melnikov (Tyumen).
Snowmobile “vice versa”: steering ski in the back, front - fixed, propeller - in front. Designed by I. Tsipan (Rivne region).
Mini-sleigh L. Perchenko (Murmansk region) with the PD-10 / IZH-49 engine.
V. Mishagin's mini-sleigh (Gorky) with an IZH-49 engine equipped with a gear reducer.
Magdina was used from the M-105 motorcycle, but in a makeshift case. Located under the countershaft and bolted to the engine frame.
A double spark magneto is installed on the rear engine cover, which greatly simplified the ignition circuit and made it possible to get rid of the heavy battery.
The propeller is left-handed, 2 m in diameter. Made of straight-grained pine bar. The propeller shaft is mounted on ball bearings.
M. Nosikov is working on creating a propeller with a variable (when moving) blade pitch, with a reverse - for braking (while the pin brakes located in the rear skis are used).
The snowmobile has a propeller guard made of pipes and a rare protective mesh.
The speed of the ANOMI-4 snowmobile on virgin snow at full load is 40-45 km / h.
REDUCER DOUBLE
Light snowmobiles with a 20 hp engine. with. built by I. Melnikov from Tyumen (p. 16). The closed glazed cab provides good visibility and the necessary comfort for the driver of the machine. A powerful headlight is located at the front.
To reduce the center of gravity and ensure good stability of the machine, the engine is mounted on rubber couplings to the lower duralumin profiles of the body.
The transfer from the engine to the propeller shaft is originally made: through two gearboxes with. bevel gears and vertical shaft. Gear ratio 11:20. The gears of the reducers are housed in special flange housings. The vertical shaft connecting both gearboxes has soft universal joint couplings that compensate for possible inaccuracies during the assembly of the machine.
The propeller has three wooden blades, each of which enters with its shank in the socket of the metal sleeve and is clamped with a special nut. The blade angle can be adjusted on site when the engine is not running; the clamping nuts are secured with a wire. The diameter of the propeller is 1.5 m.
The fuel supply is 40 liters, located in two tanks, it is enough for 250-300 km. The maximum speed of the snowmobile is 90 km / h.
AEROSANI - CONVERSE?
"Whirlwind-2" is the name of the snowmobiles built by N. Tsipan from the Rivne region. They reach speeds of up to 50 km / h.
The snowmobile is made according to the "reverse" three-ski scheme - the two front skis are rigidly fixed to the transverse beam, and the rear one is steerable. IZH-56 engine with a capacity of 13 liters. with. placed in front on the hull beam, the propeller is four-bladed, pulling, with a diameter of 1.4 m. The transmission from the engine to the propeller shaft is carried out by a motorcycle chain.
The upper part of the engine and the propeller shaft are covered with an easily removable hood, which provides good access to all units of the engine installation.
The propeller blades are made of plywood with a thickness of 10 mm and are riveted with their butt part into the double-sided tabs of the bushing, which is attached to the shaft on a key and tightened with a lock nut.
The body of the snowmobile is of a closed type, with one door on the port side.
MINI SANI
Several options for small-sized snowmobiles, one of which - see photo - was created by L. Perchenko from the village of Olenya-1, Murmansk region. As an engine, he used an old, decommissioned tractor "launcher" PD-10, with minor alterations: the water-cooled cylinder was replaced by a motorcycle, air-cooled, from the IZH-49 engine.
To supply fuel from a gasoline tank (polyethylene canister) located under the engine, a gasoline pump of an outboard boat motor "Veterok-8" was used. To provide the engine with fuel before starting, a manual priming pump is installed between the tank and the gasoline pump.
The propeller is duralumin, block, with reinforcing pads in the butt part. The screw diameter is 1.1 m.
To increase the support area and reduce the calcination of the machine when driving on loose, deep snow, it has an additional fourth ski located between the rear ones, along the axis of symmetry of the machine. When driving, the rear ski follows the trail of the front one, controlled.
As a transverse beam of the rear suspension, the main leaf of the automobile spring (1 plate) is used.
Snowmobiles are lightweight and small in size: length - 3 m, width - 1.2 m. The developed speed is up to 50 km / h.
down cylinder
Valery Mishagin from Gorky also set himself such a goal to make a small, beautiful and light car, developing his own design of a snowmobile (pictured). He succeeded. Snowmobiles VAM-1 are compact, graceful, and their weight is only 80 kg. For these mini-sleds, the IZH-49 engine is used, located at the back, cylinder downward.
To increase the tractive effort of the propeller, a gear reducer with a gear ratio of 1: 1.5 is installed on the engine, and the engine is boosted. This made it possible to reduce the speed of the propeller, and by increasing the diameter to 1.4 m, to increase the thrust. The screw is wooden (birch), block.
The body of the snowmobile in the lower part has a power frame and a lightweight superstructure with a streamlined shape, which leans forward together with the steering column, providing the driver with ease of getting into the car. The body length is only 2 m.
During tests, the mini-sled showed a speed of 60 km / h.
I. YUVENALIEV, engineer
Do-it-yourself snowmobiles can be made quite simply. This is due to the fact that the design does not have a complex transmission, clutch, wheels, as well as hydraulic brakes. Such equipment can be used even in difficult road conditions, where it is not easy even for a caterpillar tractor to pass. The high efficiency of the installation and the significant speed of passage made this type of homemade transport one of the most common.
The basis for the construction of the snowmobile
The bottom frame, made in the form of a flat panel, acts as the base of the structure. It will have to be independently made from pine spars, foam filling, wooden cross-beams, as well as durable sheathing made of plywood. Such a panel has high quality characteristics, expressed in low weight and high rigidity, in addition, the canvas exhibits torsional bending, but at the same time has a very insignificant thickness.
If you decide to make a snowmobile with your own hands, then for the implementation of the spars, you have to pick up straight-layer boards, the thickness of each of which should be equal to 40 mm. With their use, it is necessary to cut out curved parts, the height of which is 50 mm. For side elements it is necessary to prepare boards with a thickness of 15 mm. Whereas the front cross member, on which the handlebar joints will be reinforced, should be made of 60x50 mm pine log. In order to mount the frame of the frame, made in the form of a panel, it is necessary to use epoxy glue. The same composition should be applied when attaching foam blocks to the frame, in addition, glue should be used when facing the bottom panel, in the process of which a 5 mm plywood sheet should be used.
In order to make a snowmobile with your own hands, it will be necessary to build a body, which can be based on a structure that is classic for this type of transport, made on the basis of a light frame. The latter should be made of thin-walled metal pipes, which are fastened together by welding. It is necessary to select workpieces with an outer diameter of 15 mm. After that, it is necessary to strengthen the shaping elements on the frame, which are stringers. Fastening must be done with soft wire.
Features of the manufacture of windshield
In order to make a snowmobile with your own hands, you will need a windshield, which can be borrowed from the ZAZ-968, for which the frame is fixed on the frame by means of a welding machine. The space between the stringers must be carefully filled with foam blocks. As soon as the surface of the foam is processed and covered with a putty compound, the body must be pasted over with fiberglass, which is laid in two layers.
Manufacturing of doors
To make doors, you must use the same technology that was used when making the body. That is, here you will have to prepare the tubes that will form the basis of the frame. In addition, plywood stringers and foam filling are to be used. As for the located window, as well as those windows that will be on the doors, then the use of 4-mm plexiglas will come in handy.
If you decide to make a snowmobile with your own hands, it is recommended to preview the drawings in advance in order to choose one of them.
The side parts of the rear area of the snowmobile body, which turn into keels, must be finished with prepared plywood sheets. It is necessary to use 4 mm sheets during these works. The keels are areas located behind the doors of the unit. The plywood must be fixed to the roll bar and M4 screws are recommended. After this kind of work has been completed, you can proceed to pasting the outer surfaces, applying fiberglass, which must be laid in two layers. The inner surface of the plywood sheathing must be protected from moisture; for this it is necessary to use parquet varnish, which is applied in two layers.
Propeller-driven installation
Do-it-yourself snowmobiles, the drawings of which have to be prepared in advance, are based on the RMZ-640 propeller-driven installation, which has a V-belt gearbox. A number of motor hang-gliders and airplanes are equipped with similar motors. It is worth noting that the propeller-driven installation of the described design is almost no different from that built into the popular two-seater hang-glider. With a propeller with a diameter of 1350 mm, the unit is capable of developing a static thrust of 120 kg, which will be quite enough for the described design.
Before you make a snowmobile with your own hands, it is necessary to take into account that the propeller-driven installation on the frame-panel must be fixed by means of braces in the amount of six pieces. They must be made of metal pipes Ø30x1.5 mm.
In order to reduce aerodynamic resistance, it is necessary to glue wooden fairings to the pipes using epoxy resin, which will give the braces a drop-shaped section.
Work on the propeller
A propeller for a snowmobile with your own hands can be made using the same technology that was used by the German company "Hoffman". Before making the screw, you need to make a blank using 60x20 mm pine blocks, which will be glued with epoxy resin. When carrying out this process, the layers of wood must be arranged symmetrically to the mating planes. After gluing is completed, the workpiece must be planed out to match the dimensions of the screw. For templates, you need to apply the drawing of the screw. But the templates themselves should be prepared from plywood. To carry out the work, it is necessary to use several of their options - planned, as well as a side view, lower and upper blade templates. If you decide to make a snowmobile with your own hands, the photos of which are presented in the article, you need to perform the markup and use an ax with a plane at the next stage. But the final work on adjusting the screw should be done in the slipway. It is necessary to make its base from a board of 60 mm.
In order to determine how accurately the screw was machined, it is necessary to apply the blue, which needs to be used to process the lower templates. A workpiece is to be put on the rod and pressed. This will produce the imprints of the blades. Once the blue marks are removed, use the rasp to press the screw against the templates. Such manipulations have to be carried out until traces of patterns along the length are printed on the workpiece. The upper area of the screw must be machined in the slipway, after which the excess between the sections must be removed. In order to control the correctness of these works, it is necessary to use a steel ruler.
The do-it-yourself snowmobile propeller should be balanced after it is ready. For this, a steel roller must be installed in the central hole, and then the propeller must be mounted on the balancing rulers. If a lighter blade is found, then it must be loaded with lead, which must be glued in the form of strips. As soon as equilibrium is achieved, a round rod should be cast from the strips, which is attached with epoxy glue into the hole made in the blade.
Propeller finishing
You can make a snowmobile from a chainsaw with your own hands, but if you decide to use the technology described above in your work, then at the next stage you need to glue the propeller with fiberglass in two layers. After that, you need to make grinding, completing the balancing. Further, the surface is primed and painted with auto enamel. The ski located in front must be glued on epoxy resin using plywood strips, the thickness of which is 4 mm. In this case, in this case, stainless steel strips of 0.8 mm should be used. The gluing thickness is equivalent to 30 mm. The front area of the ski should be in the form of a 16 mm metal tube arc. In the middle part, this element should have 3 mm stainless steel sheet guide undercuts. The ski will have a spring-hydraulic shock absorber, borrowed from the "Ural".
The rear skis are box-shaped. Their soles are glued from plywood and stainless steel, but the sides must be prepared from a 25 mm board. These elements are depreciated. The steering is taken from the SZD motorized carriage. You can also take a heater from it. The brakes are installed on the rear skis. The drive is combined: from the pedal to the lever it will be cable, while from the lever to the scraper it must be made rigid. If you want to make the installation more complex, then you can make a radio-controlled snowmobile with your own hands.
Snowmobiles are used where there are no roads or where the tractor can hardly pass. This homemade vehicle does not have a clutch and complex transmission. There are also no hydraulic brakes, so the snowmobile is easy to make with your own hands.
In winter, fishermen have to travel long distances. The use of homemade equipment makes the transfer to the reservoir quick and convenient. The vehicle is equipped with runners, thanks to which it is possible to move on ice, crust and snow. The snowmobile drives the aircraft propeller. It turns a motor that runs on gasoline.
When driving, the sleds reach speeds of up to 150 km / h. This compares favorably with snowmobiles. With a soft suspension, the transport provides a comfortable ride. If we talk about the smoothness of the ride, the snowmobile is comparable to a car. Cabins are often installed on them, this provides additional protection from wind and frost.
The bottom frame serves as the base of the structure; it is made in the form of a panel. The frame is assembled from spar bars, it is best to use pine ones. A foam filler is also required, and the rigidity of the structure is given using wooden beams.
The frame is sheathed, for this purpose it is necessary to purchase a plywood sheet. Together with torsional bending and high rigidity, it demonstrates high quality characteristics.
Specifications
A self-made snowmobile is better than a snowmobile; do-it-yourself snowmobiles for fishing can be made by installing a motor with a power of 15 hp or more on the structure. It is so easy to achieve the following indicators:
- The engine makes 4700 revolutions in 1 minute.
- The propeller diameter is 1300 mm, it spins up to 2300 revolutions. The maximum effort is 62 kg.
- The fuel tank holds 40 to 50 liters of gasoline.
- Without a driver, the weight of the structure is 90.7 kg. With a load - 183 kg.
The choice of engine depends on the weight of the snowmobile, its size and carrying capacity. The motor must be of such power that the propeller makes the required number of revolutions. This value is chosen by the constructor. It is necessary to strive to ensure that the structure is light, then you can install an engine of small size and power. The equipment must have an air cooling system.
A snowmobile is often equipped with a car engine. It is distinguished by its great power, it is easy to equip a self-made snowmobile with an engine, because it is enough to remove it from the old car.
On the sled, you can install a motor from a Jupiter motorcycle; an engine removed from a Zhiguli would be a good option. You can use K-62I. This is a carburetor that has 2 cylinders. Ignition is carried out from the battery, and the fuel tank is designed for 30 liters of gasoline.
D-30 or D-15 can be installed on light snowmobiles. The first develops a pulling force of 40 kgf, and the second - 60 kgf. D-15 has a gear reducer. On both engines, the tank is designed for 15 liters of fuel.
Carrying capacity
Carrying capacity refers to the ability of a vehicle to move cargo and passengers. This is the total weight of the car, including ammunition and people. Self-made units are designed to carry from 1 to 5 people. With a load, the weight of the snowmobile reaches 300 kg.
Range and speed of movement
If a 15 hp engine is installed on a snowmobile, on hard snow they will reach a speed of 70 to 80 km / h, an average speed of 40-50 km / h. The speed on the packed snow increases. The fastest way for transport is the crust, the maximum speed on snowy terrain can be 110 km / h. But at high speed, the stability of the vehicle decreases, there is a possibility that it will overturn. Therefore, it is not recommended to develop speeds above 50-70 km / h.
Most often, tanks with a capacity of 40 liters are installed on homemade vehicles. The filled fuel is enough for 300 km.
Fuel supply
Since snowmobiles move around the area where there are no filling stations, it is necessary to take care of the fuel supply. It is poured into a canister, it is best to use containers with a volume of 20 liters. This supply will be enough to get out of the snowy wilderness.
Brake design
The braking system of homemade equipment cannot be called classic. Scrapers are made at the ends of the rear skis, cables are pulled from the brake pedal, which, if necessary, activate them. When the driver presses down on the pedal, the scrapers move downward. Because of this, the run of the sled is slowed down.
How to do it yourself
You can make a snowmobile with your own hands: the body of a self-made snowmobile is created taking into account the laws of aerodynamics, so all elements of technology should be done in strict accordance with the plan. The work of all units and the service life of homemade equipment directly depend on the quality of the assembly.
Drawing of typical snowmobiles: 
Frame
The assembly of the snowmobile begins with the body, it consists of a strong frame, which is covered with a skin. It is aerodynamically shaped by tapering towards the front. The case has 2 compartments: front and rear, in which the motor is installed.
The required rigidity of the structure is given by 2 spars and power stringers. Frames are installed, there should be 4. They are placed at regular intervals. Plywood is used for their manufacture; it is best to purchase material with a thickness of 10 mm. Wide frames are reinforced with transverse beams.
Work begins with the installation of the lower frame; frames are installed on it. Be sure to make spacers, they are fixed to the frames with the help of corners. When this stage is completed, proceed to securing the stringers. Transverse reinforcement with special beams is necessary, because goods are transported on home-made equipment.
The frame is glued, this can be done by applying casein glue. Gauze is applied to the joints, then it is impregnated with glue. Another option is also possible, when the gauze is first cut, the bandage is impregnated with glue, and then the joints of the elements are wrapped with a strip.
For the enclosure sheathing, plywood sheets should be purchased, they are closed on top with a duralumin coating. The driver's seat is made of plywood, but you can install a factory one made of plastic.
Place for cargo is allocated at the rear of the structure, located behind the seat. Parts and tools can be stored in this compartment, as well as a can of gasoline, fishing tackle and passengers' belongings. There are different options for assembling aerosled vehicles, the designs of the drawings should be studied before starting work.
Propeller system
The propeller system consists of several elements. The most common option is to install a motor removed from the IZH-56 on a snowmobile. The screw shaft is mounted on the bearing, it is installed on the frame. A wooden plate is required to mount the motor.
To regulate the V-belt transmission to the screw, a plywood or PCB plate is required. A fan is installed to cool the engine. It is fixed to the crankcase using a bracket for this purpose.
Suspension
Snowmobile skis are made of plywood 10 mm thick, from the bottom they are sheathed with stainless steel. The skis are bent; for this, the plywood is placed in boiling water. The bend is done using a slip.
When assembling, it is necessary to choose the correct thickness of the rear skis, different drawings are provided. For reinforcement, a thick beam is used, the skis are attached to the body with M6 screws. In order for the snowmobile to be stable when cornering, undercuts are made. They are constructed from a pipe flattened at the ends.
How to equip correctly?
The speedometer, ignition switch, fuel gauge and all major instruments are installed on the front panel. There should also be control levers, brake pedals and engine start. If you are planning trips to unfamiliar places, far from settlements, it is worth installing a GPS navigator on the snowmobile. On the left, put a rear-view mirror, the air and throttle lever should be in the cab.
Snowmobile with a chainsaw engine
The chainsaw motor has a low power, which does not exceed 4 hp. This is not enough to travel long distances. The minimum engine power must be at least 12 HP.
If the reservoir is nearby, then a low-power motor is enough. The motor from the chainsaw, despite this, will move the light structure. Such a snowmobile can be used to transport fishing tackle.
Alternative options
An automobile body can be used as a body for a snowmobile.
For example, a snowmobile made from a "loaf".
Safety during operation
When using homemade vehicles, the propeller poses a potential hazard to passengers. To prevent accidents, the propeller screw is hidden in the casing. This element protects not only passengers, but also the propeller itself from foreign objects falling into it.
When assembling a snowmobile, you should control the quality of work. The main load falls on the skis, so the quality of the bolted connection must be high. Fasteners need to be checked, maintenance done on time. The propeller is regularly inspected, it is important to see the defects that have arisen in time.
Trouble-free operation of equipment is possible if the engine for the snowmobile is working properly, there is fuel, and the oil is poured to the required level.
When assembling equipment, they are guided by the dimensions presented in the drawings. Be sure to make the cabins a visor, the snowmobiles then become more convenient to operate. There is no need to make any changes to the design, this can cause problems.