How to make a boat motor from a chainsaw

How to make a boat motor from a chainsaw with their own hands?

Lovers of fishing and, at the same time, the owners of household chainsaws today can breathe a sigh of relief. After all, now they do not have to buy an expensive boat motor. A good alternative to this. the use of a special attachment on the chainsaw or the assembly of a full-fledged boat motor on the basis of the same economic chain saw. Both in the first and in the second case, the owner of a gasoline tool does not need to spend a lot of time and effort. All that is needed is to prepare the materials, as well as to act strictly in the specified order.

Own assembly of a boat engine initially has a number of quite important advantages:

• The manufacturer can always use for the manufacture of the power unit different improvised means, including the metal left after repairs or construction, or working mechanisms of the old agricultural machinery;
• The entire assembly process is carried out in accordance with accurate drawings. in this case the risk of error is minimized;
• The work can take place at any convenient time;
• a manufactured motor for a boat from a chainsaw works quite efficiently and does not require frequent maintenance. The only thing that the manufacturer needs is to constantly fill the engine with a quality fuel mixture, as well as regularly adjust the carburetor and the factory ignition system.

The disadvantages of assembling a homemade machine are much less. First, the manufacturer must have skills in operating household equipment, because without the ability to work with an angle grinder, drill and welding machine to achieve the desired result will not work. Secondly, the manufacturer will need to find a number of nodes, which are not in the garage of not every owner. For example, a gearbox with the required gear ratio or controls. In some cases you will need to buy these elements separately.

What engine is suitable for making?

There are several requirements for the power unit used for the assembly. First of all, it is initially important to design homemade boat motors from a chainsaw. A power unit with a solid power reserve and traction characteristics. The manufacturer must take into account the weight of the watercraft, as well as the number of passengers and the volume of luggage carried. If you use a relatively light rubber boat for fishing or traveling on lakes, and it will not move more than 2 adult passengers, the assembly of the power unit is suitable ICE with a capacity of 2 to 3 liters. с. In this case the maximum speed of the boat with full load will be 10-15 km/h. If a fisherman uses a heavier wooden or metal watercraft, then to travel on it you will need an engine with a capacity from 5 liters. с. and more.

The second important criterion is to protect the engine from moisture, algae and other external factors. it should be noted that the electric motor as a basis for a boat motor is not suitable, since in case of moisture it will immediately become unusable. A gasoline motor is less affected by moisture, but it should be fully protected from it. Therefore, in order to prolong its service life, you need to choose motors installed in housings with a minimum number of holes required only for the ventilation of the power unit. Otherwise you will need to modify the hull by yourself.

Which engines are suitable for assembly?

To give an answer to this question, it is necessary to choose in advance the type of machinery the manufacturer wishes to assemble.

There may be several options:

• scooter. a small-sized homemade scooter. The heaviest part of it is the user’s footwell. The other elements can be made of light steel or aluminum. The best way to assemble a scooter based on a chainsaw is to use a power unit with about 3. 4.5 liters of power. с.;
• Karting. it is a small device designed for high-speed driving on a flat asphalt or concrete surface. Calculated engine power for karting assembly should be about 4. 5 liters. с.;
• moped. a medium-sized vehicle, which is based on a solid, stable frame. To make a moped suitable motors from chainsaws rated at 5. 6 liters. с.;
• ATV. a relatively large vehicle, which is collected from enough strong and heavy parts. For the assembly of the ATV suitable chainsaw rated power of at least 6 hp. с.

Regardless of the technique the maker wants, the engine for the homemade machine must be in fully serviceable working condition. It is best to clean or completely replace all of its filters, as well as adjust the carburetor and ignition.

How to make a scooter out of a chainsaw?

To make a self-made scooter on the basis of the bucket saw, the designer needs to prepare 3 mm steel plates, as well as metal pipes and angles. The engine from the power tool must be fully operational and serviced. Order of assembly:

• First you need to make a supporting frame. To assemble it, profile pipes and a steel plate pre-treated from rust will work well. The wheels for the scooter from a previously disassembled chain saw can be taken from an old garden cart;
• To transmit the torque created by the power unit will require a chain and a sprocket. To install the second part of the chain, a small metal tensioner must be turned out;
• To fill the fuel mixture, the driver of the scooter will be in the remote tank, which should be installed a few centimeters above the engine;
• The braking system of the homemade scooter will be of the disk type. To assemble it, parts from an old moped will do.

As a result of the work done, the designer will receive a unit capable of developing speeds of about 30-40 km / h.

Working principle

Grass trimmer has a higher speed of rotation of the blades, which makes it possible to move through the water with higher speed, which will allow you to start fishing faster than with a motor. Everyone has seen how the grass trimmer works. how it cuts the lawn and regular grass, but here, its blades are twisted in the other direction and at the same time, serves as the most economical motor.

But if the grass trimmer is lower, the speed will be lower. But the main disadvantage of trimmers compared to ordinary boat motors is that they are very loud, and they should not be used at full volume, if you do not want to scare the fish.

Features of the homemade engine

When re-equipping the motor, it is worth considering that they were developed to perform different functions. Grass trimmer functions at high revolutions and a small torque, while the boat motor should do the opposite. Therefore, the redesign of the device requires special tools and even a drawing.

The engine from the trimmer for grass is more convenient and easier to construct, as it has a number of necessary component mechanisms:

• very economical engine;
• an unpainted fuel tank built in, allowing you to easily control the amount of fuel;
• the presence of a starter and gas in the device;
• boom equipped with a rigid shaft.

It remains only to buy the missing parts or make them yourself and you can proceed to the manufacture of the engine for the boat.

Grass trimmer functions at high revolutions and a small torque, while the boat motor should do the opposite

What can be done

There are several possible options for modifying the grass trimmer for a motor for a watercraft.

Take it as a rule, on every fishing trip, the first thing to start

A very simple method, but requires additional financial expenses.

You will need to buy such parts:

• Clamp to secure the unit to the boat transom.
• Propeller. You can buy a ready-made kit online, as stores may not have similar products. Included is a special drive made of stainless steel, as well as universal adapters for flexible shaft trimmer for the grass, which allows not to bother with the fact that they fit your model of lawnmower or not.

Tip! Sometimes a clamp may be included, so check before you buy one to see what’s included.

The drawing of the attachment to the trimmer is in the manual. It will take about half an hour to install.

For modification you will need an angle reducer from an angle grinder, a screw, which can be cut from a sheet of stainless steel, as well as seals and bearings for the fasteners. This method allows you to get the maximum speed, despite the small pitch of the propeller. In the field, the device requires additional adjustment, which is done with the help of pliers.

This method is performed as much as possible with your own hands. Let’s consider it in detail on the example of lawn mower with a two-stroke motor with 25 cm3. The unit of 4.5 kg weight and 700 W power is equipped with a bent leg. the grass trimmer with such power allows the boat to move at a speed of about 5-7 km/h.

For modification you will need an angle gearbox from an angle grinder, a screw, which can be cut from a sheet of stainless steel, as well as gaskets and bearings for the fasteners

What you need

To make it, you will need materials, as well as tools:

• Grass trimmer.
• Duralumin with a thickness of 2 mm. It is needed for the propeller.
• Clamp or any other device for attaching the unit to the boat.
• Welding machine.
• Fixing elements.
• Additional tools for work.

All necessary elements can be bought or made by yourself. You may need a drawing to design a homemade propeller, but not for the drive. The size of the propeller depends directly on the power of the drive, as well as the weight of the watercraft. For example, a screw with dimensions of 10×3 cm is able to move a vehicle weighing about 120 kg.

Manufacturing Instructions

To make a boat engine out of a regular grass trimmer you will need to do the following:

Never throw away or lose any nuts, as the developer companies use their own type of thread that is not metric or inch

Redo a bent shaft. To do this, remove the standard nut, which is located in the spool with the fishing line. It looks like a small tube 2 cm long and has an internal thread. It can be divided into two complete nuts. Tip! Do not discard or lose the nuts under any circumstances, as companies developers use their own type of thread, which is not metric or inch. Next, you need to remove the plastic cover, which is located on the throttle button. At the end of the bent rod there are no roller bearings, instead there is an ordinary sleeve made of bronze, also known as a plain bearing, it must be removed. To do this you need to carefully cut it, first unscrewing the nut and removing the metal and stern shaft from the tube. Remove the bronze sleeve and start knocking out the tread of the flexible shaft, which is made of plastic. Tip! You can throw the steel pipe away, because you can’t straighten it out. Use a duralumin pipe with an appropriate diameter instead. Mount the bronze sleeve in the duralumin tube and carefully press it into the tube with a hammer. Then we take the plastic protector, cut it a little in diameter and mount it tightly in the pipe. Tip! When the outside diameter of the tube is larger and does not fit into the mounting hole on the motor head, you will need to turn it down to the right size. If necessary you can build a longer shaft using a tube of desired length, and install a steel rod instead of flexible shaft of desired length.

For running-in of the homemade engine we need a tank of gasoline (0.5 l.) with oil at a ratio of 1:40. One tank of fuel can cover about 10 km of territory. Speed of the watercraft with such a motor is in the range of 5.6. 7.9 km/h depending on the load of the boat.

Assembly diagram, drawings and instructions

Basically the whole job is to replace the chain saw’s chain element with a screw. Please note that this procedure is not forever and that in the future, if necessary, you can change the chain saw back to its original design and continue to saw with it. The procedure itself is very fast and consists of the following steps:

First, it is necessary to redo the coupling. For this you need to cut a smaller bowl and change the spring. These actions will result in lower starting torque and a more balanced size and weight. Secondly, the bowl and the coupling cover must be connected with brackets, which are then clamped with a screw and washer.

The screw and bar will close, connecting the bowl and shaft, the pin.

Only after the above steps have been taken can the transmission oil be filled in. Next, you fasten the cover with sealant. Some owners recommend for your own convenience in the management of the motor on the basis of a chainsaw to create a gas handle.

What work must be done by the manufacturer?

Throughout the entire process of making a boat power unit, it is important to adhere to the correct algorithm of work. First of all, the maker must carefully study the detailed drawings prepared in advance. In order to avoid critical errors in the design, it is necessary to specify the dimensions of all the parts used, as well as ways of their initial attachment.

The subsequent order of action of the operator should consist of the following steps:

• Replacing the chainsaw‘s working tools with a metal tube with a propeller;
• Installing and checking the fasteners needed to secure the propeller;
• Connecting the gear shaft to the power unit from the chainsaw;
• Working out the necessary pivot assembly;
• Adaptation of the shaft of the used gearbox to the propeller;
• Final assembly of the equipment.

As used for the assembly of working mechanisms will need to prepare:

• A working and fully serviceable power unit from a chainsaw;
• Gearbox. can be removed from an old angle grinder;
• propeller. you can take a ready-made propeller or assemble it yourself;
• Transom. to be bought separately;
• Connecting clamp.

In addition at hand and the manufacturer must be fasteners of various types and sizes, as well as metal parts: pipes, angles, ties and spacers.

How to build a lawn mower, using improvised means

To quickly cope with tall grass or to put in order the lawn, among the tools of the owner must be present lawn mower. You can buy an ordinary factory version of technology, easy to use, but it should be taken into account that the price of a lawn mower will be significant. Druzhba” chain saw self-made with your own hands will cost one and a half times cheaper than the factory device, and the power is quite enough for standard domestic use.

Regardless of the type of design chosen, the grass trimmer will consist of the drive, frame, control system and blades. For the convenience of work, the device is additionally equipped with wheels, legs, handles and a protective cover, in which the mowed grass is collected. The process of making a lawnmower begins with the creation of a frame of convenient size, most often made of metal corners. The optimal size is 25×25 cm. In general, the course of work for the manufacture of the technique is as follows:

• Using bolts, iron handles are attached to the finished frame, and the wheels are mounted on the sides.
• Having previously studied the characteristics of the chainsaw “Ural” or any other model, the handle and bar are removed from the device.
• Using the studs and nuts, the rest of the equipment is attached to the base. Make it so that the gearbox shaft, rotated 90˚, looks downwards.
• In the next step, it will be necessary to lengthen the gas cable, and from two tubes to make a sliding shaft, connected to the gearbox.

A lawn mower made from a chainsaw will cost much less than a bargain lawn mower

The wheels are elements from old baby carriages or wheelbarrows. If several tubes of different diameters are used for the manufacture, it will be possible to make a device with a telescopic system of work, capable of changing its length.

This is especially important if the device is often used by people of different builds. Also the creation of a telescopic shaft will help to adjust the height of the grass after passing the lawnmower

In order for the device to serve longer, not to fail after a meeting with hard rocks and qualitatively fought with small bushes, you should equip it with quality steel blades. For convenient use, it is advised to additionally equip the mower with a grass collector, so that you do not have to collect the remains of mowed grass.

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How to make a motor for a boat from a chainsaw with your own hands

In order to make a boat motor yourself, using the available chainsaw as a donor, it is enough to have a basic knowledge of how the motor for the boat is set up and a desire to do the work with your own hands.

From the tools and materials you will need the minimum, which we will consider below. The whole construction is quite simple and concise, the main thing to remember the algorithm of remodeling and do not forget the purpose of all the main parts of the construction.

Materials for a boat motor

To successfully implement the idea of creating a boat motor from a chainsaw with our own hands, we will need donor parts, which were listed above in the section “Design and principle of operation of the device”. And here are the tools that are desirable to have for making:

• lathe;
• A set of bolts and nuts to match the size of the mounting holes;
• metal angle;
• steel blanks;
• ruler;
• caliper.

If there is no lathe, you do not need to worry, this type of work can be done by order in the appropriate workshop from a turner.

What chainsaw to use

There is no fundamental difference, what chainsaw to use for the conversion into a boat motor. Any, even the weakest domestic level chainsaw engine is a power unit that will be able to give the necessary power to start rotating the propeller.

It should be understood that the maximum speed of the boat will directly depend on the power of the chainsaw. That’s why if there is a choice, it is necessary to stop on a chainsaw with the greatest productivity.

Of the domestic gasoline-powered saws can choose any model of the brand “Ural”, the perfect choice would be the German firm STIHL, for example, a well-established saw STIHL MS 260. All Germans are distinguished by their great power and reliability of construction.

It is much more important not to have a chainsaw with the most powerful engine, but the ability to correctly read drawings and diagrams, as well as possess initial welding skills.

Step by step manufacturing instructions

The basic idea of making a boat motor from a chainsaw is to replace the chainsaw’s saw headset with a propeller for rowing. We will only replace the mechanisms without changing the circuitry of the saw’s motor.

To properly connect the motor to the propeller nozzle and transfer torque, a new coupling must be milled and the spring must be replaced with a weaker one. We reduced the clutch torque parameter and adjusted all dimensions of the design.

Then use a channel to fasten the motor and the shaft together, leaving the necessary distance between the main frame and the coupling. We weld the gearbox from the angle grinder to the other end of the shaft. Swivel mechanism is made of a thick-walled tube with a slightly larger diameter than the main shaft.

When the propeller and gear shaft are joined together, you need to pour in transmission oil. Using some plumbing sealant, close the cover. This design does not involve the use of the throttle grip, but you can also make it yourself from a bicycle shift knob. A muffler can be installed for more comfortable driving on water.

Schematic diagram of a rebuilt chainsaw gearbox a. gearbox; b. mounting stud with nut; d. reversing rod; e. rebuilt drive shaft.

Propeller drawing

A boat motor from a chainsaw. design features

Boat owners often use motors to make the watercraft as fast and maneuverable as possible. The cost of factory-made units is not affordable to everyone, so most users prefer to create a motor from a chainsaw on a boat with their own hands. It is worth noting that the upcoming intervention in the basic design is minimal, so the equipment will remain suitable for further use, as intended.

Self-made boat motor from a chainsaw drawings, which are not difficult to find on the expanses of the Internet, it is best to construct from powerful models. To perform the redesign, you will need to prepare such components:

• A chainsaw, from which the engine will be taken.
• The gearbox is removed from the angle grinder.
• A propeller, dismantled from an unwanted or non-functioning motor or a homemade one.
• If a transom is not included, it must be purchased separately.
• For fastening, a clamp is used.
• Gear oil.

Additional attachments to make a boat motor, a chainsaw attachment:

• Lathe.
• Fasteners.
• Metal angle billets.
• Steel dowels.
• Caliper.
• Ruler.

Stages of creating a motor for a boat from a chainsaw with their own hands

Replace the base for the chain element, with a fixture with a screw. It is worth noting that this is not a radical and irreversible operation. Mechanisms just need to be swapped out. This procedure takes a minimum of time, the basics include:

• Redesigning the coupling. a smaller cup is milled out and the spring is changed. This is necessary to reduce the starting torque of the clutch and to adjust the size and weight to the parameters.
• Cup and coupling cover are fastened with brackets, clamped with a screw and washer.
• The screw and bar will cover the pin that will connect the cup and shaft.
• A channel is used to fasten the shaft and motor.
• During assembly, the distance to be left between the front cup of the coupling and the support frame must be taken into account.
• The gearbox is mounted on the other side of the shaft.
• For the turning unit of homemade boat motors from a chainsaw, a piece of pipe is used, the diameter of which is slightly larger than the shaft with a welded corner, used to attach the guide. The metal rod must match the dimensions of the hexagonal element.

After you have fastened the screw and the gearbox shaft with the studs, it is necessary to pour in gear oil. After that the cover is fastened by applying sealant. To make a boat motor from a chainsaw as practical and comfortable in operation as possible, it is recommended to design a gas handle.

To make a boat motor from a chainsaw with your own hands it is not necessary to buy a new saw unit. This expenditure will not be appropriate. For a homemade motor from a chainsaw for a boat, it is better to take used models. The more powerful the equipment, the more efficient the motor created.

Motor for a boat with their own hands

The easiest way to make a motor for the boat from a grass trimmer with a straight rod and a rigid shaft. In case your machine has a bent boom, it will have to be reworked.

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Redesign of the bent shaft

First of all, it is necessary to take out the standard nut number 2, shown in the diagram below. It looks like a 2 cm high cylinder with a thread cut inside.

Next, modify the boom as follows.

• Remove the metal flexible shaft (9) and the deadwood shaft (8) from the boom by unscrewing the nut (4).
• Since the end of the bent rod does not contain any bearings, and their role is performed by a bronze sleeve (6), it is required to cut out.
• After the bronze sleeve (6) is removed, it is necessary to knock out the plastic tread (10). Since the pipe is metal and bent, it can’t be straightened out, you can safely discard it.
• Replace the discarded pipe with a dural pipe of similar diameter (inside diameter). It is best if the diameter is slightly smaller than the previously removed bushing.
• A bushing (6) made of bronze must be pressed into the tube. It may be necessary to bore the tube a little.
• Press the bushing into the groove (5) with a hammer. It has to be done very carefully, without much effort so as not to deform the sleeve (6).
• The tread (10) is cut to desired diameter and fitted tightly to the rod.
• If the tube you have selected has a large outside diameter and you are unable to fit it into the hole in the motor head, you will have to mill it to the correct size.
• You can take a steel bar instead of a flexible shaft and connect it to the deadwood shaft (you will need a turner’s help).
• The propeller is attached to the shaft with a nut (2).
• Boom with an inner shaft is attached to the motor with adapters made specially in the lathe workshop. A universal drawing of the adapters does not exist, because different models of trimmers can have their design features.

Using the gearbox from an angle grinder

Also for the self-made boat motor on the basis of a grass trimmer, the gearbox from an angle grinder is often used, but with some modifications.

• You need to disassemble the gearbox, and instead of the shaft with a gear order a new, longer (according to the trimmer rod for grass) from the lathe. The end of the shaft is made similar to the extracted (short), so you can use the same bearings and gear.
• It is desirable to install an oil seal in the place where the bearing is installed, so that water does not get into the gearbox.
• Gear case is screwed together with sealing rubber and sealant.
• You can either put grease inside the gearbox, or liberally coat the gears with thick grease.

Making a propeller

To make a propeller for a boat motor you may use a small piece of dural, 2 mm thick. For the propeller you will need a strip 30 mm wide and 100 mm long. Make it according to the drawing below.

By the propeller pitch we mean the following: if you place the propeller on the table, there should be a distance of 10 mm from its surface to the blade. The angle of inclination of the blades is easily adjusted with the help of pliers, after preliminary annealing of the dural.

This option is not final, and on the Internet you can find a lot of drawings of propellers with two blades, with three blades, as well as different sizes. In each case the propeller size is chosen individually.

Motorcycle from a chainsaw with their own hands

Not every lucky bicycle owner is thrilled about having to pedal and expend their energy. convenient and less costly in terms of power is a motorized bike.

Bicycle with a motor from a chainsaw with their own hands to make is not as difficult as it seems at first glance. For this you will need:

• bicycle;
• saw with a gasoline motor power of at least 2000 watts. on this figure will depend on whether it will be able to move from a place. As practice shows, the capacity of the engine in 2 liters.с. quite enough for the motorcycle to reach a speed of up to 40 km/h;
• tank for the future fuel tank;
• cable from an old bicycle;
• a handle, so that it is possible to adjust the throttle;
• Bolt ties, nuts and other small consumables to create mounts;
• connectors for making a connection between the wheels and the motor.

The process of how to put a chainsaw engine on a bicycle is as follows:

Chainsaw-winter transport

The chainsaw has managed to be used as an engine for a homemade snowmobile. This construction is much more complicated than that of a sawmill. In this case, in addition to making the frame of the snowmobile will need to make a suspension with shock absorbers, to hold the steering wheel to control the gas and clutch.

In addition, you will need to find drawings (or design yourself), which will be made by the track of the snowmobile, and think of the transfer of torque from the chainsaw to the track. This snowmobile is equipped with a centrifugal clutch with a chain and a poly-V belt (because chainsaws do not have their own transmission). In order to increase traction on the drive shaft of the track to install a gear with a diameter larger than the chain saw drive sprocket (the so-called “traction gear”).

For the steering mechanism as a rule they take a handlebar from scooters and bicycles and easily remake it to turn the snowmobile skis. For such transport requires an engine with at least five horsepower, so if you make a snowmobile, then use a chainsaw “Ural”.

If we consider transport for the winter, it is much simpler than a snowmobile, the construction of a snowmobile. They have a large propeller attached directly to the shaft installed at the back of the chainsaw, which is the engine. True, the low power of a chainsaw limits the passability of such sleds with ice on a river or a rolled road. For racing on snow-covered fields, you need an engine with at least 12 horsepower. The same restrictions do not allow you to supplement the self-made gasoline saw with a backpack helicopter. Unless you use two motors and the master manages to make them work in concert.

Mounting the motor on a boat

Just to make the engine is not enough. It is important to install it correctly on the watercraft. Violation of rules of installation threatens engine disconnection and falling into the water. Also, the boat can change direction or fuel will be consumed in large quantities. The engine is attached to the watercraft by hinged or fixed transom. For small power engines use the hinged method of attachment, for high power engines use the stationary method. The transom can be attached in 3 ways:

• While the boat is being inflated, the transom is fastened to the bow, and then the boat is inflated all the way. Stiff staples are used as fasteners. The transom is held securely in position by air pressure. The disadvantage of fasteners: if the air pressure drops, the engine and the transom become mobile. This method of attachment is therefore seldom used.
• The transom is fastened with PVC tapes, which have holes for lacing. It is mounted in a with one side resting on the stern. This is the most common attachment method.
• Plastic fasteners are glued to the stern of the boat. This is the easiest and most reliable method of securing, which is also often used.

There are boats that are equipped with a stationary design. Although they are designed to house powerful engines, they are of a fixed height. That’s why some engines are not suitable for it. To install the motor on such a model, it will have to be adjusted, using brackets or PVC tapes. Mount the brackets or straps to the boat bottom and sides.

To find the right angle, you need to take into account that when the boat is moving, the bow rises up and the boat could tip over. If the angle of incline is too low and the boat’s bow hits the water, the speed decreases. At this point, the engine load increases, which can lead to overheating. The standard distance between the anti-cavitation plate and the boat bottom should be about 25 cm.