In the cold, snowy regions of our country you simply cannot do without a snowmobile. The market offers a large selection of these devices; sometimes it is very difficult to find a unique and exclusive option. But after purchasing a specific model, so that this vehicle becomes unique, which no one else will have, you can tune it. One of the parts that are often modified on these vehicles is the suspension. What role does it play in operation? Let's look at all this further.
Is it worth making homemade snowmobiles?
The question is very rhetorical, since most people do not have the time and desire to create equipment on their own. To make a snowmobile with your own hands, you need knowledge and skills, equipment, and materials. In theory, converting a motorcycle to skis and tracks isn't that difficult. But during operation, such a snowmobile will have poor handling and poor maneuverability. This is due to the fact that homemade products are thought out as work progresses, based on dubious projects.
Benefits of Buying an Arctic Cat Snowmobile
In terms of price, creating a homemade product from original components and assemblies will cost more than full-fledged equipment produced by the factory. Therefore, buying an Arctic Ket snowmobile from a dealer is not only advisable because of its quality, but also the economic part of the issue. The Kvadrodog dealer always has on sale all new models of snowbikes from the American brand, which can be taken out on credit or even in installments.
Drawings of a homemade Zhuk snowmobile
The engine compartment is protected on three sides by a rubber bumper of a trapezoidal cross-section, riveted to the side of the compartment with tubular rivets with a pitch of 50 mm through a steel strip strip. At the front of the bumper, three oblong air intake holes are cut for ventilation of the engine compartment. In addition, wooden strips are laid on the footboards flush with the snowmobile frame tubes and attached to the bottom skin with screws. A rubber mat is laid over the planks and nailed to them with small nails. Finally, the hood is equipped with a windshield, and the track tunnel at the rear is covered with a rubber shield.
The HOOD is made of 1.5 mm thick sheet steel using electric arc welding. A traveling headlight (with a cable connecting it to the on-board electrical network) and a windshield are mounted on it. The hood is mounted on the bumper and attached to the snowmobile body with two spring locks.
I'll try to explain how I did it.
Next, having removed the drive sprocket mounting nut from the crankshaft, I replaced it with a device for accurately marking the contour of the hole (on the outer surface of the crankcase cover) for the fan housing. The device is a steel rod with a diameter of 18 mm, one end of which is shaped like a nut (for screwing onto the crankshaft shank), and the other has a through radial hole (for
L-shaped scriber) and axial threaded (for the screw fixing the scriber).
Then he returned the crankcase cover to its place, inserted the scriber into the device and fixed it in such a way that with its sharply sharpened end it outlined a circle with a diameter of 50 mm.
I temporarily replaced the engine start lever and carefully turned the crankshaft - the scriber on the crankcase cover left a clearly visible circle mark. First, I used a coarse round file and then a thin semicircular file to remove the excess metal, not forgetting to try on the fan housing that had been previously turned on a lathe.
Having inserted the housing into the cover, I marked and drilled holes for the mounting screws. Pressed in the lip seal and bearings with a spacer sleeve. Between the body and the lid I installed a thick cardboard gasket 1 mm thick.
The impeller shaft on the engine side has a hexagonal cavity into which the standard drive sprocket mounting nut fits tightly. The hexagonal cavity with the nut creates a kind of spline connection.
For more reliable operation of the fan, the impeller flange is machined from duralumin. The impeller is from the Elektron scooter engine. Since the direction of its rotation on a motor scooter is opposite to the direction of rotation of the crankshaft of the snowmobile engine, the impeller blades face the crankcase cover. On the same side there are air intake openings, reliably protected from the ingress of foreign objects. The casing, air duct and volute flange are welded using electric arc welding.
SUPPLY SYSTEM. The snowmobile uses a simple and reliable power system: fuel flows to the carburetor through the gas pipeline by gravity. The standard cap in the carburetor float chamber was replaced with another one, with a horizontal fitting, which made it possible to eliminate the “extra” bend of the fuel line. The fuel tank is from a Riga-12 moped with a capacity of 5.5 liters (this capacity is quite enough for my snowmobile). The dimensions of the tank made it easy to “fit” it into the engine compartment, clamping it in a rigid clamp with a rubber gasket.
SUPPORT TROLLEYS. The snowmobile has three support axles (three axles) with six support carriages consisting of balancers, rollers and springs.
Structurally, all twelve welded balancers are exactly the same. Each of them is a combination of six parts.
The rollers rotate in ball bearings. To prevent them from jumping off the axles, the ends of the axles are riveted. The roller bushings are duralumin, the rims are rubber, the rivets are steel. Since the bearings are sealed and do not require lubrication, there are no grease fittings.
The elastic elements of trolleys are springs. They are constantly in a slightly compressed state, since they are prevented from straightening out completely by the rods that rest against each other, welded to the balancers from below.
CONTROLS The steering wheel of the snowmobile is of a motorcycle type. Bent from a steel pipe with a diameter of 21 mm. On the right horn of the steering wheel there is a throttle control lever from the IZH-49 motorcycle, on the left there is a clutch lever.
The reverse gear control handle is located to the right of the instrument panel. It has three fixed positions: left - forward movement, middle - “neutral”, right - backward movement.
The speed of the snowmobile is controlled by the speedometer. Next to it there is a low-high beam switch and a general power switch. By the way, the electrical equipment of the Beetle is supplied with energy from the G-427 engine generator.
STEERING. Perhaps this is the most complex and labor-intensive snowmobile system. Like the steering wheel, the steering shaft is made of steel pipe with a diameter of 21 mm. Its spatial position is determined by two removable brackets - upper and lower. The first is attached to the instrument panel with two M8 bolts; the second, which also carries the engine mount - with four of the same bolts - to the wall of the caterpillar tunnel.
How safe are snowmobiles?
Snowmobiles, like motorcycles, are fast and heavy vehicles. In a typical year, 2 million people use snow machines in North America and about 200 of them are killed in accidents and 14,000 are injured (source: https://okami-sport.ru/).
200 deaths may sound like a lot, but we have to put that number in context. Every year, about 150,000 people die from accidental injuries, 33,000 die from falls, and 38,000 people die from motor vehicle accidents.
The role of the rear suspension in the movement of a snowmobile
Most often, the rear suspension is equipped with a linear force element, which is located outside the vehicle's track. The linear force element mounts are located on the frame and on the corner arm of the vehicle. Also, sliding rails are connected to the corner lever and supporting rollers are attached to it. When folding the sliding rails using an angular lever, the linear force element is advanced, after which the suspension moves smoothly in its range. The rear suspension system of a snowmobile works on this principle.
These processes in the vehicle suspension mechanism ensure comfortable vehicle control. Thanks to a well-tuned suspension, the snowmobile moves smoothly. The purpose of the rear suspension is to support the track and motor drive while driving. When the snowmobile travels over uneven surfaces, strong shocks may be felt. It is in such situations that the rear suspension will show its effect? she will take all the possible impacts and shaking.
Why does the rear suspension need modification or replacement?
Whether a snowmobile needs tuning, in particular changes to the rear suspension parameters, is determined by the purpose for which the vehicle will be used.
Are there two types of snowmobile suspensions? connected and unrelated. A connected suspension has two main advantages:
- she shares the toughness;
- controls weight transfer if the vehicle picks up speed.
Often this type of rear suspension is installed in snowmobiles that will be used for sporting purposes or for transporting cargo. This is necessary in order to cope well with sharp turns, strong shaking and frequent redistribution of weight.
Unconnected pendants have their own characteristics. Their front and rear elements are independent. Therefore, if the front part deviates, the rear either deviates only a little or remains in place.
Unlinked harnesses are best attached to snowmobiles that are used in deep snow or have long tracks. They are more capable of increasing traction and also distribute weight well. Also, improving the performance of the suspension may be necessary if the snowmobile engine has been tuned. After all, in order for a vehicle to cope with new loads, a comprehensive modification is necessary, and the suspension in this case? not an exception.
ADSA suspension
In essence, this is the same DSA type suspension, only in this case the length of the wishbones is different. There are snowmobile models where, due to the use of ADSA suspension, it is possible to adjust the camber angle. This type of suspension found its way onto the S2000 chassis. The ZX chassis already featured the next generation of suspension, called the ADSA ZX. It is characterized by the ability to adjust the camber, and the movement of the transversely located levers has also been significantly changed. Owners of snowmobiles using this suspension system unanimously note a high level of controllability compared to DSA.
What is better: replacing the suspension with a factory one or a homemade one?
Should I buy a ready-made suspension for a snowmobile or make it myself? This is a question that must be decided by the vehicle owner himself. Several factors may influence the decision. If the snowmobile is purchased and not made yourself, then most likely it is better to buy a suspension for it. It will be easier to do this, because for each factory model of snowmobiles there is a certain type of suspension.
However, the rear suspension on a homemade snowmobile should most likely also be homemade? It can be difficult to find a factory one. Also taken into account is the purpose for which the snowmobile will be used. What if its purpose? professional winter sports, then you definitely need to take a professional factory suspension. If the main purpose of the snowmobile is to transport its owner, then it is quite enough to make the suspension yourself. In addition, if you make the suspension yourself, you can save a lot of money.
Features of the national suspension
14.01.2019
The debate continues on snowmobile forums: which front suspension is better - telescopic or wishbone?
Each type of suspension is designed to perform a specific function.
If you plan to use a snowmobile for fishing, hunting or leisurely travel (as well as for transporting heavy loads), a telescopic suspension does this job perfectly. This suspension consists of telescopic struts where the shock absorber and springs are located.
The telescopic suspension absorbs minor shock loads, and the suspension travel is limited by the length of the shock absorbers. The simplicity of the design ensures the reliability and low cost of the unit. Typically, telescopic front suspension is installed on heavy utility snowmobiles.
Snowmobiles with telescopic front suspension are designed to work in difficult conditions, and are not intended for high-speed racing (“you can try to light it up,” of course, but there will be a minimum of comfort from such high-speed riding).
LTS suspension , or Lynx Telescopic Suspension , is a dedicated front suspension for utility snowmobiles. Its advantages are light weight and simple design that does not create accumulation of snow in front of the snowmobile.
The telescopic front suspension allows for greater buoyancy in deep snow compared to other types of suspension. Therefore, it has excellent cross-country ability. The LTS suspension provides the snowmobile with high ground clearance, which allows it to travel over many difficult terrains without hindrance.
But for those who like aggressive rides on snowy tracks and mountain slopes, snowmobiles with front wishbone suspension are perfect. Some front wishbone suspensions have adjustable shock absorbers, allowing for fine adjustments.
However, there are some nuances here.
For example, Ski-Doo snowmobiles have a double A-arm front suspension design. The RAS suspension has the shock absorber mounted with the top angled rearwards by 10°, so that most of the impact energy is absorbed by the spring and shock absorber rather than the chassis. This design eliminates the horizontal movement of the skis and the convergence and divergence of the ski tips during the suspension stroke.
The front wishbone suspension LFS ( Live For Speed ) is “sharpened,” as the name suggests, for high-speed movement and active maneuvering.
The A-arm front suspension provides superior comfort and handling. The suspension has long travel and a reliable design. Thanks to the special geometry, the track and toe of the skis remain virtually unchanged, which ensures precise control in all conditions.
However, some Lynx sleds feature curved A-arms on the front wishbone suspension. This design feature allows Lynx models (for example, Commander or 49 Ranger) to increase cross-country ability, painlessly overcoming obstacles in the form of stones and stumps. In addition, thanks to the curved A-arms, the front suspension will not “shove up snow.”
How to make a homemade suspension for a snowmobile?
Let's take, for example, the simplest type of linked rear suspension for snowmobiles? four-link suspension. Its main components are:
- chassis;
- two levers;
- sliding rails;
- connecting hinges.
The suspension design (it is used mainly for the Polaris Fusion snowmobile model) is as follows:
- its front arm is connected to the sliding rails using a hinge joint;
- at the other end, the front arm is attached to the chassis with the same hinge;
- next you need to connect the rear lever with the sliding rails with a hinge;
- at the other end, the rear arm is attached to the chassis by a hinge;
- the placement of torsion springs must be determined between the sliding rails and the rear reaction rod;
- the fastening of the first and second linear power element is located between both suspension arms (the first and second - respectively, and relative to the sliding rails).
To remove the old factory suspension, there are a few steps you need to take:
- lift and hang the snowmobile from the rear;
- remove the bolts on the front and rear arms;
- remove the suspension.
To attach the new suspension, you need to use the front and rear control arm clamps, which allow you to install bolts that attach the suspension directly to the frame.
Shock absorbers for snowmobiles
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Applicability
Yamaha
- RS Venture TF
- VK540
- VK10D
- VK PROFESSIONAL II
Russian mechanics
- Taiga Attack 551 II
- Taiga Varyag 500
- Taiga Varyag 550
- Taiga Varyag 550V
- Taiga Bars 850
- TAYGA PATRUL SWT
- Army
- TIKSY 250
- TIKSY 250 lux
Is it necessary to register such changes with Gostekhnadzor?
Probably everyone already knows that when purchasing a snowmobile, it must be registered. You also need to have a category A license to drive such a vehicle. Using a snowmobile without a license or while intoxicated is strictly punishable by law. However, are there rules regarding the registration of small changes to the design of a snowmobile, such as rear suspension changes?
The law establishes the rule that owners of any vehicle must present it for technical inspection from time to time. Snowmobile? not an exception. The interval at which this needs to be done is determined depending on the terrain and type of vehicle. If a tracked vehicle is designed for eight or more seats for passengers, then it must be presented for technical inspection every six months. If this is an ordinary snowmobile, then it needs to be inspected every year. When undergoing regular technical inspection, there is no need for additional registration of minor changes in the design. Main ? ensure safe movement on a snowmobile.
