Some video of my HDI on some pretty bad mud trails

[mightymaxIV]

Explored a few new mud trails today and conditions were pretty bad in a lot of areas. Some trick mud in areas that normally have a lot of water. On one extremely bad trail I lost steering, the machine would not move to the right. I thought I lost a chain or blew the transmission and I was wondering how I was going to get the HDI out of this awful area. After a few minutes of playing with everything I found out it was an air bubble in the hydraulic system. Whew-I was still having a difficult time in an unfamiliar area when we and came across three mud trucks, one with a broken drive shaft, one with a broken rear end (these were Hugh well set up trucks with Hugh mud tires). We gave one of the guys a ride in the Argo so we could figure out where we were and how to get out of there. Turns out we were closer to a side road then I ever dreamed and the guys thanked me for my help. Anyway, the mud was awful and so were the trail conditions, Here's a video of some of the areas with most of the really good stuff un filmed because of conditions.

[Old Tucker]

Great video thanks. Now thats playing in the mud. Looks like a lot of fun.

[Buzz]

thanks for the vid. Wish I could be out playing today...

[Normable1973]

Looks like I've been missing a lot of good riding, the max 4 still has no motor or trans, they we're suppose to be here yesterday but no luck.. Mabe next weekend.... Norm..

[guyfox]

That looks like some nasty mud to get drive in. Do you find much difference between your 6x6 compared to the 8 wheeler?

[ARGOJIM]

Looks like I've been missing a lot of good riding, the max 4 still has no motor or trans, they we're suppose to be here yesterday but no luck.. Mabe next weekend.... Norm..

So you've got 2 machines disabled?

[mightymaxIV]

That looks like some nasty mud to get drive in. Do you find much difference between your 6x6 compared to the 8 wheeler?

Yes, the 8x8 gets though everything easier and rides a lot smoother, the one thing I miss about a 6x6 is the turning ability. I really miss the Max's ability to lock down one side and to made quick and easy turns.

[mightymaxIV]

So you've got 2 machines disabled?

Hey Norm, I really miss having another machine with me. Seems like twice as much fun when you have some one with you.

[mudbug3]

Another great mud video Dan. Thanks for posting it.

[Normable1973]

Yea Jim, 2 disabled machines, but I have the t20 that was in the max4 all cleaned up and serviced with new 780 clutch and red spring just have to bolt it in the max 2 and it will be 100%. The 27hp motor and trans I bought have very little use, all I have to do is bolt them in, they already have 780 clutches on them(just have to change to red spring) just put all new oring in from mfg(9800lb) tensile so it should stay together. I'm gonna order a suspension seat and should be good to go. I'll be out there soon Dan... Norm...

[Rock Doctor]

That's a mucky place, good vid, didn't look like there were any other machines anywhere around you.
What kind of fish was that?

RD

[mightymaxIV]

That's a mucky place, good vid, didn't look like there were any other machines anywhere around you.
What kind of fish was that?

RD

Doc this wasn't really a trail but a swamp creek that was low on water, 4x4 can't make it at all in most of the places. A good lifted 4x4 can make it down the dried swamp creeks but when the mud gets really nasty they get badly stuck. I ran into a pack of lifted quads down one of these creeks, all of them went around the really bad mud, I pulled out the one side by side that tried to make it through the really nasty mud. The fish in this video was a perch, we found another fish in the back of the tub and released him into a large pond.

Norm I can't wait until you get your machines together, it can be just a little scary when your machine won't steer right and it takes you a few minutes to figure out it's just an air bubble in the hydraulics.

[Noel Woods]

Nice video Dan. Lots of room in the back of an 8x8 for sure, and it nice to have a place to put your hood if you have to take it off. I think its time for us to consult with the Argo engineers again. You would think that a water cooled motor would perform better in that environment.

My theory is that it gets so hot under the hood that the fuel evaporates either in the lines or in the intake, resulting in the noticed hesitation and rough running. Removing the hood allows for a cooler engine bay and improved running.

My newest Frontier has the Generac 31 hp engine with the huge cooling fan, its never had to be run with the hood off, even when all the other vehicles in a recent group ride had to pull their hoods. That intake fan is large, and noisy, and makes the machine sound like a hydraulic machine, but I'll just wear ear plugs and soldier on.
It may be that a combination of things will be required to get the heat out of the engine bay. I even rigged up a leaf blower to blow air into the engine bay of my other Frontier, and that in fact worked great, but I got tired of having to explain to people why I had a leaf blower attached to my machine.

[Noel Woods]

Yea Jim, 2 disabled machines, but I have the t20 that was in the max4 all cleaned up and serviced with new 780 clutch and red spring just have to bolt it in the max 2 and it will be 100%. The 27hp motor and trans I bought have very little use, all I have to do is bolt them in, they already have 780 clutches on them(just have to change to red spring) just put all new oring in from mfg(9800lb) tensile so it should stay together. I'm gonna order a suspension seat and should be good to go. I'll be out there soon Dan... Norm...

I have the engine and cradle out of my Max4 as well. I'm working on an automatic or semi-automatic adjuster for those terribly designed t20 sprocket style adjusters. My first design just used a piece of all-thread with a nut welded onto the end that touches the sprocket, and you adjust it from the other end, it works fine but since those chains are hard to see its difficult to tell when they need adjustment, unless you hear the chain slap. More to come as I free up some garage space and get back on the concept.

[miker89]

great video Dan!