max II with 14 horse

[ERCELL]

hey guys just got a maxII carb was full of trash cleand it real good but still having trouble .I live in cherokee NC lots of hills to climb but for some reason iam having a hard time climbing up my four wheeler trials and driveway to my barn. is it the under power of the 14 horse vanguard or do you think carb is still pulling in trash runs ok on flat land but any hill i come to it barley makes it up..any help thanks

[fishnvt78]

is it reving up? or your belt could be junk and slipping

[jpswift1]

The 14HP Vanguard should have plenty of power. I'm going to guess that your belt is either worn or too loose or your clutches need some attention. A GREAT mod for the 14HP Vanguard to get it up to 16HP is to simply buy a 16HP Vanguard carburetor (like off ebay) and you'll have extra power for just a small price. That's what Briggs does from the factory and that's the only difference between the two engines since the displacement is the same at 480cc.

[ERCELL]

guys thanks alot...the motor seems to rev good when iam on flat land it just bogs down when i go up hill no belt noise or slip no high rev up hill....and i will look into the 16 horse up grade..again thanks for the info

[famvburg]

Haven't I read about people installing an electric fuel pump because some of the Maxes or other brands have trouble pumping fuel when going up steep grades? could fuel supply be the issue?

[jpswift1]

I never heard of a Vanguard starving for fuel on a hill unless it was in an Argo with a tank mounted low and in the center. Check all your fuel lines for cracks, clean your carburetor, see if the lines to and from the fuel pump are attached tightly, adjust your belt tension and check for wear in the clutches as well and see what happens.

[ERCELL]

will do guys thanks for all the good info....

[amphibious drew]

I never heard of a Vanguard starving for fuel on a hill unless it was in an Argo with a tank mounted low and in the center. Check all your fuel lines for cracks, clean your carburetor, see if the lines to and from the fuel pump are attached tightly, adjust your belt tension and check for wear in the clutches as well and see what happens.

Dude mine did it at Marks when I was at almost 90 degrees on that one hill. It almost stalled then I rolled back and it was going again. Like I said I was at an extreme angle and that was the only time it happened and I have hit some other pretty steep angles like coming out of marks creek, but if you lay the engine on its back it happened.

[ERCELL]

what mine is doing is runs good in neutral revs high as soon as you put it in gear it is very slugesh when you try to go up any hill dosent mater how big it boggs down you can hold gas wide open and it still bogs down do you guys think carb needs to be gone through when idle it revs up and down not a steady idle....

[amphibious drew]

Yes the carb probably needs cleaned and possibly adjusted.

[ERCELL]

drew thanks again.....will let you no what happens

[jpswift1]

Was this Vanguard the original engine in the Max? If someone swapped it in from another piece of machinery the governor spring will be different and you'll have to call Recreatives to get the correct one for an AATV application. Amphibious Six-Wheel Drive All-Terrain Vehicles: MaxATVs - Call 1-800-255-2511 Let us know what you figure out, we'll help you get to the bottom of it.

By the way, try checking the pulse line that goes from the engine to the fuel pump and make sure it's clean and there is no debris or cracks in it. I also wonder if the fuel pump is going bad. Did you try running it with the choke partly on when going up a hill?

[racerone3]

I suspect you are only running on one cylinder. Pull both plugs and see if one is wet. A vanguard will pretty well on 1 with no load, but will act exactly like you are describing when you make it work

[ERCELL]

no it is the only motor,,and i will check all,,,,you guys are a life saver didnt thank to check plugs that makes loads of sence....just got the machine trying to get it going had to clean carbretor for time and fuel tank changed oil and filter machine has sat up in barn for about 5 years...

[msafi65]

A quick check that I do is to start the engine cold and run it about 15 seconds. Be caerfull and touch the exaust header pipes just outside the head. The temp should pretty close,a cold one isnt running. If both are hot the governor could be way off. With the drive belt on, transmission in reverse you should be able to pull 3950-4050 rpm full throttle with a tacometer. Ive had machines that ran pretty good but only pulled 3400rpm with this test and were dogs when you work them. good luck that 14 should take you places very well if all is right
PS thought of another thing. A dirty air filter will cause this also, usually get black smoke at heavy throtle.