By Clifford F Andrews (Cliffandrews) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Has anyone Modifed their MAX II To use Idler Sprokets Replacing the Slide type adjusters the Slide type appears that it would wear very quickly and create a constant maintence issue i noticed the MAX IV uses Chain idlers

By david berger (Davidrrrd) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

shur i did, my 38 hp 440cc 2 stroke kept breakeing the factory things,
hey don't i know you from some place?
(david berger from franklin)

By Missouri's Max Dealer (Brandon_price) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

John Martin made sprocket adjusters for his Max II, he should be able to give you more info. The nylon slide adjusters hardly wear at all. A friend of mine had an '84 Max II with original adjusters. He eventually had to replace one because it broke and wouldn't hold pressure anymore. The nylon was still in good shape.

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

Cliff, I think some people have modified the idlers. but I don't think the kind used in the Max IV (sprocket and bolt) will fit in the II.

The Max II idlers are really quite good if you will keep the gunk out of them and your chain troughs. When the chain needs replacement (if you can squeeze one side against the other and be within 1/2 an inch, the chain need to be replaced - don't just take out a link because that will ruin your sprockets) , the idlers will not work very well, but it is not the idlers fault.

By David Keeso (Argomag) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

What do the idler chains do ( I have an ARGO) and I know that the chains directly in behind the firewall attached to the brakes are the idler chains but what exactly is their purpose? Do they drive something from the transmission to another shaft that drives the wheeles? Somebody fill me in.

By Clifford F Andrews (Cliffandrews) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

An attempt to post a pic of the adjusters /image{LFADJ.jpg}These are the adjusters they seam to have excessive wear supposedly the 1995 Machine did not have a lot of use. I beginning to believe otherwise

By Pat Norman on Unrecorded Date: Edit

David,
The chain idlers are either a small sproket or other mechanism which is adjustable. The purpose for it is to keep the correct tension on the drive chains (as they age under use they stretch). If they get too loose they slip on the sprockets causing damage to the sprockets or they can jump off the sproket. There should be one on every drive chain. once the adjustment is all used up and the chain is too loose, the chain is worn out and needs to be replaced.

By Howard Hoover on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Have any of you guys thought of using belts instead of chains? I know they might be harder to replace in the field if one broke but they are lighter would require no grease therefore your machine would stay much cleaner inside.
Most Harleys have belt drives and they are running upwards of 60 to 100 hp or more with one belt! if you you are using several belts inside I can't see where you would have any problems with them breaking. They are pretty expensive but I think it would make up for the cost in the long run over chains stretching and breaking and having to grease them spending time maintaining them.

By Howard Hoover on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Have any of you guys thought of using belts instead of chains? I know they might be harder to replace in the field if one broke but they are lighter would require no grease therefore your machine would stay much cleaner inside.
Most Harleys have belt drives and they are running upwards of 60 to 100 hp or more with one belt! if you you are using several belts inside I can't see where you would have any problems with them breaking. They are pretty expensive but I think it would make up for the cost in the long run over chains stretching and breaking and having to grease them spending time maintaining them.

By Don Abernathey (Dla) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Excellent technology improvement and cheaper for manufacturing. But RI would have change and they only do that on odd decades :)

By Howard Roland on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Cliff;

Check with Richard Clark as he is coming out with a set of new chain
adjusters. As I have been running his new adjusters for about 6 months,
as a test. They are nice, work well, easy to install. They most likely
are available by now.

Howard Roland

By mike martindale (Wetsu) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

david,the best way i can describe it is.....the idlers transfer the torque from the tranny to the mainshafts which in turn transfers to the drive axles.pretty simple huh?if your idlers are out of adjustment(now this is just from i got from the manual)it will put more power to one side or the other,and cause the machine to pull to 1 side or the other.i'm not sure why,but if your idlers are set at 1/8th inch of play my bigfoot runs better than at say....3/4 in of play.and if you are still running stock chains,suggest replacing them with diamond brand chains.i had the CHEAP jap stock chains,and had to adjust everytime i rode.i got 3hrs on the diamonds,and are still with in specs.
howard,if you want to pull an axle evertime you need ed to replace a belt,then knock yourself out.when i'm in the bush,and a chain breaks(not that it has happened yet)i would rather pull a new chain around them axles,then have to pull them.(axles)and even if your harley throws a belt you still have to pull the wheel off.and i can garantee that is easier than removing the axles.

By Ted Zimmer on Unrecorded Date: Edit

In the Argo Conquest user manual it says to only use Argo chain lube for the idlers. Says other lubes will be thrown off the idlers and get in the brakes.
Does anyone know if any other lubes will work. Is the Argo chain lube have any special qualities (specs) not available in other chain lubes? Thanks.

By bigkodiak on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Ted
I use a lube called White lightning and have never had a problem with the disks unless I got some on the disks directly.
I get my lube from another 6x6er, TJ, but I am sure you can find it if you do a search for White lightning chain lube.
I know other people that just use WD40, but I don't know if they have had any probs or not.
Russ

By argoguru on Unrecorded Date: Edit

ted,
go to napa auto and get their chain lube. It foams when you spray it on and soaks in real good, best stuff I have found.

By mike martindale (Wetsu) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

ted and all,i started useing MAXIMUS CHAIN WAX. and no it has nothing to do with max's.you can get at almost any motorcycle shop.if you read the directions(and follow them).it works very well.and it doesn't fly off and it won't hurt your brakes.and it last a lot longer than conventional lube's.it was made for dirt bikes,and you know what kind of abuse those chains get.cost around 7 dollars a can.