I broke an axle

[Rusty-Gunn]

Hi. We went out riding and went on a well used tundra trail. We been on this many times. But today the right front axle broke at the outside sprocket C-clip groove.
I noted max6x6 sells the Max IV splined axles with clamps instead, and the C-clip style being discontinued. I figure they eliminated the C-clip groove and now use clamps. Stronger I think.
Is this the case? Is this the axle I need? Thank you.

[wedge]

I Think the whole reason for the updated axle was to do away with the C clip grove .
Most that fail do at that point !

[Rusty-Gunn]

I Think the whole reason for the updated axle was to do away with the C clip grove .
Most that fail do at that point !

This is exactly where it broke. I'll buy a new axle and be on the trail again. Thank you.

[msafi65]

When you get the new axle in roll it over and check the rotor. They bend in the caliper but can be easily straightened with a big crescent wrench. At the speed they turn it's pretty easy to get to where they are fine. I tried to purchase ungrooved axles for years from RI. The front of the IV has the snapring so close to outer bearing they almost always fail there.

[Rusty-Gunn]

Burnt out electricals, I think. Definitely need help. Here's the rest of the above story.
After we broke the axle we unloaded our camping gear and gas. A friend, who was out riding his Argo, says he would pack our gear back to town for us later, on his return trip.
We began to drive our Max back, minus the front right axle and chain. After about maybe half hour driving slowly the engine began to quit. As if it were running out of gas.
I quickly shut the engine off. Then we noticed a hissing sound from the engine compartment. We removed the homemade aluminum floor board (with the rear seat removed it allows more cargo space) and discovered it had slid backwards and bumped into the battery. With the heavy cargo removed the floorboard bounced around and slid rearward, which it never did before.
The negitive terminal was entirely melted off the battery. The positive terminal had also melted, but was still attached to the battery. The battery had been hissing, but stopped. We left the Max out there for two days due to bad weather.
Today we returned with a spare battery, hooked it up but this battery began to hiss within a minute. I disconnected the battery. We returned home without the Max.
I figure there is a short in the system somewhere, but I know nothing about electricals.
Any suggestions? Could this be an easy fix? Expensive fix? What should I do next?
My friend, the Argo guy (Steve) says he can help me with the Max, so I will ask him to pull the Max back to town soon as posible. I can work on it agter that. Thank you.

We

[Rusty-Gunn]

Update... today a friend, Joe, helped us with the electrics issue. He used an Ohm meter device to look for any short in the wiring system. I don't understand how this works, so I am thankful he does.
I also sanded all wire ends, removing corrosion and rust, and a few burnt spots.
The end result is we got the engine to run fine, and the winch to work fine with the engine on. There was no hissing from the battery, which I'm told would be hydrogen seeping out of the battery. We did not hook up the aux. alternator. I've never needed it so I might leave it off, but ready to hook back up as needed. The Max works fine.
An axle was also ordered today. We expect to purchase a new battery soon, at which time I will replace the heavy guage battery wires. Fun, but getting expensive to repair.

[john swenson]

seems there is always something to be addressed on our machines rusty... but a new one is really expensive !! by the time you replace everything, you got a new machine anyway ... have fun, johnboy va.

[miller_time]

The electrical problem could be the auxiliary alternator. I had an alternator go bad and short out in a truck i used to have. Melted the heavy gauge wire in half.

[Rusty-Gunn]

The aux alt is easily removable. Out of curiosity, I figure to remove it and open it up. Close inspection can't hurt. "I gots tah know."

[Delduck]

Similar problem on my max. Broke the axle had to use the winch to get it out, burnt it up, finally got it out and to the shop, put 2 axles back in and found out the winch had fried inside the housing and was shorting out the battery. I've put in the new battery but I'm going with a different winch system this time, I'm going with a 3000 lb pull portable. Don't need that issue again

[Rusty-Gunn]

Similar problem on my max. Broke the axle had to use the winch to get it out, burnt it up, finally got it out and to the shop, put 2 axles back in and found out the winch had fried inside the housing and was shorting out the battery. I've put in the new battery but I'm going with a different winch system this time, I'm going with a 3000 lb pull portable. Don't need that issue again

[X] Like (needs a "like" button here)

[onefunzr2]

...found out the winch had fried inside the housing and was shorting out the battery.

Perhaps this is the cause of your battery only lasting 6 months and not the battery getting jostled around too much?

[Rusty-Gunn]

Update.... We got a new axle, new bearings, and flanges installed. It all went together well.
The brake rotor was not bent, and went in nicely.
We now need a new battery (we're temporarily using a barrowed one), and we'll be back on the traul again.
Thank you to all who helped me here. Thank you.