Max4 axle replace question

[Delduck]

Broke the axle on the max 4 and wiped out the bearings. While I have it down would you suggest replacing all the bearings.

[philipatmaxfour]

Broke the axle on the max 4 and wiped out the bearings. While I have it down would you suggest replacing all the bearings.

how did the axle break? Did you have tracks on?

[Delduck]

Yes the tracks were on and I beat the poor thing to death in the marsh. Once I figure out how to put pictures in I will. I've posted three so far but I'd like to show what we're going threw. We fly a drone over the area first then start in with the max. I have some great Ariel video from the drone but I'm not computer savvy enough to post. We started with the go pro 12 ft in the air on a pole but ended up buying the drone so we can hover and watch for problems. It still hasn't stopped us from breaking stuff.

[dirtdobber]

Delduck, to answer your question I guess it depends on how much trouble it is to get to the bearings where the damage is. For instance, if you are having to pull the engine and trans to access the damaged bearings, I would replace all axle bearings that require removal of the engine and trans. As far as the others, as long as the bearings are "tight" meaning there is no, or very little, play and they spin freely, I would run them. You can also look at the seals. If the seals are damaged then the bearing won't last.

[Delduck]

I just ordered the axle and just the bearings for that axle. Mike at Richards said the same thing.

[Canadian_Zuk]

Get the outter bearing flanges too if you haven't already ordered them. I've yet to break an axle and not need to replace the flanges. They distort easily

[Delduck]

That's why I love this site. I called and they added them to the order.

[ARGOJIM]

I had intended to reply last night, if you did the get the bearing extension kit you will be revisiting this soon. Ask Zuk.

[dirtdobber]

I had intended to reply last night, if you did the get the bearing extension kit you will be revisiting this soon. Ask Zuk.

Jim did you mean "did" or did you mean "did not"?

[Delduck]

I have the bearing extensions and the first mechanic said for what I'm driving on and in I didn't need them. So now we're on the 3rd mechanic and at least I can get him to somewhat look at this site, and what guys that have had these machines for years are saying. So NOW we're going to put the extensions on. The first guy just put on the axle extensions not the axle bracket. How come they just don't make the outside part of the driveshaft a lot bigger to carry the load instaid of outer axle brackets and bearings. I thought about just having the axle made, but I only have another month or so to work on the phrag areas, after that the plant starts growing and driving over it wouldn't hurt it. Typically it will stand back up.

[ARGOJIM]

Oops did not.

[ARGOJIM]

I have the bearing extensions and the first mechanic said for what I'm driving on and in I didn't need them. So now we're on the 3rd mechanic and at least I can get him to somewhat look at this site, and what guys that have had these machines for years are saying. So NOW we're going to put the extensions on. The first guy just put on the axle extensions not the axle bracket. How come they just don't make the outside part of the driveshaft a lot bigger to carry the load instaid of outer axle brackets and bearings. I thought about just having the axle made, but I only have another month or so to work on the phrag areas, after that the plant starts growing and driving over it wouldn't hurt it. Typically it will stand back up.

Its all leverage, by moving the ,we'll call it , fulcrum point out the force the axle can withstand is greatly increased. The reason for the rails best I can recon is so the outer frame rail can't flex thus snapping the middle of the axle as it fights the inner frame rail.

[Delduck]

Just going to throw it out there does anyone have a better idea for axles. I'm thinking can you retrofit a larger diameter axle.

[garrett1308]

Definitely doable. I see 3 ways to get it done.

1. Find a bearing with the same OD as you are currently running, but with a larger ID, assuming they make them to fit your flanges. If not, you'd have to find some different flanges that would house the bearings you wanted.

2. Cut the axle holes in the frame wider, reinforce the frame to make up for lost material and geometry, drill holes for the bolts of a larger flange that will house a larger bearing. Open the holes in the tub as necessary.

3. Build 6 extension units that would house larger ID and OD bearings and bolt them to the frame through the current flange bolt holes, though you'd get a decent amount of flex, and a lot of beefing up and geometry would have to happen to support them.

For the inners, I don't think I'd modify anything except the axles. Use a lathe to cut the ends down to whatever ID the inner bearing is. Hustler did that to their axles to get 1" ID bearings on the inners, and 1.25" ID bearings on the outers.

[ARGOJIM]

I'm curious, are you running front chains with the tracks on?