By Spook on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I have A MAx IV which I really love. The biggest problem that I have is the rear axle bolts on both sides seem to break quite often. Considering some of the places I take my machine this can be a bit of a problem. I think that I'll replace the rear axles with splined ones but still wondered if this was something I was doing to make this bolt break.

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

Spook, You didn't say how old your machine is. You could have excessive wear in the bolt hole in the axle, sprocket or both and if your rear chains are loose and you hit the gas hard, all the power will go to the rear wheels and the shock could break the axle bolt. Changing to splined axles will certainly take care of the problem although you will also have to change sprockets and inner bearing. You could probaly pull out your setup and take it to a welder and have the holes filled with weld and redrilled (do it on both the axle and the sprocket); it will be stronger than new and with everything tight you should have no problem for quite some time.

By liflod (Liflod) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I had the same problem with my ATTEX. I was using grade 8 bolts that were too short. The shank on the bolt has to be long enough to support the axle and the sprocket tube. The bolts I had the problem with had a short shank and the threaded portion of the bolt was holding the torque and the bolt would snap right at the base of the threads. I was using 2 1/2" bolts and went to a 3" bolt and cut off the excess threads. Try this before you panick! I used to change bolts about 2 each ride and I have gone for months without breaking one.

By mr. tinker on Unrecorded Date: Edit

you can also try doing what i did on my maxIV. i put double bolts on each axle.also use nylon locking nuts to ensure they stay tight.i could not get a second bolt on the middle axle. i finally broke a middle axle bolt this summer.i just removed one of my front double bolts and put it in the middle and was back in business.i think i can install a second bolt on the middle axle but it will prob be smaller than the original.try to drill a smaller pilot hole first before drilling the final hole.its is very tight on the middle axle for a second bolt of the same size.

By spook on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Thanks to everyone who replied to my problem. Found a great answer to the problem in the tips section under richard's parts site. Always glad that there are people looking out for our problems and save cash to boot.

By hellon6wheels on Unrecorded Date: Edit

ive got a killer fix for breaking bolts in the max if you drive like a mad man like i do. that is if you have solid axels to buy taperlocking sprokets and a taperlocks and key way the axels just enough where needed. the taperlock system adds a little weight but never once have i had a prolbem i did the front and rear for about $150 i havent figured out yet to use that system on the center axels yet because of the amount of room but a 7/16 bolt in the center works well and yes i break them now and then and its not because of wear i have had a 670 rotax lc in my machine at one time. i now from experance when you put in that mutch power youll find every weak spot in your machine and there is a ton of them. the max is a great machine but has many weak spots when it is totaly abused like i drive them

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

hellon6wheels,You must have a Max II. Since all the power goes to the center wheels first on that machine, that would be the weak spot. I'm curious if your chains might have been a tad loose when your bolts break? We expect a lot of one or two bolts at times.

By David Keeso (Argomag) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I guess thats why your name is hell on 6 wheeles!! I should be ARGOMAG on 8 wheeles drives like insane screw ball but oh well. My driving has probably caused more problems but as long as I don't completely destrol the argo I am alright. The last repair bill for the summer was 700 bucks canadian. This was not bad driving either. This was just a lot going wrong and having to fix it all

By david berger (Davidrrrd) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

DAVID K, INSANE SCREWBALL?
CAN I PUT SOME VIDEO EQUIPMENT IN YOUR VEHICLE :-)
IM TRYING TO CAPTURE INSANITY ON VIDEO,
LIKE MY APRIL DICE RUN VIDEO BUT EVEN WORSE!
I THINK MY REPAIRS THIS YEAR WERE IN THE SAME BALLPARK TOO.

By David Keeso (Argomag) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

The video equipment wouldn't hold up to my driving. We can cut the screwball part for now, but my argo driving leaves something to be desired. If this helps any, I got new tires on my machine and withing 2 months they were getting pretty bald!

By david berger (Davidrrrd) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

THE OLDER MACHINES DID VERRY WELL WITH BALD TIRES, I BELEAVE ONCE YOU GET THE ANOYING THICK LUGGS WORN DOWN MAYBE THE CARCUS OF THE TIRE WITH LOW PSI WOULD CONFORM TO THE SERFICE BETTER LIKE THE OLD BALOON TYPE,
IM DEVELOPING VERRY SPECIAL VIDEO EQUIPMENT MADE JUST FOR THIS PERPOUSE!
TAKES A BEATING AND IN ANY WETHER TOO!
WE LEARNED FROM OUR FIRST FEW VIDEOS THAT REGULER CAMCORDERES WOULD DIE FROM SHOCK,VIBRATION, AND EXPOSTURE TO THE ELEMENTS
AT A VERRY YOUNG AGE,TIM OKEEFES WIFES CAMCORDER GAVE IT'S LIFE TO BRING US PETES JANUARY AND HIS APRIL'S 2000,SPRING FLING IN NEWJERSY,
IT HAD ONLY THREE HOUR'S ON IT!
OF COARSE YOU DO HAVE TO TIE IT DOWN BETTER THAN I DID AT TOWER CITY, HEH HEH HEH
EVEN THOUGH I LEFT A TRAIL OF VIDEO EQUIPMENT BEHIND ME ALONG THE TRAIL,
THE RECORDER WAS STILL WORKING WHEN I GOT IT BACK