Subtopic	Posts		Updated
	Archive through November 7, 2001	18

By SteadyShot on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Power-Trac sinks like a rock! Got mine swamped the other day and still finding problems! Hit a submerged log, lifted right front corner maybe 4 inches, water rushed over left rear and I couldn't do a thing to stop it! I was only 3 feet from the bank and still couldn't make it before the engine swamped and died! winched it out and dried it out but now it's spewing oil out the breather! I'm worried that I cracked the rings on the cylinder that sucked water in, it locked up quick.
Engine ( Kohler command 25 Horse horizontal) sounds good and has adequate power but definetely has pressure in crankcase. It never got any water into the crankcase, no increase in oil level, no foam. Just spewing so much oilo out the breather tube I had to pull tube out of air cleaner to keep engine running to get it home.

By Gary Hargis on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Because there are air filled tires on the AATV, it should not completely submerge and sink to the bottom. Worst case, you may see it float just below the water surface, however, I beleive that some part of it will protrude above the water surface. One of the several custom design modifications that I will make on my unit, will be to try to install some of that sprayed in floatation foam, inside of the body structure, if there is enough room, or possibly under the seat area's, similar to how they use sprayed floatation foam under the seat's of row boat's. Ranger Boat's utilize the sprayed foam technique through out the entire boat structure, that is why they will stay afloat, with entire sections of he boat completely cut away. If you can do this, then the unit will definately stay above the water if swamped.

Gary

By Tim Wheeler (Tnmwheel) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

My dealer showed me a photo of a conquest that some guys took across some thin ice. It fell through side ways and sunk. The top of the engine compartment seat back and even tail lights were still showing. Guess it cost them quite a bit to get it out since they were trespassing on a privet lake

By P.J. on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Speaking only about Argos, they won't sink as long as the tires are on. Last year at our hunt camp in northern Ontario, a couple of trappers went by towing their Argo (6 mile long lake) in pretty rough conditions. The machine was completely full of water but they managed to drag it all the way like that.

What I had trouble getting used to when using my machine in water was stability. It seems it has poor primary stability (feels tippy) but superb secondary stability (almost impossible to flip over). Knowing this I was able to get used to the ride and am now more confident using it in water.

On the topic of drain plugs, I don't put them in until I'm ready to go in the water. Where I use my machine in northern Ontario, I travel some pretty rough and often rocky terrain. I'm concerned that if I have the drain plugs in when travelling over this stuff, I might punch them out on a rock. It can be a pain to stop and put them in when I come to water, but when you are 5 miles from camp and 40 miles from the highway you really don't want any type of vehicle failure. Drain plugs are cheap and I always carry a couple of spares.

By BrettBBonner on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Several factors let to my MaxIV 600T with 26 inch tires to capsizing two weeks ago. Chiefly, it was due to overloading, a panicked rider, and me not watching where I was going. On second thought, it was chiefly due to the pilot in command - me - being stupid.

However, it didn't sink. It did capsize in about 6 feet of water. The engine ran until it went under.

When we righted the machine, the tub's top was above the water line. So we turned on the bilge pump, pumped the water out as we slowly pulled it up on shore.

We pulled and dried the plugs, removed the air filter (which was waterlogged), started the engine.

We drove it home before the mosquitos carried us away.

Compression is fine. No oil burning. Replaced all fluids, drained the gas tank, cleaned the carb, and it's fine. I replaced the battery and the starter solenoid - they needed replacing anyway.

I'm certain the fact I use synthetic oil is the reason the Briggs Vanguard survives despite my stupidity.

Finally, you need to be careful with a Max. No four wheeler could have rescued us where we were. If you screw up, you can be in real trouble. As long as you carry some basic tools and a spark plug wrench, you can overcome many issues. Even some cases of serious stupidity.