By Tom Van Vleet on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I was looking at a used 1994 Max 2 this weekend. It had 14 horses,rollbar, upgraded to solid axles, and o ring chains and had a snowplow but no winch for it and was kinda dirty looking. It ran real good and climbed some really steep hills with no problem. Is $3200 too much to pay? I asked the owner about bigger engines and he told me the only differences between the 14,16,and 18 horse Vanguard motors is the carburetor. If that's the case, why do the bigger engines cost so much more? Any comments?

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

Tom, You might want to check with RI. I am under the impression that older Max IIs cannot be retrofitted with the o-ring chain. And machines prior to mid 1995 have the old smaller bearing. The anchor point of the lock collar is the weak point in that system and proper chain tension is important to keep from breaking off anchor points of the lock collar.

IMO bigger engines are only necessary if you will be at high altitudes, be carrying heavy loads and climbing a lot of steep terrain. The 900 T Max IV has a bigger drive pulley and will give you a little extra speed (but power enough to spin yourself stuck until you learn how to drive it).

Between the 14 Hp Briggs and the 16 hp Briggs, you are right and it is just carburation. The 18 hp is more CCs, but the same deal between the 18 and 20 hp models. I'm pretty sure the 23 hp is a whole new ball game. Can't tell you why they cost more money except the markets work in mysterious ways.

Check the NADA site for guesstimate pricing. They don't include any options so it probably isn't real accurate. You will have less maintenance with a newer machine.

Oh yeah, most all maxes are kinda dirty looking - they get that way most every time one is used and water inside is not user friendly. Pressure washers will promote bearing failure and cable problems and if you wash out a max, make sure you spray the whole inside with WD-40, or similar product and lube your cables and ignition.

By Scott Philipps (Argosrus) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

the main preformance diff between them is..
the 14 has a slower top speed
the 16 can go faster/climb better
the 18 can climb better and get to speed faster
and the 20 can climb better and get to speed faster

but the 16 18 and 20 have about the same top speed...they jkust have more torque/accelleration