water in tube

[mxking03]

went riding 2day and i was in the water for about 20 or 30 min. got home and there was about and inch of water in the bottom of the tube. is this normal or do i need to fix something. i looked for cracks in the tube but i did not see any. it is a 98 model max iv but it only has 50 hrs. on it
thanx

[6X6]

Hi:
Start by greasing all your outer bearings with Marine-Grade Grease. I grease mine after each swim. If you still have more than a tiny bit of water after the next swim, try going into water with the floorboards removed (BE CAREFULL OF CHAINS, GETTING CAUGHT IN THEM WOULD BE BAD) and see where the water is coming from. You may need to re-seal the bearing flanges, or you may be missing a couple rivets that hold the front and rear skid-plates on.

[Bud]

Also, keep in mind that water can get in the vents from the splashing of the tires. I also have had water come in the front if I enter water at a steep angle, submerging the winch.

[Mike]

And with a Max IV, if you have the 26" tires you may be splashing water into the back of the tub.

Most likely you have some leaking bearings like 6x6 suggested. Another way to find the leaks is just to throw a hosepipe into the tub and let it fill up with water past the axles. You will start to see any leaks.

[MaxRules]

There are four bolts around each outer axle bearing. Tighten those bolts evenly on all axles and you might seal it up a little better. I usually tighten those and then grease the bearings to give it as much seal as possible. It is normal for most Maxs to leak through the bearings while floating, unfortunately, even brand new machines.

[Eldon]

You know Brandon,I find that my Max II will take on a gallon or so after an hour in the water but I tried filling it with the body open and only one bearing leaked and only a bit,one shot of grease sealed it,where I think on the Max II the water comes in is where the upper and lower body joins midway the body slopes midway and after some sloppy mudding I opened her and there I could see where muddy water tracked in.It has a good condition gasket and the wingnuts were tight.

[Raleigh Trainer]

Another way to find the leaks is just to throw a hosepipe into the tub and let it fill up with water past the axles. You will start to see any leaks.

I'm sure you'll find some leaks this way, but there's potential to miss others with this method.

The first problem with this is that you would need to fill the tub all the way to the waterline in order to recreate the same hydrostatic pressure pushing water past the bearings while swimming. The difference between just past the axles and all the way to the waterline might be twice the pressure or more. I'm not sure that everything you'd submerge inside the tub at this depth would like it so much. <g>

Also, while sitting there parked, the bearings are static, whereas they are being stressed by the spinning axles while swimming. They might seal just fine until you actually start rockin' and rollin'.

[Eldon]

I certainly see your argument on the axles not turning,but the difference in water height from over the axles to the waterline is very negligible in pressure as water at 27.22 inches=1 psi,this would make the pressure difference less than 0.25 psi.But point taken and without turning axles under load.The body seam definitely takes in water on both sides and at one-two gallons in an hour in my case,I think the bearings did OK.I read the static test is for a defective bearing or bent axle.

[Mike]

I'm sure you'll find some leaks this way, but there's potential to miss others with this method.

The first problem with this is that you would need to fill the tub all the way to the waterline in order to recreate the same hydrostatic pressure pushing water past the bearings while swimming. The difference between just past the axles and all the way to the waterline might be twice the pressure or more. I'm not sure that everything you'd submerge inside the tub at this depth would like it so much. <g>

Also, while sitting there parked, the bearings are static, whereas they are being stressed by the spinning axles while swimming. They might seal just fine until you actually start rockin' and rollin'.

You have a valid point. However, I believe someone on here already did that calculation and if I recall correctly it was less than 1psi difference. Still perhaps something to consider.

All three of the 6x6's that I have had leaking bearings on let me find out which ones were leaking by using this method. It's great for people that don't have a body of water close by, this is something that you can do at your house without loading up and traveling somewhere.

If you don't see any leaks with the 6x6 sitting there, you can always put it on blocks to where the tires are off the ground. Then you can have the axles moving to find the small leaks.

The first time I ever tried finding leaks on an AATV I pulled the floor boards and drove in the water. I thought to myself, this is really dangerous, there has to be a better way. One slip of your shoestring and you could have a sprocket chewing on your leg.

Yes, it may not find all of your leaks but I would start here first.

[MaximusII]

I had a similar problem with my MaxII but found out my bearings were fine. I was actually getting water in my MaxII from splash. It wasn't coming through the vents though. My rubber seal between my tub and my upper body was cracked and no good. I ended up removing the rubber seal from all the way around my MaxII and replaced it with home weather stripping from Wal-Mart. I got 2 10' rolls of 1" weather stripping and put it on my MaxII. I have not caught a leak since the fact. You may want to check your rubber seal and make sure its ok.