Taking on Water!

[TyMaxII]

Got a 2002 Max II. Just bought it and took it out for a test in the pond. It started taking on water. We inspected the underside and find no cracks or holes in the plastic and the plugs were intact. Where else might this water be coming in? Axle seals? Any ideas? Thanks in advance, TyMacII

[Noel Woods]

Check the bearings.

[lunnex]

You might want to check where your hitch mounts aswell

[blown84gt]

And rivets

[jpswift1]

And if it has the external exhaust it could be coming in there. Also, check the foam gasket between the two body halves. Some self adhesive foam truck cap/camper tape would do the trick.

[micmac]

Depending on where you are weather-wise or if you have a garage, fill the tub up with water. The problem area should reveal itself.

[ARGOJIM]

Often seen it coming in the vent holes in the upper bodies depending on how low it sits in the water especially if your leaning in the turns.

[Eldon]

I had similar experience with my 2003. I decided to change out bearings while I was at it. I found that the water was actually coming in (and the leak test with tub full confirmed) on the bearing flange seals . They come from the factory with some sort of paper gasket and I learned from Mike's article on bearing and axle replacement that they were sealing them with a combination of 3M tape and silicone gasket maker. I followed instructions to a "T" and since have had zero leakage.You can check the bearings by checking for play or wobble and by removing the wheels when on blocks and fill up the tub above the axles........if water comes out around the bearings pump a couple of shots of grease in the bearing and see if it stops or slows down the water running out. My bet is it is the body bearing flange seal.Tightening the flange bolts might help if torqued evenly. I have read of torque specs of 28-32 foot-pounds. If this spec is wrong the boys will jump on me!

[strokerstang86]

It never hurts to install a bilge pump, for those long water trips, just encase.

[bikelizzard]

bulge pump

where is the best place to mount a bulge pump

[jpswift1]

At the lowest spot in the tub, probably toward the rear of the machine. There's some room in the right rear of a Max II, just behind the T-20.

[bikelizzard]

Thanks for the info

[Eldon]

My experience with my Max II taking on water was it would be heavy in the front.Normally when moving in the water the forward motion with the shape of the front of the machine let it ride up on the water as it moves keeping the front up slightly. However when it took on water it would gather in the front putting the nose down although only slightly,the problem was as more water came in it too gatered at the front. I found the front was the place for the pumps and in the chain trough in particular.Problem is, the chains are there so it needs a small pump fastened out of the way of the chains. Ideally you would have either a pump or suction line in the chain troughs on both sides both front and back. The reason is,when the water comes in it doesn't just slosh around at random it goes to the lowest point and continues to go to that lowest point,if this point is not where your pump is then it will be no good to you.I have thought about a single central pump with four self priming suction lines but never put it into practice.If the Max filled level any point would do,trouble is it doesn't. My experience is it goes down in the "bow".