Attex 4 Stroke Green Machine Restoration

[jpswift1]

Today I began the restoration on my green poly body Attex. It is official now, it will be converted over to a 4 stroke Briggs Vanguard machine. I brought the machine home from my friends house where I was storing it and got right to work on it after it spent some time modeling its new shoes. I absolutely love the look of the 22" Goodyear Rawhide III tires on the machine. I was very happy with how easily everything came apart on the machine when I was taking it apart. It sure is nice working on a machine that has been sitting in a barn since the late 70's. I had all of the sprockets out except for the front right and I ran into a problem It was stuck on the axle. After a call to Hydromike and some good advice from him, I soaked it in penetrating oil and put a pipe wrench on the sprocket tube and another on the axle outside of the tub. I put a pipe on the end of the wrench for some extra leverage and started turning with all my strength. After a couple tries, it came loose!!! What a great feeling that was! I kept working it back and forth and then it came free. Tonight I got everything apart and ready for sandblasting. I will be pressure washing the body soon (which is in absolutely beautiful shape). I will be sure to keep everyone posted on the restoration. Thanks for all of the helpful advice in my other Attex 4 stroke conversion thread everbody!!!

Here are some pictures of the progress this evening. There are more shots in the photo gallery section of the forum. Happy 6x6ing!

[Mike]

That is going to be one sweet project! You are moving through some six wheelers this year. At this rate, all aatvs should be restored in 2018

I am a little jealous that your "stuck" sprocket came loose so soon. Don't you know that the one sprocket that is always frozen to the axle is supposed to frustrate you for hours... I think that is a 6x6 law you know!

[jpswift1]

That is going to be one sweet project! You are moving through some six wheelers this year. At this rate, all aatvs should be restored in 2018

I am a little jealous that your "stuck" sprocket came loose so soon. Don't you know that the one sprocket that is always frozen to the axle is supposed to frustrate you for hours... I think that is a 6x6 law you know!

Thanks Mike! If we get you into some restorations when your schedule frees up, and as this site keeps growing the way it has been, we might be able to cut that deadline by 5 years or so.

I talked to Hydromike on the phone and I said, Mike had to cut his sprocket all up and I think thats what Im going to have to do. I was just about ready to do that until he talked me into trying the pipe wreches on it. That was pure luck on that, and yes the 6x6 restoration law states that 5 out of 6 axles will come out and that last one is there to drive you nuts.

[whipper-ag]

Looking forward to your restoration pics. Have you given any thought to upgrading to 1 1/4" axles? Anyway, it looks like a great project. Can't wait to see it finished.
Whipper

[George]

Looking forward to your restoration pics. Have you given any thought to upgrading to 1 1/4" axles? Anyway, it looks like a great project. Can't wait to see it finished.
Whipper

Whipper,

Can that be done without doing anything to the frame?

[whipper-ag]

It might be possible, but I'd have to research my bearing book on Monday & see if there is a flange that will still bolt up to the Attex siderail.

[jpswift1]

Whipper, if there are bearings that would work with that side rail of the Attex frame I would do the 1 1/4" axle upgrade in a second. That way all of my Max axle parts would be able to be interchanged with my Attex. That is a really good idea and Im not sure why Attex never ran the bigger axles originally. I would imagine that it comes down to cost. It would probably be much cheaper to make axles by taking a piece of cold rolled 1 inch steel and drill 2 holes in it and also there would need to be more steel used to make larger side rails. I am going to try and get the frame to the guy that does sandblasting for me this week and then start fabrication of the motor mounts. I talked to our good friend Don this weekend and he measured the clearance between the frame of the Attex and the engine cover and it appears that my Vanguard will fit under the stock engine cover with just about 1" to 1/2" inces to spare. So far so good!

[whipper-ag]

Whipper, if there are bearings that would work with that side rail of the Attex frame I would do the 1 1/4" axle upgrade in a second. That way all of my Max axle parts would be able to be interchanged with my Attex. That is a really good idea and Im not sure why Attex never ran the bigger axles originally. I would imagine that it comes down to cost. It would probably be much cheaper to make axles by taking a piece of cold rolled 1 inch steel and drill 2 holes in it and also there would need to be more steel used to make larger side rails. I am going to try and get the frame to the guy that does sandblasting for me this week and then start fabrication of the motor mounts. I talked to our good friend Don this weekend and he measured the clearance between the frame of the Attex and the engine cover and it appears that my Vanguard will fit under the stock engine cover with just about 1" to 1/2" inces to spare. So far so good!

You're right, cost was probably the only reason. Maybe you can go up to 1 3/16 axles? I'll check it out for you. You might have to drill new holes, but it would be worth it in the end. The bearing isn't the problem, the flanges are. My bearing book is as thick as a phone book,it has every bearing and flange in it you can buy. I'll see what I can come up with.

[jpswift1]

Thanks Whipper, I appreciate your help. I have some 1 3/16" Hustler axles from 6x6world member boncrshr and I know that from my Hustler BIG FOOT restoration they use the same flanges as the Max does.

[jpswift1]

I tore down the T-20 on the green machine project tonight and the fluid was like tar........very thick, black, and a strong smell. I am guessing that this could be a result of sitting for 30 years? The frame will be dropped off at the sandblasting shop tomorrow and I will also be getting the body pressure washed and cleaned. So far so good.

[Meinfield]

Looking good JP, keep us posted!

[George]

The frame will be dropped off at the sandblasting shop tomorrow and I will also be getting the body pressure washed and cleaned. So far so good.

Hey Jeff,

What's it going to cost you to have the frame sand blasted if you don't mind me asking.

[jpswift1]

I have a guy that sandblasts frames for $35-40. My Hustler BIGFOOT frame cost $40 because it is a little bigger. This shop does a really nice job too.

[whipper-ag]

Jeff
Got an idea that might convert your attex to 1 1/4 bearings. The flange on the left is a Max ,the O.D. of the bearing is 72MM. The flange on the right is the smallest you can get that will take a bearing with an 1 1/4 bore. That bearing has a 62 MM O.D. I'm thinking you can use that flange and drill 4 new holes in it so it will still fit your side rails. That is the bearing and flange I'm using on my Yellow Spider. That bearing is a Fafnir P/N RA100RRB. You can read the P/N of the flange off the pic. You will have to bore the hole in your side frame from 2.5 to 2.7. Should be easy to do with the frame out of the car. Can be done with a hole saw and the right fixture.

[jpswift1]

Whipper, thanks for all your help on this! That would be a great idea. I might also be able to run factory Max sprockets and convert my machine to a 6 chain set up, which would equal lower placement of the engine. With solid 1 1/4" axles, the drivetrain on this machine would be extremely rugged.
As you probably know, Max actually used two different bearings. Around 1994 I believe Max stopped using the smaller bearings and flanges (62mm I believe) and went to the larger 72mm ones that you have pictured.