Making Tracks for a Tracked Vehicle or Tank
Making rubber tracks for my tracked vehicle project, also know as a personal tracked vehicle or magic carpet. These rubber tracks can also be used for mini tanks, track loaders, skid steers,mobility scooters or any other type of small tracked vehicle build.
🛠 Tools and Parts Used In This Video:
Rubber Tracks - rubbertrack.com/rubber-tracks...
Drive Sprockets - rubbertrack.com/undercarriage...
Differential/ Axle -amzn.to/3TpoOUw
YesWelder MIG 250 Pro - yeswelder.com/products/mig-we...
Evolution Chop Saw - amzn.to/3cnmQ1e
Pillow Block Bearings - www.surpluscenter.com/Bearing...
Automatic Center Punch - amzn.to/3E8VgPY
Welding Clamps - amzn.to/3C77Pej
Long Reach Marker - amzn.to/3vJwovq
Shopping Cart Wheels - www.surpluscenter.com/Wheels/...
Bicycle Shock Absorber - www.banggood.com/custlink/mGm...
👉Other Videos You Might Like
Making the Idler Wheels - • Casting idler wheels
YesWelder - • YesWelder MIG 250 PRO ...
Evolution Chop Saw - • Evolution 15" Metal Cu...
Visiting Tank Commander - • HOMEMADE TANK BATTLE &...
Horizontal/Verical Band Saw - • DIY Metal Cutting Hori...
DIY Welding Cart - • Making a DIY Welding Cart
DIY Fab Table - • DIY Welding Fabricatio...
DIY 2 x 72 Belt Grinder - • Making a DIY 2x72" Bel...
👉Videos That Inspired This Project
Alan Baum - • Magic Carpet Go Kart (...
cwzwartewoude - • Personal Track Vehicle...
Tank Commander - • Tracked vehicle 2
🔔 Subscribe to the Making Stuff Channel - / @makingstuff
📢 Making Stuff Patreon page - / makingstuff
🌎 Vist the Making Stuff web page for more information, Plans, Merchandise and more. - www.makingstuff.info
🛒 Visit the Making Stuff Amazon Affiliate Store - www.amazon.com/shop/makingstuff
👉Some of the links on this page are affiliate links. This means at no cost to you, a very, very small commission will be paid to Making Stuff to help cover the cost for projects like this one.
👉Thanks for watching!
(C)2021 TMI Enterprises Inc.
#makingstuff
#trackedvehicle
#rubertracks
#goodcontentgang
#personaltrackedvehicle
Send me a comment! I enjoy hearing from you guys! Let me know what you think about this latest project! Be sure to visit Perry's channel and see how the idler wheels were made, link in the description.
Thank brother. It was fun to do a collaboration and see what you were up to
Can i buy a set of these off you? with the reack
I was thinking how would you remove the seam on the entire piece and the only thing I could come up with is a file on a stick. Take the smaller piece of tubing, cut out the outline of the file blade, remove the handle of the file, insert the file into the cut out notch of the inner tube steel piece, tack it in place and now you have a permanent weld seam removing tool for that size! You could probably add a bit of weight inside with some ball bearings or a hunk of scrap to give it some extra gravity!. Heck i bet you could build a whole set of these seam removers. You just have to find a aggressive enough file that you won't cry over since your breaking it on purpose (or enhancing it!). BUUUUT, if you have kids and they play outside, rig the push pull action up to a pulley and the door via rope because kids never know if they want to be in or out. Grandpa doled out many lashings for the "IN OR OUT!" routine when I was young!
Hey great informative video. If you check out Fireball Tools KZhead channel he came up with a tool to scrape the weld seam out of square tubing using a threaded rod and carbide tips. Theres more to it than that but it worked great. I subscribed btw! 🍻
I know this is a couple years old, sorry for the late reply just saw the video recently. What is the axel and differential that you used. I did not see a link in amongst your other links for the parts. Thanks. Keep making stuff!
I have a disabled son he can't walk he's 11 I've been trying to make him a remote controlled tank. Just need to keep saving. Awesome video have a good one
Thanks for being open about your mistakes in the shop! It makes me feel better because I mess up like you did in this video all the time. I learn something not to do every time. Thanks for making great videos. I've enjoyed your channel for several years now and have duplicated several of your projects!
Thanks for watching!
Totally agree. This video makes me much more confident in trying it myself.
@@MakingStuff x.
You are very honest about the mistakes....a very genuine person
Man I recognized those mt55 tracks immediately. This things gonna be a beast, looking forward to seeing your progress!
Thank you for doing this! Love that you are sharing BOM.
Any time! Thanks for watching!
I love it you just got into detail about where you get staff, and thank you.
A great start on the tracks. This is going to be a very interesting project.
Nice, looking forward to see this project getting built!
Thanks!
Finally, someone who actually shows us what they are making, along with all the oops moments! You sir are getting my sub. 👍🤟
Thanks!
Can't wait to see the finished machine.
This is going to be awesome. Seems like a good mix between bought and made parts. Always wanted to make something with tracks. Maybe one day.
Go for it! It's been on my bucket list for a long time.
Maybe it is because I did CAD and mechanical drawing in engineers prep back in school, but I will usually make a blueprint before I make something new to me, just so I can change stuff easily and make the mistakes in the drawing before i make them in the real world, I also tend to forget the basic stuff otherwise. Love the build so far!
You have just given me an idea of a project build for deer hunting season. Thank you.
Good suspension idea.
One of the best video on making tracks. This will be just what I need for my paintball tank project. I like the links and the real world screw-ups, shows what to watch for when building. Earned my subscription today. Ty
If you are into paintball tanks, be sure to check out TankCommanderBT on KZhead.
My 97 Ram 4x4 box is finished and I was wanting to make a half-track truck for hunting. Great video, Thanks for some great ideas.
Glad you liked it, thanks for watching!
Good deal buying the tracks and sprockets. I made mine and took almost a year. Gonna be a great project to ride.
Thanks for watching!
always good to work and link to other youtubers! GL on this project!
Much appreciated!
Looks like it's going to be an awesome build! I always liked the fact that you show the mistakes you make. Keep on keeping it real!👍👍👍
Thanks 👍
Here is the secret..... To remove the weld seam inside the square tube get a keyway broach and make a holder that can hold the broach so that it can be pushed thru the tube from the inside and it will cut the weld out of the inside of the tube so long as you design the holder to be able to hold the broach so it does not move as it is pressed thru the tube. Keyway broaches are cut on a taper so that each tooth removes more material as it travels thru the tube. Great build your doing!
Nice team work with the kids.
Thank you for this!! I'll have to confirm some sizes, but this vid might be the solution for a 2/5 scale tank build I'd love to do someday!! So glad I stumbled onto your channel! Subscribed!!
Thanks! Glad I could help.
Looks like a fun build! I watched you cut the tubing with the Evolution saw and was impressed that you didn't do what I've done with mine (got a Evolution 14" & 10 miter). I'd cut just about all the way thru and then let the blade slow down by itself, knocked of a few teeth!! You need to blink once and a while dude!! LOL!!
I'm less than 2 minutes into this video and I have already subscribed. Now I'm going to watch the rest this is awesome and I agree most people don't give enough details. Have a great day Sir.
Awesome! Thank you!
Great video!! I think it’s a great design and I like how you are using the proper tracks and the proper sprocket. Great idea 👍
Thanks a bunch!
Stuff I build is just like that , have to always go back & change something. Good build
this project is just what I'm looking for. I want to build a small skidloader with exactly these tracks. I'm curious how you want to build the drive. in my project it will be a hydraulic drive. I'm looking forward to the next episode. Good luck with this Project.
Keep up the great work. I can always count on a cool and unique project on your channel.
Thanks, will do!
Highly skilled workmanship
Thanks!
I am so glad I found this channel!
Welcome aboard!
Cant wait to see the completed project loved the video I'm considering building a single track for an ice fishing sled
Thanks for watching!
30 yrs ago our shop teacher would build sand rails. His sand rail had tracks on the back, they were made from large construction tires with the sidewalls cut off and steel brackets bolted on the inside. He had figured out a system that allowed him to deflate the regular tire, bolt on the tracks and then reinflate the tire as a drive wheel.
I gotta say sorry for replying to a 1y old comment, since that seems to annoy some people. I've gotta ask, how did he reinflate the tires if the sidewalls were cut off? I'm trying to imagine this build, but I'm a little confused.
@@ericcaldwell3584 The system he used had 6 tires, the back axle had 4 wheels that pivoted where the axle came out. The tire pairs on each side were driven by chains from the axle. The tracks were the treads of big tires with steel brackets bolted along the inside to guide them on the bogey tires. To put on the tracks you just deflate the bogey tires and slip the tracks on and then inflate them.
You are the man. Thank you!!!!
Thanks for watching!
Looks like a good size to fit on a wheelchair conversion.
Good , the more details the better, anybody can build something and not share the learning curve, mistakes and parts. I will watch everyone if you can teach all of us. Thanks
Cool, thanks
That looks like it might be fun and maybe useful,I hope the rest of the build goes smooth for you without having to do anything over, I hate having to do anything over it really kills the joy in building the project.
If you were offer for sale what would-be an approximate price?
Tack so you can go back! Shop rule, for sure. Great work getting it that far. Cool build! If you ever wanted to completely remove the entire inner weld seam, Fireball Tool came up with a jig just for that. Basically it holds a HSS cutter and gets pulled through with all-thread. Just in case you ever need the full length someday. "Tips To Remove Weld From Tubing" on his channel(so I'm not linking to others on ya). Cheers.
Yeah I saw that Fireball tool video. I just didn't need to remove the entire weld seam on all 39 inches of the square tube so I went with the file method. Thanks for watching!
tapered bushings for fitting the sprockets on the axle can be made on a small lathe and if the sprocket breaks, nothing will have to be bored again
Exactly. I don't know why he didn't do that. He said he had a small lathe.
Hägglunds in Sweden has such rubber tracks as well. They are used in Bandvagn 206 for example and are arctic approved.
Great stuff, lots of info, learned a lot. Thanks
Glad it was helpful!
Just found your channel. Going to watch all your track related vids. Very cool project. It's on my project list and you may have just helped me a ton. My wife however may think otherwise once I pay for all this stuff, haha. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for watching!
every time I see a ideo like this I picture the bobcat mini excavator. small enough to go through a standard door way, and then there I see you have a set.
Brilliant video thank you
Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching!
Thanks for sharing
My pleasure
Fun project bob! Glad you showing both your sources and your failures. Shows the real way a build goes. Lol high five! Ps. We Still use the pin ;) ~Russ
Thanks! Great to hear from you Russ, it's been a while since I've heard from you. Glad you are enjoying the pen.
For your track tensioner, may I suggest changing the 5/8 nut to a coupling nut. They are longer and would help with the stress by spreading it on more threads.
Thanks for the tip.
GREAT JOB CAN 'T WAIT FOR THE NEXT VIDEO AND MEET UP.
For sure!!
This some bad 4$$ work man! 🤘🏻
Thanks!
A snowmobile parts supplier would have really been the place to go for idlers and drive sprockets.
Great documentation! I would have welded a little vertical "T" for the pillow block bearing at the front for maximum clearance, but it seems like clearance wasn't an issue in the end.
Thanks for watching!
Well this is about the coolest thing ive seen on KZhead in a while!
Thanks!
Looks like a bigger lathe is on your wish list!
Yeah, maybe Santa will bring me one :)
Good job
Thanks
Nice project and very well explained. We all make mistakes and showing them helps others learn, so full credit to you. Just subbed to your channel.
Thanks for the sub!
Coolest Build Ever
Thanks!
Thank you for your info about the parts that you have used in this build. It will help me out a lot as I build my 6X6 so I can put tracks on it to go hunting with. And yes one track per wheel, I'll have 6 tracks in all. Right now I'm just getting info and parts ready.
Watching the third video and I wondered whether it would be easier to mount your seat/ foot well behind the track and provide a ski or wheel to keep it from tipping backwards.
Great Channel
Thanks!
Very good Sir. Huge respect 🙏
Thanks for watching!
@@MakingStuff Welcome Respected Sir.
Snowmobile bogies and sprockets work really well so do the tracks
Not many snowmobile parts here in the south, lol.
I like your style. Just subscribed!
Thanks!
Hello how are you brother I’m abdullah my from Kuwait god job 👍
Amazing how it can stick together whit those cold welds😬
Adding grease serts to the slip join adjuster would be ideal for long term reliability.
Damm I want to give it a drive when you’re done with this project.
Good job kids ✌🇺🇸✌🤠
I had a similar idea but using Flexon 815 conveyor chain and sprockets
Nice job. I was hoping to see how you made the tracks rather than the trunnion(?) frame
I just found you. This looks like a fun project.
Thanks!
You need to put an spring in your tensioning system. The threaded rod and bolt will not cut it. Once you get going over anything other than flat ground, your bogies will travel up and down and your track tension will change. Your track will flap slap and catch, unless you're going really really slow. Also did you do any track tension calculations beforehand? There is the possibility that once properly tensioned, your track will compress the springs on your bogies even before you stand on the machine. Very nice build, as far as getting everything straight and square. That 3/4" measuring error could(and does) happen to everyone.
I plan on tackling the springs and tension in the next video. Thanks for watching!
Dude... This is exactly what I need! Shame I don't have any parts.
Thanks for wtaching!
very wonderful thank you ?
love to see if you build mini excavator with full details in the description please
next time just weld a block on the front of the angle you have the axle through with the tension adjuster. it will make the angle stronger and ... stuff. great build by the way. I would have done a few things differently, but then I figgure that maybe you havent worked in a fabrication shop doing what I have done. same result, differing path. good result. =right.
Tracked machines are great for pushing power/traction, but it's a rough ride and very difficult to get the track back on if they come off. I think track on tires might be a better way to go. Drive a pin out of the track , ride off of them, and then take the track to where it might be easier to put back on, but you are never stuck. Plus you have the air cushion of the tires.
Thanks for the tip.
awesome build and nice to see somebody actually explain how everything is made and where to buy parts. With the piece of tube that the sprocket was hitting. could you have just notched the tube instead of cutting them all out and moving them?
No notch, because the bracket that welds to the bottom is the same size as the square tube. It would have hit thebracket too. Thanks for watching!
The taper is there for a taper lock, you just needed a matching sleeve that press in. Like a taper lock sheeve
Yeah, Someone else told me that also but it isn't a standard size. I think it is specific to the Bobcat skid steer that it was originally meant to be used with.
Interesting project. It gives me some dangerous ideas. Dangerous to the the pocket book that is.
Yeah I have several "dangerous" projects planned too, LOL. Thanks for watching!
Cool
Hey, do you think the Olympic style rubber weights would work better instead of the shopping cart wheels? I want to build one of my own but thought I would run this by you to see what you thought...
Good
Thanks
Just a welder fabricators opinion, suggestion. The way you have the boggies setup your tracks will be loose at full compression I think you may need to make your track tensioner spring loaded instead of all thread. Gas charged maybe like an old Motorcycle shock or two . Just a suggestion . Cool build.
Thanks for the tip. I guess I'll just have to wait and see how it works and go from there.
Track assembly looks great! Mistake happens, this why we tack weld, kinda like measure twice cut once. What is the size of the heavy wall tubing? Also on the idler wheels, could you plasma cut them out on 1/2 or what ever the thickness is from a steel plate/flat stock?
The heavy wall is 1/8" thick. The wheels had to be about 7/8 thick to work with the rubber track correctly.
The title should be adapting rubber tracks for a home built vehicle. Looks kind of spendy comparatively couldn't you refurbish and old Bombardier way cheaper? I am not poo pooing just trying to make sense of the time and energy. Big props to anyone who builds out of pure imagination.
New camera? Video quality is fantastic!
Yeah I started using a GoPro Hero 9 when the camcorder got pelted by paintballs on the Tank Commander video. Thanks for watching!
Thanks for your video! I purchased same shock absorbers for my project. The spring rate seems a bit much at 450 lbs/in for your application. How did you arrive at choosing those shock absorbers? The price is right!
здорово..очень полезно
We all make mistakes a man who hasn't made a mistake hasn't been born yet 😀👍
Thanks for watching!
You should put a small piece of pipe where the all tread goes in to hold it in place. You would be surprised how much pressure is on that. If it gets a little side pressure it will bend. A little pocket back there will add a lot of strength.
Thanks for the tip
subbed
Thanks for watching!
I’d have stuck with the taper on the sprocket. Inch and half shaft in single sheer with a taper on the end. First advantage is that sprocket is on there tight, so it isn’t going to move and get rust in the joint. Second huge advantage is dirt and reeds can’t pack into an open sprocket as easily. Idler might as well be a sprocket, at worst you have spares for later in life. I like the road wheel set up. *note, if building one, pick a standard road wheel with many material options. It will probably eat them. Sand and snow you might want rubber, stones you might want nylon. Honestly, if you have suspension you can go steel. Heavy, but they don’t screw up :o)
How long is the track after assembly could you lay a tape to it end to end thanks good info nice build👍
The track itself is about 4ft when laying on the ground by itself. The overall length will be about 42 inches when the track is on the assembly.
Muito bom.
Comment for the algorithm to help the channel 👍.
Yes! Thank you!
Hello! I came to your videos because my intention is to make my son a wheelchair but with tracks. The streets are not even and there are ups and downs that the wheels of a baby stroller cannot handle. Any idea how your design could be made smaller?
Great build Bob, Hey I've checked your vids but can't find where you purchased the differential axle. Could you please provide this info. Thank you.
Surpluscenter.com
Excellent video. I am planning a 'Snowdog' build. I am taking good notes and downscaling. Any suggestions or links for a thorough explanation of how to build with links?
Not that I know of, just other videos on KZhead.
My advice on building a snow dog might be to Start by buying an old snowmobile with a blown engine
Sir,i really want see the next part videos about this project 🙏
kzhead.info/sun/ZpukZM1xopqFeX0/bejne.html
We're did u get the differential from