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Immediately after the appearance on the market, mini-tractors gained wide popularity among builders and public utilities. Maneuverable vehicles quickly replaced large-sized special equipment and cope with the tasks set just as well. Now they have already begun to use mini-tractors for the household, and they are even trying to assemble them on their own from a walk-behind tractor.
Technique classification
A mini-tractor at home is an indispensable assistant in the garden, cottage, etc. The modern market offers a huge selection of special equipment. One of the main parameters of its classification is the type of engine. They come in petrol and diesel, and also differ in power.
Light models
This type of special equipment is most suitable for home use if the area of the cultivated area does not exceed 2 hectares. The machines are used for haymaking, clearing sidewalks of snow, cultivating a vegetable garden and other agricultural work. The technique is characterized by compactness, maneuverability, and is also capable of moving at high speed. Light models are equipped with an engine with a capacity of up to 7 liters. With.
Medium models
It is reasonable to take an average mini-tractor for a household if the area of the cultivated area reaches 5 hectares. The technique is also suitable for small farms, as it is universal in use. Medium models are equipped with an engine with a capacity of up to 20 liters. With.
heavy models
A heavy mini-tractor for the household is not applicable. Despite its compact size, the equipment is used to perform large volumes of agricultural work. Heavy machines are equipped with an engine with a capacity of up to and more than 55 hp. With.
Design difference
Depending on the design, the specifics of the use of technology, that is, its purpose, is determined.
Rider
The appearance of this mini-tractor resembles an enlarged lawn mower. The equipment is designed for mowing grass. To expand the functionality, it is possible to install a drive. Then the raider will be able to work with light attachments. The mini-tractor is characterized by high maneuverability.
Garden equipment
You can distinguish a garden tractor from a raider by the location of the motor. The first model has it in front. The rider has the engine in the back. This feature greatly reduced the maneuverability of the garden machine. It is less stable on difficult terrain, especially slopes. However, this technique is able to work with many attachments that can be attached to the rear and front.
General purpose machinery
These mini-tractors are scaled down copies of large-sized agricultural machines. Maneuverable and compact equipment is used in construction, for public works, maintenance of greenhouses and livestock farms. The versatility of mini-tractors is expanded through the use of attachments.
Criteria for choosing a mini tractor
When choosing a mini-tractor for the household, you need to clearly know what tasks he will have to cope with. The efficiency of technology depends on this. So, let’s look at what you need to pay attention to when buying a mini tractor:
- Manufacturer. This question always worries the experienced buyer. The most reliable is the equipment of Japanese and German manufacturers. Other European brands have proven themselves well. However, you will have to pay a good price for quality. If you want something imported, but cheaper, then you should give preference to Italian or Chinese models. Now mini-tractors of domestic production are winning their place in the market and are already in great demand.
- Engine power is the main parameter that you should pay attention to in the first place. The endurance of the equipment depends on the amount of horsepower. It is better to take with a small margin than to regret that a weak mini-tractor is slow.
- The weight and size of the mini-tractor are also important indicators. A technique selected without taking into account these parameters can cause a lot of trouble when performing the assigned tasks.
- The comfort of using the equipment depends on the additional equipment. If you need a mini-tractor for year-round work, then you should choose a model with a cab and heating. With seasonal use of equipment in the warm season, you can stop at cheaper models without a cab.
When purchasing any model of a mini-tractor, ask about the availability of spare parts for it. Some imported and discontinued models are difficult to find parts or will have to pay a lot for them.
Homemade mini-tractor from a walk-behind tractor
Do-it-yourself mini-tractor for the household can be assembled from a walk-behind tractor. Among such homemade products, small-sized equipment has good functionality. For alteration, you will need to make a frame, install an additional pair of wheels, steering and, of course, a driver’s seat.
The assembled mini-tractor with your own hands can even be equipped with hydraulics. This will make it possible to use equipment with attachments designed for earthworks.
When converting a walk-behind tractor into a mini-tractor, you will need ready-made drawings. With this question, it is better to contact a specialist who was engaged in such design. The fact is that each brand of walk-behind tractor has the features of its design, therefore, the reworking of the nodes occurs in different ways.
When assembling a mini-tractor with your own hands, you need to provide for the correct transmission of torque from the motor to the wheels. The uniform distribution of the load on the drive axle depends on this.
During the assembly of the main components, it is necessary to position the lever for switching speeds and the brake as conveniently as possible. In addition to the comfort of use, these systems are responsible for the safety of the driver.
When the entire mini-tractor is assembled, it remains to install additional equipment. First equip the driver’s seat with a comfortable seat. In order for the equipment to be able to work at night, lights are placed on the front of the body.
And now let’s look at a general guide on how to make a mini-tractor from a home walk-behind tractor:
- First, for a homemade mini-tractor, you need to weld the frame. Longitudinal and transverse spars are best made from a channel. Hubs for axle bearings are attached from below. They can be bought or found in scrap metal, taken from agricultural equipment. Two bearings must be installed on each axle shaft.
- The track width depends on the location of the motor. If the engine remains in front of the frame, then the track width is left the same as it was with the walk-behind tractor. With the rear engine, the track is expanded on the frame. This is necessary to balance the structure.
- When installing wheels, be sure to check their alignment. Each axle shaft must be strictly perpendicular to the longitudinal elements of the frame. To achieve such an exact location, you can install a solid axis with bearings, after which it is sawn into two parts. That is, it turns out two half shafts.
- For the manufacture of the axis, you need to take a blank of high-quality steel. The diameter of this part depends on the bearings on hand. You also need to measure the size of the wheel hubs. They must match the dimensions of the bearings.
- Two clutches are put on the axle. The right part should move easily. The driver will move it with a lever on the control bar. When the right clutch with the left element converge in tight engagement, it will be possible to block the wheels.
- The traverse is made so that it turns freely 180о. The ease of control of equipment during operation depends on this.
- The next element to the frame is welded steel corners with a section of 25×25 mm. A metal casing is screwed to them with bolts for the intermediate shaft. It is bent from sheet steel 5 mm thick. An opening damper is placed on the casing at the back, and fasteners for the fuel tank are welded in front.
When all the main components are ready, you can start designing a mini-tractor. Racks are welded to the frame, after which a seat is attached to them. If desired, you can even make a cabin or an open canopy over the driver.
The video shows a homemade mini-tractor:
It is convenient to make home-made mini-tractors from walk-behind tractors if the farm has an old disassembled Moskvich car. From it you can take almost all the necessary spare parts.