A homemade pulse jet engine now powers a winter machine that redefines what is possible on frozen lakes. Zach of Build N Pulsejets had a simple idea, and that was to attach his new 180-pound-thrust propane pulse jet to a child’s kick scooter for high-speed fun on dirt roads. Winter arrived in Michigan far earlier than expected, and before you knew it, he was knee-deep in snow and ice. Zach decided to adjust his plans, and now he has a pulse-jet bike that he enjoys riding across snowy surfaces, turning cabin fever into high-speed thrills.
First, he had to disassemble the scooter, starting with the wheels and then moving on to the fenders, which he removed with his trusty angle grinder. Three snowmobile skis were swapped out for carbide runners with plenty of ice grip, one in front and two in back, forming a stable trike layout. Then he began welding brackets to hold all of this gear in place while keeping the skis and motor steady. The pulse jet, a valveless design with an augmenter, is situated on the side to protect the rider from the flames. A forklift propane tank provides him with enough fuel to keep the machine going for an extended period of time, which is a significant advantage, but it also adds some weight.
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Controlling this beast was a key part of this build, so he took extra time to do it right. The twist-grip throttle connects to a ball valve for extremely accurate fuel flow. He constructed some handmade foot pegs out of bar stock and added additional grip for good measure. To keep from bouncing off the seat, he just bolted in a salvaged one. He also gave some serious thought to the brakes, as a simple stomp brake would be insufficient on ice surfaces. Well, it’s a start, and he’s already thinking about ways to sharpen the serrations to make it more useful.
The first test run took place on a tiny pond, and before you knew it, the engine was roaring to life, its loud, rhythmic buzz booming out. The flames from the pulse jet flared crimson as it kicked in and began propelling the tricycle ahead. It moved okay, but the handling felt a little loose, owing to the fact that the runners had not yet been properly sharpened.
Speeds reached up to 30 mph in short bursts, yet the frame continued to bounce around the uneven ice. To be honest, the heat was getting to the augmenter, which was beginning to sag under its own weight and showing signs of thermal stress. The next step was a longer test run on a Michigan lake’s snowmobile drag strip. What about the acceleration? Let’s just say it was a bit of a battle, since the combined weight of the rider, the big tank, and the engine made it difficult to move forward from a stop, even on super-low friction ice. But once it started moving… well, the momentum simply kept growing.
The trike reached speeds of more than 44 mph (77 km/h), and the sound of the engine resonated across the ice plain as onlookers watched. The good news was that it remained steady even over ruts, despite the lack of suspension. Zach claims that the entire construction was a result of the lengthy winter that the northerners were forced to endure, a means to expend energy when the snow would otherwise lock everything down. The initiative has already provided exactly what he required. Some changes are already in the works, such as sharper carbide edges on the skis, a polished brake surface, and possibly a new coat of paint.
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