By liflod (Liflod) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I finally figured out why my ATTEX did not have the low end power it should have. Simple enough, the belt was too loose and riding too high on the engine clutch. I found the hidden bolts to slide the engine back to tighten the belt. I drove it through the woods and it was wonderful. I climbed some small hills that I could not climb before and hopped over logs that previously gave me problems. But, out in the field, after going on flat land and coming to a hill, the gearing seemed way too high and would not climb the hill. I came to a complete stop, let the engine idle down and went at it again, this time no problem! What are the tricks of getting the gearing where you want it and when you want it? I'm sure there are different art forms for driving. Any input is appreciated. Also, how do I determine the correct belt tension?

By ISAAC EISENMAN (Tropicjungleboy) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

HEY LIFLOD:the trick is simple...you should have dirt//rust on your clutch slidind component...that "freeze" your reduction ratio...splash plenty penetrating oil on internal component ( springs,pins,levels,) on both pulley (motor and tranny)..that should resolve proper automatic reduction ratio selection..otherwise you have worn out component on it...........

By liflod (Liflod) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I sprayed it once after tightening the belt and I will spray it and work it manually before my next ride. wow what a difference with some low end power!

By Kevin Percy on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Guys,
Check out the Gates website at the link below. They discuss the snowmobile clutch system, but I think the ones you are dealing with are very similar, if not interchangeble.
Kevin

http://www.gates.com/brochure.cfm?brochure=1032&location_id=542

By neil otto on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Is there any way to lower the gear ratio on a Max IV? I just put on tracks and could sure use more low speed power. Speed isn't important. Here's where the Argo 2 speed transmission would really be nice. Thanks, Neil

By liflod (Liflod) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Thanks for the link Kevin! I just checked it out and it gave me some insight to what's happening.

Neil, check your belt for proper tension. If it is too loose, you will loose alot of low end power.

Isaac, I went for a ride on Sunday (no hunters in the woods). The clutch worked alot better. I was able to accelerate up a hill. I finally appreciate the 440. Before I tightened the belt, I could have climbed hills better on my mountain bike!

By liflod (Liflod) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I have been putting some more hours on my ATTEX lately and it has actually been running pretty good. My engine is turning about 4000 rpm all of the time. Is this normal on a 440 2 stroke? It has plenty of power and awesome throttle response. 4000 rpm seems a little high to me. Where does everyone elses engine run?

By Attex Bob on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Liflod: At what throttle position? I have an Attex with a 500cc in it, and it goes alot higher than 4 grand wide open, and it depends on how fast I am cruising at part throttle. I would guess that the converter comes in at around 3 to 3.5 grand. That is just a guess; I don't have a tach. But I do know that it really twists.......very high!! Thats why you need to change the converter (or spring rate)when you change to a 4 stroke. A 4 stroke would blow up before the machine would even move!!! Long live two strokes!!!!!!!!!!!!

By pete6x6 on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Lifod,

Well that depends. Most 2 strokes operate at around 6-7,000 rpm wide open and idle somewhere around 1,500 or so. Your converter should grab on around 3,000. you also might want to play around with belt tension. It also depends heavily on your clutch and belt also. I lvoe the smell of two stroke in the morning :)

By liflod on Unrecorded Date: Edit

The way it has been running, its seems 4000rpm is where the tach stays. I guess the throttle is only open about 1/4 to 1/2. While going pretty easy through the woods the tach is at 4000, when I come to a hill, the machine slows down going up the hill but the engine is still spinning the same speed. When the torque converter gets to the ends of its travel (going pretty darned fast!) the engine speed will increase. It just seems whenever I look at the tach whether going through the woods,up a hill or through the fields, the engine spins at 4000 rpm. I know before I tightened the belt , the engine would spin about 2000 to 3000 rpm. I guess if someone told me 4000 rpm was too fast for the engine to spin, I would loosen the belt some.

By Kevin Percy on Unrecorded Date: Edit

While you are checking the clutch, make sure the driven pulley is not sticking. If it doesn't want to open up as the clutch closes you will get the feeling you are stuck in too low a gear, and the engine will rev too high. There may be plastic slider shoes where the moveable half of the pulley rides against the helix (the end cap on the driven pulley with the wedge shaped pieces on it). Make sure they are there and in good shape.

By liflod (Liflod) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Well, it does seem like it is geared pretty low while going through the woods. But when you get it in the open fields, the gearing does change with speed and it will also gear itself down when I come to a hill. I'm pretty confident all of the clutches are working right, I'm just concerned about the engine speed/belt tension.

I have never driven or ridden in another AATV except a Bigfoot and its really hard for me to tell what is right and what is wrong.

By Attex Bob on Unrecorded Date: Edit

It sounds to me the way you describe things, everything is alright. My Attex does roughly the same thing. When I first gas it, the RPM goes sky high, almost like something is slipping, then it starts to move faster and faster. The converters on two strokes are very loose. If it really bothers you, you could play with the converter springs, and bring the lock-up in sooner, but then you would likely hurt low end power. Two strokes make their power by twisting, and if you take that away, you end up with no low end power. My Attex is not much for pulling the pipe trailer, unless I want to go 10 MPH!!! That's a job for my Argo. What would you rather do? Fly through the woods? Or put out pipe? And that is why I like my Attex best. "That's not smoke from the engine........that's smoke from the tires!!!"

By liflod (Liflod) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Thanks for the info ATTEX Bob! One of these days I will get to ride with someone else and exchange notes on how each is running. I think I'm doing pretty well with my ATTEX considering I bought it in a thousand pieces and I have never worked on one before.