By Matt Hunter (Hunt307) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

You guys have probably already thought of this. That was happening to my ATTEX and what I figured out is something very simple. When the machine tilts backwards the gas in the tank sloshes to the back of the tank and the pickup tube suckes air. It is also hard to restart the engine even after getting on flat land because it is hard for the float carburator to reprime itself.

By david berger (Davidrrrd) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

matt what engine is in it? can you put a micuni carb on it? thay have a pump and stay running even while upside down! oooh try puting a weight on the picup end of tube in the tank. this way wichever side is down at the time the pickup tub will be there!! ( works for me )

By Matt Hunter (Hunt307) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I have a JLO Rockwell. I already fixed the problem with my gas pickup line. The only problem with with the carb was that it had a problem getting reprimed after the lines were sucked dry because of the fuel pump. I fixed that by putting a primer ball on the gas line between the tank and the fuel pump. Thanks for the advice.

By Alan Lester on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Alan Terryn, Thanks for some of the good tips you have given. I finally made my purchase, and it is a 1999 Max IV with the 26" tire option. They are really some huge tires. My brother-in-law has a 1996 Argo 8X8 Response, we went to the swamp, and now he won't talk to me anymore. Also, where can you get the info on that turbo charging kit available for the Vanguard's? Thanks again for all your help.

By Tim Wafer (Iflyrctoo) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

If you mean the super charger. Here is the web address,
http://www.hscsupercharger.com/

By George on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I also have a Max II with the 14 h.p. B&S. I recently stood this thing up on it's end for about 5 minutes. (Fell in a hole that was covered with kudzu.) The machine was setting in such a way that the tires were completely away from the rim of the hole. I climbed out on the front, rocked it until the tires hit gave it gas and it climbed out of the hole. The hole was about 4 ft deep and 5 ft wide. I never stalled and have not had a problem with steep hills.

By matthew smith on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Hay alan you did not tell us way your brother in law will not talk to you any more, I have a 2000 maxIV 900-T, How did youre max do against the argo,were do ride? matt

By Don Abernathey on Unrecorded Date: Edit

How do you folks keep from ruining a Kohler engine from oil starvation on steep climbs? The Kohler owners manual states that the engine's oiling system only works up to a 25 degree angle. Another issue is fuel delivery. Since most motors use a crankcase pressure fuel pump, when the motor is at an extreme angle the vaccuum hose can fill with oil causing the fuel pump to quit. This would mean the engine would stall out on a long, steep climb.

On another note: To the fellow with the 1999 MAX IV with 26" tires - how does it climb? Does it turn those big tires ok in the mud?

By MaxRules (Brandon_price) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I don't know about the Kohler, but the Briggs in my 14hp Max II hasn't ever stalled. I have had it strait up and laying on its side and it still keeps running. It sometimes smokes a bit when strait up but all the power is still there. I've seen them upside down and still running, although I don't know if it will run out of gas like that or not.
My guess on the oil starvation is that after it is beyond the pickup tube's reach, the most important parts are still getting oil. The oil will then be in another part of the engine, covering the crank, cam, or going down in the cylinders. I have let my engine run while tilted sideways about 60 degrees down in a ditch. No trouble at all. I have the engine taken apart now for mods and there is no wear on any part.

MaxRules

By jim h on Unrecorded Date: Edit

inclines with argo---add small resevoir tank between pump and carb,make sure tank is higher than the carb so it will gravity feed untill you are back on flat ground about a 1 litre size tank is sufficient works fine for my 2000 response.

By Gord Young on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Mr. Jim H,

Your advice is at the very least, dangerous. If you are unable to climb you are having trouble with the operation of your particular machine. The design is sound and provides sufficient fuel to run the engine at inclines.

The risk of fire for what you propose is probably more likely to cause damage and costs that greatly exceed a trip to the dealer, or to any Briggs & Stratton dealer for service. These problems are most often the result of a simple float angle adjustment.

I would recommend that you remove the "fuel tank" that you are now pressurizing with the fitted fuel pump.

I hope these words reach you before fire does. They are not meant as direct criticism, but rather, a hope for more soundly engineered solutions to common problems. We are not all mechanics or engineers on this bulletin board. Some might take your advice and get themselves into deep trouble.

Good Luck,

Gord

By Phil Millam on Unrecorded Date: Edit

We have ordered a Max IV 900T with the track kit. My understanding is that the Koehler 25 horse engine does not have a manual starting backup, and is battery start only. What is the reliability on starting the Koehler, and are there any backup starting methods if you are out in the boonies with a dead battery?

By Tim Wafer (Iflyrctoo) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Seems to me I saw a manual pull start kit that you could put on this engine somewhere. I was thinking of upgrading my 18 hp Briggs to it last year and that was one of my concerns. Maybe somebody else knows for sure as I can't recall. I had a couple times that I had to start mine manually in the boonies including a totally fried wiring harness.
Tim

By Don Abernathey (Dla) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I agree with the manual start, especially a simple rope start. I wonder where you can get this. It should be a pretty simple thing to do.

By DAVIDRRRD on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I KNEW A GUY WHO HAD ONE OF THE NEW BRIGGS MOTERS IN A SCRAMBLER, HE HAD IT RIGED WITH A RECOIL STARTER SOMEHOW,
I THINK THAT WOULD BE WORTH CHECKING INTO .

By roadwolf on Unrecorded Date: Edit

in the yamaha br250 snowmobile manual it has a picture of a accessory that has a length of rope attached to a small metal plate.
the plate sits in a small dimpled section of the clutch, then the rope is wound around the clutch, and waits for you to pull your insides out to get it fired up!

By Gary Harper (Garyinvt) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

David
I think you may be talking about Richard Burley AKA Mr. Scrambler. He has a Vangard mounted in his Scrambler. I saw it and to so it he removed the rear seat. So I would say check with him.

By Ken Tharp on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I have a 1999 Argo Bigfoot 6x6 and it backfires when you shut the engine off. Has anyone had this problem or does anyone have any suggestions on how to correct this problem.
Ken

By MaxRules (Brandon_price) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

That is normal. Every 6x6, mostly those with Briggs, will backfire at random when started or shut off. The only thing that might help a little is to adjust the valves.

MaxRules

By Tim Mueller on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Ken, I had the same problem when my '99 Bigfoot was new. I had the carb adjusted and it helped. I also noticed that it was more prone to backfiring in hot weather than in cold weather.

By Travis Chrystal (Travisch) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Ken - I've had the same problem with my Bigfoot. Briggs said its no big deal as long as its a exaust backfire - some engines just do it. I couldn't live with it because it screws the hunting up. My Dealer did some checking and found out that ODG was getting alot of complaints about it and decided against a recall and instead they would replace the factory exaust pipe with a much larger one when a complaint came in. there was too much back pressure and the muffler would heat up enough to burn the small amount of fumes after shutdown and backfire. They also use a wire feed welding unit to construct the mufflers and if there is any pieces of wire inside the unit they glow red hot causin backfire. My dealer shipped me the new pipe which attaches to the muffler with 2 springs. I had to open up the hole in the steel mesh on the body with a file to install it. (The old pipe fit inside the new one with room to spare - thats how much bigger it is) Pretty easy job. It still backfires sometimes but I've found that if I let the engine idle for a minute or two it it won't. I also jetted the carb for the higher altitude I live in because it was running pretty rich. I also started using Amsoil Octane boost in the fuel and have had great results. E-mail me ( travisch@avaya.com ) if your interested in the Amsoil Synthetics. Enjoy your Bigfoot its an awsome machine.

By Jim Deering on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Ken

Backfire at shut occurs most often after the machine has been driven at fairly open throttle, resulting in some unburnt fuel remaining in the exhaust pipe. Let the machine idle for a few minutes before shutting it off. That ought to cure the problem.

Jim

By MaxRules (Brandon_price) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

My engine used to backfire a lot after a hard run. Now that I have modified the engine, it has not backfired. That has been two months of running. It could be the new carb or because the valves are adjusted correctly. On a new engine the valves need some break in time and might get loose and cause a backfire. That is the only thing I could think of that could be changed after the mods. It sure is nice to be able to start and shut down the engine without a huge bang.

MaxRules

By Attex Bob on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Brandon: It's more than likely the carbon you cleaned out when you rebuild the engine. You see when you have carbon build up on the parts or sharp castings in the combustion chamber those things stay very hot and can set off the combustion even when there is no spark. Did you debur the combustion chamber when you rebuilt the engine?