    
dan james
New member
Username: Ghostshrimp
Post Number: 1
Registered: 03-2007
Posted From: 24.61.196.43
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 22, 2007 - 11:08 am: | 
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max question
last year i got a used max 2 (95-98 according to the 18 hp briggs engine) with a set of tru trax. i have frequently used the max (without the tru trax) on a small private mountain since i got it. i have hauled lots of loads up the trails and know them well. there is one trail that i ride the most that has a fairly steep short section, but unless it is very muddy and i am hauling a heavy load i have no problem getting up it with the tires. even when i have gotten stuck i simply drop some weight and off she goes from a dead stop no problem.
i recently put on the wheel spacers (5 or 6 inches) and the full set of tru trax and got stuck half way up that same fairly steep trail. there was about a foot of soft snow on the ground and i had already driven down this hill, so i was following my own tracks back up. i backed down and tried it again with a running start. stuck again. my buddys snow mobil can make it with the studs and cleats (paddles) in the track. i was about to order the tru trax ice cleat kit but i noticed the max body comes down to within about 1/4 to 1/2 inch above the front tires with the tru trax on. the tru trax people said the cleats come up 1/2 inch off the track.
thats when i began swearing and spitting.
the only thing i can see would work is if i ran studs along the outer edge of the track where it has total clearance from the body. this might help on ice, but in snow i doubt it would make a whole lot of differance. the tru trax ice cleats are 6 in wide paddles the go in the middle of the track system. the only other options i have brainstormed are to put another set of wheel spacers on, therefor getting total clearance on the tracks. but im not sure if that will end up breaking the axels from too much extension. similarly i have seen the double wheel kits you can add to a max, giving you 12 wheels total with the second set clear of the body, but that is probably an expensive solution. if there were smaller tires i could get the extra clearance, but i think mine are the regular size. lastly my machine shop buddy suggested a modified ice cleat that was milled down on the inner side to fit underneath the max body.
i am interested to know if anybody else has come upon these problems and if they had any good solutions. i have a hard time believing this is an unsolvable equation since i go up this hill and other like it all the time with the tires, rainor shine and mud in between. please advise. |
david berger
Senior Member
Username: Davidrrrd
Post Number: 514
Registered: 01-2005
Posted From: 72.85.143.149
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, March 23, 2007 - 11:38 am: |
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I like the milled down ice cleat idea,
after all the tires havent all that much tred depth and they work.
it would be better still if your expirements were done with your own fabricated cleats so if they don't help your not out the cash on modifyed ice cleats |
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