Half track lawn mower

[mkamin927]

So i have this crazy idea. i was sitting around at church talking to some friends and we got started on the topic of junk we have at our houses. well my friend has multiple dead snowmobiles i might be able to get, and i want to put them under a john Deere 212 i have laying around. i want to make a half track system that hooks to the hubs on the tractor and then have a flat bed or possibly a dump bed. how strong could this thing possibly turn out to be. i will have 2 full track sets and am going to try to put one of the snowmobile engines in the tractor. what kind of weight capable suspension does a standard track on one of them have? Does this seem like a possible idea> it shouldn't be too hard to turn with the stock limited slip rear end. also how much torque can the tracks take. i would love for this be able to outpull my weighted 317 with snow chains, which is a challenge for something made from some junk machines. what do you guys think of the idea? is it possible? if you built one what extras would you add?

 

[CityRedneck]

Like this?
halftrack - My offroad halftrack

 

[mkamin927]

yea in a way, just im going to try and modify the tracks from snowmobiles to drive it, not build my own.
I got the snowmobiles today and they just happen to be john deeres... going a a jd 212... sort of coincidence in my mind ill post pictures of them and the dead 212 Monday.

 

[mkamin927]

i started tearing into the snowmobiles today, and rebuilt the 212 as a rolling chassis. first thing i need to do is make it a running chassis with a 34 cyclone snowmobile engine in her, for now at least. i think 7000 rpms will make it a little quicker, and 30 plus horsepower should work. then the fun of mounting the tracks. im thinking of using some larger sprockets on the drive from the tractor, and on the cog for the track on the snowmobile. the only bad part, i have to witch the cog on on set of track to make it work. sounds like fun, will have pics soon. also what should i do for exhaust, i was considering straight pipes. how load is a snowmobile with straight pipes?

 

[txzrider]

isnt the snowmobile motor a 2 stroke? They depend on exhaust tuning for power, most of them have a tuned exhaust from the factory, you run straight pipes... so much for power.

 

[mkamin927]

Hmm that might be a issue. I may be able to fit it. The motor mounts are nearly done. I just need a belt and to mount the engine. Pics up tomorrow.

 

[mkamin927]

well the motor is ready to be mounted and have the controls set up. then i just need the right belt, and then the fun of figuring the exhaust

 

[chance123]

Sounds like a fun project. The tracks will probably tear up the turf though when turning

 

[mkamin927]

I won't likely run tracks too often and it is a limited slip. I have one issue though, do I have to keep the exhaust level??