Model year differences

[Mike]

I thought this would be a good topic to add to the board and maybe post as an article if we get enough info/interest. If you know of any differences between years that Max's have been produced, please post it here.

I personally want to know about differences in axles (solid or not) and drivetrain improvements.

[Don]

How about ABS plastic bodied Max IIs? I think they changed around 1970, but I remember seeing the old faded pink ABS machines.

[jpswift1]

Don, I think you're right. Before 1971 they were ABS plastic. I have bought a couple Max II's with ABS bodies and they were really brittle and fadded. In 1998 Max II's came with inner bearings rather than the stub shaft with the bronze bushings inside the inner part of the axles. I believe that in 1993 Recreatives also made some frame improvements to strengthen the Max II up. I know that Max II's used to have #40 chain and switched to #50.....I think it was sometime in the late 70's or early 80's. There was the Big Max with the 440cc engine in it, and a Lil Max model as well. 1999 was the last year for the round headlights before they were changed to the rectangular ones. I am probably missing a bunch of other stuff so post up and lets keep the list going.

[rrknapp]

I like to see this going again, since I am in pursuit of a used Max.

[SiliconTi]

I do know that when they changed to the square headlight (in 2000), they moved the rear seat back in the Max IV about 4 inches. This means more leg room for the back seat, and the engine compartment is smaller (engine covers are not interchangeable).

At some point, the "bolt-through" axles were replaced with splined axles as well, but not sure when that happened.

[rrknapp]

I have two in mind to purchase and I'm ready to pull the plug; one is a 1999 the other a 2002. Both MAX II Does anybody know of their have bee upgrades to the 2002?