Used AATVs questions

[RobertJ]

Hello again,
Well I found a used max 4 here in florida and Im going to go look at it next Saturday its a 98 with some minor issues, choke cable and a few other small repairable problems. The owner said it has not been in water since he has owned it (second owner) and no plugs for the drain.

What are some things to look for/look out for in a used aatv. I am a total novice and really dont have a clue. I will be test driving it before purchase.

Now the biggie... Whats a good price for a used max 4, I understand it depends on the machine, just ball park it. Thanks for any and all help.

forgot to add some info:

1999 Max 4
No winch
roll bar
custom (home made)brush guard
18 Horse Vanguard (pull start rope & handle missing, choke cable broke)
need to purchase battery.

[martwell]

Thing to check...

Hi Robert, i'm not familiar with Max aatv yet but i can give you couple of leeds to check for when you test drive a machine. You need to know from the owner if he has been greasing his machine regulary, if he know how to maintain it, it will give you an idea on how he had maintain it since he got it.

Bering are easy to check.. Raise the Max wheels off the ground. Take each wheels and try to move-it up and down. If you found any play on one wheel you got a worn bearing. Chains need to be greased and all aligned with a little play when you check them. The Brigg engine is a tough one, usually if the machine hasn't been running for a long time you gonna need to clean and ajust the carb and the machine will be running really smothly. I'm sure Max owner can put other thing to check that i missed and feel free to...

As for winch, they are a must... Because you could often pull someone from a bad situation but when your gonna be in that bad situation no other 4wheeler would be abble to help you because they are not gonna be abble to follow you!!!!! Tires... are they new, old , craked, worned....

As for a fair price, i got no idea... We need to see the machine and know what need to be done and repair. From that you can deal a price with the owner. I hope that little could have help you and hope to see pics of your futur machine soon...

Martin

[MaxRules]

I've been buying and selling used 6x6s for ten years and selling new Maxs for five. I've learned one big thing about used... people don't take care of their vehicles. That's why our cars and trucks today are just about maintenance free. The average person won't adjust or lube anything until it's broke.
Late 1990's Maxs are fairly good machines. I would not go any older than that. The 18hp is a solid engine with sufficient, not amazing, power for 26" tires. The Max IV is worthless without the 26" tires so don't buy if any other tire is on there (hundreds of Max owners successfully offended! ) The only exception is to run tracks on the 21" tires or an extra smooth ride on 25" tires when maximum water speed and mudding is not required.

Chains should be properly adjusted and lubed. Lower body should not be full of mud and loose objects being eaten by the chains. A '99 should have o-ring chains and splined axles. The rear axle is the problem area. The splined axle design once used two separate sprockets that should have been a single assembly. They'll need to be updated almost always for a minimum cost of about $250. If you have the round axle, bolt through sprocket design, it's pretty tough with the 18hp engine. BUT... The Max factory no longer makes a replacement rear sprocket for that design. Chew up/wear out that sprocket and you'll have to update the entire rear axle assembly to the new style, or suffer the headache to have one made.

It's hard to cover everything. I've also seen far to many 1992 vehicles advertised as a 1999. Verify the year by the serial number. A 1998 to 1999 Max should have a serial number of about 15000 to 16000. They are numbered as they are made, so the higher the newer!

[RobertJ]

Thanks, this info helps a lot.

Robert