Max steering question

[Jeff Gammon]

I thought I knew how to steer one of these. but apparently I don't have a clue. I have driven a bobcat before and assumed the steering was just like that. But the more I read on this site the more I realize I was just plum wrong. I was reading about split shifters and just found out these rigs have a shifter that shifts them from forward to neutral and reverse. I thought you just pushed the sticks forward to go forward and pulled them back to go reverse. Sorry for the very simplest of questions, but I just don't know and am trying to find out all I can

[thebuggyman1]

Jeff, that is exactly how a Mudd-Ox, and a Sierra Trail Boss work. The Mudd-Ox is hydraulic drive and simply pumps fluid to wheel motors, changing direction of fluid flow fwd to rev. Nothing but a hydraulic drive machine could have done this

The Trail Boss has 2 transmissions, one for each side. I'm not sure how exactly the trans works because I've never had one apart.....but, can you imagine going 30mph and hitting full reverse???
Argo transmissions are differential type transmissions. When one side gets brake applied the spider gears inside force the other side to do all the turning. Argo also has a newer style trans w/3 differentials called an Admiral trans, but it works much the same.
T-20's are 2 transmissions in one case, joined together by only an input shaft. Each side has 2 drums connected together by 3 planetary gears. This makes one drum rotate fwd and one in reverse. Clamping a band down around one drum forces the other to do all the turning. The fwd/n/rev diamond shifter slides a toothed collar into one drum or the other, or the space between in the case of neutral. Pretty simple mechanism, basically still a gear type drive, just single speed. The independent nature of the 2 sides allows for one to be put into fwd and the other to go into reverse....Counter rotation http://www.6x6world.com/forums/conte...t-shifter.html

I have only driven the Argo Admiral trans once and for about 3 minutes in a gravel drive...not enough time to tell if I'd like one. The admiral in high gear when turning spins the inner wheels at 1/3 the rate of the outer wheels. When in low gear, the inner wheels turn at 1/3 the rate backwards. Kind of like counter rotating but not exactly.

[amphibious drew]

In forward, you push forward to go forward and pull back to break or turn in the direction of the stick you pulled back. In reverse, you pull back to go backwards and push forward for braking or turning. The transmission is actually 2 trannys in 1 case. You can separate the linkage and shift each side independently. Hence putting the right on forward and left in reverse to make the machine spin like a top. If your machine has springs holding the levers forward, it will take a little more effort to turn or stop in forward, as well as more effort to move in reverse.

[ARGOJIM]

Glad you guys chimed in here , had a detailed answer as to how they drive and how they work but the 6x6World gremlins ate it once again. Guess you need more than 2 fingers for a detailed answer no matter how fast they move.
Don't forget not to shift on a hill unless your foot brake works.

[Model Citizen]

[thebuggyman1]

Bridget, please don't misunderstand. I love the T-20, but it like everything else, including hydraulics, it does have its drawbacks.
Perhaps the video doesn't show just how hard of a climb that was. I don't think it would have been possible with a shorter wheel base 6x6 Mudd-Ox either (not many t-20 8 wheelers)........And I thought Matt was nuts for even trying it.
It really needed the extra length to climb the first large rock. The hydraulic drive allowed the engine RPMs to be high for enough torque while the wheel speed was very low. There are a number of times where the wheels were counter rotating (slightly) to shift the machine a little.....could be done with a t-20, but would also tend to roll between shifts.
If anyone wants to try it with a T-20 (or other) I'm more than willing to watch.....and admit I'm wrong.

[amphibious drew]

Glad you guys chimed in here , had a detailed answer as to how they drive and how they work but the 6x6World gremlins ate it once again. Guess you need more than 2 fingers for a detailed answer no matter how fast they move.
Don't forget not to shift on a hill unless your foot brake works.

I used 2 fingers on a phone. Must be why Jim beat me to it.

[Model Citizen]

[Jeff Gammon]

Yes sir. Thanks for all of the input. I have yet to get one, but am looking. Just wanted an idea of how things work before I get one. Have read quite a bit on here, but nothing as basic as the question I asked. Thanks again

[Jeff Gammon]

Seems as though I read somewhere that you push the sticks full forward or full back and control everything with the throttle. Is that correct?

[amphibious drew]

Throttle is used to control the speed. There is some feathering of the laterals that assists.

[thebuggyman1]

This is where the discussion about the springs on the laterals comes in. On a Max, the factory put springs on to keep the sticks all the way forward with some tension on the bands internal to the T-20. This spring tension is enough for flat ground, but not enough for hills or stiff mud....you still have to push forward on the sticks or the bands slip.
Many people dislike the springs and choose to remove them. In either case, pushing forward on the sticks allows the machine to move (when in fwd gear), pulling back slightly allows the band to slip, and pulling back farther applies brake. The exact opposite happens in reverse.....with sticks fwd it applies the brake, and pulling back allows the machine to move.

[hydromike]

Nothing but a hydraulic drive machine could have done this....

I know this was only a couple little rocks, but... aw hell.... I'd give it a shot.

[jpswift1]

Hell yea, Mike! I'd be willing to wager that the Attex 8x8 would have a good chance to conquer the rock pile.

[Freedom]

Impressive climb buggy man & cool video . If you watch at 54 seconds in it cuts out when he got hung up & I guess backed down ? 6 or 8 wheels I think would bottom out up there , but I believe a 6 wheeler could hop the first rock & make the climb also