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Testing the new toys

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  • #1

    Testing the new toys

    Today I got to take the Bigfoot out for it's first real test run. I also got to check the swimming ability of the AMS Swamp Fox tires. This ride was the first test of a new camera too.

    The short of the story is that all 3 performed very well.

    The bigfoot is a bit under powered but otherwise performed flawlessly. We got in about and hour and a half of riding . I need to pull the floor boards out and see if it took on any water, but it didn't sink in the 8-10 min I was in the pond so I'll take that as a good sign.

    The tires swam pretty well. They won't set any speed records in the water, but they will get me to the other side. They also steered fairly well in the water. Had a little trouble climbing out of the pond, but I think that may have been more of an issue of the tall weeds/ cat tails keeping the tires from ever getting to the bank.

    The camera is a Motorsport Racing On Board Camera: HD Motorsports HERO I didn't like any of the mounting options that came with the camera so I modified the suction cup mount to make a bar mount. I was using the waterproof housing, and audio quality is supposed to be better with the non waterproof cover. I will have to try it like that next time to see for myself. I just turned on the camera and hit record... haven't had a chance to play with any of the settings yet. I suspect that I can get a little better quality out of it.
    I only got about 35 minutes of video as the memory card that I had wasn't nearly big enough for the camera.
    This is just a short clip around the woods next door. The video from our ride will take quite a while to upload. I will link it tomorrow when it's done.



    Beth had a RR tire go flat, and an axle bolt shear at the same time in her Max. we switched machines and I limped the max home while her and Wyatt drove the bigfoot.
    Last edited by Mike; 02-17-2011, 11:32 PM. Reason: embedded video by using the filmstrip button
    A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
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  • #2
    Very nice!
    Banned

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    • #3
      Sweet. I wondered how the tires were going to swim. I'm glad they push you along.

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      • #4
        Ok Mike, I used to be smart enough to link a video to a post, but now I can't seem to do it

        Anyway, here is the video from our ride yesterday. Nothing too spectacular. Trails are really dry so there isn't a lot of mud action. Skip to the end if you just want to see how the tires swim. The memory card filled up and stopped filming just before I climbed out of the pond, so you don't get to see that struggle.

        Last edited by Mike; 02-18-2011, 09:47 PM. Reason: embedded video by using the filmstrip button
        A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

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        • #5
          Wait wait wait!!!! I couldn't see all the cool stuff out front by the fence for sale! Slow down!

          Hey man, this is great. Great that the tires work, great that it runs so well, great that it actually fits in the shop! When you say it's underpowered, is it just slow, or is the power really not there? When I had mine out in the snow, it was quite slow, but I never felt like it had a lack of power. It would never bog down when I put it through the tougher stuff, it would just spin all six tires.

          Not that 20 more horsepower would hurt.

          Nice work, it looks awesome.
          ~m
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          • #6
            No, It actually feels down on power. Engine smokes a little and I'm sure it's a little down from the 18 it made when new. The lack of power was not as noticeable with the Rawhide III's. The current tire package is a good bit heavier, and also puts a lot more tread on the ground, so it stands to reason that they would have more rolling resistance. There were a few times that I wondered if I was going to make it to the crest of a hill. I need to double check that I'm getting to WOT and also need to tighten the belt, which might help with downshifting a bit. Once I get the Kohler command 18 that I picked up last week running, I might try throwing it in there just for a comparison. I'm thinking something in the 30hp range will really bring this thing to life
            A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

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            • #7
              Did you build in a belt adjustment on the Bigfoot? That's one of my worries when I get a substantial number of hours on the machine. I don't want to have to keep replacing belts, and I didn't build in an engine slide when I put it back together. I didn't intend on keeping the flat Briggs in there forever.

              I'm dying to throw a little cash at my 30ci Vanguard that I'd love to throw in it, but I can't justify it right now. I'll wait to get a lot more hours on it and see just how the Oppy does with some bigger sneaks.

              ~m
              sigpic

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              • #8
                Nice machine. I know what you mean about being down on power. Before I repowered my Max 2 a few years back, the old 14Hp had lost so much compression that I don't think it had 10 horses. The 18 I transplanted made it so much more of a machine that its like Jeckyl and Hyde. Keep the videos coming.

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                • #9
                  I did the same thing to the 980 mount that I did to my 950 I'm hopeful that a Vanguard will bolt to the same mount (with some new holes drilled). I had a beat on a good used Bandolero when I was starting this build, but used the cash for some shop equipment instead. (it's already sold, so don't gripe at me for not passing it along) Hopefully the equipment will start making me money, and I doubt a bigger engine would have done that!
                  A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

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                  • #10
                    Your camera made the bigfoot sound like it was an old ship rocking back and forth at sea. For local trails, those looked like they had a few good places to play around. I can't wait to see what the bigfoot can do at Busco.

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                    • #11
                      Very impressive Brian, glad everything worked for you. Could you give me an opinion on the ride with the Swamp fox tires. I was always very impressed with how smooth they rode.

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                      • #12
                        The tires ride great! Went riding yesterday and got into some serious slop. We did the most winching I've ever seen in a 4 hour period. Traction was very good but I need a few more HP. Once the tires get packed with mud I struggle to spin them fast enough to clean them out. Part of that is the gearing of the Bigfoot too.
                        A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

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                        • #13
                          Great video Brian! You have done well young Jedi! She looks like a keeper.......Busco is close can't wait to see it in action. Thanks for the video.
                          Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways , cigar in one hand, whiskey in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO-HOO, what a ride!!!"

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                          • #14
                            with the gearing of the hustler an 18hp briggs should be a great powerplant something doesn't seem right with that engine make sure you got both cylinders working
                            1996 MAX IV ,KUBOTA DIESEL
                            MAX II 30HP Bandolero

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                            • #15
                              the engine is running as well as it's going to (I'm a small engine mechanic) without a rebuild. it's down on compression. The combination of the huge final drive sprockets, and engine lacking power, just makes it hard to spin the tires when mired in mud
                              A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

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