By Jim Welch (Maximum) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I do alot of water travel with my Max IV. One time I was far from shore and one plug popped out. I was not on land yet when the belt started slipping. There was alot of water on board. The three people with me were not impressed. 30 feet away and we were all wet to our knees. When we got to the bank of the river, the Max couldn't pull out of the water by itself. So check your plugs everytime!

By Oliver (Digipix) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

The plugs on a Max are really cheap, not sure about others. They work, but I wouldn't rely on them. I don't do much water besides a river crossing or such, but I put Duct Tape over the plugs to help make sure they stayed in place. I have parts to add two boat drain plugs to mine, replacing the plastic caps from RI. The boat drain plugs are brass, have a permenant part that stays on your Max, and a brass plug that easily screws in and out as needed. I bought them at BoatUS, just have to put them in. When dealing with water, overkill is Ok to me.

By kush on Unrecorded Date: Edit

TRying to cross a small creek in my Attex my friends And I were wondering why opur feet were starting to get wet. NO plugs in the back & 2 holes up front. WE were teenagers at the time what did we know? Backing up got me back on the bank so I could watch the water pour out of the holes in the front. Those were repatched again 2 years ago when a tootal restore was done. I do not hjave the opportunity to get it in much water nowadyas.

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

Oliver, I would think twice about a drain plug that "easily screws in or out". Vibration can loosen up the tightest nuts (That's why most on a skid steer are locknuts or have lock washers).

If you want a better plug, get an expanding rubber one just be sure the lever is such that it won't hang up on something. Better yet, make your own using a bolt,washers and pieces of inner tube cut into washers. Slot the end of the bolt so you can hold it with a screw driver while you are tightening up the nut (use a locknut).

By Oliver (Digipix) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

The boat plugs are made out of a soft metal that meshes together when you tighten it down. I think they're brass but I'm not entirely sure about that. Needless to say, they're designed not to come out without a wrench, as on your boat, they're very much under water and would be a real pain if they came out due to vibrations. On my boat, the plug is right below where my outdrive exits the boat, and that's a REALLY high vibration area, much more than my Max shakes. When I said screws easily in and out, I meant with a wrench... by hand no chance. Thanks for the advice, I had thought about that, but I don't think the plugs would come out on their own.

By ARGOGERU on Unrecorded Date: Edit

just when i bought my bigfoot I brought it home in the rain so I pulled the plugs to let it drain.
2 weeks later doing a river ride me and the wifes' feet also started feeling wet and all the sudden the lightbulb went off. forgot to put the drain plugs back in. If i didnt have the bilge pump, I would have totally sank instead of sinking half way. we drove out of the river and drained the machine, put the plugs in and rode utill six in the morning. It seemed pretty funny after it happened but when your in the middle of a wide steady flowing river it kinda sucks with a 8k dollar machine with only 30 hours on it.

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

Juist one more point, Oliver, and You are on your own. My concern is not when the machine is in the water, the water pressure will keep them snug. Boats, (even those hauled a lot) are not subject to the free vibration that your max is. I have had locknuts work their way loose.

By john prince on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Not much water around here. I came across a decent sized pond one day, decided I'd see if these things float. Wasn't really sure though, so I decided to hedge my bets. I took off boots, stuffed my watch, wallet and keys inside and went into the water. A little lopsided, unbalanced, but basically it worked. When I pulled out the other side, I took off over another hill, circular route, gone maybe 20 minutes. When I came back, there was this guy looking at my boots and then at the pond and then back at my boots again. Good thing it wasn't Brandon or he'd probably tossed them in after me.

By maximum on Unrecorded Date: Edit

can you add a bildge pump to a maxIV,if so how?

By Eugene Kochnieff on Unrecorded Date: Edit

You Heard it first here everyone Fred sad something less than glowing about a max!!!!!!

Anyone knows a well designed machine does not vibrate so much that locknuts shake free.

Sure there are machines that do have this problem but they would be in extreme conditions.

I'm not bagging Max's just nitpicking fred, I love to read his glowing testamonials for max and any deviation is cause for comment.

Max the only AATV that can cure cancer and bring about world peace!!!!

Eugene in jest

By Oliver (Digipix) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Fred, Thanks for the tips. I'll definitely keep them in mind and watch what I do. I might also put a plug catch on it, based on your comments. That's basically a "D" ring that once the plug is screwed in, drops down and keeps it from unscrewing until the ring is moved. I've used them in the past with great success on other types of vehicles, should be a nice insurance factor just in case. Thanks again for the tips!

Maximum - Just get one from your local marine store. Get one with a built in or internal float switch and mount it to the bottom of your Max, lowest point you can find, just make sure it doesn't get in the way of a chain or any other moving part. Then run the wires to your 12v battery and you'll be all set. Make sure the switch can move without hitting anything, and make sure your wires are held in place so they don't get eaten up by sprockets or chain. Run the exit hose out a vent and you're all set. If you want it to look better, run the hose through a 'thruhull' on your Max, but you'll have to pull out a drill for that.

By david berger (Davidrrrd) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

heh heh heh, john p, you probly had that guy realy worried, it seams that for some unknown reason people who comit suiside by drounding them selves usualy take off ther shoes and leave them on the shore! HA HA HA HA
HE MAY HAVE REALY BIN CONVINCED BY THE TIME YOU RETERNED FOR THEM,

By mr. roadwolf on Unrecorded Date: Edit

eugene k, fred is the last guy who i'd call a "nitpicker". he is a informative type of guy who calls it like he sees it. fred has helped out many on this board.

By david berger (Davidrrrd) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

ooh hi philip, yah fred has bin very helpfull to many people on this board, this is so true,
however as to calling them as he sees them you have to admit somtimes hes callin from an angle! heh heh heh.

By Eugene Kochnieff on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Roadwolf,
Just to clarify,
I called myself a nitpicker not fred.

Sorry to fred if he also thought that.

Thats not my style to abuse anyone.
There should have been a comma and an "at".

"i'm not bagging max's, just nitpicking at fred."

As i have posted before if you cant argue your point with reasoned thinking keep your hands off the keyboard. I stand by that.

Sorry for the confusion.

Eugene.

By Ken Thompson on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Guys,


I agree with Eugene on one point. Others have tried to help and share stories problems and such but Fred acts like he is the Mr. know it all of AATV. Yeah he may know his stuff but don't call others out because of something you think won't or didn't happen. Don't forget he is in busines and business equals poilitics. There is a way to help and get a point across with insulting someone.

Ken

By mr.roadwolf on Unrecorded Date: Edit

sorry eugene k, i think tha one that really hates fred is his mother-in-law. hee hee

By BrettBBonner on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I do really want to know what happens if a Max IV with 26" tires is swamped. Will it sink or will the tires keep if afloat? Does anybody really know?

I use my Max in some fairly deep water that can be 20 feet deep. Of course the main idea is to not sink but if it does sink, I think one might carry a marker buoy to aid in recovery.

BTW - I put in a bilge pump that is ALWAYS turned on before I enter the water. I advise against an automatic switch because the water is already pretty high before it kicks on.