How Does a Snowmobile Work?
Background
The snowmobile, also called a snow machine, has roots that go back to World War I. The Russian inventor, Igor Sikorsky, first created a propeller-powered vehicle that ran on skis. In the United States, many people modified Ford Model Ts to run on tracks instead of wheels. It was a popular way for people to deliver mail in snowy and rural areas of the country. Over the years, inventors have made snowmobiles into anything from large vehicles for transportation to individual vehicles used for recreation.
Assembly
The individual snowmobile has a similar design to small watercraft. They both have handlebars, a windshield, skis, a seat, a cab and an engine. The main difference is that snowmobiles run on a rubber track that can move on nearly every terrain.
Engine
The engine is located in the cab of the snowmobile. Its responsibility is to move the tracks forward. Individual snowmobiles use either a two or four-stroke engine. Most snowmobiles used for recreation use two-stroke engines. he engine powers a track drive , which rotates the wheels via a belt. The wheels are basically gears that turn the tracks, like a tank's. The faster the wheels rotate, the faster the track turns.
Steering
A snowmobile is steered with handlebars located right in front of the driver. The handlebars move two skis located in the front of the machine. The snowmobile is often harder to steer than many other vehicles because of the length of the skis. Unlike a motorcycle, which is controlled by moving one tire on smooth pavement, a snowmobile has to navigate two skis through often thick or deep snow. Like other small vehicles, drivers have to shift their weight to make sharper turns.
Tracks
Tracks have the ability to run on nearly every terrain. This makes them ideal for running in the snow and ice, where wheels often fail. The most common type of material used to make tracks is kevlar. The tracks aren't smooth and have treads used to get a better grip on the snow.
Tags: every terrain, nearly every, nearly every terrain, Snowmobile Work, used recreation