Going Uphill and Downhill

[mysterymeat]

FIRST POST!!! hope i did not violate any rules of etiquette


I will buy a max iv within the next week or two. probably new. the sole purpose of the machine is to run up and down the hill in my back yard. I have 55' of verticle in about 200' a major part of the hill is 33% grade. hill leads to river and dock and boat.

will the brakes last? will the brakes hold if I start rolling backwards?

how big an engine do i need to haul four people up the hill? speed is not an issue. i'll cover the 200' in under 3 min at 1mph. sure beats walking.

the other choice for a machine is a cable car. they cost 80-100k, so this machine is not expensive by comparison, and looks like a lot more fun than a cable car.

[mightymaxIV]

Brakes

FIRST POST!!! hope i did not violate any rules of etiquette
I will buy a max iv within the next week or two. probably new. the sole purpose of the machine is to run up and down the hill in my back yard. I have 55' of verticle in about 200' a major part of the hill is 33% grade. hill leads to river and dock and boat. will the brakes last? will the brakes hold if I start rolling backwards? how big an engine do i need to haul four people up the hill? speed is not an issue. i'll cover the 200' in under 3 min at 1mph. sure beats walking. the other choice for a machine is a cable car. they cost 80-100k, so this machine is not expensive by comparison, and looks like a lot more fun than a cable car.

The brakes will last, and if they don't they easy and cheap to replace. The brakes will hold you from going backwards but it would be easier to simply ease on the gas to stop any rolling. Any engine from an 18 horse briggs up should have no problem taking you and four people up a 33% grade. When you go down hill make sure your foot is on the brake before you start and apply gentle pressure as you need it to keep your speed in control. Going down hill with any vehicle is usually a bigger challenge than going up. Good luck, hope this helps. DAN

[AKTrail]

A Max IV can easily handle that hill at any speed you deem prudent and the engine will allow. Mine is old and will do it.

I rarely use my brakes at all and instead just pull back on the sticks while going down hill if I want to creep. You can start and stop on a dime on a hill like that in the rig you want (and other machines out there could do it too) in forward or reverse. That said....


Never try to change gears on a hill!!! Even with the brake on!

[wommy]

I did post this elsewhere but will say again. Spray belt stick onto the drive belt and it will stay engaged even with the throttle at idle. My belt is 350 hrs so it doesn't do damage.