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liflod
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, February 27, 2005 - 02:09 pm: | |
I am finally starting to work on my Max IV. It originally came with a Chaparral 500. It is long gone now and I am going to use a 18 HP Briggs I/C. I need to know the center to center spacing of the engine crankshaft and the transmission input shaft so I can use the factory spec belt for a 4 stroke engine. Does anyone have this information? What is the factory belt part number and measurements?
Thanks,
Lance |
liflod
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, February 28, 2005 - 09:16 am: | |
I am also wondering if anyone has converted the old style hand controlled disc brakes to operate with a foot pedal?
I visited Recreatives Industries last year and Jay showed me all of the upgrades they have made to the Max IV frames since mine was built in 1978. I have incorporated all of the changes that address the weaknesses of the original design. I will be taking pictures of my updates if anyone is interested. |
lionele (Unregistered Guest)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 06, 2005 - 06:23 pm: | |
Subject: MAx IV 2003 25Horse power Eng.
Bought the machine in august 2003. Complete with 6, 26" tires and a track kit of(3200$CDN).
In december 2004, when I first installed the tracks. I broke the left rear shaft, near the outside of the locking collar. After, calling the company and using alot of persuasion they decided to replace the shaft and the bearing.
A few weeks after replacing the repaired shaft. I broke another shaft this time the right rear shaft. Again the company replace the second shaft but only after some persuasion on my part and I was told by the company that they weren't going to replace anymore shaft's.
Now a year later. The same problem occured, again as soon as I started using my trakcs. This time the rear left shaft is broke and now the right shaft is bent. So now i'm unable to use my tracks.
The company "Recreative Industries, Inc." (http://www.maxadventures.com/) is baffled by the problem and are unwilling the identify the reoccurence of this problem.
Is there anyone that can help me????? |
Barry Williams
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 06, 2005 - 09:07 pm: | |
I bought a B&S conversion kit from RI that included a motor stand and mounts so that the factory belts would work. The kit also included an electrical harness. Neither I or my wife can believe how much quieter the MAX is without the Chaparral. This was a 3 year ordeal and meanwhile we bought a Bigfoot. We will keep the Bigfoot and sell the Max this spring. |
Fred Sowerwine, Montana's Max dealer
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 07, 2005 - 12:01 am: | |
lionele, Did you install the bearing cages and the axle support rails? How much air pressure do you have in your tires? What tires are you mounting the tracks on? |
lionele (Unregistered Guest)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 12, 2005 - 08:02 pm: | |
Hi Fred,
Thanks for your message......
Yes, the bearing cages and axle support rails were installed by the company! I put 3psi in each 21x11 inch tires.
Have u heard of this broken shaft problem before?
Also, what is the recommend grease to be used on the the bearings????
thanks u in advance! |
Fred Sowerwine, Montana's Max dealer
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 13, 2005 - 01:19 pm: | |
lionelle, any good grease, preferably a marine grease on the bearings.
No, I have not heard of breaking axles if the bearing cages and support rail are installed and air pressure is kept below 4 PSI.
I might add that tire air pressure is very susceptible to temperature and elevation. 4 PSI at 1000 feet elevation and 20 degrees will increase to about 20 PSI if you climb to 6500 feet and the temperature rises to 60 degrees. One needs to check tire pressure prior to each use and make adjustments as necessary (even maybe make adjustments during the day if the temperature has large variations).
Tire pressure above 10/12 PSI will put tremendous strain on the axles and would be a cause for axle failure on a machine equipped with bearing cages and axle support rails). |
lionele (Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
Posted From: 216.254.223.105
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 13, 2005 - 05:47 pm: | |
Hi Fred,
Thank u for your response. Im not a happy camper today....I broke another axle(shaft).....really not impressed by this. What's more puzzling is that no one else has seen this problem.
This time, its the front right axle that broke! Again when I was using the tracks????????
By looking at the broken shaft....it looks like the shaft is defective....it just doesn't look right????
I have know idea what to do anymore or what to think. My only conclusion is that the shaft were built using weak steal or the track kit wasn't tested properly.
Me and my wife are both 58 year of age and we bought this machine to enjoy the outdoors. Unlike what the company thinks, we are not reckless driver and do not exceed any kind of force on this machine. We enjoy this machine and would like to be able to find the solution to this problem.
Any help would be appricieated!!! |
Anonymous
Posted From: 64.70.24.54
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 13, 2005 - 10:10 pm: | |
lionele,It sounds like the tracks are the wrong ones for your machine.Maybe I am wrong but I think that the maxII and the maxIV tracks are different lengths. Maybe Fred would know if this is right or not. |
Fred Sowerwine, Montana's Max dealer
Member
Username: Fred4dot
Post Number: 33
Registered: 01-2005
Posted From: 216.166.168.53
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 14, 2005 - 11:01 am: | |
lionelle, Your problem has to be air pressure in your tires. Try dropping it to 2.5 PSI (need to measure with an accurate low pressure gauge). You need to get it low enough that your tracks try to come off when you make a hard turn. If it is only when the track is installed and you are not physically causing the problem, it has to be from the tension created by the track. Max II and Max IV tracks are not interchangeable because the max IV wheelbase is 58 inches; the Max II wheelbase is 50 inches. The other thing to check is the circumference of the tires (if the tires have been over inflated, there could be a bubble or just the whole tire bigger than it should be.
How many hours on your machine? How much snow are you driving in? Does the axle break when you are making a turn or just going along on the straightaway? How much weight in your machine when the axle breaks? Have you ever walked out of a track or had one almost come off when you turn?
The axles are made from the very best steel and there are many Max with tracks out working. I personally have sold ten tracked Max (five 900T IVs, one 850T Max IV, one 600T Max IV and three 600T Max IIs)and I use a 900T Max IV with tracks as a demonstrator. Not one problem with the tracks or axles has been reported to me since 1998 (I did have one fellow report (and order a new one) a split rim). Two of these machines are in commercial situations and used almost daily in the winter (which can be ten months long here in Montana). I do not think there is anything wrong with the design of the new track. The only other possibility is that your tracks were cut about an inch too short, but they would be almost impossible to get on. If the track is short, reducing the PSI in the tire will solve that problem. |
lionele (Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
Posted From: 216.254.223.217
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 14, 2005 - 11:39 am: | |
yesterday driving on our trail with the familly
the front right axle broke down.Is it the same axle as the back right ? thankyou |
Fred Sowerwine, Montana's Max dealer
Member
Username: Fred4dot
Post Number: 34
Registered: 01-2005
Posted From: 216.166.168.53
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 14, 2005 - 01:55 pm: | |
Yes, lionele, all axles in the max IV are interchangable. |
lionele (Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
Posted From: 70.49.227.239
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 14, 2005 - 05:08 pm: | |
Hello Fred,
I was going straight on a lake when the axle broke.....there was no one but myself in the machine.
What lenght should the tracks be? Ill check the air pressue of the tires! |
Fred Sowerwine, Montana's Max dealer
Member
Username: Fred4dot
Post Number: 35
Registered: 01-2005
Posted From: 216.166.168.53
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 14, 2005 - 08:58 pm: | |
lionele, I do not know what the length of either set of tracks is. If your tracks are mounted, they are of a workable length, tighness determined by tire pressure. Your problems have to be caused by tire pressure. |
lionele (Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
Posted From: 70.49.227.239
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 14, 2005 - 10:08 pm: | |
Hello,
More questions and concerns about this axle braking problem?
Q1.What should be the circumference of a 21inch tire inflated at 2.5psi or 3psi be?
Q2.Is it normal, that when I jack the MAX IV off the ground. The bottom of the track hangs 1.25 inches from the middle tire (again with 21-inch tires)?
Q3.I’ve talked and shown my problem to a lot of people. Even though this confuses most people. Most of them seem to think that the axle extension from the track kit, may be the cause. Could this be a reason of my axle breaking?
Also;
During the winter we always drive this machine with the tracks. The amount of snow varies from on 1 inch to 24 inches of snow. Although, we did drive the MAX IV with the tracks, in the fall when there was NO snow. Usually I will change to my bigger tires(machine without the tracks) when the snow. |
Fred Sowerwine, Montana's Max dealer
Member
Username: Fred4dot
Post Number: 36
Registered: 01-2005
Posted From: 216.166.168.53
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 15, 2005 - 01:05 pm: | |
Lionele, (A to Q1) I do not know what the circumference should be of a 21" tire and I do not have one that is in a condition that I can measure it (tracks are on the only set I have). The important thing is that they are all the same circumference and that there are not any bulges or distortions in any tire that might cause abnormal pressure in a particular area. If you have a difference in circumference, they can all be made equal by putting more or less air in a particular tire. If I had a circumference problem, I would mark the tire so I knew it should have more or less air in it without having to measure or remember.
(A to Q2) That sounds about right (I will try to jack up my machine today and check that for you), but you did not answer my question about ever having a track come off or try to come off when you make a turn.
(A to Q3) Assuming the bearing cages are on correctly (you said they were put on by the factory so I am sure they were put on correctly) and the axle support rails are bolted on correctly (these would have been put on by you or whomever mounted the tracks) your axles should be strengthened. The idea is to tie all three axles together so the strain from one is transferred to (and shared by) all three. The track puts tremendous strain on the axles, especially when turning and if your track is too tight, every revolution of the axle, the axle gets stressed on all 360 degrees bending it back and forth kind of like we do when we break off a nail by bending it back and forth. Turns of any sort but especially hard turns on hard stuff (hard pack dirt or any surface that does not have give to it) is very hard on the axles especially with a load. It almost sounds to me like you do not have the axle support rails installed.
Again, How many hours on your machine. It is probable that the excess air in your tires has stressed all four corner axles (just like that nail) and to solve your problem you are going to have to replace both fronts and both rears. Using the track all winter is normal and I know several of my customers have used tracks on dry ground (I have cautioned them on making turns and they have advised me that the wear on dry ground makes using them on other than snow not a good idea).
I will say it again. If the bearing cages are on and the axles support rails are on and air pressure in the tires is kept below 4 PSI, the track kit is very reliable. Whenever a back axle breaks, it is usually from stress, not an encounter with something, and the stress comes from having the track too tight which is caused by too much air in the tires. Temperature and elevation have a great affect on tire pressure so with tracks mounted, checking tire pressure is just as important (or more so) than checking gas and oil. |
Fred Sowerwine, Montana's Max dealer
Member
Username: Fred4dot
Post Number: 37
Registered: 01-2005
Posted From: 216.166.168.53
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 15, 2005 - 07:37 pm: | |
OK, lionele, I measured the slack in the track with the machine in the air. My track just barely hangs down from the middle tire I think it touches right in the middle (the high part) of the tire. Thinking back, I don't think there was 1.25 inches of slack even with all the air out of the tires. Are you pulling my leg?
Anybody else with a tracked max want to chime in here? |
lionele (Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
Posted From: 70.49.238.77
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 15, 2005 - 08:00 pm: | |
Hello Fred,
Once again thank u very much for the great help. Your explanation of the nail really helped me understand the functionality of the track on the MAX IV. It also, made me realize all the strain that the tracks can inflicts on the machine if not used properly.
**TRACKS COMING OFF**
When I first installed the track not once did they come off! But this time the tracks have come off a few times. Once in the fall and once in the winter. By reading your messages this should be happening. So I’m thinking I may have had too much air in the tires the first time. I know for sure I never went over the max psi which is 5psi. ( and u said it shouldn’t be more than 4psi…right!) So maybe my axles were damaged when I first installed the tracks?
**HOURS**
So far I figure we have used the machine for approximately 300 hours! |
Fred Sowerwine, Montana's Max dealer
Member
Username: Fred4dot
Post Number: 38
Registered: 01-2005
Posted From: 216.166.168.53
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 16, 2005 - 10:24 am: | |
Lionele, 300 hours is quite a few if running under constant stress. Depending on the temperature your initial five PSI could have doubled and if you increased elevation while riding, it could have doubled again. I'm positive that too much air in your tires has stressed and fatigued your axles to the point of failure.
I wish you well in changing out your axles and continued use of your max. You could possibly move your middle axles to a corner and put a stressed axle (original but not yet broken) in the middle. I would think that if you are sure the axles that have already been replaced have not been stressed from excess tire inflation that they would be OK to continue to use. |
lionele (Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
Posted From: 70.49.238.77
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 16, 2005 - 06:45 pm: | |
Thanks Fred….it looks like u found my problem…..and so far I broke three axle so there should be only one more.
I wasn’t pulling your leg about the tracks either….there is about 1 to 1.5 inch of hang….from the middle tire. So I guess I must off stretched the tracks…is that possible the tracks stretched?
I have another question….if I don’t put enough air in the tires will that damage the machine? |
Fred Sowerwine, Montana's Max dealer
Member
Username: Fred4dot
Post Number: 40
Registered: 01-2005
Posted From: 216.166.168.53
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 16, 2005 - 11:29 pm: | |
Lionele, yes, the tracks will stretch - that too could be increased by tire over inflation but is probably just an issue of use. If you find they are coming off too easily, add just enough air to keep them on. At some point, you will want to shorten the tracks. Before doing that, I would suggest calling RI and finding out how long the track should be.
Can't think of anything that will be damaged by not enough air except the rim if they run flat. Not enough air will allow the tracks to come off easily also. I wouldn't go below 2.5 lbs. I have about 3 PSI in my tires when using tracks |
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