Subtopic	Posts		Updated
	Archive through August 5, 1999	3
	Archive through August 14, 1999	1
	Archive through May 29, 2002	11

By newmax on Unrecorded Date: Edit

my max dealer told me today that i should disconnect the fron 2 chains on my max Iv. has anyone done this before

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

Mike, You could do that (the Trackmax had no final drive chains), but the only advantage I can see is you would reduce your weight by the weight of the chains (probably less than 10 pounds). You also would not have to provide the power to turn the chain, but I think this is insignificant. IMO, the chains are just along for the ride and don't wear much when the tracks are on.

Reasons not to do it: Time involved to remove and replace the chains when you take the tracks off. If you ever throw a track, you will be completely helpless (three wheels driving will get you home - just the rear wheel having power would be really hard to imagine working well enough to get you home on your own power. The chance of the wheels slipping inside the track are non existent with chains on - could be a problem in certain conditions with only the rear wheels providing power contact with the tracks.

IMO, if you were never to take the tracks off, removing the chains and sprockets would make sense. RI doesn't market the trackmax any more - maybe they agree with my assumptions.

By David Keeso (Argomag) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

The drive chains? Why would you disconnect the front two drive chains?? Thats about the dumbest thing I have heard considering, that all 6or 8 wheeles drive the machine.

By mr. tinker on Unrecorded Date: Edit

you only need the back chain on each side to drive the tracks. keeping the other four chains on is just wasting energy turning them.

By liflod (Liflod) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I have heard of axle bending problems when using tracks. The problem is different diameter tires inside the track and no slippage between the tires and the tracks. The chain keeps all 3 axles spinning at the same speed by virtue of the same diameter sprocket. The tracks try to keep the axles moving the same speed by virtue of the same diameter tires. If the tires are not the same diameter, something has to give. It will have to be the tires slipping in the tracks,the chain slipping on the sprocket, the axle bending or the tires compressing. I have no experience with tracks, I'm just passing on some info.

By David Keeso (Argomag) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

How can you get power to the back wheeles without all the drive chains in place? Fill me in on what you are talking about. WOuldn't you want all power to all wheeles driving the tracks?

By Chris M. (Argomaster9000) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Man, these Max owners just don't make any sense, right David?

I would never remove the chains from my Conquest just because I had tracks on (which I do).

By David Keeso (Argomag) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Chris, I wouldn't say only the Max owners don't make sense, I have heard a few odd ARGO ones too. HOnestly though, why the hell would you remove DRIVE chains. They are there to DRIVE the vehicle. The key word here is "DRIVE" so I don't know why you would kill everything in the front 4 wheeles, just to drive the rear. YOu would think that you want all power to the wheeles, and for that matter tracks. I could be wrong, but that just doesn't make ANY SENSE AT ALL!

Mr. Tinker, how do you figure that you are "wasting power" by running all the drive chains? How much more power is being used by running a couple more chains? I could really use a good explanation.

By Chris M. (Argomaster9000) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

My thoughts exactly. I could see you LACKING power without having drive chains going to the front wheels. Wouldn't this make the engine work even harder with so little drive chains? Wouldn't those few remaining chains be under a lot of pressure, possibly snapping?

Also, I've yet to hear about the odd Argo owners. If they're as interesting as Max owners, then... :-)

By roadwolf on Unrecorded Date: Edit

chris and dave,

mechanically speaking you only need one power source form your transmission to drive all the axles on one side on the inside of your aatv. having said that, by having only one axle per side driving the track, it could be lQQked at like a big gear and sprocket setup.

if that still is not a good enough explaination then check out a tracked caterpillar or military tank.

By argoguru on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I removed my rear chains on the bigfoot last year with my tracks on and got alot more speed, the only problem was is that the front four runnamucks would slip inside the track while climbing steep hills which wasn't cool at all. with matts rubber tracks it wasn't a problem, because of the rubber to rubber contact (I have the plastic tracks). A problem we found with matts tracks was the chains in the middle would bind up real tight and smoke the bearings. by taking off matts rear chain, speed improved and their was better all around performance. jon

By liflod (Liflod) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I believe the reason for binding up the chains is different tire diameters and no slippage between the tires and tracks.

By argoguru on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Liflod,
the tire pressure was the same, But I cannot explain why this happened, only the problem went away with the rear chain out.

By gary bader (Garyb) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I am getting ready to buy tires for my MaxII and would like opinions on Goodyear Rawhide and Goodyear Rawhide III tires. If anyone has had luck with any other brand please let me know.

By ISAAC EISENMAN (Tropicjungleboy) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

hey gary: i put on my maxll the itp blackwater on the 12.50 x22...there are 4 ply rating and very agresive on mud...on water are altmost useless ( but i never tried rawhide or rawhidelll......so i don't have parameter of .........

By gary bader (Garyb) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Thanks alot Isaac. I will take a look at them. Your max looks the same as mine only mine is camo. I bet the 22" tires set yours up higher than mine with the stock 21".

By roadwolf on Unrecorded Date: Edit

argoguru, lance said tire circumference not pressure, probably your back runamucks were larger than the fronts and middle's and that's why the back's were happier free wheelin'.

tape 'em and let us know the results.

By ISAAC EISENMAN (Tropicjungleboy) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

HEY GARY:

CHECK AGAIN WIDE...MY BLACKWATER ARE 12.5" INSTEAD OF THE 11"..AND THAT ADD EXTRA FLOTATION AND GRIP ON "NOMAN'S LAND..I USE ON MINE AROUND 8 PSI AIR PRESURE ( FRONT AND MIDDLE ALTMOST TOUCH BOTTOM OF TUB...REAR LEFT TIRE ALTMOST TOUCH MUFFLER....YEAH!!...HARD RIDE BUT NO PROBLEM WITH RIM BEAD POP OUT ISSUE!!!!.......IT'S THE BIGGER TIRE THAT CAN FIT ON THE MAX II......

By oldmucknmkire on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Can a Max4 with a 23hp motor get stuck in a water/mud hole? My local dealer told me it is almost impossible to get stuck with tracks. Before I purchase the kit I would like to know. One person told me that tires are better in mud.

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

oldmucknmkire, Yes, any machine can get stuck. The max IV with the 26" tires and the 25 HP engine will do better than any other skid steer. Tracks will reduce the PSI on the ground and provide better flotation, but they do not provide as good of traction and if you are in real gooey stuff, the mud will settle on the track. You might have to add some sort of a flexible lug to give the track something to grip the mud or fluid with. Tracks are not very good in water because there is no lug to propel them. Same thing with real gooey mud. Always a trade off! If the mud has consistency enough to support the machine, a max with tracks will walk right across it while all other machines (yes, including a max with tires) will sink and be stuck. Nothing on the market today is as well balanced and has as low of PSI on the ground as does the Max machines. But, if the machine can swim through the mud/water, a max with aggressive tires will probably get through where a max with tracks might not. If there is a foot or so of water above the mud, the max with tires will get through when most other machines will not.

By newmax on Unrecorded Date: Edit

i have a max 4 with tracks. they have excellent floatation but they don't have much tread. I have never been stuck yet in the snow but there are some snowmobile trails that i couldn't go on because i didn't have enough traction to make it up the hill.i am not sure about the mud yet but i will find out. imo i would think the 26" tires would be better in the mud. better ground clearence and tread.

By Denny B. on Unrecorded Date: Edit

anyone- I am in the market for a Polartis 6x6 or a Kawasaki Mule. We have been using a friends argo the past two duck seasons in the rice fields. Chain eventually starts slipping or popping off of sprocket. It always is in the barn due to some sort of malfunction at least half way thru the season. The water in the rice fields is maximum 16" deep. But we do need to get over some small levees. I know polaris has had some problems with their 4x4's in the past, but I like that it is USA. let me know. Denny B.

By David Keeso (Argomag) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Denny. Are you doubting our Canadian ARGO's?? What is wrong with Canadian made products?? Right Nothing!

Argo is stronger and better made than Max will ever be so please don't doubt it.

AS Canadians, we make some pretty damn good things.

By bigkodiak on Unrecorded Date: Edit

If your chains are popping off of the sprockets you need to replace those chains with damn fine AMERICAN MADE chains, replace the sprockts and replace the chain tensioners.
No doubt 6 wheelers require more maintenance than other machines but if you are having the problems you described, either you aren't properly maintaining, using inferior parts or just performing poor repairs.
Russ

By robnwan on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I take exception to this comment "Argo is stronger and better made than Max will ever be so please don't doubt it." but I won't get into a flame war.

At least look at a Max, goes through mud far better & water much faster than an Argo's 3 wheel drive that is front heavy. I never have a problem with them(Max) breaking down.

Just do a Yahoo search on "Max 6x6" and check it out. You will be pleased and it is USA made. By the way it seems that Canada in general has great products that they produce. Just seems that the Argo is in question here.

Thanks,
Robert

By Dan C on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Sorry I'm alittle off the topic but, can any of you guys tell me how many sections of track I should have on my 83 8x8i/c Argo?
I got a set of "argo" tracks from a friend of mine and I'm not sure if they are long enough
Oh ya my tire size is 22"x 11"
Thanks DAN

By Tom Phillips (Dozerdawg) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I need to leave my tracks on my response 8x8 to make it through some silt in the river where I duck hunt, but then I get in the deeper water and the Argo is helpless with the tracks, do I need to keep my trolling motor on attached all the time, which is a pain, or does anyone hae other suggestions?

By GAETAN CLEMENT on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I have a 6x6 argo with 14"wide standard tracks(plastic) and do not find it to good in snow specialy when going up hill .I was wondering about rubber tracks or escargot tracks ??

By David Keeso (Argomag) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Gaetan, which argo 6x6 do you have? I know that some people who run the argos with a 16 hp engine and tracks, they loose a lot of power- you generally loose between one and two horse power when you run tracks, and it does take a lot more effort to get the macnine to turn, especially in very deep snow. THe super tracks suck out more power just becuase they are much wider and heavier. One thing i have found that works for me in our 8x8 magnum is to add weight to the back end so that when you go up a hill, their isn't quite as much weight on the front, doesnt' work in all conditions, but for me, it had helped a lot. I seems to just hold the back down a bit more so that the weight is more even. At times though, if you are going up really steep inclines with tracks, you want as little weight as possible. You may have to take a run at the hill a couple times, first to break the snow down a bit, or widen your tracks a little so their isn't as much snow in the centre,(do not spin the tracks in one place, they tend to make the snow slippery and unless you have cleats, you'll never get up) and then take a run at it again. I know that with a plow on the front, it is sometimes easier to back up the hill.

By philip w.cox (Philipatmaxfour) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

HI TOM
I've never met anybody who said their tracks were good in the water but I can drive through marshes and lilly pads and bullrushes (cattails to some) with tires only. Get a movie from John Schwab or David Berger.You,lle see our machines going through mud that would seem impossible.Try that river silt without the tracks I think you'lle find a whole new world in the water.Good luck and let us know .Warren Philip.

By Dozerdawg ( - 24.225.24.31) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Thanks Warren: That's why I put the tracks on as I was spinning out in the silt with just tires. And you're right, going through the water with just the tires makes a huge differenct. And where might I get the movie??? See ya! Tom Phillips

By Tom Phillips (Dozerdawg) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Hey Warren: Thanks, I have tried to make it through without the tracks and I just spin out. I would much rather run without the tracks, but I don't like getting out and trying to walk through that stuff to hook up the winch to pull me through.Where does a person get the movie you're referring to. Thanks for the info. Tom Phillips

By philip w.cox (Philipatmaxfour) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

HI TOM
Both Tom Scwab and David Berger are frequent
contributors to this site.They are not in the business of making movies for a huge profit
but sure make great movies of the events that
they (and us) attend. Today I see Johns name under the Haspin Rides heading and Davids name under at least two headings. Go to these sites ---click on their name--see their profile--E mail them--Good luck.
Before you put the tracks on ,what tires were you using? Warren Philip

By John Schwab (Johnschwab) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Thank you Philip- All of my videos (I now have 19 titles) are available on DVD or VHS. I have been able to keep the price at $18 for at least six more months so contact me at jsschwab@localnet.com if anyone is interested. I can email you a list of what is available. I have one called the Forestville creek ride that features two Bigfoots (Bigfeet?) with tracks under some miserable wet snow/ice conditions.