✅ DIY cultivator with an electric motor

Making a homemade electric motor block

Such an assistant is very useful on the farm, and if you make an electric walk-behind tractor with your own hands, then it is doubly pleasant to work with it; it helps to carry out light work on cultivating and loosening the soil on a personal plot.
Compared to gasoline models, they are not as versatile and powerful, but they have their own advantages. They weigh less, make less noise, are more economical to use, environmentally friendly and much cheaper than gasoline models. For a person who is completely unfamiliar with technology, the operation and maintenance of electric motor units will not raise any questions.

How to make a cultivator with your own hands with an electric drive?

An electric cultivator is often based on two electric motors, each of which must have a power of 1.5 kW.
Subsequently, they are combined into one continuous system through pulleys and one belt. The main thing is that both the belt and the pulley have the same diameter. The rear wheels of the unit must not be driven. When mounted on the front axle of the rotor, they will become a support. If you install wheels on the front axle, the axle will become more stable. This arrangement will help to use attachments, which will definitely come in handy on the farm.

It is best to buy a gearbox ready-made. It will be optimal if you find a working element from an old cultivator or lawn mower. There shouldn't be any problems with its installation.

The frame can be assembled from any available materials. The most important thing is that the result of the work is as reliable a design as possible. Typically, metal pipes and plates are used to make the frame, which are connected by welding.

Assembly will also require a power cable. The minimum length of the cord should be 20 m - this will allow plowing the ground in areas of up to 4 acres.

General assembly sequence

The frame is made of welded channel, pipe and corners. The drive axle is attached to the frame and the gearbox is installed.

Sprockets are installed on the box and the bridge and connected by a chain. Wheels are placed on the drive axle.

The engine is installed on the frame and connected to a gearbox with a switchable belt drive. Engine and gearbox control mechanisms are installed on the frame.

How to make a walk-behind tractor with a four-stroke engine yourself can be seen in the video.

Making your own walk-behind tractor will take a lot of effort and time, but you will receive inexpensive and effective equipment for performing various transport and agricultural tasks, as well as site maintenance work.

A homemade assistant will help you get the job done efficiently and save money on its operation.

Bicycle cultivator

It is one of the most common designs of hand cultivators in villages for cultivating small-sized vegetable gardens. It is a part of a frame with a bicycle wheel, in the upper part of which there are handles and a cultivator head at the bottom.

A significant advantage of such a tool is its ease of manufacture, as well as the use of ready-made parts from a bicycle with virtually no changes.

They take the frame from the bicycle and, using a grinder, cut it into two parts in two places: on top of the frame at the place where the seat tube is attached, and also where the carriage is located, while maintaining the integrity of the part where the rear wheel is attached.

After this, the saddle mount is cut off or removed from the seat tube, and in its place a holder for the working part of the cultivator, made in the form of a strip with several holes, is welded. Then an axle is made for the wheel and the electric motor mount. steel as the main material .

A small stand for the engine is welded to the frame stays, and on the other - a frame for the counterweight. To do this, take metal corners, weld them in a U-shape and weld them to the main frame symmetrically on both sides. As a counterweight, take any load that is equal to the weight of the engine.

The motor is installed as a direct drive to the wheel axle and transmits torque using a flange. Then the wheel is welded to the axle, and bearings are installed at the points of attachment to the frame.

The second part of the frame, the steering column, is welded to the carriage, and the pipes are bent into a convenient position and used as handles.

To make a cultivating head, you can use standard elements used for mini-tractors, or you can make it yourself from steel rods or a thick plate, bent wedge-shaped and sharpened along the edge. In the upper part of the plate, holes are made in places that coincide with the mount on the seatpost.

Device with a motor from an electric saw

In this electric cultivator, the function of the power unit is performed by an electric chain saw of the Parma brand. It is attached using clamps to the cultivator frame. If necessary, the saw can be quickly dismantled and used for its intended purpose.

The frame is welded from steel pipes Ø24 mm. Working cutters are made from a Ø30 mm pipe, and steel teeth are welded to them - 6 pieces at an angle of 30 degrees to each other. The rotation of the cutters is transmitted by a two-stage chain transmission. In the first stage, the drive sprocket is used from the saw, and the driven one is installed from the bicycle. The second stage consists of a motor sprocket and chain.

READ What kind of oil to fill in the oka walk-behind tractor

The cutter shaft is made of a round metal profile and is mounted in the frame fork using rolling bearings. The cutters and sprockets are secured with dowels. This device requires protective covers to be installed on the drive chains.

Homemade electric walk-behind tractor

To make an electric walk-behind tractor with your own hands, we start working with the frame using two pieces of channel 0 and a corner 32x32. We prepare two pieces of pipe by installing a bronze insert with a hole. The axle will pass through these holes. We weld the pipes on both sides of the frame. Next, an insert is secured through the walls of the pipe with screws. It can also serve as a sliding bearing.

Although ball bearings matched to the diameter of the pipe are better suited for this. To attach the handles to the top tube, brackets are welded. And the bracket for attaching the cultivator or plow holder is welded in the middle of the pipe. Using screws on the frame, a platform is installed in the slots of the side ribs. Electric motor

will be attached to the holes that are available at the site.

The electric motor pulley is connected by a belt drive to a pulley on an axis, which is installed in the frame tube. An asterisk is superimposed on the other side of the axis. Using a chain transmission, it supplies movement to the sprocket, which is located below. A motorcycle or bicycle chain is used for chain transmission.

The movement of a homemade electric walk-behind tractor occurs thanks to a device for cultivating the soil. The curved knives are mounted on a square plate and are held in place by a key on the bottom axis. When they rotate, they loosen the earth and move forward due to bending. Chain drive and belt drive make it possible to reduce the engine speed. Using the ratio of sprockets and pulleys, 200 or 1000 rpm can be achieved.

Do-it-yourself walk-behind tractor with electric motor

To control the movement, handles are attached to the bracket, on one of which there is a switch button. To connect the engine to the electrical network, a coil with a wound wire is placed on the axis between the handles. To form and cultivate a bed, you need to attach a holder to the frame on which soil-cultivating tools will be installed.

The only drawback of a homemade electric walk-behind tractor is that it is connected to a wire and, accordingly, to a power source. After all, he will not be able to move more than 50 meters from the network. Although this is quite enough for cultivating a personal plot.

Homemade electric walk-behind tractor

To make tractor

electric with our own hands, we start working with the frame using two pieces of channel 0 and a corner 32x32. We prepare two pieces of pipe by installing a bronze insert with a hole. The axle will pass through these holes. We weld the pipes on both sides of the frame. Next, an insert is secured through the walls of the pipe with screws. It can also serve as a sliding bearing.

will be attached to the holes that are available at the site.

Useful tips

In order for your motor cultivator to work effectively enough and serve you for a long time, you need to take into account some expert advice.

If you were unable to find 1 powerful one, then you can use 2 low-power motors (no less than 1.5 kW each). They need to be fixed to the frame, and then a single system needs to be created from two separate elements. Also, do not forget to install a double-groove pulley on one of the engines, which will transmit torque to the pulley of the working shaft of the cultivator gearbox.
In order to correctly and efficiently assemble a motor cultivator with your own hands, you must be guided by the drawings.
Due to the fact that the rear wheels are support wheels, they should be attached to the frame using an axle with bearings.

How to troubleshoot problems yourself?

If you make a mini-tractor with your own hands, you cannot avoid minor breakdowns and problems. In this regard, their solution should be anticipated and considered.

So, if you cannot start the engine, then most likely there is no spark. In this regard, it is necessary to replace the spark plug of the device. If this does not work, then try cleaning the filters (usually they are washed in gasoline).
If during the operation of the walk-behind tractor you notice that its engine stalls quite often, then keep in mind that this may be due to broken spark plugs or poor fuel supply.
If the unit makes a strange extraneous sound during operation, then the reason most likely lies in the breakdown of one or more parts. In this case, it is necessary to immediately stop work, disassemble the motor and identify the breakdown. If this is ignored, the engine may seize.
If the engine makes a lot of noise and quickly overheats, then the reason for this deficiency may be that you are using low-quality fuel or overloading the device. Thus, it is necessary to stop work for a while, give the unit a “rest”, and also replace the fuel.

How to make an electric walk-behind tractor with your own hands

Electric walk-behind tractors can be used both in greenhouses and on land plots that have a limited area. This limitation is caused by the need to access the power grid.

Some models have rechargeable batteries, which will allow you to use such devices on rough terrain. When operating an electric walk-behind tractor, it is necessary to prevent overheating of the engine by periodically allowing it to cool. To extend the working life, such devices are also not recommended for use on heavy, unplowed soils.

As an example, we can consider the electric walk-behind tractor “Electrokrot”, which was made with our own hands on the basis of a gasoline module. The model equipped with an electric motor has significant advantages over its gasoline counterparts. Namely:

— ease of use;

— ease of maintenance;

— economical operation, given the lack of costs for purchasing fuel;

— no harmful emissions;

— availability of spare parts;

- low cost, considering DIY assembly.

As an additional advantage, we can highlight the automatic shutdown of the electric motor in case of overheating. This function can significantly extend the operating life of electrical equipment. Thanks to the handle adjustable to the operator’s height, the ergonomics of the walk-behind tractor increases.

What is an electric cultivator and where is it used?

An electric cultivator is an electrically driven device designed to replace manual labor in cultivating the soil: loosening the soil, applying fertilizers, forming beds, and weeding. Thus, it can be called a "mechanized hoe".

It should be noted that the unit is not at all designed for working on large areas or for raising virgin soil (unlike powerful “hard workers”: a mini tractor or a walk-behind tractor with a plow). But it will serve well in flower beds, small vegetable beds and in areas between garden trees. It captures a layer of earth no more than 30 centimeters deep. Its task is to give the soil the necessary structure, prepare the soil for fertilization, aeration, and weed control.

Thanks to its power , this unit is an absolutely environmentally friendly device, unlike its gasoline-powered counterparts that run on gasoline, so it can be used in closed environments (for example: greenhouses and hotbeds).

In addition, electric cultivators have other advantages compared to gasoline walk-behind tractors, namely:

light weight of the device (allows women and pensioners to use it successfully);
compact dimensions (provide ease of transportation and storage);
ease of maintenance (does not require special skills);
low cost (makes them accessible to a wide range of buyers)

Features of the electric walk-behind tractor. Owner reviews

A manual electric walk-behind tractor has a number of its own features. We can definitely say that this unit is intended for a specific soil. According to the owners' reviews, you can see that the machine plows exceptionally loose and light soil perfectly. In addition, the walk-behind tractor can be equipped with a fairly large set of mounted implements, which can greatly facilitate work on the ground.

An electric walk-behind tractor for a summer cottage can not only plow the soil, but also help in fertilizing it. It can perfectly enrich the soil with oxygen and improve its structure, which will “reward” it with a bountiful harvest.

Reviews

Homemade electric cultivators in the household help make work easier and get better results than with old-fashioned methods. Of course, they cannot be compared with modern factory models. But devices made literally from unnecessary trash are obtained almost free of charge and at the same time often help out their owners.

For my garden, I have a cultivator with a gasoline engine. But in greenhouses (I have three of them) I work with a homemade electric cultivator, it’s very convenient and doesn’t smoke.

Electricity is a little expensive, but it doesn’t require fuel, doesn’t stink, doesn’t buzz.

If a craftsman undertakes the production, the quality and service life can be even better than the factory one.

Advantages

The undoubted advantage of electric walk-behind tractors is their compactness. The unit is easy to store and does not take up much space. This point is no less important during transportation. Most models can be transported in the trunk of a car by first removing the handles.

Electric models are much easier to drive than gasoline or diesel cars. At the same time, as already noted, the units do not pollute the air and do not make noise. The price of most models is significantly lower than the cost of cars with an internal combustion engine or a diesel component. The payback of the unit should also be taken into account. An electric walk-behind tractor is cheaper to operate, does not require fuel and constant complex maintenance.

The disadvantage of such agricultural units is their small operating radius. In addition, if for some reason there is a power outage or there is no power at all on the site, the machine will be useless. In such cases, rechargeable batteries will have some advantage, but they also require recharging.

If the site is small (within 10 acres) and at the same time electrified, the choice seems obvious. It is worth purchasing an electric walk-behind tractor. In most cases, such a unit will satisfy the needs of the summer resident. And if it is planned to build greenhouses on the site (or they are already present), then such a machine will be simply irreplaceable.

How to make a cultivator

Every summer resident is well acquainted with all the difficulties of cultivating garden crops. And what is most tiring is tilling the soil before planting and during further care of garden plants. To make your life easier, all you need to do is make a homemade gasoline or electric cultivator for your garden, which will be used to solve various agricultural problems.

Before you begin assembly, you need to understand the types, structure and operating principle of garden tools.

Depending on the type of engine, electric and fuel cultivators are distinguished. The former are characterized by environmental friendliness and low energy consumption. However, they are tied to a source of electricity, so they can only be used in greenhouse conditions or in a small garden that has access to electricity. Making such a unit is quite simple.

Models with internal combustion engines are superior to the previous type in terms of power and the ability to work without connecting to an electrical outlet. But servicing the machine becomes more expensive, and harmful exhaust gases are released during operation.

According to the method of soil cultivation, homemade motor cultivators are either self-propelled, equipped with driven wheels, or with a rotating working attachment, which can be used as a means of movement.

The first option uses two gearboxes. The first helps the mechanism move at a given speed, and the second rotates the rotary attachment for cultivating the soil. If there are drive wheels, the cultivator is additionally equipped with flat-cutting knives.

There are also simplified homemade products, where the wheels only rest on the surface, making movement easier.

Motoblock based on a motorcycle

There is a lot of information on the Internet about how to make a homemade walk-behind tractor with a motorcycle engine. Usually they use engines and frames from Minsk, Voskhod or Izh motorcycles. The frame is partially redone.

To avoid overheating of the engine, it is necessary to make forced airflow, since the motorcycle engine is cooled by airflow when moving at speed.

Active air cooling involves installing a casing on the cylinder and an engine-driven fan.

The main advantage of using a motorcycle engine is the presence of the clutch and gearbox in the same unit. This allows you to make a powerful, lightweight walk-behind tractor with a simple mechanism for driving wheels and working parts.

Drawings for manufacturing the frame, chain gear and other components of such a walk-behind tractor are not difficult to find on the Internet.

The main disadvantage of using walk-behind motors from motorcycles and chainsaws is the relatively high fuel consumption, since they are two-stroke.

In addition, these motors are no longer new and will require constant repairs. Therefore, it is better to use new four-stroke engines from any manufacturer that can be easily purchased at retail.

Examples of creating a cultivator with your own hands

In order to create a cultivator with your own hands, you need very little time and orientation to a homemade unit already made by someone. Now we will present to your attention 5 striking examples of cultivators that were created by ordinary gardeners at home

Example No. 1 – Cultivator “Nimble Baby”

The simplest version of a homemade cultivator is this option. All you need is a pipe (optimal diameter 24 mm, length corresponding to height), wheels (no more than 20 cm in diameter), a wooden axle to which everything will be attached, as well as studs and nuts.