Help my Mudd-Ox sunk!

[Noel Woods]

KMAC: Skip the j-wheelz, ditch those rubber tracks, and get some Adair swimming tracks. I'd also remove the cab top, then you should be able to swim some. The machine won't swim well, but should get you across a small tributary.

[kmac]

I have seen those before, I don't think they would work with the track installed. They say they add over 300lbs of floatation, these and the float kit would add over 600lbs of floatation and that might do the trick. The extra floatation and traction should make them work good even without tracks. Would be very interested in seeing some test on an OX and the price is fair to.

You can see in this photo that the track keepers go down low on the tires.

This is assuming that Matt will come through with the float kit..it will cost and i assume i will have to foot the bill. But i haven't held my breath because I might be waiting to exhale. He has some stuff left to ship to me this week (right matt?) so i am hoping that he'll throw that in...

[kmac]

You could put a wheel spacer in between the JWheel and the mudd-ox rim. That would space it out enough for the grouser to clear. Wheel Adapter 5 Lug 4.5" To 5 Lug 4.5" Spacers 1.5" | eBay Mudd-ox uses a 1/2" lug stud (13mm) and these are only 12mm, but that souldnt be enough difference to matter.
The drawback to the JWheelz is the added width of the machine. If you are using the machine in a wooded area, they could catch on trees, if in grasslands/open areas they should work great.

Thanks for the help guys..
Let me get this straight the muddox uses a 1/2" lug stud and these are 12 mm, i.e. the lug stud on the spacers..so anything screwed to them have to accept the 12 mm and you think that these shouldn't matter?

[thebuggyman1]

You could put a wheel spacer in between the JWheel and the mudd-ox rim. That would space it out enough for the grouser to clear. Wheel Adapter 5 Lug 4.5" To 5 Lug 4.5" Spacers 1.5" | eBay Mudd-ox uses a 1/2" lug stud (13mm) and these are only 12mm, but that shouldn't be enough difference to matter.
The drawback to the JWheelz is the added width of the machine. If you are using the machine in a wooded area, they could catch on trees, if in grasslands/open areas they should work great.

[stid2677]

I have seen those before, I don't think they would work with the track installed. They say they add over 300lbs of floatation, these and the float kit would add over 600lbs of floatation and that might do the trick. The extra floatation and traction should make them work good even without tracks. Would be very interested in seeing some test on an OX and the price is fair to.

You can see in this photo that the track keepers go down low on the tires.

[kmac]

Just a thought..has anyone tried using J-wheelz to increase floatation on the ox? They look like they might even work with the tracks on...

Here is the link....Jwheelz - a new bolt-on attachment for ATVs and UTVs

More..sweet..i wonder if these can be modified to run the tracks with the j-wheel?

J-Wheelz Floatation Cones for Argo 5 bolt wheels Set of 4

[stid2677]

Steve,
I wished i was told this ages ago..because i really wanted this thing to swim. it eliminates the need for a boat and all he rivers i cross are 4 - 5 meters deep! I hope to arrange to get a floatation kit or build one myself. So i'll keep you posted..

Sorry to hear about your trouble,, Mr Matt is good at making things right and sounds like he will help you get it all sorted out. Please keep me posted on the float kit. The floating aside, these vehicles are very impressive with both power and capability.

[kmac]

Steve,
I wished i was told this ages ago..because i really wanted this thing to swim. it eliminates the need for a boat and all he rivers i cross are 4 - 5 meters deep! I hope to arrange to get a floatation kit or build one myself. So i'll keep you posted..

[stid2677]

My diesel OX is the one someone linked showing it swimming in post #13, that experience scared the crap out of me. You can clearly see that water is over the body line. I bought it only because it was supposed to swim. As seen in the video there was nothing in it but me,,nothing else. I would be interested in the floatation kit, does anyone know what that cost??? My machine is very capable, but as is I would NEVER again swim it.

Steve in Alska

[kmac]

Mudbug...i am following matt's directions. So i haven't started the engine as yet. I drained the oil among other things. I am waiting on it to settle for my second draining (i have a few more to go). The cranking of the engine was to flush the cylinders of water, of course with the injectors out (again, matt's directions). I have a few things left to do including trying to undo the hose to the hydrostatic(?) pump. I'm try to get the electrical contacts free of corrosion before i continue. But i'm in a small town and things are hard to come by. The fuel tank is left to be drained..i'm going to put some diesel in the cylinders and try to flush them one more time before i put the injectors back on. So correction, i cranked the engine but didn't start it per say...I am cleaning up the engine of my 9.9 outboard while i do this..

[mudbug3]

Kmac

Did you check to see if any water was in the oil before you tried to start the engine? If so ,did you drain the oil several times until you saw no more water residue in the oil? I did'nt see a mention about this in your latest post.

[kmac]

Post removed by Mike

Well it is too early to tell if it is inferior. I took the second ox sans any additional equipment on the sea, and it floated. A little un-nerving but it floated. I've spent a lot more on other equipment that were DOA before; the trick is to figure out how to make it work for you. And I will tell you this..i have spent much more on a piece of equipment that is much riskier to use than the ox. But they serve a purpose and if they work i will be eternally grateful. The ox was bought to solve a problem..i need to get to very remote sites and i needed a diesel engine because it should be more efficient and so that i didn't have to haul gas around. An aussie mate recommended using an ATV given the problems we had with site access. I did some research on the ATVs (over six months) and I came across the argos but most users complained profusely about the chains, and the uncertainty with the chains popping if they are not properly serviced etc. Also, there is an issue with the engine mounted to the front. I considered a hyrotraxx, but the design hasn't been updated in ages and it is much more expensive. The triton was much too expensive, so was the hyratrek. I liked the hyratrek because it had a propulsion system on water, but the cost to kit it up was too much. Plus I think it's too heavy for where i work and i have a problem with the approach angle of the front. I needed something fairly cheap, and one that could be modified. The folks on this site recommended the ox. It's cheap enough (relatively speaking) so that i could buy two in case one dies ( i had a nightmare about this), i can either have another one to tow or come fetch. And to be honest, 25k is a lot, but it is better spending on something that dies than on something much more expensive that dies. Also a single diesel atv from the other manufactures that offer a diesel engine, is the price of two diesel oxs. You have to go for that two for one special!

The sea route is one access route which is much faster -- along the coast up the river to sites where we can then get on the marsh land and go to where ever we need to go. That will take 1.5 - 3 hours. My idea with the ox is to take a b-line through the marsh from our field station (will take up to four hours) and use it to go up and down the river to conduct acoustic surveys, among other things -- hence why we asked to fit a 9.9 hp outboard motor to the unit. I would prefer to use this route in the future because we may have to access our sites during rough weather or during a hurricane. So the pontoon is out of the question and it's extra money for something that is too specialized. So when the tracks arrive and when we take it out in the marsh, if it fails to get to the sites then i can say i got no performance out of them. But if it works it would be best of the bunch..in terms of price point and what i want.

But you might find this strange, but i am optimistic and happy that it failed NOW and not later (especially with some expensive equipment on board although we might have lost one with the sinking)! Although we all would have preferred if it didn't sink, i got the chance to pull the engine down, so i am more confident about solving mechanical issues. But it's not like there was a mechanical issue with the ox (well not yet) and i think we have some ideas on how we can solve the flotation issue. I'll tell you this, maybe i don't know much about ATVs but it is a hardy little bugger. 3+ hrs underwater (salt water) and i managed to get the thing started with relative ease and the engine is turning over. The electrics need sorting out, the headlight is still flooded with water but the damn thing still lights up when the ignition is switched on, and all electrical devices are working (included the headlights). SO that is an A+++ in my books. Anything that i can fix, i have to be happy with. I don't want anything with complicated mechanics. But you might see me back here crying for more help so all this accolade may be premature. But it's not too bad. So apart form the problems i had with the matt..i am still optimistic it may work..if it doesn't i'll post something and use it as an expensive paper weight. Even then it still won't be inferior..just an expensive way to keep my papers from flying around.....

[LarryW]

Here is a video of one swimming and another of my attex 8x8 swimming.

[gearhead]

going back to route6x6

[kmac]

Ahhhhhh after i get it working again, then i'll tackle that....