1978 Max II Running Again!!

[Junkologist]

I traded for this Max II last weekend and got it running today for the first time in a few years. It has a 440 Kohler 2 stroke and that thing really runs! This thing is scary fast! Took me a little while to figure out how the levers made it turn and go in reverse. It steers just like a dozer, but I didn't realize at first that the levers had to be pulled back to go in reverse. I am definitely going to have to do a tranny rebuild. It leaks oil and the left lever bottoms out and it barely steers to the left. I don't think adjusting it will do any good as I'm pretty sure it's just plain wiped out. I hope the drums are good. I'm gonna have to do axle bearings on it too eventually. The ones in it now have no grease fittings. Do I just get new flanges with fittings so I can grease it in the future? I was also wondering if my Max is a Big Max. I have seen some others refer to the big 2 stroke Max as a Big Max.
Looking forward to lots of 6 wheelin' fun!

[Beeman]

Good work on getting her running!! And now time for the tuning... :P

[jpswift1]

I had a Big Max, but it didnt have the original engine in it. I believe the Big Maxes came with either a 440 JLO or a 440 Kawasaki. Im not exactly 100% sure on that though. I know Recreatives also made a Lil Max model.......I ll have to post up a picture of one sometime. Good luck with the machine, you'll have lots of fun.

[Junkologist]

I'm not even real sure this 440 Kohler is the original engine. Can't seem to find much info on the old Max's.

[techfx]

Nice ride!

This looks very identical to my 76 big max (if you look at your serial number tag, you will see a faint imprint under model). I've heard of the 440 jlo or kawasaki's being the original engines as well. Mine came with a 503 rotax engine (i'm still working on getting it to be blazing fast). I'm starting to get into my bearings and axles right now too - and no grease fittings on mine either.

[whipper-ag]

I bought the 11th Big Max off the assembly line in 1972 It came with a 440 JLO Serial#3075. The only markings to my knowledge was the stickers, One on the front, and one on each side.
Whipper

[Don]

I remember the Big Max with the JLO, but I think they changed over in later production to a 440 Kawasaki fan-cooled. As far as I can remember, they never came from the factory with a Kohler, but it's still a great powerplant for the machine. Good luck on the project- looks like fun.

[jpswift1]

Whipper, was your Big Max a pretty quick machine? I had a Max II that was basically just a frame with a seat on it and it had a CDI 440 CCW powering it. It was a super fast machine.....and quite scary because there were no 5 point harnesses or anything holding you in.

I bought the 11th Big Max off the assembly line in 1972 It came with a 440 JLO Serial#3075. The only markings to my knowledge was the stickers, One on the front, and one on each side.
Whipper

[whipper-ag]

Yea it was real fast. It was a wheelie machine. The first year I raced it, I finished in the top 3 every time. I won the B stock class at the summer nationals in Monroe, MI. with it. I beat Scott Slonacker fair & square.That race actually paid $300.00. I thought I was rich.
Whipper

[Junkologist]

I believe my Max is a Big Max now. I was looking through some papers that I got with the machine and it appears that the previous owner did some research with the serial number and had written down that it was a 1978 Big Max a couple of times. He had also written down that it had a 440 JLO engine. He may have swapped the Kohler for the JLO. I was supposed to get a spare engine with the machine, but it seems like someone scrapped it at some point because it can't be found. It may have been a JLO, but I'll never know. Does anyone reproduce those "Big Max" decals? Sure would be nice to have a set.