Tracked vechicle build help!!!!

[PhatUincorns22]

Helllo this is my first time posting and i might doing so in the complete wrong spot but here goes

I was commisioned by my students and my own childrent to build a tracked vechile of sorts and have it be a function build but the trick is i have to pirate everything from junkyards and lawnmowers mini bikes broken down junk i cannot buy any parts NEW i have to get used and pirated parts only. soooooo here we are at the point of the rear axle and im stuck and needs zome inspiration ladies and gents.....

Found a local scrap and small engine guy willing to let me pilfer his junk pile to see his collection no carts hes check ed but he does have some scooters with t/c and a centrifigal clutch lots of pulleys sprokets and what not so im asking the crowd what should i do here

Do I..........
1. Do a jack shaft with a centrifigual clutch
2.do a jack shaft with a T/C
3. Jackshaft alone and use the sprokets only and how would gear ratio on that werk anyway?would it worknat all withoutnburning something up

Could i use a set of pulleys with belts vs a chain and sprocket set up hmmmm.....?

Not worried about top speed looking for a climber maybe 20mph top flat ground speed.if possible
Running a 6.5 hp that was a 30yr engind i got running agai. But will upgrade if replacement is found (so manny spies out there searching for broken riding mower and tillers).

I plan to use an idler pulley to act as a tension arm from jack shaft to each individual track controlled by a pair of steering posts push right one forward right track turns push left one corwarx ect... Push both it will go forward well least in theory

While i have my doubts about certain enginnered components such as how will i interrupt the movement of sprokets while i want vehicle to idle in that setup?still pondering that one

I will post pics as well of build so far

im looking at snowmobile treads and sprokets for rear drives and for the treads.
Unless some have ides how i could use a belted radial that was my first idea i just dont know how i could get them long enough

Thank you for any info and guidance ladies and gents

 

[anickode]

Something different to consider would be a go kart axle with a diff, or a mower transaxle (will have an open diff) and use separate left and right brakes. You gotta have brakes anyway, so why not kill 2 birds with one stone and use them to steer as well? Thats how ARGO does it on their skid steeringwheel ATVs. Mechanical disc brakes should be sufficient to do the job. Brakes might be one area you want to waive your "junkyard only" policy.

The ultimate find would be a junked zero turn mower. Left and right hydrostatic boxes.

Snowmobile tracks would work, but some conveyor belt rubber, some small steel channel, and a cut up tire, you could make your own tracks exactly the length and width you want.

Another thing you might want to consider is working out some sort of reverse mechanism (oh hey, a mower transaxle would be perfect). That thing lilooks like it will be heavy, and tracked vehicles are rather difficult to push, and darn near impossible to steer whilst pushing. If you find yourself in a bad spot, being able to back out would be a huge benefit.

 

[anickode]

I do have some experience with tracked vehicles...

 

[mckutzy]

Check out this guy and thing he built...uses brakes to change direction with a diff...

http://www.diygokarts.com/vb/showthread.php?t=38347

 

[PhatUincorns22]

Something different to consider would be a go kart axle with a diff, or a mower transaxle (will have an open diff) and use separate left and right brakes. You gotta have brakes anyway, so why not kill 2 birds with one stone and use them to steer as well? Thats how ARGO does it on their skid steeringwheel ATVs. Mechanical disc brakes should be sufficient to do the job. Brakes might be one area you want to waive your "junkyard only" policy.

The ultimate find would be a junked zero turn mower. Left and right hydrostatic boxes.

Snowmobile tracks would work, but some conveyor belt rubber, some small steel channel, and a cut up tire, you could make your own tracks exactly the length and width you want.

Another thing you might want to consider is working out some sort of reverse mechanism (oh hey, a mower transaxle would be perfect). That thing lilooks like it will be heavy, and tracked vehicles are rather difficult to push, and darn near impossible to steer whilst pushing. If you find yourself in a bad spot, being able to back out would be a huge benefit.

Yes a hydrostaichas been considered and should one arise i will definatly incorparate for braking i wanted to have a single brake on main drive axle or jack shaft

---------- Post added at 09:33 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:24 PM ----------

God my english ona cell is horrible hand be too large but yes i want to incorporate a hydro trans if i can find it i am looking for a riding lawnmower gearbox i have two im picking up and a rototiller on saturday engines included sounds like basic carb rebuilds gal just wanted them gone so cha-ching for this guy
Might kille several birds with a big rock
Heres crossing my fingers for weekend

 

[bob58o]

I was commisioned by my students and my own childrent to build a tracked vechile

I'm guessing an English Teacher?
Come on, You misspelled your own name. Unicorns. LOL

 

[PhatUincorns22]

Nope just an overactive shop teacher that like to find new things for his students to build and they wanted issue a challenge to me like i give them

---------- Post added at 09:38 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:37 PM ----------

Yes i realized that when i tried to log in had to go back to post to realize that one whew and they twll me cells will make things easier

 

[bob58o]

Cool Project.

I'll follow along, but probably can't help much.

Glad to see there are still shop classes! Hands on learning is much better.
If it were up to me, the only classes taught would be math, science, and engineering.

 

[mckutzy]

I cant type worth a crap on a phone without a stylus... heck I can barely dial out cause of my fat finger syndrome...

 

[anickode]

Yes a hydrostaichas been considered and should one arise i will definatly incorparate for braking i wanted to have a single brake on main drive axle or jack shaft

---------- Post added at 09:33 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:24 PM ----------

God my english ona cell is horrible hand be too large but yes i want to incorporate a hydro trans if i can find it i am looking for a riding lawnmower gearbox i have two im picking up and a rototiller on saturday engines included sounds like basic carb rebuilds gal just wanted them gone so cha-ching for this guy
Might kille several birds with a big rock
Heres crossing my fingers for weekend

The problem with having a single main brake on a jackshaft that drives the tracks separately via belt tensioners is your brakes will only work when the drives are engaged.

 

[PhatUincorns22]

Well it was a motherload lady must have thought i needed her husbands entire old shop
Got a mower,tiller little tlc could both too work
However it is not a zero turn but i does have reverserse but i will need the gurus here idea oj how to impement i will postpics in morning

 

[Denny]

Are you sure you are a teacher? I don't spell that bad and I'm barely one step above an idiot. I give you an F-. Man that felt good to say I always wanted to say that to a teacher.


Denny