Introduction: BICITRACTOR B300 (POC21 Version, Wait for the Next Version in February If You Want to Build One)

What is Bicitractor?

The Bicitractor is a pedal-powered farming tractor with electric assistance, made by farmers for farmers. It is intended for SMALL AND MEDIUM vegetable farms. It allows for different agricultural tasks that require working a maximum soil depth of 5 cm. It can be used for example for sowing, weeding, hoeing, harvesting open lines, carrying loads, ...

Compared to a traditional tractor, the Bicitractor gives the farmer ease of use by eliminating the nuisance caused by an internal combustion engine such as engine noise, the smell of exhaust fumes, vibration etc...

The Bicitractor is a tool that allows farmers with agricultural holdings of medium size to mechanically perform tasks which are difficult to perform manually and can cause physical strain.

In addition to being a tractor that does not release carbon dioxide, because it does not use fossil fuels, the Bicitractor is an open source vehicle. That is to say, these manufacturing plans are available for everyone free of charge and so everyone is able to make, for themselves, an effective non-polluting working tool, which is easy to manufacture at a cost of less than 1500 Euros.

The BITRACTOR B300 (POC21 Version) by Farming Soul is a prototype in progress. Even now, we are busy working on a new version of the prototype. That's why we are explaining here all the steps to build a bicitractor B300. We will soon explain all the fabrication details of the updated and improved version of the Bicitractor, the B310 which is coming soon...

N.B. We provide detailed photos and dimensions of the current prototype in this Instructable. However, we do not explain every fabrication step in detail because we are currently making a lot of modifications to the prototype. A lot of parts are going to change very soon for the better, so stay tuned for the new version of the prototype with a manual due to arrive soon!

Farming Soul Collectiv contact: farmingsoul@riseup.net

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How did the project begin?

It all started in Chiapas Mexico a region where we have started to learn how to develop pedal-powered machines in collaboration with workshops like “El Machete”, “Casa Feliz”, “Cacita” in Oaxaca, etc…

Bike machines are machines that function by pedaling instead of running on electricity, such as washing machines, kitchen mixer, corn grinder or water pump.

The development and construction of these machines acquires a real value when placed in the domain of “appropriate technologies”. “Appropriate technologies” are all technologies invented and created by and for their users so they can be retrieved, modified and reproduced. Therefore, we can say that they are technologically, ecologically and socially appropriate.

After developing several types of bike machines in Chiapas, friends from Solidarity Farm in San Diego, California, asked us to undertake the creation of a pedal powered tractor. It was there that the first prototype of Bictractor was first made from recovered materials for a total of 50 dollars.

Subsequently, a farmer in southern France who wanted to have a Bicitractor also asked us to design a version with him. Having learned from the issues of the two previous prototypes, we recently executed a third version in the sustainable innovation and open source camp POC21.

What are the issues related to Bicitractor?

The idea behind this bike tractor is firstly to avoid the debt that farmers may incur, when they have to invest in expensive equipment and experience difficulty repaying large loans, especially where farms are small or medium size.

This project returns the power to manufacture useful tools to the people, who are therefore able to define and fulfill their owns needs. Instead of relying on an out-of-touch designer from far away, we can provide for ourselves. This is truly made by farmers for farmers.

Our mode of operation is within the principles of appropriate technology, so it is not to invent a tractor that can later resell to farmers. Instead, having invented a tractor, we will now offer training workshops for interested farmers so that they can build their own tractor with our help. These workshops will be partly through self-construction of the organization the "Atelier Paysan''. *********HYPERLINK*******

We break with the classic, hierarchical economic system, choosing not to invent a product to sell, but instead to first invent a product, and then sell the know-how that will enable the user to produce this product themselves through training. Not to mention that the plans of Bicitractor will be accessible to everyone for free online.

WEIGHT

(You can also download the weight specifications as a PDF or ODT file below)

Farming tools : 29 kg

Wood floor : 21kg

Steel seat : 8 kg

Frame : 56 kg

Front fork : 2kg *2 = 4kg

Front wheel : 4,3kg *2 = 8,6kg Front wheels + front forks = 12,6kg Rear wheel : 8kg *2 =16kg

Frame + forks+ wheels = 85kg

Frame + froks + wheels + seat = 97kg

Frame + froks + wheels + seat + wood floor = 118kg

Frame + forks + wheels + seat + estimated floor + farming tools : 143kg = Bicitractor total weight

Total weight Bicitractor B300 : 143 kg

LICENSE

The BICITRACTOR B300 is licensed under a CERN Open Hardware License (CERN OHL).

SOURCE FILES

Culticycle & Farmhack: http://farmhack.org/tools/culticycle

THANK YOU !

CACITAS, POC21, L'Atelier Paysan Comunity, Simon d'Hénin, Till Wolfer, Timm Wille, Michael Floyd, Sam Muirhead.....

Step 1: What You'll Need

SKILLS NEEDED

Welding

Bike mechanics

REQUIREMENTS

6.5 days, 2 Persons

SKILL LEVEL

Medium-High

TIME

2 days for the frame

1 day for the direction

1 day for the pedal power transmission

1,5 day for the tool holder

1 day for the seat

COSTS

Preparing the workshop place

Materials: 1000 Euros

The perfect TOOL BOX to build your own Bicitractor!

(You can also download the TOOLBOX list PDF or ODT below)

Materials to built your own Bicitractor !

(You can also download a MATERIALS list PDF or ODT below)


Motorbike parts

2* Motorbike chaine 420

2* Motorbike rear wheel 16''

2* Motrobike front wheel 14 ''

2* Motorbike sprocket 46 teeth

2* Motorbike sprocket 16 teeth

5* Bearing, Inside Ø 20 mm

Boat parts

1* Cleat

2* Sailing rope 2m

3* Sailing boat pulley

2* Double sailing boat pulley

2* Sailing schakle

Bike parts

2* Bike pedals

1* Bike Crankset

1* Bottom bracket

1* Bike frame to cut

3* Bike rear wheel hub (with free wheel)

2* Bike rear wheel hub (with free wheel) and axle with bolt tightening

1* Bike Sprocket ,46 teeth

2* Bike cassette 7 speed (one with the biggest sprocket you can find)

2* Bike cassette 3 speed

5* Bike chain

3* Mountain bike headset, extern Ø 34mm, intern Ø 30mm

1* Bike gear sheath, 3,5m

1* Bike brake sheath, 3,5m

1* Mountain bike gallow

1* Handle bar

2* Bike Grip

2* Bike brake lever

1* Bike Front gear shifter

1* Bike Rear gear shifter

10* Used bike tubes

1* Bike brake cable, 3,5m

1* Bike speed cable, 3,5m

1* Bike disc brake

Raw materials

1* Round steel bar Ø 20mm*155cm

4* Treated wood board 2cm*12cm*250cm

4* Square steel tube 16mm*16mm*1,5mm*6m

2* Square steel tube 20mm*20mm*2mm*6m

2* Square steel tube 12mm*12mm*1,5mm*6m

1* Steel tube inside Ø 34mm*2mm*1m

1* Steel bar Ø 8mm*4m

1* Flat steel bar 30mm*5mm*1m

1* Flat steel bar 37mm*5mm*1m

1* Rectangle Steel tube 237mm*40mm*2mm*1,5m

1* Angle steel bar 25mm*25mm*2mm*1m

1* Angle steel bar 60mm*30mm*2mm*0,5m

1* Steel plate 50mm*20mm*5mm


Bolts

10* Bolt Ø 8mm*60mm

30* Bolt Ø 8mm*40mm

90* Washer Ø10mm

40* Nut Ø 8mm

4* Ring screw Ø 8mm

OUTPUT

After building the BICITRACTOR B300, you will be left with some scrap metal that can be used in other projects, or recycled.

Step 2: The Frame

Step 3: The Forks

Step 4: The Transmission

Step 5: The Steering System

Step 6: The Wheels

Step 7: The Tool Holder

Step 8: The Pulleys Lift System

Step 9: The Seat

Step 10: Assembling the Bicitractor