My first 6x6 fulfilling childhood dream.

[emodsm]

I just bought my first 6x6. It's a 1995 max iv with a 18hp vanguard. I've wanted one of these since I was a kid and saw adds for them in the back of popular mechanics.
The guy I had bought it from listed the problems as a leaking trans from the center of the case, hard to get into reverse and the biggest problem a loud popping noise when turning right. after some dickering I was able to talk him down from 1000 to 650.
The "leaking transmission" was the drain plug and fill plug being reversed. After swapping the plugs, cleaning the trans and test driving it to diagnose the noise the trans was completely dry.
The hard reverse I think was the guy just being picky, seems to be normal from what I read. If it doesnt go right in I just rock it a bit and slips right in. I'm going to pull out the shift triangles tomorrow to see if there is any problems there just to be safe.

The big problem was the loud popping when turning right. what I found was the drive gear on the rear axle was stripped from what I suspect was the chain being out of adjustment for a long time.
I am a notorious cheap bastard and couldn't bring my self to spend the $150 form 6x6parts to buy the replacement drive gears with out atleast trying to fix it.
I found weasler gear has a 50 chain 34 tooth sprocket but has a 2" bore shaft. My 2 options were to either buy the wledable collar and cut the gear and end of tube off or cut/machine the original gear off and leave a 2" round area to weld the new gear to. I dont have a lathe, so I rigged up and few collars and brass fittings I got at tractor supply and a few pieces I had here to set up a centering jig for a 2 1/8 whole saw(the ID is 2"). I'm still waiting for the sprocket to show up but the plan seem to be working so far...23ebc454-c430-4cb6-a4e8-cd1c282e5e65.jpg20191013_164743.jpg20191013_164734.jpg20191013_164721.jpg20191013_165139.jpg

[emodsm]

I actually already pulled the shifter triangles and they are perfect. The gear should be here by monday.

[pkmarchetti]

I recently purchased a prairie bobcat 6x6 similar but with a metal body and cab very excited as well to get into aatvin

[emodsm]

I'm ready to get it in the mud..I have a small mud pit I the back of my property that it even with the messed up drivegear it went through easily. My neighbor has a small pond I'm hoping to try its swimming abilities in once it's fixed.

[xbunsenx]

Congratulations on your "new" machine and welcome to the board. Once you get the mechanical issues sorted, you should consider a body band to straighten out the body. Mine is currently not covering the back yet though. It helps to protect the body when you bump into a tree in the woods.

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[emodsm]

Funny you mention that..I thought it looked like the body was "curved" in the middle but just thought that was how it was. After a quick search of sag and body band it will be one of my next projects...thanks for the heads up!

[xbunsenx]

While you are at it, you might want to consider a rollbar.

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[emodsm]

yeah that's in the plan too..as well as a plow.

[emodsm]

when heating with the heat gun do you concentrate on the seam of the upper and lower tubs or over the whole thing? I don't have a cage but I'm going to rig some thing up to hang it from my engine hoist.

[xbunsenx]

If you are trying to straighten the body, you would need to heat both the top and the bottom. When I made my body band, I didn't heat anything, but mine was not as curved as yours. I just used some clamps and bolted it in place. I used stainless steel bolts to keep them from rusting. The last thing you want to be doing is trying to cut bolts off of a plastic body.

[trevorakm1]

Nice new rig. You may want to take a look in the gallery for a member KG Hills from Wisconsin. He has a max 4 like you but he lifted the body from frame by adding a support and grab bar combo , home made. This allowed him to starighten the body and pull it up to this support bar which gave him enough room to run 26" tires and the Adair tracks. In other words his mod gave him protection and wheel clearance. Turn his Max 4 into a true beast. I don't know the details but a search for it, it's here on site somewhere, might give you some ideas before you start your band.
Just a thought.

[WolfMann]

I love it when a big problem turns out not to be, congrats on the good find/deal. And good luck with the future upgrades.