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Richard Jones
New member
Username: Ric44
Post Number: 1
Registered: 08-2006
Posted From: 207.162.166.158
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, August 16, 2006 - 11:17 pm: | 
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Guys I'm new here and I have a chance to buy a early 90's model Max II and was wondering about the worth of it? The engine has been upgraded to a 18hp vanguard 2 seasons ago and hasnt been run a lot. The body and underbody are both nice,as well as the upholstery.Tub is dirty, greasy and needs cleaning out,a visual inspection indicates its gonna need front chains on both sides, but some of the rear chains and bearings have been replaced by the owner when the new motor was installed.The only thing is he has never adjusted anything on it and it seemed to be hard to shift from forward to reverse, and he seemed to be pulling back awfully hard on the sticks to get it to shift, I even heard it grind a little sometimes. I can get it for a grand....what do you guys think? Can I come out ok on it? Maybe make a few bucks if i decide to sell it? Ive never owned one before in my life but work in a ATV shop daily so I'm handy with a wrench. What say you? Thanks |
david berger
Senior Member
Username: Davidrrrd
Post Number: 422
Registered: 01-2005
Posted From: 72.72.122.213
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, August 17, 2006 - 08:51 am: |
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richard the t-20 trany is hard to shift for as long as you own it, theres a nack to it wich makes it easyer in some situations, but when your showing it to sell you probly will not shift it verry smoothly,LOL
as for the rest you might have a solid deal there.
check the berings and the sproket teeth, outside of that i think you did a thorough inspection.
hows this for an analagy:
the 18hp brigs cost more than a grand!
id scoop it up quich dude! |
Jerry R. Nuss, Max Dealer in Illinois
Senior Member
Username: Jerrynuss
Post Number: 337
Registered: 02-2005
Posted From: 70.106.216.21
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, August 17, 2006 - 06:09 pm: |
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I don't think you could go wrong for $1000. |
Charlie Richmond
Junior Member
Username: Csrichmond
Post Number: 14
Registered: 02-2005
Posted From: 206.66.249.2
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, August 18, 2006 - 10:48 am: |
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Richard, I paid $1500 for an '86 MAX II that was running but was poorly maintained.
I replaced all the hollow axels, bearings, sprokets, brakes, belt, wiring and a couple of tires for about $1200.
Because the engine and T-20 are still "solid" I feel like I bought a new machine for the money.
I don't think you can go wrong with the deal.
I'd just advise you to get in there and fix all the worn out stuff all at once so you can go forward and have fun. |
Richard Jones
New member
Username: Ric44
Post Number: 2
Registered: 08-2006
Posted From: 207.162.163.21
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, August 19, 2006 - 11:34 pm: |
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Well guys I bought it a couple days ago and today I replaced the 2 front chains. Not too bad a job but the 100 degree heat index made it rough with nothing but a shop fan. I think I have enough of the #50 chain left over to do one of the rear chains and I may replace one or two of the short #60 chains on the jackshafts. I've still got to clean the crud out of the tub,change oil in the motor and the T-20 too.I noticed today while driving it the top speed didnt seem to very fast and saw that on the drive clutch the belt liked 1/2 to 3/4 inch running to the top of the pulley at full throttle.Wouldnt this cause a lower top speed? Also when I pull back a stick a little to make a gentle turn I hear a popping noise. If I lock the stick completely and turn sharply, it turns without any noise. Whats the deal? |
philip w.cox
Advanced Member
Username: Philipatmaxfour
Post Number: 208
Registered: 01-2005
Posted From: 216.208.194.101
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, August 20, 2006 - 10:48 pm: |
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Richard, Popping noise might be a chain trying to jump the cog on a sprocket. If you put the brakes on hard enough to stop the chains on that side from turning--noise stops. Sounds like you got a bunch of chain--most people say only quality chain lasts, good luck and keep riding. W. Philip Cox |
Richard Jones
New member
Username: Ric44
Post Number: 3
Registered: 08-2006
Posted From: 207.162.163.21
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, August 27, 2006 - 10:09 pm: |
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Well I got into the chain replacement mode and went ahead and replaced them all.I cant stand not to do a job right.The sprockets all looked ok so I'm good to go there.The adjusters didnt look too healthy so I ordered the new roller type from Richard Clark.In the mean time I have pressure washed the tub to spic and span,changed oil and filter in the vanguard,changed out the fluid and supplement in the trans, and made sure all tires had 2 1/2 lb per.After I install the tensioners I should be nearing completion of the tune up. I think I may go ahead and install a couple of bosch +4s while I'm at it.Yeah I've spent a few hundred bucks on it but it should be ready to rock and roll now with few problems.I've found out over the years that good maintainance will take care of you on down the road.....now its about time to have some fun huh? |
liflod
Advanced Member
Username: Liflod
Post Number: 101
Registered: 01-2005
Posted From: 151.201.211.103
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 28, 2006 - 07:30 am: |
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Did you check all the bearings while you were in there ? |
Richard Jones
New member
Username: Ric44
Post Number: 4
Registered: 08-2006
Posted From: 207.162.163.21
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 28, 2006 - 01:31 pm: |
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Bearings all seem to be tight,I checked them the other day while I had the Max jacked up.However I still need to grease them.Last nite I checked tire pressure, no wonder it was pulling to the left.Some tires were as high as 9 lbs, some had barely any air at all..... |
Mike Maroni
Intermediate Member
Username: Micmac
Post Number: 53
Registered: 07-2005
Posted From: 162.84.72.111
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 28, 2006 - 04:36 pm: |
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Richard,
When you grease the bearings only one or two pumps max! you can blow out your seals easily then the real fun begins. Bearing replacements. Trust me I know!! |
Richard Jones
New member
Username: Ric44
Post Number: 5
Registered: 08-2006
Posted From: 207.162.163.21
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 28, 2006 - 08:36 pm: |
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Yeah thanks Mike I've read about the dangers of over greasing the bearings and will use it sparingly.Got started putting the new tensioners on and looks like it will be easy enough except for the left rear......the belt and clutches are in the way bad and leave no room to work.I may just leave the factory tensioner on there since it seems to be holding ok. |
david berger
Senior Member
Username: Davidrrrd
Post Number: 437
Registered: 01-2005
Posted From: 72.72.104.65
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 28, 2006 - 10:28 pm: |
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richard you should slip off the belt for your working room.
(twist inside pully half of dreiven trany pully and pull on the belt to get it down into it and then peal it out from the driven pully, twist the belt sidwase to pass the bolt on engine drive pully (cluch))
you can remove the bottom carage bolts easyer than ever you might replace them so
id weld the carage bolts in the bottom position as the tork stress gos down on that part of tentioner any way, this makes it easyer to install them. |
Richard Jones
New member
Username: Ric44
Post Number: 7
Registered: 08-2006
Posted From: 207.162.163.21
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, August 29, 2006 - 11:36 pm: |
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Thanks for the tip David, I have ordered the owners and the repair manuals for the MaxII but havent received them yet. I didnt know it was possible to take the belt off without loosening the motor mounts. I may try that. |
Shop Talk: Tech Tips and Q&A section