By Bud Dunn (Bud) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

My new Max II with 18 HP Briggs has about 1 hour on it. When delivered last Saturday, it started up and idled fine, and we drove it around the pasture for about 20 minutes. It was parked in the shed until this afternoon, when it again started up OK. After about 30 minutes of running, it started idling rough and would die. It will re-start, but continues to run rough and "misses" under steady throttle pressure. The fuel is nearly full (still the first tank of gas).

Any ideas? This thing is brand new, and I am not much of a mechanic. I live about 40 miles from town, and over 200 miles from the dealer that I purchased it from.

Thanks in advance,

Bud

By Attex Bob on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Bud, could be a zillion things but the first thing that comes to mind is water in fuel. Like I said, kinda tough to know what it is a thousand miles away. Good luck.

By Howard Hoover on Unrecorded Date: Edit

If I were you I would also drain the tank and check for plastic shavings in the tank when they drill the hole for the fuel line plastic shavings will go into the tank I had this problem with my max not exactly the same symptoms but I'd check it anyway I found shavings inside the fuel filter on mine and they made it out of the tank through several feet of line and into the filter so if for some reason your machine doesn't have a fuel filter on it they could make their way into the carb.

By LAWPRESSMAN on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I THINK YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD. WATER IN THE GAS IS WHAT I WOULD SAY. ADD SOME DRY GAS TO THE FUEL TANK. RUN IT WITH THE CHOKE PULLED OUT UNTELL THE DRY GAS GETS TO THE CARB.

By Bud on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I drained some fuel into a mason jar. No shavings and no water. I then drained the carburetor float to check for water or debris. Nothing. The fuel filter is clean and clear.

I ended up trailering it and driving 30 miles to take it into the shop. It really sucks to have a brand new ATV that won't run. Recreational Industries had words of condolence, but pretty much washed their hands and referred me to Briggs and Stratton on a vehicle not even 1 week old. Some service.

By Attex Bob on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Bud, I'm sorry for your bad experience with your new machine.

I'm sure once they fix the problem you will have many fun hours in your new Max.

Once you get it back please tell us what the problem was so we can all learn something.

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

Bud, The warranty on the engines are by the engine manufacturer done only at authorized service centers. If someone who has not gone to their schools works on an engine, it can void the warranty. It makes sense to me that a new engine should be worked on by an authorized service center. I have heard from others that some of the cork from the carb gaskets gets in the jets and causes the engine to run rough. That is a Briggs & Stratton problem, not a Recreatives Industries problem.

As a dealer, to save people the trip to bring the machine back to me, I suggest they use a Briggs dealer close to them, but they always have the option to bring it to me and I will take it to the Briggs service center here in Belgrade (one of the best in the country).

Make sure the service center you take it to knows that engines in a Max are set at 4000 RPM, not the 3600 RPM used on lawnmowers. I would suggest you have them call the RI factory if they argue with you.

By Bud on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Update and additional questions:

I got the Max back from the Briggs shop. The mechanic said that the carburetor was "full of dirt." He cleaned it up and adjusted the idle. In looking closer, I now see about a tablespoon of dirt in the fuel tank; some of the pieces are BB sized. I guess that the fuel filter will catch most of it, but I may end up having to drain and remove the tank to clean it up completely, correct?

Also, the engine now idles a bit higher, and the Max creeps forward slowly when in forward gear at idle (not while in reverse, though). I assume that dropping the idle speed will correct the forward creep - ? If so, can someone point me to the idle adjustment screw on the carburetor?

Thanks,

Bud

By Attex Bob on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Bud definitly drain and clean the tank. Don't count on the filter.

Yes dropping the idle will stop the creep. As for the screw, look where the stop comes up against a screw. That would be the one!!!

Glad you got your Max running again, now go have fun!!!!!

By Bud on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Thanks, Bob!