Subtopic	Posts		Updated
	Archive through August 24, 2000	1

By ED LOCKWOOD on Unrecorded Date: Edit

HI, BRAND NEW TO MAX11 BUT AM HAVING A BALL READING ALL THE Q%A'S AND LEARNING. I ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IDLE. IT'S SPORADIC BUT DOESN'T STALL.
HIT THE THROTTLE, AND IT WILL RIP YOUR HEAD OFF! RUNS FINE UNDER WAY, SLOW DOWN OR STOP, AND THERE IT GOES, UP AND DOWN. HECK, I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO GET TO THE ENGINE?..16HP. B%S.
THANKS,
ED L.

By Kevinv123 on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Dirt in the idle circuit and/or idle stop screw too far out, causing the plate to close completely.

By MaxRules (Brandon_price) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Ed, it is common for the Vanguard engines to have a rough idle. It is caused by the engine getting to a low RPM and the governor works the throttle to keep it running. It might help to increase the idle just a little. Keep it at a higher RPM but not so high that the vehicle moves on its own.

MaxRules

By twinv75 on Unrecorded Date: Edit

THANKS TO: David,who filled me in on the basics of the max 11 which allowed me to take that first ride today! And thanks to: Kevinv 123 and Brandon, my max idels great now. Just a small turn on a screw and some cleaning! W.V has some great hills and today, I started at 1,800 ft. A.S.L. all the way up to 3,200ft. Now the ride down was a real learning experience! I remembered about foward pressure on the sticks while climbing.Also found out, the max steers easier at higher speeds! Four hours of pure Heaven! Love It!

By maxindetroit on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Well, went to ride my Max 2, today, and it would not stay running. Even at higher rpms, the motor pulsates, and stalls. I thought I had the problem fixed, someone on here told me to turn up the idle, and that seemed to do the trick, but I have not driven it since then. The gas is fresh, new fuel filter, that has gas in it, the plugs are fairly new dont think I have 6 hours on the new plugs. I am not sure where to start looking. Dont know if its an ignition problem, or a carb and fuel problem. Any suggestions where to start? Its a 94, with a 16hp Briggs. Thanks

By Richard Hawkins (Woodbutcher) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

The IDLE problem may actually be a fuel pump issue. I have a '94 Max II (18hp Vangard) that developed idle issues about 6 months ago that I could never resolve. Last week the fuel pump failed. I installed a new one and everything works great again.

The rebuild kit was less than 5 bucks, but I installed a new one and will keep the rebuild as a spare.

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

maxindetroit, it very well could be your fuel pump, but my guess is sludge in the carburetor. I assume that your air cleaner is clean and the engine runs better with the choke pulled out a little. Make sure you are not pinching your fuel line between the seat and the body when you close up the machine. If it is carburetor, you will probably have to take it apart and clean it (or have a Briggs service center do it for you). I personally hate to work on carbs because it always takes me two or three times to get the job done right. You can try the spray in carb cleaner first, but that does not always work.

By Bud ( - 167.230.38.7) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

My Max had the same idle problem last year just after I purchased it. It was sludge in the carburetor, just as Fred states above. I had it handled by a Briggs service center under warranty, and now it runs like a champ.

By david berger (Davidrrrd) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

some times a fule pump go's from sitting with old fule in it, like over the winter or something, but they also can go bad from sucking up oil into the diaphram when doing oil chainges, so be cairfull during the oil chainges so as not to get oil into the little hose on valve cover that runs the fule pump,
id guess a roll over could do it too,
most new pumps are not rebuildable, if your thinking about replaceing a plastic one with an aluminum rebuilable one just order one from a used parts place like rt6x6,

By maxindetroit on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Thanks guys for the info, the fuel line was not pinched, and the air cleaner is clean, went to the Briggs dealer and bought a rebuild kit for the carb, and the fuel pump, will soak and clean the carb body good and rebuild them both, and see what happens from there. Yes, it does run better with the choke almost closed, which sounds like it is starving for gas, I did take the hose from the fuel pump to the carb off, while it was running to see how much gas was pumping out of it, there was some, the problem is I dont know how much is normal, I took the fuel pump apart, and there was some slimy stuff in it, so I am pretty sure the carb has it in it to. I will let everyone know the outcome. Thank all. Jim