By Bill cripe (Bcripe) (68.167.153.226) on : Edit

Well I am getting ready to rebuild the bottom end of my Max II 450T. I have new Jack Shafts since the big sproket spun on both sides and when it was rewelded, the sprokets became very warped. So I think they should be replaced. I would also like to replace the chains and bearings. I really would like to put the best, longest lasting parts back in. Any suggestions on what to use? Any modifications that I should do to increase life? I read where some guy put different types of bearings in?

Thanks,
Bill

By Missouri's Max Dealer (Brandon_Price) (69.27.205.23) on : Edit

I like to use chain from John Deere on the 450T. It's good quality, easy to get, and costs about $120 for all eight chains. They last a good long time but usually less than the original chains. Wear on the old sprockets will accellerate wear on new chains.
There is really not much you can do to prolong bearing life. You can get a good price from a local bearing shop for standard bearings and compare it to a better quality setup such as triple sealed. Don't waste much extra money for a fancy bearing. In the open application of the Max axles, even the best bearing bites the dust in a short time. The only way to get longer life out of your axle bearing is to make a cover and use a real oil seal to keep out dirt and water.

By Bill cripe (Bcripe) (68.228.64.38) on : Edit

What is the original chain? Longest lasting would be best for me since its not easy for me to replace it or have it replaced. I was pretty hard on it this past summer pulling logs and such. I plan to use it to pull a brushcutter, lawnmower, roller etc this summer. That would probably accelerate chain stretch.

How could I make a cover and use a oil seal on my bearings?

Thanks!
BC

By Bob Eells (216.90.97.35) on : Edit

Bill
I am glad you brought up the question about oil seals. I have been wondering how feasible it would be to make an axle seal that covers the axle bearing and axle shaft on the Maxes. With the large number of engineering type guys on this board you would think that someone has attempted this as this is a high maitenance high cost part of these machines. Also time consuming to re-chain one.I wonder why no one has done this and offered it as a retro fit.It surely would pay off if it saved the bearings even 1 extra season.Plus it might make the Max more water tight. Maxes are real leakers anyway when in the water any length of time. I almost sunk mine in my pond when I first got it. Thats when I installed a bilge pump that Max forgot to offer as an option.
I know that I would be interested in this if someone could engineer this idea. Maybe Big Wolf could look into this as he is fairly close to a fab shop.

By Bill cripe (Bcripe) (68.167.153.226) on : Edit

Yea, I would like to know as well. There really arent too many posts on here that go into detail regarding chains and bearings. Seems like there ought to be something that we can do to increase life?

BC

By Big Wolf (68.40.23.217) on : Edit

Bob,

I thought about working on some improvement kits this winter, but I have not felt good enough to even think about it these past couple of months. I have a severe back problem that does not want to go away, and pain management has been about all I can think of for the time being.

The outer bearing flange and seal kits would not be very difficult to make up. A person could easily machine a set of outer flange plates out of billet aluminum, and make then thicker, and also machine out the groves to hold the seals in place. In fact you would probably want to copy the way that Argo makes there outer flange and seals kits.

My neighbor down the street has an older Argo Magnum, and he broke a couple of his outer flange plates, so he made up a complete new set identical to the old Argo flange plates. The older Argo flange plates looked like they were made of cast aluminum. The new ones he made were machined out of an aluminum billet.

He also went ahead and changed all the bearings when he had every thing apart. The new bearings that he used and installed were Federal Mogul tapered roller bearings.

By Bill cripe (Bcripe) (68.228.64.38) on : Edit

What do you guys think about bearings on my machine? Just the standard? Anybody have a part number? Is the John Deere chain the best I can do? I really do want as good as I can get so I wont have to do this again soon. Machining out flange plates probably are well above my capability.

Thanks again,
BC

By Bill Straub (156.76.147.55) on : Edit

I've got to believe there is a better way on the bearings as well. True inboard boat motors must use some sort of sealed bearing for the prop shaft that exits the hull or stern of the boat. There has to be something that could be adapted to fit the Max application???

By Big Wolf (136.1.1.33) on : Edit

Bill,

You can pull one of the axle bearings out of your machine and find the part number on the bearing race, or you can call Richard Clark and he can tell you which bearings you need for your model year machine, and he also sells them for a resonable cost. He told me that he buys bearings in bulk, so he will have any one of several brands on hand.

In our application it really does not matter which brand you buy and install, they will all have about the same usefull life span, because of the way they are applied and lubricated.

If Brandon or Fred read this message, perhaps they will log on and provide the exact bearing part numbers and sizes for your machine. I would only be guessing if I gave you the bearing part numbers and sizes that are used on my 03/04 Max IV.

I am keeping an eye on the bearings and outer flange seals on my machine to see how long they will actually last. Once I do know this information, then I will plan to do bearing change outs accordingly. The inner bearings should easily last twice as long as the outer bearings, because they are not subjected to the same elements and abuse.

Unfortunately to solve the premature outer bearing failure problem on the Max machines, it will require a redesign of the outer bearing flange plates, and include some actual seals kits to keep water and contaminates sealed out.

By liflod (Liflod) (24.3.234.147) on : Edit

Has anyone tried the 4 bolt cast iron flange bearings on their machine? They look like they would replace the stamped steel flangettes and would be better sealed to actually grease the bearing. I'm still not convinced that we really need the slef-aligning style bearing on these machines. The frames should be strong enough to keep the axles in a straight line so the bearings should not have to be self-aligning.

By Fred Sowerwine, Montana's Max dealer (Fred4dot) (216.166.168.53) on : Edit

Sorry Big Wolf (and Bill) but I have never replaced one of the bigger outer bearings. I don't know what the numbers are. I have not sold one of the bigger bearings (used since mid 1995) so if any of my customers have replaced any, they have not bought them from me. Maybe our dry climate makes for longer life, but I just don't see the problems some of you are talking about.

By mike abbey (67.174.128.16) on : Edit

the starcraft usees a heavy cast iron flange brng you know thats the only thing i didnt have to replace on all six axles even after 20yrs in water and mud that was in the hull sitting out in the elements,i think my brngs have a set screw and that is just to lock in rotation,the sprocket sleeves are pinned to the axle and the axle is trapped between outer bearing and the inside bushing.i never realy got into a max is it simalar or more like the wedge arangement.

By Bill cripe (Bcripe) (68.167.153.226) on : Edit

Hi Fred, I dont know really if my bearings are bad but I need to have it worked on to replace both Jack shafts and all of the chains so I figured on doing everything since I dont know its background and I wont have to worry about it for quite some time.

BC

By Fred Sowerwine, Montana's Max dealer (Fred4dot) (216.166.168.53) on : Edit

Bill, I can understand your concerns, but one can tell fairly easily if bearings are good or not. There is usually some advance notice before a bearing goes. I'm not one to waste time and money replacing parts that are serviceable. You can pick up replacements at NAPA (just take an old bearing in and they will match it).

I'm not saying you have to wait until a bearing blows before you replace it, but there should be more than minimal play. With the wheels off the ground, grip the tire at 6 & 12 o'clock and at 9 and 3 o'clock and try to move the wheel in toward the body and out away from the body. If the axle moves more than minimal, you have a bad bearing. Generally, if your bearing holds grease, it is probably OK. Also, the amount of leakage when in the water is also a good indicator, assuming your flange bolts are of uniform tightness at about 20 Ft lbs torque, your flanges and bearings are adequately greased and you don't have a bent axle, rim or some other part malfunction.

By mike abbey (67.174.128.16) on : Edit

scrambler has a bearing that is i think like themax but it has a place for a seal in the stamped cover and a grease zerk and it has three bolt holes.