MaxII Improvements

[thebuggyman1]

I recently bought a early 90's maxII. It has a severely bent axle, the chains are very rusty and some sprockets show wear. It's my belief that it was stored outside, and then run with the rusty chains. I'm going to tear it down to the bare frame, upgrade the tensioners, new chain and new bearings while I'm there.
I understand that in approx 1998 R.I. upgraded some things. Besides the rectangular headlights, what did they change?
Changing to the splined axles/sprockets is probably cost prohibitive for me, but does anyone know the cost?
I've heard that the newer frames are stronger. How should I improve the one I have?

[wildtexasranger]

Buggyman, you need to get with whipper on all that. He can hook you up!!!!!! Send him PM and Im sure he will get back with you.

[Mike]

Are your current axles hollow? I was trying to remember when RI switched to solid axles but can't. Also, do you have inner bearings or just bushings? That may have also changed then.

[racerone3]

I believe 97 was a change over year. i know of 97's with inner bearings and some with bushings. machines that came with k-locks and without. Beth's 97 has inner bushings, and no k-locks. other than a switch from #40 chain on the final drive to #50, i couldn't find any differences (frame wise) between her 97' and the 74' that it replaced.

[thebuggyman1]

I tore it all down this morning.... Hollow axles inner bushings (most are bad) and half the outer bearings were bad. How do I switch to inner bearings? Anybody got a picture? The frame is too short for a standard bearing. Or....should I just set up a grease zerk on the solid pin the bushings ride on? Any tricks to removing the bushings from the axles?

[middleagedmax]

I have heard of hydro pressing flywheel bushings out, not sure if it would work with these, that is how mine are too

[duckhunt81]

Best way I've found to remove the bushings is to get a tap and a long bolt that will fit the bushing. I can't remember what size tap, but once you tap the bronze, thread the bolt into it and use whatever method to pull it out. I had a bolt that was long enough to clamp in a bench vise and tap on the wheel flange.

[racerone3]

i put the axle in a vice, then took a small wood working chisel and hammered it between the axle and bushing. the bushing is way softer than the axle and will shatter/ crumble in on it's self. going back together, i threw the new bushings in the freezer over night. clean out the end of the axle and warm it up with a propane torch. wipe some grease on a frozen bushing and tap it into the axle. use a piece of scrap wood between the bushing and hammer so you aren't hitting the bushing directly. once the bushing is in, drill a hole through the axle and bushing, and tap to 1/4- 28. clean up the inside of the hole so there are no burrs. clean up/ polish the 3/4 solid stock that the bushing rides on. assemble the flange, bearing, flange on the axle and push it through the body and sprocket tube, then screw a grease fitting into the 1/4-28 hole (i used 90* fittings on most of mine). finish installing the axles, then grease. on the right rear, the motor mount bold got in the way of the grease zerk, so i just moved it a little further out on the axle. the downfall is that i had to pump the entire axle full of grease before any comes out the bushing, but it works.

[LarryW]

I was trying to remove a bearing off an axle by slamming the axle on the ground and while holding the outer bearing that was stuck. The bearing never moved but the rod pushed a hole in the axle where the hub is welded. If you drill a hole there you may be able to put a rod in there and hammer the bushing out.

[thebuggyman1]

" the downfall is that i had to pump the entire axle full of grease before any comes out the bushing, but it works. " Good Idea Brian. I think I'll just put the jerk on the wheel flange. That way it can be greased from the outside.

[racerone3]

good idea Jim, wish I'd thought of it...some of the fittings are a royal pain in the butt to get to!

[LarryW]

I was thinking you could use some other fluid in the gun if all you are using it for is pushing the bushing out. But the zerk on the outside for greasing is an awesome plan I think. You could pump the bushing out. Leave grease in and then use it for greasing the new bushing. Grease as needed. I dont see much water going in there if at all so I dont think swimming would be a problem.