By Oliver (Digipix) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I'm wondering about how well a Max does in the snow? I don't have tracks yet, can't afford those really so I'm on tires only. To help with ground impact, I put on Chevron tires (replaced my Rawhide III's) similar to what Argos use. The chevron tires are mostly smooth rubber with the center V for the water, so not a whole lotta tread and much less aggressive than the other tires I took off. How well will these work in snow? Will it sit and spin or should it do ok? How about hill climbing in the snow? My property is somewhat hilly, and to get to/from the woods I've got to go down a hill... my concern is will my Max be able to get back up the hill to get into the garage or will it become a lawn/snow ornament at the bottom of the hill until the spring thaw? What works best?

By Fred Sowerwine, Montana's Max Dealer (Fred4dot) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Oliver, With the 22" tires you are good for about 7" of anything. Tread doesn't make much difference because you have lots of contact area. Consistency of the snow is what is important. If its loose and fluffy, you will go through a foot and a half like it was dry ground; If it is deep, wet and it won't hold your machine, your max will bottom out. On sloping ice, you might have a traction problem, but I doubt it (chains, cable chains or home made rope chains will fit with the 22" and solve any traction problems (chains won't help much on the tires with deep lugs because the chains slip in between the lugs and are just along for the ride, adding weight. A rule of thumb is if you can go up something when it is muddy, you can go up it when it is covered with snow. I guess if you are real worried, you can get a long length of rope.

By Oliver (Digipix) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Fred, Thanks for the summary. Sounds like I should be mostly ok then. I guess I'll have to experiment when the snow first flies to get an idea how well she does. My max is a heavy one, so it might not do quite as well as the II's and IV's though. Cheers.

By newmax on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Just put my new tracks on and tried them for the first time today. we got about 18" of snow last night. i rode on all the snowmobile trails some of them with no trails before me. i was dragging the bottom the whole way and had no problem. one problem i did have was going up some of the trails that were packed i found the tracks would slip. i did make it up the hills but it wasn't easy. i was a little concerned that the tracks didn't have much traction. So tonight i took it out again, i went to another trail the trail is up a mountain some parts a faily steep. there were no trails there except on set of 4 wheeler tracks that turned around at the bottom of the hill. i rode all the way up with the bottom of the tub hitting all the way. i made it no problem it was easier than the trails that were well ridden on. I had a blast.

By newmax on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I ran into the same problem again today. i went down a small hill maybe 25 or 30 degree about 200 feet long. there was a snowmobile track going down so i followed it. turned around at the bottom and headed back up following the snowmobile trail. i couldn't make it the tracks just started to spin. so i backed down and made a new trail and made it up. I was spinning but made it up. is this because there is not enough traction on these tracks or are all the tracks like this and snowmobiles just have speed.

By Fred Sowerwine, Montana's Max Dealer (Fred4dot) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Mike, I think you are right on both accounts. The max track does not have real good traction on harder stuff and snow mobiles get were they go often with momentum and/or really fast track spinning (might check into snow mobile lugs for extra grip - they can go on the outer portion of the track without risking body damage). A lot depends on snow consistency and if you are on really hard icy stuff you are going to have to do something for traction.

By newmax on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Has anyone ever put snowmobile studs on their tracks? how many do you use.

By david berger (Davidrrrd) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

i saw some on mudbuster's tracks, verry agressev!
just takes a few too!
I NOTICED THEM WHEN TIM AND I WERE MAKEING A HOW TOO VIDEO:
"how too"install standerd factory tracks on a max IV

By roadwolf on Unrecorded Date: Edit

were and when can i get how to aatv video's, david?

By newmax on Unrecorded Date: Edit

has anyone in the northeast taken their machine out in the sonow yet. I was wondering if anyone without traks went out and how they did.

By newmax on Unrecorded Date: Edit

does anyone else have problems with ice biulding up on the tire guides? everytime i go out i get ice build up on the guides and the machine actually wobbles. you can feel the bumps from the large chunks of ice build up. i tried pam cooking spray but that didn't cut it. i have the max tracks on a max 1v

By Timothy Schotanus (Mudbuster) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I have a max4 with the factory track. I live in Mass and got about a foot of snow from this last storm. This is the first time that I really used the tracks in the snow and did not notice any build up problem on the tracks. I left one side of the top off and it will throw snow right back at you from the back of the track(the first turn gave me a full ear full) The video that dave B made about putting the tracks on has some driving footage at the end,not a lot but it might help. If you want we can go riding and compare tracks/machines if you want.

By Larry Houghton on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Newmax; I had a MAXII out in the snow last winterand my nieghbour had his MAX IV out.Went through about 15 to 18 inches of snow with tires no tracks.This winter only have about 4 to 5 inches right now in my area.I cant help with your tracks but if ice is forming tires might be slipping in tracks. Check your track for tightness.

By newmax on Unrecorded Date: Edit

tim where in mass are you. there is no one to ride with up here. i have miles and mile of trails that i use all year that i take right from my house.

By Tim Wafer (Iflyrctoo) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Newmax
I have definitely experienced the ice build up problem you describe on the aluminum guides. I have never found a solution to it. It usually occurs at about 10 degrees F and below. If you get a thin coat of ice started it will just keep building on. I have had it build up to softball size which as you note causes a rough ride and lots of noise. Try to avoid any open water as this accelerates the process. I tried Pam, silicones, Synthetic oils of different types and even some liquid deicing chemicals. None of them gave any noticeable improvement. I think that if the guides were plastic instead of aluminum it wouldn't do this.
It's not easy to remove the ice either. Its amazing how hard and dense it becomes. Hammering on it will wear you out before it comes off. About the only way is to melt it off. If anyone has found a solution to this I would like to hear it too.
Tim

By David Keeso (Argomag) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

ON the argo tracks, when i get that hardpacked snow that builds up on the surface of the tracks (what would make contact with the road or trail) I find an area where their is less snow and just do continuous doughnuts until you dig down to hard ground. When their is more friction, the snow starts to chunk off.

By Timothy Schotanus (Mudbuster) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Newmax, I live in northbridge(route 146 between Worcester and RI). Dave B lives in Franklin(near Milford)I will be happy to go riding any time you want.

By newmax on Unrecorded Date: Edit

mudbuster that would be great. do you have trails where you are as well? right now my trailer is burried in snow so i cant tow my max.

By Fred Sowerwine, Montana's Max Dealer (Fred4dot) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Mike and Tim, I think I might have found a solution to the snow stick problem - ski wax! I am using/going to use (when/if we get any snow) SWIX super F4 wax (it is in a tin like shoe polish, goes on with a little sponge - heck maybe even shoe polish would work). It has a pretty wide range (temperature wise) of effectiveness. Have no idea how long it will last, but from my long ago skiing life, I remember rewaxing because of temperature change not loss of wax.

At any rate, something else to try.

By newmax on Unrecorded Date: Edit

thanks Fred i will give it a try. we have over 2 feet of snow around here

By newmax on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I went out today for long rides and the spikes made a big difference. i had no problem going up the hills that i was slipping on before. i went on some long snowmobile trails today and the cruise control i made was a big help.

By Dave Evans (Dozer911) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Hi guys do your your traxs run rough on pavement?for me to get to the trails i have to ride some roads and the shaking is real bad is this normal

Dave